February 29, 2024
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 11 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.67 through 4.68 (pages 123-125)
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.
4.67 The Coming of God’s Kingdom (Luke 17:20-37) Powerful section here. Interesting that Jesus gives two responses…first to the Pharisees where He gives the answer you would expect Him to give…something that would confound the Pharisees, telling them “behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Jesus is telling them that HE is the kingdom…He and the people who already believe, trust and follow Him. But then He gives greater detail to His disciples, helping them understand what it will be like when He returns, and to not be deceived by those who may try to indicate that they have seen the secret return of Christ. When Christ returns, we will KNOW it. He then goes on to describe how people will be taken away, caught up with Him…and it is a message of “be ready”. He gives the examples of the world before the flood, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah before they were destroyed…the people just living their lives, doing the normal things of life, believing all was well…content to reject God and serve themselves, until God brought judgement. No one saw it coming. Which should motivate our desire to reach the lost world!! But, you know? Noah tried to tell them what was coming. Romans Chapter 1 applies here. “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” What does our world look like today? All the more reason to share the Gospel…and this is why persecution and trial will come. Are we ready?
4.68 The Story of the Widow Who Would Not Give Up (Luke 18:1-8) How much more does our Father care for us and provide for us than this unjust judge? And Jesus ends with a question…but I think it is meant to encourage His disciples in steadfastness…”When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” By God’s grace, mercy, power, and design…the answer is yes, for HIS glory. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
Steve McGowan
4:67 – 4:68
Day 10 and 11
”Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?“
Luke 18:1-3, 6-7 NKJV
Jesus tells them/us to pray continuously and not to lose heart. What are they praying for? Justice. It is interesting that in the previous chapter He is talking about how it will go down, like in the days of Noah and Lot.
Lenten Day 10
The Life of Jesus 4.67-4.68.
~That night there may be two people sleeping in one room. One will be taken, one will be left.
The passage on Gods kingdom coming is really powerful and moving, that quote made me tear up. It just really conveys how we’re not bound to anything here in the flesh, only what we’ve given up for God.
Growing up there was a magnet on fridge which read. Live each day as Jesus died yesterday. Rose today and coming back tomorrow. The Pharisees asking when the kingdom of God will come. Right before their eyes!! Love the story of the persistent widow. Like to share some Sunday. On a mother’s prayer for 30 years was answered in her last hours on earth. Don’t ever give up on prayer to a loving Father
The Life of Jesus 4.67-4.68; Luke 9-10
Well said Sean on your comments about the Lord`s return and the widow who wouldn`t give up. For in the Second Coming every eye will see Him. It will come at a time when people will just be doing their own thing and not even considering that He is coming in judgement. So they won`t be prepared. All the more that we should be telling people about Christ while there is still time. Right after this Jesus tells the story of the widow how we are to be constant in our prayers. We should be praying for people to get saved and sharing the gospel with them. Please pray for Melodye`s dad { Bob} for he is sick and doesn`t know Jesus. Peace to all.
Praying now, Dennis!
Praying Dennis
To those who think God’s kingdom was to be an earthly, physical one, Jesus points to the spiritual kingdom that Jesus is making possible through His presence on earth and the relationship He makes possible with God, especially by allowing His Spirit to reside within us. But to His disciples who have heard that message (although they didn’t get it), Jesus shares additionally what they should know, what His second coming would look like. And it will be sudden, obvious and without warning and take people by surprise. Which means we need to be prepared now and not expect there to be time to prepare. I do believe this is Jesus’ coming at the end of the tribulation to establish His kingdom on earth as opposed to the rapture where He will take people to heaven. If that is the case, you would want to be the person left.
And Jesus follows this up with a teaching on persistence in prayer and how we should call out to God consistently and passionately, especially when we don’t feel like we are getting an answer. And this kind of praying is a great reflection of the faith we have. And that is why He references His coming once again, and asks if He will find this kind of faith on earth. If we have anything to say about it, right?…….although we may not be here….
Day 11
Lenten 2024-Day 11
Noah and Lot, the people had no place for God in their lives and were focused only on this earthly existence so they did not see that the end was coming. Those people with faith will know and must be ready. We do not want to leave people behind and that is why we are charged with sharing the good news of God with the people God puts in our lives. Sharing our faith gives them the opportunity to be ready for His return as well.
Fitting that Jesus would follow this with talking about praying without ceasing. When we stay firm in our faith and in constant relationship with God we will be ready when He comes again.
When the Son of Man comes, it’s going to happen so suddenly, that people aren’t going to have time to respond. Choosing to believe in God and have faith in Jesus is one decision that should not be delayed. Because Jesus could come back or we could die at any moment.
Lenten 2024 Day 11
There will not be time to change your mind when Jesus comes. He wants to come to believers. Jesus makes that clear.