March 14, 2023
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:
Day 4 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.45 through 4.48 (pages 107-109)
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.
Several things I take from these readings today the first is Jesus sharing that He knows every hair on our head. Such a crazy thought as I find hair everywhere in my house and to think He would know absolutely everything about me right down to every hair is an overwhelming thought that someone could love me so much!
I also love the picture of the man storing up food and dies the next day….this life is truly so short when you have an eternal mindset and yet we drive ourselves crazy trying to be rich in earthly things when it doesn’t matter.
Finally the picture of God bringing division is sad but so true. There will always be those who believe and those who do not and many times that is right within your own family. All the more important for us to live a life reflective of Christ that those that don’t believe will see the evidence of His goodness within us and choose to believe as well.
How lonely of a life having all the securities of material wealth and all the Oscar’s when we could experience Gods one true wealth (with true conviction) just by putting our faith and belief in His Son, Jesus…Him who is, and who was, and who is to come (Rev 1:4).
Of course such a good thing will come with much opposition and division, but the beauty of it all is that ‘the best is yet to come!’ Doesn’t that put a smile on your face:))
Deliberately rejecting Christ is the bottom line of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Simple as that!
Look at todays world. Does it not show many of the Lord’s prophecies coming to light? It underscores to me to ‘get it right’ NOW….I thank Him for Him everyday.
“Behold He is coming with clouds and every eye shall see him…Even so, Amen” (Rev 1:7)
Yes it does, Sue!
Day 4
4.45-4.48
So if God is even aware of the life of one sparrow. How much more are we cared for. God did not send his only Son for birds to be redeemed. But for us. That’s how much more we are worth than a sparrow. That takes away any fear of threats or personal trials. When we face them, God’s love will never leave us nor can the Holy Spirit be taken from us. Certainly those that believe in Christ and those that don’t causes conflict and disagreement. Lost a good amount of friends when I met Jesus. Pray that they will understand someday. I’m not budging from the solid rock!
Day 4
4-44-48
God knows our thoughts and our hearts. He desires for each believer to follow Him and not worry about anything but to trust him that he has the best plans for us. Even when we are brought before men who want to harm us He will give us the words that we are to say because of the Holy Spirit in us. We should fear God and not men, [Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.] Proverbs 3.5,6. Also verse 7 [ Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, And depart from evil.] There may be a high cost for following Jesus. For Jesus says that people within families will be divided against each other. I believe that this is already happening in our families. There are in my family some that think that Melodye and I are foolish to follow Christ. Although it isn`t real persecution, a question we should ask ourselves is: are we ready to speak for Him in this pagan nation of ours which is no longer a Christen Nation? Are we prepared by being in the Word and in prayer? This is also a challenge to myself for I am not a prayer warrior but I do pray. May we all draw our strength from Him on a daily basis.
Amen, Dennis!
Lent day 5
Lent Day 4
Don’t be afraid of people for they can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. Our faith should be strong enough to say before others that we believe in Jesus, the Son of God. Be careful to guard against being preoccupied with having a high position, power, or money. It is not what is important in this life. What is important is that we have faith in Jesus and through that faith we strive to live out God’s will and purpose for our lives. Colossians 1:9-10…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…
We certainly do need to be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees, the subtle legalism that can come into our lives and corrupt our Christian walk. Doing things for the praise of men, thinking that we are accepted by God because of works, and being judgmental towards others are all reflections of it. So they were not to be afraid of the Jewish leaders who were legalistic and had the power, but to care more of what God thought of them by following His Son. Because God cares about them and us and knows us and so it makes even more sense to live the way He wants than the way people want. And that includes not being ashamed of Him before people and admitting our belief in Him…we would certainly prefer Jesus to admit association with us before His Father. And the worst way to deny Jesus is to deny the Holy Spirit’s testimony to Him inside your heart. So when you say the Holy Spirit is a liar, you are rejecting Jesus and the gospel, the only source of forgiveness. So naturally it is therefore, unforgivable. And as we listen to the Holy Spirt and are willing to testify about Jesus, the Holy Spirt will provide the words to speak…we don’t have to worry about what we are going to say.
And the priority that Jesus is supposed to have in our lives means that we don’t have to prioritize material wealth. We can care more about God and others and not worry about accumulating more and more money or material things. Our confidence and rest should be based on Him. And yet as we follow Jesus fully, it won’t necessarily be popular with those around us. Even our own families may not believe and actually become our enemies. We see this sword that Jesus talks about here a lot in families today as children separate from parents because of faith. It is very hard, but it is the divisive nature of truth.
Day 4
Jesus talks about not fearing men, who can kill the body but after that they can do nothing. Fear God who has power to kill you and then throw you into hell. And contrast that with the fact that He knows every little bird and every hair on our head. We are so caught up in providing for our selves and worrying about our physical lives here on earth (myself included!) that we lose perspective on how closely GOD is paying attention and knows what we need for life here on earth and for eternity. We need to trust in His power and provision in all manners of life….food, clothing, shelter, life or death.