Thoughts From the Bible

Read Luke 8: 4- 10-   Jesus began His parable of sowing seeds and starting to teach the disciples and the people listening about learning from Him. When the disciples asked what the parable meant, Jesus replied in verse 10, ‘And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.”’   Jesus knew the word pictures of parables helped people to better understand His message, but it did require the disciples and the people to see beyond the story and see i ts application to their daily lives. We must do the same thing. In the events and situations in life we experience, we need to see the spiritual application to God’s principles to better ground us in our faith. That means being continually spiritually sensitive . We need continually work to be thinking about how God’s principles apply to what we do every day and then look for ways to share our...

Luke 8:1- 3- Now it came to pass , afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, (2) and certain women who had been healed or evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene , out of whom had come seven demons, (3) and Joanna the wife of C huza, Herod’s ste ward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.  Why was this information about women included to start this chapter? I think it is important to realize the work of women was important to all that Jesus was doing as he went from town to town. We are living in an age when women are taking lar ge roles in churches and leadership in churches and religious organizations. We can argue about what roles women can serve and what roles may be “off limits” but we need to not lose sight that all the work is important regardless of what the work is. We need to focus on the needs that need to be met. I...

Read Luke 7: 40- 50-   The woman who anointed Jesus and washed His feet with her tears did this because of Jesus forgiving her sins .  She had many sins in her life that needed to be forgiven. Jesus wanted to teach the people about forgiveness and not just that but His ability to forgive sins. In verses 47 and 48 we read this, “Therefore I say to you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved mu ch. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (48)’ The He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”’  Jesus appreciated the woman’s passion that was focused on His love for her and His forgiveness of her sins. Jesus wants to see our passion for Him. We need to understand that our sins will be forgiven if we simply ask. We Do not need to be focused on whether we think our sins are great or small, we need to simply know there is much we need to be forgiven, and Jesus has no limits on how He will forgive us.    Proverbs 12: 26- The righteous sho...

Read Luke 7: 36-39-   It was customary in Biblical times for travelers to have their feet washed when staying with someone. In this passage, a woman is so overwhelmed by who Jesus was, she cried a nd washed his feet with her tears. The hosting Pharisee noted his opinion in verse, 39, ‘ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man , if H e were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”’  What the Pharisee did not understand was that Jesus did not discriminate among the people. He welcomed and loved all. He still does, as should we. Jesus would love a sinner but also tell the m, to “go, and sin no more.” As Jesus showed us, we are to love all and be open to all. Also, as Jesus showed us, we do not have to accept and condone their sins.   Proverbs 12: 25 - Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad .

Read Luke 7: 31- 35-   Jesus knew the type of people who were in positions of influence. In verses 33 and 34 Jesus says, “For John the Baptist came neither eating brea d nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ (34) The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’   We see in these verses that not much has changed over 2000 years. We continue to hear similar things today about the church. People like to dwell on whatever they can find when they feel threatened, or they do not agree with a message. Why do they not agree with the message?  They know the message will require changes on their part, and they do not realize the change s they will make are better than what they know about their lives now .    They do not realize the power of the joy of the Lord in their lives and the peace it brings. We need to consistently pray Jesus will help us to see clearly spiritual ...

Read Luke 7: 24- 30 -   Jesus knew John the Baptist did not fit the religious mold of what people expected to see in a prophet. Jesus validated John the Baptist in verses 27 and 28. “(27) This is he of whom it is written: ‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before you.’ (28) Fo r I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”   Jesus validated John the Baptist but also noted those who accepted Him as their Savior would be viewed even greater. Jesus wanted the people and He wants us to see the value of acce pting Him and His plan for us. There is a greatness Jesus sees and His love for us is deep.   Proverbs 12: 23- A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.  

Read Luke 7: 17- 23-   John the Baptist sent a couple of his disciples to ask Jesus a direct question; are you the Messiah? Jesus responded in verses 23 and 22, ‘ (22) Jesus answered an d said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. (23) And blessed is he who is not o ffended because of Me.”’   Jesus wanted people to see what He did and see the proof of who He was. We need to do the same thing. We need to see what Jesus has done through the years, the testimonies of His grace in people’s lives and miracles done. All of these acts are important to deepen faith, but we need to never forget His plan. He died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead to show the magnificence of God.    Proverbs 12: 22 - Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal trut hfully are His delight.  

Read Luke 7: 11 -16 -  This is a short passage of scripture with a startling story of Jesus’ compassion and power. As a funeral possession passed with a corpse, Jesus had compassion on the mother of the deceased and raised hi m from the dead. What if you were among the crowd that witnessed that? Would that have changed your life? Would you have ever forgotten that event? I think I would have been amazed for weeks if not for years .    Then we read the crowd’s response in verse 16, ‘Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among u s,” and “God has visited His people.”’  I ask myself, “Shouldn’t I be just as excited today as the people were when Jesus showed compassion on this family?” Sure, these are stories written to tell us of what Jesus did while on earth and the stories are designed to strengthen our faith in Jesus. I need to accept these stories as real life inter ventions by Jesus and be excited for that family t...

Read Luke 7: 1- 10-   The centurion provided a lesson for Jesus to use to show people how authority and respect can show faith. After the centurion asked for the healing of a servant, he then had the people tell Jes us, that all Jesus had to do was to speak the word on behalf of his servant and he would be healed. In verses 9 and 10, Jesus says this, ‘ (9) When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” (10) And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the serv a nt well who ha d been sick.’   As we pray for other people who have situations in their lives that need a touch from Jesus, we need to understand how far reaching our faith can be and how far reaching the hand of Jesu s can be. We need to believe in Jesus’ authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our world and know Jesus will honor our requests. How those requests are ...

Read Luke 6: 46-49-  "(46) But why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"  Jesus wants us to practice what we preach. If we are going to profess, we are going to follow Jesus, He expects us to act like it. Jesus goes on to show in this passage when the tough things of life come, if we are living out Jesus' principles, our faith will help us through those times. If we are not living by those principles, we will fail. Again, we need to practice what we preach and believe that Jesus' principles will stay true regardless of what life may throw at us.   Proverbs 12: 18 - T here is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.  

Read Luke 6:42-45-   ( 43) "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. (44) For every tree is known by its own fruit. For me, do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush." (45) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks."   Jesus spoke to us about what our lives produce. When we die, will people stand and say these are all the good things this person has done in his life that has helped other people or this person was only concerned about themselves and they hurt all of these other people? We need to understand good actions and good deeds are expected of us when we choose to follow Jesus Christ. This does not mean it take a finite number of good things or deeds to meet Jesus' expectations of us. Jesus' expectation of us is that it is a r...