Thoughts From the Bible

Read M atthew 26: 30- 35- As I read this passage of scripture and knowing the story about how the disciples scattered when Jesus was a rrested.  In verses 31 and 35 we read this,  ‘Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and  the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.’   The lesson I take today from this situation is to be prepared to declare my belief in Jesus Christ. I do this by  continue to engrain God’s word into my heart and mind. I do this by consistently praying that the Holy Spirit will empower me when confronted . Many in our society today have no problem denigrating Christian beliefs when other religions are allowed  to exist without challenge. For me preparation is important and the Holy Spirit is with us today to help us focus on what is important and what ...

Matthew 26: 26-29-   A good story  paints a mental picture for those listening so they will not only be interested in the story but remember the story. A good public speaker will sometimes  use props  in the course of  their speaking that will emphasize what they are  saying,  so people will remember what they are saying. Jesus instituted  a very important  part of wh at we continue to follow to remember the price He paid for us. He used this supper with His disciples to teach the disciples the importance of what w as going to happen and how Jesus wanted them to remember Him  and what His purpose was.  We need to blot out what is going on around us when we take the Lord’s Last Supper and really focus on the price He paid for us. Verses 26 through 29 says,  ‘Now as they w ere eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And He took a cup, and when ...

Read Matthew 26: 17- 25-  J e sus is talking to His disciples and begins to tell them  one of them will betray Him. After the years they had been living with Jesus and watching  all of  the work He did, to hear Him say someone in their midst would betray Him had to be startling. How do es this story of betrayal apply to me today?  I need to understand I will be in situations where someone will ask me if I am a Christian. I may be asked if I believe in Jesus  Christ. Someone will want to know if I believe in God. Those are my moments of truth. Those are the moments when I need to  be strong in my  beliefs  and strong in my words. Timidity does not count.  Jesus had something very poignant to say about those who would betray Him in verses 23 and 24, ‘He answered,  “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, bu t woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It woul...

M atthew 26: 14-16-   ‘Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?” And  they  pai d him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an  opportunity  to betray Him.’     As I read this short passage more than one time, it still chills me that someone could  actually travel  with Jesus Christ and still betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. I need to examine  my heart and my motivations daily and make sure I am not living a life that could be seen as a betrayal of Jesus. If asked about my faith, I need to be prepared to stand by Je sus but also make sure others focus on Him and not me.  I understand the plan of God and what He knew His Son had to endure   in order to  save us. I want to make sure I respect what Jesus did and stand strong when my faith in Jesus is challenged.    

Read Matthew  26: 6- 13-   In v erse 1 1 , Jesus said something we need to understand,   “ For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. ”   There is much to do in helping those who we  consider as  poor in our society.  All  those efforts that are truly focused on those who are poor needs to remain  an objective  of all Christians. Jesus has said, we will have the poor with us alway s. Regardless of how the government may want to address this situation, we as Christians need to continue to work to help those less fortunate than we are.  Verse 12 ,  “In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.”  I can imagine that statement caused the room to go quiet.  Jesus knew those listening would know what He was referring to  and He knew He had to prepare them for what was coming. I  don’t  want to allow this mental image to pass by me. I need to intern...

Read Matthew 26: 1- 5-   As I read these five short verses, I wonder how I would have reacted if I had been with Jesus  and then He said this in verse 2, “ You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”   Would I have been like Peter and was prepared to  take off someone’s ear or would I have sat in stunned  silence .  This chapter begins the story of what Jesus had to do  to  redeem me.  I need to constantly remind myself Jesus came to show Himself to the world to save me.  I need to consistently remember the price Jesus paid to for me  and the blessed life He has given me.  

Read Matthew 25: 31-46 -  We need to look at what Jesus is saying. I have a choice. I can accept what Jesus has to say in the Bible or I can dismiss them. I can dismiss what I  don’t  like and lose all credibility in life. If I am going to be true to my belief in Jesus Christ, I must accept what He says. Verse 46 says this,  “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  I must accept there are those who will accept Jesus Christ and those who will no t. Those who do not accept Jesus, there will be an eternal punishment. Thankfully, that will not apply to me. Since  I feel that  is the case, do I move on to the next thought  and move on? No.  I must pray for those who have not decided about Jesus. I need to pray for those who have said “no” and pray they will see the love of Jesus as valuable to them. I must pray to stay focused on Jesus Christ  knowing Satan will be coming for me. I need to be pre...