ListenDaily - 09 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Thursday
The Thursdaybefore He died...
"When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." Luke 22:14-22 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, many things took place; He washed the disciple's feet, served the Last Supper, prayed at Gethsemane, predicted Peter's denial. This, one day, could be an entire study, which we may come back to. Today, however, we will focus on Judas' betrayal.
We know that when Jesus referred to "him who is going to betray me" that He meant Judas. Much has been made of this man Judas. Just a few years ago, came the so-called 'Gospel of Judas', saying that he and Jesus had a secret understanding. Last year the news magazines ran an article that portrayed him as a terrorist, bent on removing Roman rule from Israel, and conspiring with Jesus to do so. I've heard many teachers say that Judas was simply trying to force Jesus' hand, in an effort to speed up Jesus' takeover as King.
If Judas' actions were sanctioned by God, why would Jesus say "woe to that man who betrays him"? And let us not forget John 12:4-6; "But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it."
No, Judas was not a good man, he was a thief. Many would say that the thirty pieces of silver would not have been enough to persuade him...but he was a thief!
Brothers and sisters, the church today is much like this band of disciples. There are rash, unthinking people. There are those who doubt. And there are thieves...those who would betray Him for next to nothing.
Worse yet, is when we see these traits in ourselves! Have we ever betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver...or less? How about for a dirty joke? For a juicy piece of gossip? For how little have we turned our back on Him and provided one more nail for His cross?
This season of Easter, now nearly over, let us look at our motives and actions, as if we were leaving Jesus' table to commit them.
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Why do you think the world pursues justification for Judas so desperately?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
May we seek God by not betraying Him. Jim
"Do not think me mad.
It is not to make money that
I believe a Christian should live.
The noblest thing a man can do is,
just humbly to receive,
and then go amongst others and give."
David Livingstone
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
ListenDaily - 08 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Wednesday
ListenDaily - 08 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Wednesday
The Wednesday before He died...
As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, it is widely believed that He took a day to rest, because this day is not specifically mentioned. Personally, I would think that He spent some time teaching, because He knew time was short. Either way, we will look today, at another famous story from His final week.
We all have probably heard this story, of the "widow's mite'. I'm tempted to re-title it, "The Widow's Might"! Because of the awesome power over money that this woman had. Or, because of her incredible resistance to the power of money.
Jesus made a simple point here, that I believe is sometimes misunderstood. It is surely true, that this woman gave more, 'per capita', than the others, but this story goes beyond simple percentages. Physically, God doesn't need much to work with. Remember the five loaves and two fishes that fed over five thousand people? And man was created from a handful of dirt...and the world from...nothing! What He does need, are willing, generous hearts. In dealing with us, He needs a starting point. Those giving grudgingly, weren't giving God much to work with. This widow gave Him a 'broken and contrite heart’; she gave it all, not financially, but spiritually.
What do we give Him?
Spiritual pennies, left over from work, school, marriage, and worldly spending? Or do we give God the first fruits of our hearts, and see what He can do with them?
This Easter season, may we let go of our spiritual stinginess.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Does anything Jesus says in the Bible bother you? Has God led you to anything that you disagreed with?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
May we seek God by offering ourselves, wholly, to Him. Jim
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live.
The noblest thing a man can do is, just humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give."
David Livingstone
The Wednesday before He died...
As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, it is widely believed that He took a day to rest, because this day is not specifically mentioned. Personally, I would think that He spent some time teaching, because He knew time was short. Either way, we will look today, at another famous story from His final week.
We all have probably heard this story, of the "widow's mite'. I'm tempted to re-title it, "The Widow's Might"! Because of the awesome power over money that this woman had. Or, because of her incredible resistance to the power of money.
Jesus made a simple point here, that I believe is sometimes misunderstood. It is surely true, that this woman gave more, 'per capita', than the others, but this story goes beyond simple percentages. Physically, God doesn't need much to work with. Remember the five loaves and two fishes that fed over five thousand people? And man was created from a handful of dirt...and the world from...nothing! What He does need, are willing, generous hearts. In dealing with us, He needs a starting point. Those giving grudgingly, weren't giving God much to work with. This widow gave Him a 'broken and contrite heart’; she gave it all, not financially, but spiritually.
What do we give Him?
Spiritual pennies, left over from work, school, marriage, and worldly spending? Or do we give God the first fruits of our hearts, and see what He can do with them?
This Easter season, may we let go of our spiritual stinginess.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Does anything Jesus says in the Bible bother you? Has God led you to anything that you disagreed with?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
May we seek God by offering ourselves, wholly, to Him. Jim
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live.
The noblest thing a man can do is, just humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give."
David Livingstone
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
ListenDaily - 07 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Tuesday
ListenDaily - 07 April 2009; The week that Jesus died: Tuesday
The Tuesday before He died...
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, He spent it avoiding traps set by the priests, and teaching, much of it in parables.
For more on this day, read Matthew 21:23 - 24:51; Mark 11:27 - 13:37; Luke 20:1 - 21:36. Here we will focus on this one exchange. Remember, they were looking for ways to convict Jesus. But look at this one statement: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
Does this conflict with anything in the Law? Is He not reaffirming their own beliefs? They could not see Him for who He was. The claimed to seek the truth, yet the Truth was right in front of them. Their concern with not being wrong outweighed their desire to be right.
Let this not be us! This Easter season, we should look beyond what we've 'always heard' and ensure that the Christ we seek, is the one, true, living God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Does anything Jesus says in the Bible bother you? Has God led you to anything that you disagreed with?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
The Tuesday before He died...
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, He spent it avoiding traps set by the priests, and teaching, much of it in parables.
For more on this day, read Matthew 21:23 - 24:51; Mark 11:27 - 13:37; Luke 20:1 - 21:36. Here we will focus on this one exchange. Remember, they were looking for ways to convict Jesus. But look at this one statement: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
Does this conflict with anything in the Law? Is He not reaffirming their own beliefs? They could not see Him for who He was. The claimed to seek the truth, yet the Truth was right in front of them. Their concern with not being wrong outweighed their desire to be right.
Let this not be us! This Easter season, we should look beyond what we've 'always heard' and ensure that the Christ we seek, is the one, true, living God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Does anything Jesus says in the Bible bother you? Has God led you to anything that you disagreed with?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
Monday, April 6, 2009
ListenDaily - 06 April 2009; The week that Jesus died
ListenDaily - 06 April 2009; The week that Jesus died
The Monday before He died...
Many of us spent yesterday celebrating Palm Sunday. If you have not, I recommend reading through the details of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem from one or more of the following passages: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, or John 12.
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night." Matthew 21:12-17 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, He spent it setting His death into motion, and loving His people.
Imagine, He was here to perform the ultimate sacrifice...and some of His own were in His Father's house, taking advantage of the poor...over sacrifices. He was certainly angry, and displayed His anger in a righteous way! But friends, He was in control here. The time of His crucifixion was near, and no one knew it, but Him. So by creating the stir in the Temple, He stepped up the accusations against Him, and started the ball rolling that would lead to His death.
But He did not leave on that note. No, He took one of His last opportunities to love and to heal.
This Easter season, let us look at our Savior as a righteous, justice seeking, loving God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Did you ever consider that Jesus, through the Father, determined the exact time of His arrest and death?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"This life was not intended to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it." Richard Baxter
The Monday before He died...
Many of us spent yesterday celebrating Palm Sunday. If you have not, I recommend reading through the details of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem from one or more of the following passages: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, or John 12.
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night." Matthew 21:12-17 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
How did Jesus spend His final week on Earth? On this day, He spent it setting His death into motion, and loving His people.
Imagine, He was here to perform the ultimate sacrifice...and some of His own were in His Father's house, taking advantage of the poor...over sacrifices. He was certainly angry, and displayed His anger in a righteous way! But friends, He was in control here. The time of His crucifixion was near, and no one knew it, but Him. So by creating the stir in the Temple, He stepped up the accusations against Him, and started the ball rolling that would lead to His death.
But He did not leave on that note. No, He took one of His last opportunities to love and to heal.
This Easter season, let us look at our Savior as a righteous, justice seeking, loving God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this passage?
2. Did you ever consider that Jesus, through the Father, determined the exact time of His arrest and death?
3. How do you feel as you move toward the day of His death?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"This life was not intended to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it." Richard Baxter
Friday, April 3, 2009
ListenDaily - 03 April 2009; Can He do it?
ListenDaily - 03 April 2009; Can He do it?
God is able. I pray that you gain confidence in that truth.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Now to him who is able ..."
God promises Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, their first child, even in their old age. DO you remember Sarah's response? She laughed.
But I just love God's response: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Can't you just hear the pain in His voice, even through the understanding? I can almost hear God saying; 'You believe in me. You know I created everything. Everything! What's one more baby?"
"Now to him who is able ...".
Now, you or I might not laugh at God, but it is very human to doubt things that are beyond our own capabilities. "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Is it?
What has God promised to you? His Word is full of promises for you, and they are all true. They are true because God cannot lie, and because He is able.
I pray that you know that, and have confidence in it.
And I ask that you pray that knowledge and confidence for someone else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How differently might we live if we had complete confidence in God's abilities and promises?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
God is able. I pray that you gain confidence in that truth.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Now to him who is able ..."
God promises Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, their first child, even in their old age. DO you remember Sarah's response? She laughed.
But I just love God's response: "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Can't you just hear the pain in His voice, even through the understanding? I can almost hear God saying; 'You believe in me. You know I created everything. Everything! What's one more baby?"
"Now to him who is able ...".
Now, you or I might not laugh at God, but it is very human to doubt things that are beyond our own capabilities. "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Is it?
What has God promised to you? His Word is full of promises for you, and they are all true. They are true because God cannot lie, and because He is able.
I pray that you know that, and have confidence in it.
And I ask that you pray that knowledge and confidence for someone else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How differently might we live if we had complete confidence in God's abilities and promises?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Thursday, April 2, 2009
ListenDaily - 02 April 2009; Filled!
ListenDaily - 02 April 2009; Filled!
Be filled. I pray that you will be filled.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
"...filled to the measure..." from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.
From fingertip to fingertip.
All your heart. All your soul. All your mind.
All your thoughts.
All your love.
"...all the fullness of God." Leaving no room for anything not of Him.
Squeezing out negativity. Pushing out every doubt. Eradicating every sinful thought.
"...filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The immortal, omnipresent, omnipotent, Creator, Jehovah God, moving inside of you and filling every inch.
Can you imagine? I hope you can. I hope you do. I pray you do.
Will you pray that for someone else?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How might it feel to be filled with the fullness of God?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Be filled. I pray that you will be filled.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray...that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
"...filled to the measure..." from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.
From fingertip to fingertip.
All your heart. All your soul. All your mind.
All your thoughts.
All your love.
"...all the fullness of God." Leaving no room for anything not of Him.
Squeezing out negativity. Pushing out every doubt. Eradicating every sinful thought.
"...filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The immortal, omnipresent, omnipotent, Creator, Jehovah God, moving inside of you and filling every inch.
Can you imagine? I hope you can. I hope you do. I pray you do.
Will you pray that for someone else?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How might it feel to be filled with the fullness of God?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
ListenDaily - 01 April 2009; More than you know.
ListenDaily - 01 April 2009; More than you know.
I pray that you can believe in more than you know.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you...know this love that surpasses knowledge..."
Do you know how much God loves you?
We have some idea, but I don't think we can truly know the immensity of His love for us. It would be like asking a three year old if they know how much their Mother or Father loves them. They know...but they don't really know. They kind of get that parents work hard to provide, that they can be comforted when they bump their heads, and that when they are hungry they can be fed. It is sweet and wonderful, but it is not complete understanding. They don't understand overtime to pay the mortgage, giving up personal desires for good of the family, or that Mommy or Daddy would lay down their life, if necessary, for the child.
I think what we know about the love of Christ is kind of like that. Oh, we study, and we learn...we increase in knowledge. And we know that Jesus laid down His life for us.
But I think their is so much more, more that goes on in the Heavens, more that was required of Christ in His sacrifice...more than we can know.
But not more than we can believe.
That small child's belief in the love of Mommy and Daddy is not limited to what he has experienced; he cannot imagine a limit to their love, and believes in it fully. And while earthly Mothers and Fathers will fall short of that perfect and complete love, our Heavenly Father never does.
We cannot really know the extent of His love for us.
But we can believe it. As Paul says at the end of this passage:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."
And pray for someone else, that they will believe more than they know.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. IAre your beliefs ever limited by your knowledge?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
I pray that you can believe in more than you know.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you...know this love that surpasses knowledge..."
Do you know how much God loves you?
We have some idea, but I don't think we can truly know the immensity of His love for us. It would be like asking a three year old if they know how much their Mother or Father loves them. They know...but they don't really know. They kind of get that parents work hard to provide, that they can be comforted when they bump their heads, and that when they are hungry they can be fed. It is sweet and wonderful, but it is not complete understanding. They don't understand overtime to pay the mortgage, giving up personal desires for good of the family, or that Mommy or Daddy would lay down their life, if necessary, for the child.
I think what we know about the love of Christ is kind of like that. Oh, we study, and we learn...we increase in knowledge. And we know that Jesus laid down His life for us.
But I think their is so much more, more that goes on in the Heavens, more that was required of Christ in His sacrifice...more than we can know.
But not more than we can believe.
That small child's belief in the love of Mommy and Daddy is not limited to what he has experienced; he cannot imagine a limit to their love, and believes in it fully. And while earthly Mothers and Fathers will fall short of that perfect and complete love, our Heavenly Father never does.
We cannot really know the extent of His love for us.
But we can believe it. As Paul says at the end of this passage:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."
And pray for someone else, that they will believe more than they know.
Amen.
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Questions:
1. IAre your beliefs ever limited by your knowledge?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
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