(NASB) Luke 10:1 “NOW AFTER this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.” (Some versions of the Bible say “seventy-two” men were sent out.) Jesus appoints His followers and sends them ahead of everywhere He Himself is […]
(NIV) 1 John 4:10 (paraphrase) You, Oh Lord God, have defined love, Your divine love. You say “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us” We, as Your followers, know that You loved us long before we came to recognize Your love for us. Your love sent Your Son, Your […]
A farmer plowing a field puts his eyes on a point beyond where he wants to end a row (to guarantee a straight furrow). Jesus used this simile to emphasize His call to you and me. (NASB) Luke 9:61-62 “Another also said, ‘I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say […]
(NASB) Luke 9:59 “And He (Jesus) said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.’” Jesus called a person to “Follow Me.” And the excuse? ‘Wait, just a minute Jesus…let me wait until my father dies – then I will follow You.’ (Paraphrase, a very […]
(NASB) Luke 9:57-58 “As they (Jesus and His disciples) were going along the road, someone said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever You go.’ 58 And Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Come […]
Rejection hurts – Rejection may desire retaliation – James and John were ready to retaliate against a Samaritan village for not receiving Jesus and His followers. These brothers were ready to use power from God to consume an entire village for rejecting them and their Master. (NIV) Luke 9:51-54 “As the time approached […]
(NIV) Matthew 4:19-20 (paraphrased) Father, Your Son called His disciples individually. You are still calling people as individuals. Thank You for Your invitation and call through Christ’s words: “Come, follow me…” Give me courage to follow You this day, trusting You to lead me where You want me to go. I do not even have […]
Jesus had determined to go to Jerusalem and it seems He and His followers were going through Samaria. He was going toward God’s goals for Him. (NASB) Luke 9:52-53 “and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53 But […]
Recently I read “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn. The Chinese who are persecuted in the story had the determination that Jesus did! Their focus was not on their imprisonments, nor their beatings, nor their sufferings…their focus was on heaven. Jesus had a different view of His approaching suffering, crucifixion and death, even His […]
The word jealousy is used of God. He alone is God and there is none other Who is to be worshiped or regarded as God. God’s jealousy has to do with the holiness of His character and Person. The jealously of God is not the same as people’s jealousy. People’s jealousy is self-serving […]