December 11, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Advent 2025 – Day 11 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.19 through 3.28 (pages 44-48)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Wow, what an opposite kingdom Jesus seeks to establish on the earth. At every turn He confronts the flesh and says….don’t do what you normally would do. The citizen’s of His kingdom will be different. We need to watch our temper and be careful what we say in response to it. We don’t look at members of the opposite sex in a sexual way, but in a way that values and respects them. We are to honor marriage and never approach it casually. We shouldn’t need to make vows to reenforce our honesty, just be honest. And maybe the hardest of them all for the flesh to internalize, when someone hits you, don’t hit back and love your enemies…do good to those that don’t deserve it. And when you do certain good things, don’t draw attention to yourself. You are living to God’s glory, not your own. And it all relates to storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The most important thing you can do is not what improves your situation on earth, but what will make your eternity better. The flesh is wired in the completely other direction. We must tap into the new nature and the Holy Spirit to do this stuff…and die to ourselves and not give into the temptations of the flesh. That is what Jesus is desiring of us and providing for us as well..
The beatitudes what a contrast of what the world has to offer and what God has to offer. It’s every man’s choice: you wanna live for wealth or power or authority that are unimportant to God or do you wanna live differently than the worldly kingdoms. Instead of lust for power, the world and selfishness we should be showing as Jesus did humility and self sacrifice. All the beatitudes starts out with the the word to be blessed. We think blessed means to be happy, but God doesn’t promise, pleasure or earthly prosperity blessed by God means to have hope and joy beyond our feelings and circumstances
Advent Day 11
God cares so much more about our heart than we could ever imagine. Lots of people do lots of good things everyday but what is the reason behind those good deeds. Is it for personal gain, is it to be looked at as a “good person”, is it out of a sense of obligation or duty. God want’s our whole heart, mind, soul, and spirit and when we give Him that goodness just naturally follows. The natural inclination is to make ourselves less so He can be more. Jesus was teaching about our hearts and what is truly important. Is it stuff and stature or is it seeing His Father glorified through our life and actions?
Advent 2025 – Day 11
Psalm 47; Jeremiah 24; The Life of Jesus 3.19-3.28
Life of Jesus 3.19-3.28
Reading these beatitudes and thinking about the party yesterday. How simple what Christ teaches and the direct opposite of what the world and our flesh strives towards. It was great to be at the giving tree and speak to people about what does Jesus want for His birthday? I would suggest, “your heart” or your faith or belief? When directing to suggestions on the tree “clean my room”, “be kind to someone” etc I was surprised that several children chose the card “forgive someone”. I thought it profound that these children grasped the nature of forgiveness. One girl even wanted me to write “be kind to someone even if you don’t want to.”