Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
The story of the good samaritan is probably one of the most recognizable stories that Jesus told. Luke 10:25-37 is where it is found in scripture. Sounds easy enough, but we are called to love our neighbors, not the people living beside you necessarily, but the people that sometimes we would rather not even be in the same room with. I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and his theme song was don't you want to be my neighbor. Interestingly enough whoever Mr. Rogers came across became his neighbor; he was always meeting new people that were different than him! Jesus uses the Jew vs. Samaritan relationship because they despised each other. The Samaritans were looked down by the Jews because they were not pure, they inter-married with gentiles. Jesus describes how we are to care for all people, not just people that we like and people that like us! How about you, who is your neighbor and who is it hard to be neighborly to?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Student Devotional Week 24: Why Forgive? Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)
Jesus tells this parbable in Matthew 18:21-35 about a servant that owed his master more than he could pay and the master forgives the debt. Well, the servant has a hired hand that owes him a very small amount of money, much less than his debt to the master, and the servant has the hired hand thrown into debtors prison. The master gets wind of what his servant had done and not only wants the original debt paid back, but had him tortured in prison until the original amount was paid.
This parable Jesus said is about the Kingdom of God and how serious God takes the act of forgiveness. Jesus said if you don't forgive you brother or sister, then how do you expect your heavenly father to forgive you? It's double-minded to ask for forgiveness from God for your sins and then refuse to forgive someone who has wronged you. Sometimes we take ourselves to seriously and think we are more important to God than others. God doesn't owe us anything, but He freely gives us grace not because we deserve it, but because there is no other way and He loves us.
How hard is it to forgive those who wrong you? Jesus says vengence is the Lords, have you ever paid back those who have wronged you? How did it make you feel? The Bible talks about showing kindness to our enemies is like throwing hot coals on their laps, in other words they are shocked and don't know how to respond to kindness. So, kill them with kindness, not revenge!
Jesus tells this parbable in Matthew 18:21-35 about a servant that owed his master more than he could pay and the master forgives the debt. Well, the servant has a hired hand that owes him a very small amount of money, much less than his debt to the master, and the servant has the hired hand thrown into debtors prison. The master gets wind of what his servant had done and not only wants the original debt paid back, but had him tortured in prison until the original amount was paid.
This parable Jesus said is about the Kingdom of God and how serious God takes the act of forgiveness. Jesus said if you don't forgive you brother or sister, then how do you expect your heavenly father to forgive you? It's double-minded to ask for forgiveness from God for your sins and then refuse to forgive someone who has wronged you. Sometimes we take ourselves to seriously and think we are more important to God than others. God doesn't owe us anything, but He freely gives us grace not because we deserve it, but because there is no other way and He loves us.
How hard is it to forgive those who wrong you? Jesus says vengence is the Lords, have you ever paid back those who have wronged you? How did it make you feel? The Bible talks about showing kindness to our enemies is like throwing hot coals on their laps, in other words they are shocked and don't know how to respond to kindness. So, kill them with kindness, not revenge!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Student Devotional Week 23: At Your Service: Greatest in The Kingdom
"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.'" (Mark 9:35)
What does it mean to be great? Success, prestige, power, money; these are some of the ways we measure how one becomes great. Jesus told the Disciples that in order to be the greatest you most become a servant, not great at all by the world's standards. The first will be last, and we must loose our life in order to gain it in God's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul said he was the worst or greatest of all sinners! To be a servant it takes humility. Jesus told us that he came not to be served, but to serve others. What would stop you from following God's call to serve others? What are some things you really enjoy doing? How could God use your passions to meet others needs? Go meet those needs!
What does it mean to be great? Success, prestige, power, money; these are some of the ways we measure how one becomes great. Jesus told the Disciples that in order to be the greatest you most become a servant, not great at all by the world's standards. The first will be last, and we must loose our life in order to gain it in God's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul said he was the worst or greatest of all sinners! To be a servant it takes humility. Jesus told us that he came not to be served, but to serve others. What would stop you from following God's call to serve others? What are some things you really enjoy doing? How could God use your passions to meet others needs? Go meet those needs!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Student Devotional Week 22: Rooted or Rootless? Parable of the Sower
"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).
Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would understand, right? Then why did they have to ask for an explanation everytime he spoke? Did you catch what is going on when Jesus delivers this parable? There were crowds gathered around Jesus, so much that he got into a boat and tried to get away from them for a while, but they would not go until Jesus gave them a message or word. So he tells the parable from the middle of the lake about the parable of the sower and the seeds. There are 4 types of people you basically says:
1)The Path- Those who hear the word but it passes between their ears, it doesn't sink in at all. 2)The Rocky Path- Those who hear the word but it doesn't take root and the first hardship (the blazing sun) they die away.
3)The Thorns-Those who hear the word but they are unfruitful listening to the world rather than God.
4)The Good Soil-Those who hear the word and it takes root and they produce fruit multiplying the sower (God's) investment (30X, 60X, 100X).
So, the question is what type of person are you: Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good Soil? I would guess the majority of that crowd was like the path, going from one ear out the next. Why? Because only the 12 disciples came to Jesus later to ask what the parable actually meant. That means the rest of the crowd had no clue what he was talking about. I know this because in verses 10-12 Jesus explains why he taught in parables, not so everyone would understand him, but to confuse them. What? This is not what I have been taught my entire life about parables, but read it for yourself, the point of teaching parables is so that those who really want to know what Jesus is saying and meant would ask Him, those who were not truthfully seeking Him would go about their business. Do you seek what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture or do you hear the words and they pass through you? Jesus wants us to be good soil, but we have to let the words take root first in order to be useful and produce good fruit.
Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would understand, right? Then why did they have to ask for an explanation everytime he spoke? Did you catch what is going on when Jesus delivers this parable? There were crowds gathered around Jesus, so much that he got into a boat and tried to get away from them for a while, but they would not go until Jesus gave them a message or word. So he tells the parable from the middle of the lake about the parable of the sower and the seeds. There are 4 types of people you basically says:
1)The Path- Those who hear the word but it passes between their ears, it doesn't sink in at all. 2)The Rocky Path- Those who hear the word but it doesn't take root and the first hardship (the blazing sun) they die away.
3)The Thorns-Those who hear the word but they are unfruitful listening to the world rather than God.
4)The Good Soil-Those who hear the word and it takes root and they produce fruit multiplying the sower (God's) investment (30X, 60X, 100X).
So, the question is what type of person are you: Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good Soil? I would guess the majority of that crowd was like the path, going from one ear out the next. Why? Because only the 12 disciples came to Jesus later to ask what the parable actually meant. That means the rest of the crowd had no clue what he was talking about. I know this because in verses 10-12 Jesus explains why he taught in parables, not so everyone would understand him, but to confuse them. What? This is not what I have been taught my entire life about parables, but read it for yourself, the point of teaching parables is so that those who really want to know what Jesus is saying and meant would ask Him, those who were not truthfully seeking Him would go about their business. Do you seek what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture or do you hear the words and they pass through you? Jesus wants us to be good soil, but we have to let the words take root first in order to be useful and produce good fruit.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Student Devotional Week 21: Bad News/Good News-Jesus Predicts His Death
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
It is pretty deep to think a persons purpose in life was to die, but the reality that we face as Christians is the Jesus came with that ultimate purpose and that was to die for all of us! Jesus tried to tell the disciples over and over again that he was going to die soon, that it was God's plan for His life that he would die for our sins. Why didn't they hear what He was trying to tell them? Maybe they wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth like other kings had done, maybe that thought it would go away if they ignored what He was saying, or maybe they simply could not comprehend why anyone would give their lives for people that don't even know Him and don't even deserve it! The reality is none of us deserve eternal life, but that is the point of why He had to do what He did. Jesus exemplifies this type of servant leadership throughout His life; always thinking of others needs above His needs. Matthew 20:28 puts it this way, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." His ultimate purpose was to die for all of our sins as a ransom or payment for all the bad we have done and will continue to do. But, until that time of death Jesus served as many people as He could. How about you, do you put others needs above your own? Would you sacrifice your life for someone who you didn't know or who you knew as enemy? Will you choose to serve Christ?
It is pretty deep to think a persons purpose in life was to die, but the reality that we face as Christians is the Jesus came with that ultimate purpose and that was to die for all of us! Jesus tried to tell the disciples over and over again that he was going to die soon, that it was God's plan for His life that he would die for our sins. Why didn't they hear what He was trying to tell them? Maybe they wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth like other kings had done, maybe that thought it would go away if they ignored what He was saying, or maybe they simply could not comprehend why anyone would give their lives for people that don't even know Him and don't even deserve it! The reality is none of us deserve eternal life, but that is the point of why He had to do what He did. Jesus exemplifies this type of servant leadership throughout His life; always thinking of others needs above His needs. Matthew 20:28 puts it this way, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." His ultimate purpose was to die for all of our sins as a ransom or payment for all the bad we have done and will continue to do. But, until that time of death Jesus served as many people as He could. How about you, do you put others needs above your own? Would you sacrifice your life for someone who you didn't know or who you knew as enemy? Will you choose to serve Christ?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Devotional Week 20: See God For Who He Is-The Transfiguration
"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5
Have you ever been out in God's creation and thought wow, God has created some awesome things. Three of the disciples: James, John, Peter experienced what we might call a God moment as they saw the Glory of God shine upon Jesus and actually heard the voice of God speak to them. The word Glory in Greek dokeo means "to reflect." Take a few moments this week to reflect on the Glory of God around you. You might want to take a walk outside and ponder the amazing things God has created!
Have you ever been out in God's creation and thought wow, God has created some awesome things. Three of the disciples: James, John, Peter experienced what we might call a God moment as they saw the Glory of God shine upon Jesus and actually heard the voice of God speak to them. The word Glory in Greek dokeo means "to reflect." Take a few moments this week to reflect on the Glory of God around you. You might want to take a walk outside and ponder the amazing things God has created!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
"Like A Rock" The Church - Devotional Week 19
Jesus declared to Simon that "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18) The Catholic Church uses this as a proof text of Apostolic Lineage began with Peter as the first Head or Pope of the Church. Anyway, the significance in this verse is not so much the establishment of leadership, but the establishment of the church as an important part of God's plan. God never intended us to go about our lives alone, but for us to be actively working together in a community of believers called the church. Catholic means universal, so the catholic church is representative of all Christians all over the world not just the Catholic church in Rome. All of this points to unity and working together for one common goal in mind which is to further God's Kingdom here on earth and in heaven as new believer's come to faith in Christ. Are you actively involved in church? Do you think church is an important part of being a Christian?
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