Day 303: Luke 17:11-18:14

Jesus points out again and again, through stories and through situations that God's grace is for everybody. By once again pointing out that a Samaritan was the healed leper who was thankful, he was once again throwing it in the faces of those who believed that God's grace was just for the Jews.

The 2 men who prayed in chapter 18 were SO different. I wonder how humble my prayers are?

Day 302: John 11

I love how Jesus knew that Lazarus would be alive again and he still was deeply moved in spirit and troubled and even wept. My notes say this could have been one of 2 things: he empathized with their grief OR he was troubled at their unbelief. I believe it was the first. Anyone who does not associate deep emotions with God is missing such an important characteristic. So many people equate emotions with weakness. I guess I think just the opposite.

I chuckle at the brief prayer right before Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb. It's like he is saying "Hey dad, I know we are together on this thing, but I need to say this just because other people are watching me right now." Cute.

Day 301: Luke 16-17:10

I had to definitely read the footnotes on this parable about the shrewd manager. It just wasn't clicking for me this morning.

I am really pondering the verse that says you cannot serve God and money. What does serving money look like in MY life. I know I am guilty of it, but sometimes it is such a grey area....how much is too much? Wants vs. needs? Planning for the future vs. hoarding? Then Jesus says this which really gets me: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." I think I can justify a WHOLE lot.

Day 300: Luke 14-15

When Jesus teaches about seeking honor in chapter 14, there are 21 good lessons. (1) Service is more important than status, and (2) God opens his kingdom to everyone. Still good lessons for us.

Concerning counting the cost before becoming a disciple of Jesus....I'm not sure I, or anyone I know, truly knew what signing on for Jesus entailed. Maybe some people who are very knowledgeable or people who know they will suffer for their faith have a clue of what the cost is, but I think in general it is a process of learning after you turn your life over.

I love the "lost" parables in Luke 15. Here is a good note: In the first 2 stories, the seeker actively looked for the coin and the sheep, which could not return by themselves. In the 3rd story, the father watched and waited. He was dealing with a human being with a will of his own. Like the father in this story, God waits patiently for us to come to our senses.

Day 299: Luke 12-13

When Jesus gives the example of the rich man who stores up so much treasure so he won't have to work any more, what do you think that says about how we save for retirement? That has always kind of puzzled me.

And then He goes straight into the section about worrying about how our needs will be supplied. It is such a blurred line between good planning/stewardship and worry/oversaving.

I love when Jesus calls Herod "that fox"!! Funny..

Day 298: Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42

A good note on 10:2. In Christian service, there is no unemployment. God has enough work for everyone. Don't just sit back and watch others work - look for ways to help with the harvest.

I feel like 10:17-24 is a little glimpse into one of the really special moments between Jesus and his followers. It was definitely a high point for the 72 who returned from ministry. And I just LOVE Jesus' response.

Concerning how Jesus tells us in 11:8 to be bold in prayer, here is an EXCELLENT note: Persistence, or boldness, in prayer overcomes our insensitivity, not God's. To practice persistence does more to change our hearts and minds than his, and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need. Persistence in prayer helps us recognize God's work.

Day 297: John 9:1-10:21

I love this note from my Bible concerning the disciples questioning why a man was born blind: If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. When you suffer from a disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, "Why did this happen to me?" or "What did I do wrong?" Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clearer perspective on what is happening. But in my opinion, we may never get that clearer perspective.

I love this part about the shepherd and the sheep. I was listening to a pastor on the radio the other day teaching on this. He said that sheep have 4 main characteristics. They are DUMB (you never see a sheep trained for the circus). They are DIRTY (they have no way to keep themselves clean). They are DIRECTIONLESS (they will wander around with no real goal or destination or purpose). And they are DEFENSELESS (they have no way to protect themselves against predators). I thought WOW! That is so like me! If we look at ourselves with these 4 characteristics in mind, no wonder we so desperately need a shepherd! People that lived in that culture probably understood this analogy far more that people living in a city and maybe seeing a sheep at a petting zoo do. I am so thankful that I have a good shepherd directing my life!

Day 296: John 7-8

In chapter 7, I can just imagine Jesus getting more and more frustrated with the Jews at the feast. I'm not sure most men would have been able to hold it together!

In case you don't understand how the Pharisees and teachers of the law were trying to trap Jesus in chapter 8 with the woman caught in adultery, here is what my note says:

The leaders were using the woman as a trap so they could trick Jesus. If Jesus said the woman should not be stoned, they wold accuse Jesus of violating Moses' law. If he urged them to execute her, they would report him to the Romans, who did not permit the Jews to carry out their own executions.

"Before Abraham was born, I am." I love that statement! (I bet the grammar teachers are stumped by it though!)

Day 295: Matthew 18

As I read Matt 18:15-20, I am struck by the phrase "If your brother sins against you". I think these verses have always been used to support confrontation of sin in general. Is that accurate? Or does this method of confrontation only apply when the sin is against me personally? Hmmm.

The Parable of the unforgiving debtor always hits me square between the eyes when I read it. I think a lot of it comes down to having varying degrees of sin in my mind. Someone does something to me "bigger" than what I think I have been personally forgiven by God for, and therefore I am hesitant to forgive. This is dead wrong.

Day 294: Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62

I think many people use the story about the disciples not being able to drive a demon out because they don't have enough faith as the basis for their argument 'some people don't get well, because they don't have enough faith.' I'm not sure this is the same thing and may be one of the most dangerous misuses of scripture. I have heard people say this about others and it always rubs me the wrong way, although I am not sure how to accurately respond.

Good note on Mark 9:24. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" The attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls belief or faith is not something we can obtain without help. Faith is a gift from God. No matter how much faith we have, we never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Faith is not stored away like money in the bank. Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus.

Day 293: Matthew 16; Mark 8; Luke 9:18-27

Apparently the Pharisees and Sadducees weren't satisfied with all the miracles Jesus was performing and they wanted bigger and better. Jesus knew, though, that they wouldn't believe no matter what her performed.

I am surprised Jesus didn't want to just shake the disciples in 16:5-12. They probably thought they were doing such a good job remembering the loaves and fishes, when that had nothing to do with what Jesus was telling them!

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

Day 292: Matthew 15; Mark 7

A good note about the the first section in Matt 15: We work hard to keep our outward appearance attractive,m but what is in our hearts is even more important. The way we are deep down (where others can't see) matters much to God. What are you like inside? When people become Christians, God makes them different on the inside. He will continue the process of change inside them if they only ask. God wants us to seek healthy thoughts and motives, not just healthy food and exercise.

Day 291: John 6

I think too often, like Philip, I limit myself by practicality. Philip's response with feeding the thousands was, "We don't have that kind of money." I think too often I think too small, and I don't allow for room for God to act in a situation.

It must have been such a radical thing for the people to hear that all they had to do was "to believe in the one he has sent." Up to this point, there was so much that was required by the law. This must have seemed 'too easy' to them and therefore unbelievable. But then he goes into the whole 'eat my flesh and drink my blood' speech, which probably totally blew their minds!

Day 290: Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17

I love the story of walking on water. "Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'" Can you image worshipping Jesus as He stands right in front of you? How cool that is going to be some day!

It is so hard to look at these stories from this angle and wonder why the disciples didn't get it. "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened." But then I wonder if the disciples aren't looking at me from "their angle" and wondering why I don't get things and why I miss so many opportunities and things that God has for me.

Day 289: Matthew 9-10

In the story at the beginning of chapter 9, I notice that Jesus' main concern is the man's spiritual health, rather than his physical health. I need to be reminded of this, especially when people are suffering physically. As consuming as pain can be, there is still something much more important.

I am thinking about the instructions Jesus gives to the 12. Basically he is telling them that if people don't listen to your words or welcome you (or your message), you should move on. What does this say to us about being persistent with people who continue to say no to God? Are we supposed to or is there a better way to spend that time?

And shrewd as snake and gentle as doves. THERE is a tough balance.

Day 288: Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5

It's hard to comment on much when we are reading what we just read in the other Gospels.

I really enjoy these stories of miraculous healings that Jesus performed. I especially like the 2 that are interwoven in Mark 5: Jarius's daughter and the woman who touches Christ's garment. I also really like Jesus' words. "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Day 287: Matthew 13; Luke 8

Matthew 13:15 seems so appropriate for people that I know today. "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

I'm sure that the Pharisees did not like hearing that that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast. In the Old Testament, yeast was not symbolically a good thing from what I recall.

Luke 8:18 "Therefore consider carefully how you listen." Interesting thought.

I think Jesus' response the main healed fro demons is cool. The man wants to then start traveling with Jesus, but Jesus tells him to "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So often I am tempted to hang with 'church people.' They are who I feel most connected with. But that is not necessarily who God want me to spend all my time with.

Day 286: Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." Another statement that highlights the absolutes in God's kingdom. You can't be lukewarm or just 'play the God game' sometimes. It is ALL IN. The alternative? You are against God.

I think Jesus' response to the woman who called out in Luke 11:27-28 illustrates that our relationship God is far more important than that with our family on earth. Unfortunately, unbelievers don't get this and it can cause a lot of heartache.

Day 285: Matthew 11

I can relate to John the Baptist having doubts. In those dark times (John is in prison), your mind starts to wander and question. I think the good thing is that John still turns to Jesus to be reminded of who he is.

It is interesting that we are skipping around within the gospels. I guess I always assumed that they were written chronologically.

Day 284: Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7

I am thinking about Luke 7:4-6. "This man deserves to have you do this (be healed) because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." I am assuming that these our just outward signs of the man's faith in God, but it still kind of bugs me because it implies that we "deserve" anything good at all from God. My notes don't really say anything about this, but I would be curious if anyone knows more.

Love the story of the woman annointing Jesus' feet and his response to her and to the Pharisee's.

Day 283: Matthew 5-7

Some good notes on the Sermon on the Mount: In it, Jesus proclaimed his attitude toward the law. Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom-what matters is faithful obedience from the heart. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic leaders of the day. It called them back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance.

How radical it must have seemed (and still seems?) that sinning happens in our thoughts. Things like anger and lust. I think many self-righteous people just skip over this part of His teachings. "I'm not hurting others, so what is the harm...." Maybe it is just me, but I was struck recently by how incredible it is that God "hears" all my thoughts. I was praying silently, and thought...God is hearing me!!! I don't think science will ever advance to the point where we can totally mind-read, yet God knows all of this stuff! Sorry....maybe I'm the only one who is amazed by this stuff.

I am reminded again about the importance of not doing things to receive any type of "earthly acclaim". How often does this motivate me? It says that when we do, we receive NO reward from our Father in heaven.

It is interesting how certain parts of this sermon speak louder to me than others. I am sure it is because they are things that I am not winning at right now in my life. It really is a narrow gate...isn't it?

Day 282: Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6

Based on the wheat on the Sabbath incident, it makes it sound like the Pharisees were literally following Jesus and the disciples around. I can picture them taking a shortcut through a wheat field, grabbing a snack on the way and these old Pharisees peaking through the rows of wheat, saying "Aha! We caught you!!!" If it wasn't so pathetic, it would be amusing.

Somehow I don't remember reading Mark 3:20-21. His family came to get him and take charge of him and told people "He is out of his mind." I knew they didn't really recognize who he was during these times, but this is interesting. I have to think how his family felt at the end of chapter 3 when he basically puts other believers 'above' his own birth family.

Luke 6:30 is making me stop and think. "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." This is pretty radical and extreme. I'm not sure a day goes by when I don't hear about a need or a request for money or something.

Love this: "For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Day 281: John 5

I find it interesting that the man by the pool who was healed had no idea who Jesus was, even after he was healed and questioned by others. I thought belief in the "healer" was required. Hmmm. The Jews then, when confronted with both a miracle and a broken law (Sabbath), chose to focus on the law. How many miracles do we miss because we are trying to make things fit into our neat orderly way of viewing life?

I find these verses very convicting: "You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." Heart knowledge should trump head knowledge. Actions should trump study.

Day 280: Mark 2

I can see why they thought Jesus was being blasphemous by forgiving people's sins. If you didn't believe the guy was God, that is just not something that people would be claiming.

I think it is so amusing that the Pharisees referred to people as "sinners". As if they themselves were not sinners. I think some Christians even hold to that thought process today. "there are sinners and there are believers." Yikes.....slippery slope and scary outlook if you ask me.

Day 279: John 2-4

"Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken." After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. They must have had a ton of 'aha!' moments after the resurrection.

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to see the kingdom of heaven, this was a radical idea for the times. (And it really still is if you think about it!) It was revolutionary that the kingdom was personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth.

There is just so much in the paragraph in John 3 (16-21). I can sit for an hour and just meditate and think about these verses.

John the Baptist speaking at the end of chapter 3 shows such great humility, summed up in the statement "He must become greater; I must become less." I have been around several Christian leaders who this was definitely not the case for.

I wonder if the Samaritan woman is the first non-Jew to have a life changing encounter with Christ.

Day 278: Matthew 4; Luke 4-5; John 1:15-51

Wow, the crowd sure changed in Luke 4. In v. 22 all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words. In v. 28 they were furious and wanted to throw him off a cliff! Why the change? basically he was telling them that sometimes God chose to reach Gentiles rather than Jews. Why do we sometimes not want everyone to be saved?

I am thinking about Simon Peter's reaction to Jesus causing them to catch so many fish. "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" When something happens in my life that can only be a result of God, is my first reaction to see my shortcomings in light of God's perfection? Should it be?

"But Jesus often withdrew to quiet places and prayed." Often. I want to be more like that.

Day 277: Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

From notes: Why did John attract so many people? He was the first true prophet in 400 years! He had strong words for his audience - they too were sinners and needed to repent. The people were expecting a prophet like Elijah and John seemed to be the one.

The book of Mark just jumps right into things, doesn't it? By the end of chapter 1, already so much has happened! I love the stories of one healing after another. I think we tend to become desensitized to this stuff that we have heard so many times. But it is amazing!

A note...Matthew's genealogy goes back to Abraham and shows that Jesus was related to all Jews. Luke's genealogy goes back to Adam, showing that Jesus is related to all humans. This is consistent with Luke's picture of Jesus as the Savior of the whole world.

Day 276: Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52

Maybe you have heard this before but scholars think there is read significance in the 3 gifts the Magi brought to Jesus. Gold was a gift for a king, incense was a gift for a deity, and myrrh was a gift for a person who was going to die. These gifts may have provided the financial resources for the trip to Egypt and back.

I always enjoy this one and only story we have about Jesus as a 12 year old kid. Somehow it helps with my view of His human-ness.

Day 275:Matthew 1; Luke 2:1-38

An interesting note: Matthew breaks Israel's history into 3 sets of 14 generations, but there were probably more generations than those listed here. Genealogies often compressed history, meaning that not every generation of ancestors was specifically listed. Thus the phrase the father of can also be translated "the ancestor of." Hmmm...I have never heard this before. But I did feel like I recognized many more names in this list this time!

As I read in Luke, I am struck again just how amazing this is!!! "Today in the in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." A baby who is God. We should constantly be amazed at this!!!!

Day 274: Luke 1; John 1:1-14

After reading the OT for the last 9 months and seeing the story unfold, I can definitely see why they called these books Gospels or Good News! So much stuff we had to go through to get to this point. But then, look how much that same "stuff" extends on the other end of the cross as well. I really am getting a good glimpse at how the whole story of God's creation on earth reads. Even though I know the end of the story (I feel like I peeked at the end of a good fiction book!), the process leading up to that ending is just as important and not to ever be missed. I love it!

This part of John that we read today is some of my favorite scripture. At first it sounds kind of confusing to read, but there is so much contained in these 14 verses.