March 16, 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 6 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.53 through 4.56 (pages 112-115)
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.
Humility and getting involved in the mess of people’s lives these were my two big take aways from what I just read. Putting God first before all (even family), then caring for others with His mindset, and we will feel the blessing of living life with that perspective and purpose.
It is not work to save the lost, it is our call. When we truly put God first in all we do our eternal purpose here on earth should be as clear as Jesus’ was. We are His disciples sent to seek and save and we do that not just through our words but through our actions and how we live. We show love for others in a tangible way, we don’t cast judgement but rather speak truth in love, and we live a life that looks different that makes people want to know what that difference is!
Day 6
4.53-4.56
Invited to God’s banquet. Of course the Pharisees would be the first to be looking for their invitation. But they backed out of going because of their unbelief of Jesus. Thank God for that. We might not have gotten the invite. Pride verses humility. The parable of the lost sheep. One of my favorites. The other 99 are safe in the sheep pen. But the 1 sheep is in danger and our Lord goes to find him. What a great picture of the love of God for his children
Day 6 4:53-4:56
Again Jesus heals a diseased man on the Sabbath. Only this time it is in a Pharisee`s home. He asks the question if it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath. There is no answer from the Pharisees or the experts in law. Jesus then goes on heals the man. Proving who he is. Jesus in three different stories tells them that they are to go after the lost sheep. Those who see their need for Him. Give a feast and invite the poor, crippled, the blind, and the lame. When following Christ we should count the cost if we are to be disciples . He needs to always be first [LORD] in our lives. In our marriages He should be the center of it. In what ever we do at work, relationships, how we conduct ourselves, He should be first. For He should be glorified through us. Colossians 3; 23 [And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 4; 5,6 [Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man.]
Amen, Dennis!
On lent Day 7
It is so wonderful to witness an unbeliever becoming a follower of Christ. There is much joy in knowing that they will inherit eternal life in God’s kingdom!
Day 6
It is important to recognize that Jesus had various interactions with different people in different contexts but dealing with similar matters. Clearly healing on the Sabbath was a big one that Jesus addresses in similar ways pointing to the religious leaders hypocrisy to do certain things in their own world on the Sabbath but then getting on Jesus for doing similar yet better things when healing someone. But here Jesus also addressed their care for people and their regard for themselves. How important it is to recognize it is better to take the lowly place and let someone lift you up, than take the high place and have someone have to bring you down. It is always best to think it is not about you. And how you treat people reflects that too. If you help people that can help you, your motives might not be pure. How much better to help people that can’t help you. That is what God can then bless. And that is also the way that God runs His kingdom as well. He has invited people (the Jews) that figured they had better things to do, so God in His grace expands the invitation to anyone who is willing to believe. And it is often the lowly that get that, who believe God more readily and have more need for Him. And God says come. The invitation is there and you are welcome. In fact He is the kind of God who seeks out those things that are lost. He pursues and rescues those in danger, even leaving behind those who are already safe. And how much rejoicing there is when people get it!
Luke 14 – “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Following Jesus is easy and hard at the same time. It costs nothing, and it costs everything.
It is interesting that Jesus basically says to the multitude, “this is what I am asking, are you sure this is what you want? Are you ready for what it truly means to follow me?”
I can’t help but continually see where Calvinism is inconsistent with the Bible. If men are chosen by irresistible grace, why does Jesus propose that they have a choice and a decision to weigh?
I agree, Amy!