Thoughts From the Bible

Read Luke 22: 24- 30- This is another example of Jesus wanting to make sure they understand that service is a key to following Him. We live in a society that values position in society and leadership of key organizations, but Jesus wants to us to know the importan ce of service. We need to understand how important service is in Christian principles. Jesus wants us to not only serve but look for opportunities to serve others. In doing this, we prom ote our testimony of Jesus Christ and how we value what Jesus has done for us. Jesus told the disciples, (26) “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” We do need to understand our service is not going to get us into heaven. We need to make the clear distinction our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives is what g ives us eternal life. Our desire to serve is the byproduct of and how we testify of Jesus Christ.    Proverb...

  Read Luke 21: 34- 38-   J esus gives us a definite word of wisdom in verse 36 . "(36) Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   We need to remember our life in Christ is a daily experience and we need to work to stay close to His principles. This is our witness to others. I need to continue to focus on the overall idea that I need one day of living for Christ to build on the next day. Strength through continual growth.   Proverbs 16: 29- A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.    

Read Luke 17: 5-10-   The apostles were learning from Jesus. Now they asked for Jesus to increase their faith in Him. Jesus then taught the apostles about how to see faith in their own lives. In verse 6 and 7 we read, '(6) So the Lord said, "if you have f aith as a mustard see d , you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you. (7 ) And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat?"   Jesus is telling us we need to believe in Him because He will allow that faith to grow into more than we can imagine. Jesus is also telling the apostles, they know the person who gives directions to servants expects those servants to do as they were directed. As we pray, Jesus will hear our prayers and work on our behalf. We must have faith Jesus will do this. We need to work to better know what His will may be in those s...

Read Luke 8: 22- 25 -  The disciples had already seen Jesus perform many miracles. They had also been with Him as He instructed the people on how they should live their lives. In spite of the time they had spent with Jesus, when the storm rose, they ran to Him frightened of the storm. Jesus used the situation to teach them a quick lesson.  In verse 25, Jesus said, But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him?   Yes, the disciples realized with even greater certainty that Jesus was the Son of God however, did they spend time listening to the very short sentence Jesus said? Jesus said, “Where is your faith?” H e expected the disciples to see their situation and pray and believe that God Almighty would protect them. The disciples had not learned they need to pray and believe God will intervene. We need to learn this lesson, too. When e...

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 Mark 14: 26- 31 How strong is my faith? Jesus again predicted what the behavior of the disciples would be during this extreme time for Jesus. Fear would be real for the disciples.  Jesus told the disciples this in verse 27,  “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written, “I will strike  the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”’”   The disciples lived and worked with Jesus  Christ,  yet He knew they would be scattered during Hi s duress.  It is important for me to constantly be focused on how Christ would have me to respond in any given situation so I can avoid being like the disciples and not be prepared to stand with Jesus rather than scatter in my actions when challenged about my faith. That is why it is  so important for me to continue to read and study God’s word and stay as close as possible to his redemptive Spirit.  Jesus knows I can weaken. I need to ensure my fai...

Read M ark 11: 20 -24-   Jesus is continuing to teach the disciples and providing guidance on our intents in prayer. Verses 23 and 24 speak loudly to  connecting  our faith and  our prayers.  (23)  “ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not  doubt in  his heart, but believes that those things he say s will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24)  Therefore,  I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will   have them.”   I know these two verses can open up  to  much debate about faith and answered prayers and God’s will in our lives.  We can get many opinions about the dynamics of prayer,  faith  and God’s will but what is my part in this  situation.  I feel I  need to make sure I do not over-complicate the situation and do my part. I need to pray for those in need ...

Read Mark 5: 35- 43-   In this passage of Mark, we see Jesus perform another miracle. He heard of a  need,  and He we nt to meet that need. Was meeting the need for the leader of the  synagogue ? Was meeting the need for the little girl involved? Was meeting the need so the disciples would see what Jesus could do?  Verses 39 through 42  say,   ‘And when he  had entered , He said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they  laughed  at Him. But He put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those w h o were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand  He said to her, “Talitha  cumi ,” Which means, “Little girl,  i  say to you, arise.” And  immediately  the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were  immediately  overcome with amazement.’   Jesus was meeting the ne...

  M ark 5:  24-34-   Jesus walked the earth and worked to meet the needs of people  in order for  people to recognize who He was.  He needed people to see His concern for individual people and individual needs.  Jesus also recognized people who had faith in Him. In verse 34 it is written,  ‘And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in  peace and  be healed of your disease.”’   Jesus wants to see faith on our part in Him and who He is. Not all the prayer s I pray are answered but it is not because I do not believe enough in Jesus Christ. I want to believe what I am praying would be in the ultimate will of God but that  is not always the case. Does that make me believe less in God? No. I continue to believe in God because of what I have learned in the Bible and because of how I have seen God’s hand move in the different areas of my life. T here are many questions I have about the things that happen in  ...