Thoughts From the Bible

Luke 10: 1- 2-  After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others also and sent them tow by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. (2) Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”’   For a very good reason, when it comes to followers of Jesus, we always focus on the twelve disciples. In this short passage we see there were many other discipl es of Jesus. Jesus sent seventy disciples to prepare the people in a variety of places for Jesus to come and share with them. We have a tendency to feel like the real spiritual leaders must hav e a religious or spiritual title when we need to remember; we are disciples now.  We need to de velop a mindset that we are going before Jesus for some people. Through our faith in Jesus Christ and working to learn to live according to His principles, we become disciples and we need t...

Luke 9: 57- 62-   There were people who were ready to follow Jesus but in this section of scripture, each of those people had one other thing they wanted to do before they co mmitted to working with and for Jesus. Jesus used the opportunity to show those people what commitment looked like.  In verses 61 and 62 we read this, ‘ (61) And another also said, “Lord, I will fol low You but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” (62) But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”’   Jesus was letting His followers know He did not want them looking backward in their lives, He wanted them looking forward on the mission before them. He also did not want to see their commitment divided. We need to be looking forward also. We need to be working to prepare for what whatever is coming in our futures and continuing to work to know God’s will in our lives.    Proverbs 13:25- The righteou...

Read Luke 9: 51- 56-   Not everyone believed in Jesus. Regardless of everything Jesus had done and all that He preached, there were people who did not favor Jesus. The disciples wanted to do something about it. Jesus had to correct them.  In verses 55 and 56 we read, ‘But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. (56) For the Son of Man did not co me to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. ’   Jesus came to save people. That was His focus and it should be our focus. There are so many things people want to read into what Jesus said and what was written about His life. This was His goal. To save people. Save them from what? As we read further in the New Testament, we see a day of judgment will come when those who chose to deny Christ will be sent away. That is why salvation should remain our focus as it was Jesus’ focus.   Proverbs 13:24- He who spares his rod hates his son, but ...

Luke 9: 49 -50- ‘Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” (50) But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him for he who is not against us is on our side.”’   The disciples had a myopic view of God’s work. They erroneously thought someone had to be physically with them to be able to see what God could do. Jesus wanted them to see people who believed in the power of God can pray for others and expect God to work in their lives. We have denominations today who sometimes feel they have the ultimat e ticket to God’s grace. If we believe in Jesus Christ and His resurrection and His forgiveness of our sins, we can expect God to work in our lives.   Proverbs 13:2 2- A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.  

Luke 9: 46 - 48- ‘ (46) Then a dispute arose among the, as to which of them would be greatest. (47) And Jesus, perceiving the thoughts of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, (48) and said to them, “W hoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”’   So much of our society is built on competition and standing in society. The drive and in many ways, the expectation is to be b etter than others. Jesus wants to see more humility and less arrogance. A person can work to achieve great things and lead others while allowing humility a prominent plac e in their lives. Maybe we should make it a matter or prayer.    Proverbs 13:20- He who walk with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.  

Luke 9: 43- 45- (43) And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did. He said to His disciples, (44) “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” (45) But they did not understand this saying, and they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.   This stopped the disciples in their tracks. Je sus knew what the future held for Him. He chose this time to reveal part of it to his closest followers. As I think about the whole idea of someone betraying Jesus, I want to make sure I do not betray Jesus today. There are opportunities in this life that I have to speak up about faith in Jesus and I need to make sure I do not let those o pportunities pass. I cannot be guilty of betraying Jesus.    Proverbs 13:19- A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.    

Read Luke 9: 37- 42-   What part does your faith in Jesus play in your life? Jesus was presented with a situation, and he used the situation to talk to the people about faith in their lives. In verse 41 Jesus said, ‘Then Jesus answered and said, “ O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”’   The people lived in a society that had them subject to the Roman empire but also to the religious leaders of their faith. The people followed rituals, but Jesus is pointing out how the peopl e did not have faith. Their belief in God did not invade their faith or how they lived their lives outside of their rituals. It is one of the situations we must guard against every day. Our belief in God must be part of how we live our lives. We must develop a worldview based on God’s principles, not a political party’s principles or some principles based on other philosophies. We need to practice God’s principles in how we conduct ou...