Thoughts From the Bible

Read Luke 18: 1- 8   J esus is now teaching us a lesson in perseverance. The widow came before the judge looking for justice  and she did not relent. She persisted until the judge granted her request.  In verses 6 , 7 and 8 we read this, ‘ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. (7) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will He delay long over them? (8) I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”’   Jesus wants to hear our requests. This is one way we build our relationship with God. We also do not know God’s timing, so He wants us to be persistent. He will provide justice as He has said in these verses, but He wants to see our faith in Him to be strong and grow and sometimes that means being persistent in our requests.    Proverbs 15: 31- The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  

Read Luke 17: 22- 37-   Jesus is teaching the people about the coming of the kingdom of God. He has described to the people how the people must be spiritually focused and not focused on the things of this world when He returns. In verses 31, 32, and 33 says, "In that day, he who is on the house to p, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them, away. And likewise, the one who is in the field let him not turn back. (32) Remember Lot's wife. (33) Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it.   Jesus is telling us He will return and when that happens, we must be prepared by being spiritually focused and not let the things of this world influence us more than Jesus does. Again, Jesus is concerned about the state of our hearts and minds and constantly staying ready for His return. The things of this world demand so much of our mental time and many times negatively impacts our emotions. Jesus is wanting us to ...

Read Luke 17: 20-21- " (20) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered the m and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation. (21) nor will they say, 'See here!' Or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. "  The people at the time spent much of their time doing external things to show their dedication to God. Because they were so focused on the outward signs of being respectful to God, they did not internalize their spirituality. Jesus in this situation, is attempting to teach the people that their belief in God and their spiritual lives should be an internal state for them also. He tells them the kingdom of God is within them. They needed to be working to incorporate in their minds and hearts the teachings of God and the thoughts of God should take reverence in their hearts before exhibiting those things outwardly.  We need to do the same thing . Our personal relationship w...

  Read Luke 17: 11- 1 9-   Jesus was approached by 10 lepers and asked to be healed. Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests. When they did, they were healed because they believed in Jesus and did as He told them .    One of the lepers returned to Jesus to express his thanks and glorified God for his healing. Jesus then gives us a lesson of appreciation. In verse 17 Jesus says, 'so Jesus ans w ered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But whe r e are the nine? (18) Were there not any found w ho returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (19) And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well ." '     All the lepers had faith they would be healed when they were calling out to Jesus. One came back to Jesus to express his joy and appreciation. We need to be like this single leper. We need to always remember to thank God for His grace to us. This should be a daily state of mind for us because we owe God so much, even ...

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...

Luke 17: 1- 4- (1) Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come but woe to him through whom they do come. (2) It would be bet t er for him if a mil l ston e were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (3) Take heed to yourselves. If you r brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. (4) And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, "I repent , " you shall forgive him."   Jesus is g iving us a pointed lesson in these four verses. He does not expect us to tolerate offenses against us, but He also expects us to forgive as He forgives. We have to understand Jesus' forgiveness is unlimited. We have to be the same way. That really goes against our human tendency. Jesus also did not qualify the sin. Too many times, we do qualify another person's sins .    Jesus tells us it is ...

Read Luke 16: 19- 31-   In this passage, Jesus gives us a description of the existence of heaven and hell. Verses 22 and 23 say, "(22) So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."   Jesus shows us about the rich man who had the opportunity to be merciful and thoughtful of a person in bad condition, yet he did nothing. The rich man did not want anyone to suffer what he was enduring and wanted a special visit to his brothers and friends so they would accept God.  Jesus then said , "(29) Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear t hem."   We all have the opportunity to know the message of Jesus Christ. It is important that each person hear the message and accept Christ . This is an individual decision. We need to keep this in mind as we live our ...