Tag Archives: Jesus

Don’t take someone else’s word for the truth (Mark 8:27-37), October 31, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 8:27-37

Set – Job 22; Mark 8

Go! – Job 22; Mark 7-8

Mark 8:27-37
²⁷ As He traveled with His disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi, He posed an important question to them.
Jesus: Who do the people say that I am?
²⁸ They told Him about the great speculation concerning His identity.
Disciples: Some of them say You are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets of old.
Jesus (pressing the question): ²⁹ And who do you say that I am?
Peter: You are God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.
Jesus: ³⁰ Don’t tell anyone. It is not yet time.
³¹ And He went on to teach them many things about Himself: how the Son of Man would suffer; how He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; how He would be killed; and how, after three days, God would raise Him from the dead.
³² He said all these things in front of them all, but Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him.
Jesus (seeing His disciples surrounding them): ³³ Get behind Me, you tempter! You’re thinking only of human things, not of the things God has planned.
³⁴ He gathered the crowd and His disciples alike.
Jesus: If any one of you wants to follow Me, you will have to give yourself up to God’s plan, take up your cross, and do as I do. ³⁵ For any one of you who wants to be rescued will lose your life, but any one of you who loses your life for My sake and for the sake of this good news will be liberated. ³⁶ Really, what profit is there for you to gain the whole world and lose yourself in the process? ³⁷ What can you give in exchange for your life?

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I asked Peter the ultimate question I ask everyone. “Who do you say I am?” It’s an important question that must have an answer from your heart, not just your brain. I asked the disciples who others thought I was to lead them into the question, but it’s always easier to answer that question. They didn’t look at each other or compare notes, they just answered. “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, others think one of the prophets. It’s not hard to tell Me what others might be thinking about Me.”

What about you, though? That’s the heart of the message. Who do you think I am? Unless you understand that I am One with the Father and Spirit, part of the triune Godhead, present at creation, you’ll struggle all your life with who I am and what I can do in your life. I was fully human, but also fully God. I know it’s hard to understand. You don’t need to understand. You just need to believe me.

Listen to My word, watch the transformation in the lives of those who make Me their Lord, let Me make the same transformation in you. You will know that I am who I say. No one can do the things I do. No one can help you the way I can. No one can give you the peace I give. No one can wipe away guilt from your life like Me. Because no one else can claim the title Son of God.

But until you personally recognize Me as God incarnate, the one died to pay the penalty for your sins. The one who rose from the tomb to live forever at the right hand of the Father. Until you know Me as your personal Lord and Savior, you will not know in your heart that I am Christ, the long awaited Messiah. Only when I am Lord of your life will you be able to say with Peter that I am God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. Give your life to Me and discover the truth for yourself. Anything less means taking someone else’s word for it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Advantage – now! (Acts 4:1-20), October 29, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 4:1-20

Set – Job 20; Mark 4

Go! – Job 20; Mark 3-4

Mark 4:1-20
^1-2 Jesus went out again to teach by the Sea of Galilee. When the crowd became unmanageable, He climbed aboard a boat and sat down to teach the people listening on the shore by telling them parables. One of His teachings went like this:
Jesus: ³ Listen! A farmer went out and sowed his seed. ⁴ As he scattered it, one seed fell along the hardened path, and a bird flapped down and snapped it up. ⁵ One seed fell onto rocky places where the soil was thin, so it sprang up quickly. ⁶ But when the hot sun scorched the fragile stems and leaves, the seedling withered because its roots didn’t go deep in the soil. ⁷ One of the seeds fell among the weeds and thorns, which crowded the seedling out of producing a crop. ⁸ And the rest of the seeds fell in good, rich soil. When they sprouted, the plants grew and produced a crop 30, 60, even 100 times larger than expected for every seed that the farmer had sown.
⁹ All who have ears to hear, let them listen.
¹⁰ When they were alone, the twelve and others close to Him asked why He always taught in parables instead of explaining His teachings clearly.
Jesus: ¹¹ God has let you in on the inside story regarding the workings of the Kingdom—the hidden meanings. But the crowds—I teach them in parables ¹² as the prophet Isaiah predicted,
So that when they look, they see and yet do not understand.
When they hear, they listen and yet do not comprehend.
Otherwise, they might really turn and be forgiven.
¹³ Do you mean to say that you didn’t understand My parable of the sower? That was the key parable. If you don’t see what I was trying to teach there, how will you be able to understand any of the others?
¹⁴ The seed the farmer is sowing is the good news, God’s word. ¹⁵ Some people are the seed thrown onto the path, and the tempter snaps up the word before it can even take root. ¹⁶ Others are the seed thrown among the rocks. Those people hear the word and receive it immediately with joy and enthusiasm; ¹⁷ but without deep roots, doubt, trouble, or persecution instantly withers their faith. ¹⁸ Still others are the seed tossed among weeds and brambles. The word has reached them, ¹⁹ but the things of this life—the worries, the drive for more and more, the desire for other things—those things cluster around close and choke the life of God out of them until they cannot produce. ²⁰ But those last seeds—those sown into good soil? Those people hear the word, accept it, meditate on it, act on it, and bear fruit—a crop 30, 60, or 100 times larger than the farmer dropped to earth.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

A lot of people will tell you that if they heard Me face to face they would believe, but they wouldn’t. You have a significant advantage over those who listened to Me on the hillsides of Judea. You have 2000 years of people who have interpreted My parables, lived the life I showed My apostles and disciples, and gave witness to the truth of the things I said.

The people of the land heard My words for the first time. My preaching was radical. I told them things that turned the religious thought of the day upsidedown. Many didn’t like the rules and regulations of the religious leaders of the day. They didn’t care for the mixed authorities of Jerusalem and Rome. Many weren’t sure which was worse, the dictates of the Temple or those of the Emperor. So, when I began to preach a message of love God and your neighbor and everything else would fall into place, it was a message they longed to hear. Yet it confused many and they didn’t understand what it meant.

Others thought I came to overthrow the bonds of the Roman oppression and final bring back the political freedom the nation longed for. Israel hadn’t enjoyed real political freedom since the Assyrians started collecting tribute. That was five centuries earlier. They were ready for freedom and longed to revolt against the tyrannical rule of the Romans.

The priests certainly were confused. They were happy with the arrangements they had with their priestly lineage and didn’t see someone from David’s line taking over their scholarly role of teaching others how they should live under the law of Moses. But there I was sharing with the people what the laws really meant. How hatred was the seed of murder. How lust sparked adultry. How carefully setting aside a tenth to give to the Temple didn’t mean anything to the Father when you let your father and mother starve.

I brought the reality and revelation of the law to the people and they didn’t know how to handle it. You benefit from the many letters my disciples wrote to the early churches, the commentaries and studies available today. You have no excuse for not listening to My instructions and following Me.

So now that your excuses are gone for wanting first-century experiences, how about getting into My word and learning about Me. Really let yourself go and let Me take control of your life. That’s what My word demands. Die to self and be born anew in Me. You won’t be sorry if you do.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

A flash of lightning (Luke 17:20-37), October 4, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 17:20-37

Set – Esther 1; Luke 17

Go! – Esther 1-2; Psalms 150; Luke 17

Luke 17:20-37
²⁰ Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.
Jesus: The kingdom of God comes—but not with signs that you can observe. ²¹ People are not going to say, “Look! Here it is!” They’re not going to say, “Look! It’s over there!” You want to see the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is already here among you.
²² (to His disciples) Days are coming when you will wish you could see just one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t see it. ²³ People will say, “Look, it’s there!” or “Look! It’s here!” Don’t even bother looking. Don’t follow their lead. ²⁴ You know how lightning flashes across the sky, bringing light from one horizon to the other. That’s how the Son of Man will be when His time comes.
²⁵ But first, He must face many sufferings. He must be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ The days of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. ²⁷ People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage. Everything seemed completely normal until the day Noah entered the ark. Then it started raining, and soon they were all destroyed by the flood.
²⁸ It was just the same in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, and carrying on business as usual. ²⁹ But then came the day when Lot left Sodom—a different kind of rain began to fall, and they were all destroyed by fire and sulfur falling from the sky. ³⁰ That’s how it will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
³¹ When that day comes, if you’re on the housetop, don’t run inside to try to save any of your belongings. If you’re in the field, don’t bother running back to the house. ³² Remember Lot’s wife. Turning back is fatal for those who do so. ³³ If you try to hold on to your life, it will slip through your fingers; if you let go of your life, you’ll keep it. ³⁴ Listen, on the day of the Son of Man, two people will be asleep in bed; destruction will take one and the other will be left to survive. ³⁵ Two women will be grinding grain together; destruction will take one and the other will survive. ³⁶ Two men will be working out in the field; destruction will overtake one and the other will survive.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

My coming again will be sudden and destructive for those not aligned with Me. I gave My disciples some metaphors to compare. Noah, Lot, Lot’s wife all show what My coming will be like when I return. There’s no turning at that point. You choices will have been made. I will come as fast as lightning flashing across the sky and that quickly My return will be over. My bride will be swept up with Me in the air and brought to enjoy the riches of heaven with Me.

The days after My return will be such a disaster, they will make the flood, Sodom’s destruction, and Lot’s wife’s punishment seem like a party at the beach. My wrath will pour out on all who remain for their failure to recognize Me as Lord. Those left behind will wish to die but will not be able to escape no matter how much they long to. Each will feel the full wrath of My punishment for their wickedness.

The only escape comes from joining Me as I pass through the air like lightning. If you’re ready, I’ll take you with Me. If you’re not, you stay behind. There is only one way to stay ready. Believe in Me for the forgiveness of your sins. But believing means more than just knowing that’s why I came to earth. It means doing what I ask you to do. It means following My commands. It means walking away from sin and walking toward the good I ask of you. It means loving Me and loving others. Believing means taking action because of your belief. It’s whole body, mind, and spirit given to Me.

Thinking you can figure out when I’ll come and squeeze in just in time is a risky gamble. I may come in the next storm. Oh, and did I mention that there is a storm somewhere on the planet all the time? So which storm do you want to take a chance on? Do you think I’ll wait for the one that the weatherman says will arrive at your doorstep? Don’t count on it. No one told the people of Noah’s day it would rain except Noah and everyone laughed at him. No one in Sodom believe it would rain fire and brimstone, either, but it did. No one thought a person could turn into a pillar of salt, but Lot’s wife suddenly found out when she looked back at the destruction I was pouring out on that city.

I’ve warned you for two thousand years. Just because My grace has been extended that long doesn’t mean it will be extended another year. It might, but then again…

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Ranking against others doesn’t make sense (Luke 9:46-62), September 26, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 9:46-62

Set – Psalms 127; Luke 9

Go! – Ezra 4; Psalms 113,127; Luke 9

Luke 9:46-62
⁴⁶ Later the close followers of Jesus began to argue over the stupid and vain question, “Which one of us is the greatest disciple?”
⁴⁷ Jesus saw what was going on—not just the argument, but the deeper heart issues—so He found a child and had the child stand beside Him.
Jesus:⁴⁸ See this little one? Whoever welcomes a little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. The smallest one among you is therefore the greatest.
John: ⁴⁹ Master, we found this fellow casting out demons. He said he was doing it in Your name, but he’s not one of our group. So we told him to stop.
Jesus: ⁵⁰ What? No! Don’t think like that! Whoever is not working against you is working with you.
⁵¹ The time approached for Him to be taken back up to the Father; so strong with resolve, Jesus made Jerusalem His destination.
⁵² He sent some people ahead of Him into the territory of the Samaritans, a minority group at odds with the Jewish majority. He wanted His messengers to find a place for them to stay in a village along the road to Jerusalem. ⁵³ But because the Samaritans realized Jesus was going to Jerusalem, they refused to welcome them.
James and John (outraged): ⁵⁴ Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people who have rejected You?[a] [Just as Elijah did.][b]
Jesus (turning toward them and shaking His head): ⁵⁵ You just don’t get it. [⁵⁶ The Son of Man didn’t come to ruin the lives of people, but He came to liberate them.][c]
He led them on toward another village. ⁵⁷ Farther along on the road, a man volunteered to become a disciple.
Volunteer: I’ll follow You to any destination.
Jesus: ⁵⁸ Foxes are at home in their burrows. Birds are at home in their nests. But the Son of Man has no home. ⁵⁹ You (to another person)—I want you to follow Me!
Another Volunteer: I’d be glad to, Teacher, but let me first attend to my father’s funeral.
Jesus: ⁶⁰ Let the dead bury their dead. I’m giving you a different calling—to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
A Third Volunteer: ⁶¹ I’ll come, Jesus. I’ll follow You. But just let me first run home to say good-bye to my family.
Jesus: ⁶² Listen, if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking backward, then you’re not fit for the kingdom of God.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Humanity, even My disciples tried to establish a pecking order about who was greatest among them. I’m not sure why you do that. When you really think about it, what does your pecking order matter? You spend so much wasted energy trying to figure out some kind of ranking among yourselves when your comparisons are so insignificant. If you want to compare yourself, compare yourself to Me. Then you will begin to understand why ranking is so futile.

Set yourself against My standards, My measurements, My holiness, My perfection. See how you measure up against Me and then discover how well you rank. That’s the basis from which you should start your personal introspection. Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s useless. There will always be someone better in some areas and some worse in other areas than you, but what does that matter in the space of eternity. They do not measure up to Me either.

Set your sights on Me and run diligently to be like Me. Make Christlikeness your goal. Don’t worry about whether you are first or second or third in the race. The point is to finish the race and spend your energy becoming like Me in every way possible. Learn everything you can from Me and act like Me in every way you can . Let your spirit touch My Spirit and learn to soar. Become more than you ever think you could by reaching out to Me.

Keep your eyes on Me instead of others and you’ll be okay. Don’t worry about where you stand in relation to others on your spiritual journey, just keep searching for more of Me. Keep seeking. Keep learning. Keep talking with Me. Keep reading My word. Let Me determine how fast and far you can grow. Let Me determine what I want of you spiritually now and in eternity. Let Me figure out where you stand with Me. Don’t let others do it. They don’t know your heart. I do.

So it does no good to compare yourself to someone else. You are unique in the universe and so your standing with Me is unique. You’re not like anyone else. I want a relationship with you. I don’t want you to measure yourself with some set of rules or standards, I want a relationship. How are you supposed to measure that against someone else’s relationship with Me? Every relationship is unique just as every person is unique. But all of them can be incredibly rich and joyful and wonderful. It’s your choice. How much do you want to put into your relationship with Me?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Know God, not just about him (Luke 6:27-49), September 23, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 6:27-49

Set – Daniel 12; Luke 6

Go! – Daniel 11-12; Luke 6

Luke 6:27-49
Jesus²⁷ If you’re listening, here’s My message: Keep loving your enemies no matter what they do. Keep doing good to those who hate you. ²⁸ Keep speaking blessings on those who curse you. Keep praying for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other cheek too. If someone steals your coat, offer him your shirt too. ³⁰ If someone begs from you, give to him. If someone robs you of your valuables, don’t demand them back. ³¹ Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; do the same for them.
³² Listen, what’s the big deal if you love people who already love you? Even scoundrels do that much! ³³ So what if you do good to those who do good to you? Even scoundrels do that much! ³⁴ So what if you lend to people who are likely to repay you? Even scoundrels lend to scoundrels if they think they’ll be fully repaid.
³⁵ If you want to be extraordinary—love your enemies! Do good without restraint! Lend with abandon! Don’t expect anything in return! Then you’ll receive the truly great reward—you will be children of the Most High—for God is kind to the ungrateful and those who are wicked. ³⁶ So imitate God and be truly compassionate, the way your Father is.
³⁷ If you don’t want to be judged, don’t judge. If you don’t want to be condemned, don’t condemn. If you want to be forgiven, forgive. ³⁸ Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give.
³⁹ Jesus told them this parable:
Jesus: What happens if a blind man leads a blind man? Won’t both of them fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ You can’t turn out better than your teacher; when you’re fully taught, you will resemble your teacher.
⁴¹ Speaking of blindness: Why do you focus on the speck in your brother’s eye? Why don’t you see the log in your own? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, “Oh, brother, let me help you take that little speck out of your eye,” when you don’t even see the big log in your own eye? What a hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you’ll be able to see clearly enough to help your brother with the speck in his eye.
⁴³ Count on this: no good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. ⁴⁴ You can know a tree by the fruit it bears. You don’t find figs on a thorn bush, and you can’t pick grapes from a briar bush. ⁴⁵ It’s the same with people. A person full of goodness in his heart produces good things; a person with an evil reservoir in his heart pours out evil things. The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart.
⁴⁶ What good is it to mouth the words, “Lord! Lord!” if you don’t live by My teachings? ⁴⁷ What matters is that you come to Me, hear My words, and actually live by them. ⁴⁸ If you do that, you’ll be like the man who wanted to build a sturdy house. He dug down deep and anchored his foundation to solid rock. During a violent storm, the floodwaters slammed against the house, but they couldn’t shake it because of solid craftsmanship. It was built upon rock.
⁴⁹ On the other hand, if you hear My teachings but don’t put them into practice, you’ll be like the careless builder who didn’t bother to build a foundation under his house. The floodwaters barely touched that pathetic house, and it crashed in ruins in the mud.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You hear a lot of sermons from a lot of people. The question is, do they live the life they tell you to live? I did. The things I ask you to do, I lived in front of you for the time I walked beside you in the flesh. I showed you the way to live authentically. But you can’t do it in your own power. You need something more to live by the directions I give you in the Sermon on the Mount. You need more than your own will power to make it through the schemes Satan lays out in front of you. You need Me empowering your life.

With My Spirit empowering you, you can learn to love and that wraps all the other commands together. Love God and love others. Everything else will fall into place if you do those two things well. You can love Me and love others if you allow Me to focus your mind, emotions, and will. You can love others if you give yourself wholly to Me. You can truly love if you let go of yourself and let Me fully into your life and know Me, not just know about Me.

What does it take to know Me? First, acknowledge your sin. Second, believe I came and died for your sins. Third, repent and accept Me into your life as Lord, Savior, and Director of your life. Then read My word. Talk with Me at every opportunity. Learn to know Me, not just about Me. Seek Me and you will find Me.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Stay on the Victor’s side (Luke 4:1-13), September 21, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 4:1-13

Set – Daniel 8; Luke 4

Go! – Daniel 7-8; Psalms 137; Luke 4

Luke 4:1-13
¹ When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, He was full of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit led Him away from the cities and towns and out into the desert.
² For 40 days, the Spirit led Him from place to place in the desert, and while there, the devil tempted Jesus. Jesus was fasting, eating nothing during this time, and at the end, He was terribly hungry. ³ At that point, the devil came to Him.
Devil: Since You’re the Son of God, You don’t need to be hungry. Just tell this stone to transform itself into bread.
Jesus: ⁴ It is written in the Hebrew Scriptures, “People need more than bread to live.”
⁵ Then the devil gave Jesus a vision. It was as if He traveled around the world in an instant and saw all the kingdoms of the world at once.
Devil: ⁶ All these kingdoms, all their glory, I’ll give to You. They’re mine to give because this whole world has been handed over to me. ⁷ If You just worship me, then everything You see will all be Yours. All Yours!
Jesus: ⁸ Get out of My face, Satan! The Hebrew Scriptures say, “Worship and serve the Eternal One your God—only Him—and nobody else.”
⁹ Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem, and he transported Jesus to stand upon the pinnacle of the temple.
Devil: Since You’re the Son of God, just jump. Just throw Yourself into the air. ¹⁰ You keep quoting the Hebrew Scriptures. They themselves say,
He will put His heavenly messengers in charge of You,
to keep You safe in every way.
¹¹ And,
They will hold You up in their hands
so that You do not smash Your foot against a stone.
Jesus: ¹² Yes, but the Hebrew Scriptures also say, “You will not presume on God; you will not test the Lord, the one True God.”
¹³ The devil had no more temptations to offer that day, so he left Jesus, preparing to return at some other opportune time.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The devil is sneaky. He knows your weaknesses. He can’t make you do something, but like a good fisherman, he knows the best lures to use catch you. He tried to catch Me after I had spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness. I won’t remind you about your last fast, but 40 days is a long time and I was hungry, weak, and My brain was focused on food, not on debating Satan.

That’s exactly when Satan came. He caught Me at My weakest and tempted Me at My weakest point. “Just turn these rocks into bread.” He knew I was present at creation and could do it. He knew I could satisfy My hunger just by picking up one of those rocks and suddenly it could become edible. But I wasn’t going to let My human side overpower My spirit. The stakes were too high. I came to live without falling to Satan’s tricks and showing you I could help you defeat him. How could I do that if let your adversary defeat Me even in these small areas.

But Satan tried. My word tells you I was tempted in every area of life in which you are tempted, but without sin. I never acted on the temptations Satan sent My way. Sometimes, as in the wilderness during My fast, I had to stand on the scriptures I studied as a child to repel his advances. At other times, like you, I found the exit and got away to show you running away from him is okay. In all cases, I will never allow you to be tempted beyond your capability to either withstand or get away from the temptation. You can say no to Satan’s temptations just as I did.

The brief mention of My temptations in the wilderness covered some tough areas – physical needs, political power, and an easy path to demonstrate My Godhead authority and power. Those are tough temptations for the human mind. Stop and think about it a moment. What I knew I would endure for you and the easy path Satan offered from a human perspective to avoid the suffering. But I knew it wouldn’t work and the Father deserved My worship more.

You know what your weakest points are. Expect Satan to hit you there. He’s sly as a fox. But remember I will always make a way of escape for you. I will always help you if you will turn to Me for strength. I came to show you the way. I lived alongside you to show you that you can defeat him with My help. I came to help you live like I want you to live with abundant peace and joy. He’s the father of lies. I know, I was there when the Father kicked him out of heaven. I’ve already overcome him and his minions, they just haven’t figured it out yet. Follow Me and you’ll be on the side of the Victor!

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God’s choir (Luke 2:1-20), September 19, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Luke 2:1-20

Set – Ezekiel 47; Luke 2

Go! – Ezekiel 47-48; Luke 2

Luke 2:1-20
¹ Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census—² the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. ³ Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.
^4-5 Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted, ⁶accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor ⁷and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.
⁸ Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. ⁹ Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!
Messenger: ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. ¹¹ Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! ¹² You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.
¹³ At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.
¹⁴ Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!
¹⁵ As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.
Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!
¹⁶ So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, ¹⁷ they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. ¹⁸ Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. ¹⁹ Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.
²⁰ The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The only time My heavenly choir left My throne room and touched the soil of Earth was to announce the birth of Jesus. They have seen many marvelous things throughout the centuries of their existence. My choir has heralded many wonderful events in the heavens. My messengers have been to your world many times. I have sent them one at a time to announce information to individuals. Sometimes I have sent more than one to emphasize the importance of My message.

My choir, however, always stays by My throne singing My praise. Until that night in Bethlehem. Then they couldn’t contain their joy over what was happening on your home planet. I was coming to live with you in the flesh. So they wanted to sing My praises there. I didn’t hold them back. They knew the importance of this single event. I was about to unleash My perfect plan of salvation with the birth of My perfect sacrifice for the world’s sin. I was going to live in the flesh of a human. Born of virgin mother, I would walk on the Earth for just over 33 years and become the perfect sacrifice for you. I would teach you about Me through the words of My flesh-wearing self.

My choir decided to announce My coming to some of the most important people on the planet…a group of shepherds on the Bethlehem hillside. You see, the announcement to those men shows everyone is important to Me. They were among the poorest. They worked in horrid conditions for almost nothing, looking out for the welfare of someone else’s smelly sheep. But those shepherds were important enough that I wanted them to be among the first to hear the choir that sings to Me eternally. It would be a sight and sound they would not forget for the rest of their lives.

My choir continues to sing for Me and rejoiced when the sacrifice for humankind was complete and sins forgiven for those who follow My Son. It has not touched the Earth since the day I came in the flesh, though. What a day that was for you. I’m looking forward to letting you hear that choir again one day. All it takes is for you to believe in Me, in My coming to you and giving My life for the forgiveness of your sins. Like the shepherds, it will be a sight and sound you will never forget.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Be Ready, He’s coming soon (Revelation 22:7-21), September 17, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 22:7-21

Set – Ezekiel 43; Revelation 22

Go! – Ezekiel 42-44; Revelation 22

Revelation 22:7-21
The Anointed One: ⁷ Look now, I am coming soon! The one who remains true to the prophetic words contained in this book will truly be blessed.
⁸I, John, am the one who heard and witnessed these visions. And when I heard and witnessed them, I fell prostrate at the feet of the heavenly guide who showed them to me. ⁹ But he refused.
Guide: You must not do that! I am a servant with you, with your brothers and sisters the prophets, and with those who keep the words contained in this book. Worship God instead!
¹⁰ (continuing) Do not seal up the prophetic words contained in this book for another day, for the finale is near. ¹¹ Let the one given to evil continue down evil’s path and the one addicted to filth continue to be its servant. But let the one who is righteous journey along the righteous road, and let the holy continue in holy ways.
The Anointed One: ¹² See, I am coming soon, and I will bring My reward with Me. I will pay back every person according to the deeds he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and Omega, the First One and the Last One, the beginning and the end.
¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their garments. In the end, they have rightful access to the tree of life and will enter the city through its gates. ¹⁵ The dogs, the sorcerers, those who commit immoral acts, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception must remain outside the gates for all eternity.
Jesus: ¹⁶ I, Jesus, have sent My messenger to show you and guide you so that you in turn would share this testimony with the churches. I am the Root and the Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star.
The Spirit and the Bride: ¹⁷ Come.
And let everyone who hears these words say, “Come.”
And let those who thirst come.
All who desire to drink, let them take and drink freely from the water of life.
¹⁸ Beware, everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book. Know this for certain: if anyone adds to these words, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone subtracts from the prophetic words of this book, God will remove that person’s access to the tree of life and to the holy city which are described in this book.
²⁰ The One who testifies to these realities makes this promise:
The Anointed One: Yes. I am coming soon.
To which we say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
²¹ May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with all the saints. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

The close of the book ends with My words to John, “I’m coming soon.” I’m coming to give rewards to those who dared to follow Me to the end. I’m coming to finally bring My bride, the church, with Me to heaven. I’m coming to bring an end to the sorrow and pain this corrupted world has caused My children. I’m coming to set right all the wrong that has been done throughout the millenia since that first deception Satan put into men’s minds. I’m coming back.

I give blessings and I give judgments. I give indescribeable joy and I give excruciating agony. I have experienced both and I can administer both. Remember, endured the cross for you, so I know the pain and agony of bearing the sins of the world on My shoulders, but I also know the joy of bursting free from the tomb because even death could not hold My human form empowered by My heavenly glory and Spirit.

I want the best for you and give you My instructions for how to live abundantly. I ask you to live the principles and concepts laid out in the book I gave you through My inspired words. Men put them on paper as I gave them the inspiration to do so. Read and study their words. Let My words reside deep in your heart and meditate on them. Make them a part of your heart and mind so they become your principles to live by each day.

Satan will tell you there is plenty of time before My coming, but he doesn’t know when I will return. Only the Father knows. Only the Father knows the day and the hour and when He says time is no more, it will be too late. It could be another 2,000 years…or it could be today. Do you want to take the chance on My delay? The Father is merciful and gracious, but His judgment is coming and I will soon return to take My bride from this world so His wrath can flood the earth with the many plagues John mentioned in his Revelation. I am coming soon. I want to take you with Me, but it’s up to you. Be ready.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Abundant living (1 John 1), August 20, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready -1 John 1

Set – Jeremiah 48; Psalms 67; 1 John 1

Go! – Jeremiah 48-49; Psalms 67; 1 John 1

1 John 1
¹ We want to tell you about the One who was from the beginning. We have seen Him with our own eyes, heard Him with our own ears, and touched Him with our own hands. This One is the manifestation of the life-giving Voice, ² and He showed us real life, eternal life. We have seen it all, and we can’t keep what we witnessed quiet—we have to share it with you. We are inviting you to experience eternal life through the One who was with the Father and came down to us. ³ What we saw and heard we pass on to you so that you, too, will be connected with us intimately and become family. Our family is united by our connection with the Father and His Son Jesus, the Anointed One; ⁴ and we write all this because retelling this story fulfills our joy.
⁵ What we are telling you now is the very message we heard from Him: God is pure light, undimmed by darkness of any kind. ⁶ If we say we have an intimate connection with the Father but we continue stumbling around in darkness, then we are lying because we do not live according to truth. ⁷ If we walk step by step in the light, where the Father is, then we are ultimately connected to each other through the sacrifice of Jesus His Son. His blood purifies us from all our sins. ⁸ If we go around bragging, “We have no sin,” then we are fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth. ⁹ But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” then we depict God as a liar and show that we have not let His word find its way into our hearts.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

John witnessed Me in the flesh. When he did and discovered what it was like to also have Me live in him, John could not help but tell the story. He wanted the world to know Me like he came to know Me. John was probably My closest disciple while I walked the earth. He probably understood My love better than any of My other disciples. Yet, until My Spirit came at Pentecost, the love he knew before that day was only a shadow of what was to come.

It is no wonder he starts his letter with a description of Me as pure light. I have a tendency to get to the heart of things. He watched Me cut through the smoke and mirrors people try to put up to hide the real issues they struggle with. He watched Me point to the sin and selfishness that causes people to push Me aside and fail to find fulfillment in their lives. He watched as I used My servanthood to demonstrate a side of God people did not understand. John wanted others to recognize Me and put their faith in Me. He wanted others to understand that as they shared their faith it would grow.

John also wanted others to see My perfect nature. People are sinful. I am holy. But the people who call themselves by My name will not continue to practice their sinful ways. They will strive for the holy life I practice before you. If you are My followers you will run from evil and sin. I command you to be holy because I am holy. I wouldn’t ask you to do something you cannot do without My help. You can do it, though, with My Spirit in you. I can help you find the exit when temptation tries to defeat you. Remember, you will never face a temptation greater than I can help you get through.

Until you get on My side of heaven, you will still make mistakes, fall short of my perfect holiness, need My forgiveness for your actions. But if you’ll consistently listen to Me and let Me guide you through My word and My Spirit, you will become more like Me each day. You will yourself being perfected each day until you finally come to be with Me forever. You can enjoy some of that now, though. You can let Me lead you along the path and enjoy My peace, My light, My holiness, My glory. All it takes is letting Me have control of your life.

I made you, I paid the penalty for your sins, I think I know what needs to be done to lead you along the best paths to make your life one of abundant living.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God’s word comes true (John 16:16-33), August 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – John 16:16-33

Set – Psalms 96; John 16

Go! – Jeremiah 16-17; Psalms 96; John 16

John 16:16-33
Jesus: ¹⁶ For a little while you will not see Me; but after that, a time will come when you will see Me again.
Some of His Disciples: ¹⁷ What does He mean? “I’ll be here, and then I won’t be here, because I’ll be with the Father”?
Other Disciples: ¹⁸ What is He saying? “A little while”? We don’t understand.
¹⁹ Jesus knew they had questions to ask of Him, so He approached them.
Jesus: Are you trying to figure out what I mean when I say you will see Me in a little while? ²⁰ I tell you the truth, a time is approaching when you will weep and mourn while the world is celebrating. You will grieve, but that grief will give birth to great joy. ^21-22 In the same way that a woman labors in great pain during childbirth only to forget the intensity of the pain when she holds her child, when I return, your labored grief will also change into a joy that cannot be stolen.
²³ When all this transpires, you will finally have the answers you have been seeking. I tell you the truth, anything you ask of the Father in My name, He will give to you. ²⁴ Until this moment, you have not sought after anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you will be filled with joy.
²⁵ I have been teaching you all of these truths through stories and metaphors, but the time is coming for Me to speak openly and directly of the Father.
²⁶ The day is coming when you will make a request in My name, but I will not represent you before the Father. ²⁷ You will be heard directly by the Father. The Father loves you because you love Me and know that I come from the Father. ²⁸ I came from the Father into the cosmos, but soon I will leave it and return to the Father.
Disciples: ²⁹ We hear You speaking clearly and not in metaphors. How could we misunderstand? ³⁰ We see now that You are aware of everything and You reveal things at the proper time. So we do not need to question You, because we believe You have come from God.
Jesus: ³¹ So you believe now? ³² Be aware that a time is coming when you will be scattered like seeds. You will return to your own way, and I will be left alone. But I will not be alone, because the Father will be with Me. ³³ I have told you these things so that you will be whole and at peace. In this world, you will be plagued with times of trouble, but you need not fear; I have triumphed over this corrupt world order.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Around the world, My followers encountered persecution from the time I spoke to My disciples in the upper room until today. Those who do not know Me and do not understand Me seek to destroy My teaching and those who uphold My teaching. Despite the goodwill My followers demonstrate My love for those around them, they feel the same rejection, punishment, and pain I felt.

The Adversary does his best to confuse and veil the hearts and minds of people to lure them away from Me. I told My disciples and I will tell you that trouble will follow you as long as you live in this world. But like I told them 2000 years ago, don’t despair. I already defeated your Adversary. His judgment is determined. His defeat is complete. I have already overcome this corrupt world order.

As I leave My Spirit with you to guide you and strengthen you, you will have the ability to stand in the face of your enemy. In the face of trouble, you can remain true to Me. You can face persecution and trouble. Just as I triumphed over the cross and burst from the tomb, I will return to resurrect you and take you to a home I’ve been preparing for you since I ascended to heaven so many centuries ago.

My disciples had a hard time understanding all that was happening on the other side of the history of the cross. From your vantage point on this side of the cross, you understand the words I spoke to them and their fulfillment in My sacrifice on the cross, My death, and resurrection. As the words I spoke to the disciples revealed what would happen to Me came true in the following days in Jerusalem, so the words I spoke are true for you.

I will never leave you or forsake you. My Spirit, the Helper, will remain with you and be in you if you will ask Him into your life. He will strengthen you and enable you to become more like Me each day if you will listen to Him and obey His urging in your life.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.