November 19, 2012

“Immediately He Began to Proclaim Jesus” (11/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Acts 9-10.

When Saul left for Damascus, he was an enemy of Jesus and His church. After the Lord appeared to him on the way and he came into the city, he obeyed the gospel. Then he wasted no time in getting to work teaching Christ to others.

“Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, ‘Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 9:19-22).

Saul was a unique case. As one who had been chosen by Christ to be His apostle (Acts 9:15), he would have the benefit of the Holy Spirit guiding him into all the truth (John 16:13). It will take more time for us to learn the Scriptures and be able to teach them (though we should still work toward this goal – Hebrews 5:12). But there are certain characteristics that Saul demonstrated that we should emulate.
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October 11, 2012

The Centurion’s Great Faith (10/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7.

When Jesus was informed of a centurion’s servant who was near death, He headed to the man’s house. But before He arrived, the centurion sent a message to Him. His message to Jesus proved to be a great expression of faith.

“Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far away from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, ‘Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “Go!” and he goes, and to another, “Come!” and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this!” and he does it.’ Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, ‘I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith’” (Luke 7:6-9).

Notice some characteristics of the centurions “great faith“:
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September 17, 2012

"From the First Day That You Set Your Heart on Understanding" (9/17)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Daniel 10-12.

Daniel received a vision regarding what would happen “in the latter days” (Daniel 10:14). The text indicated that “he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision” (Daniel 10:1). How could he have such an understanding of this revelation? Notice what the messenger told him:

“Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words’” (Daniel 10:12).

From the first day Daniel set his heart, he was heard; and the revelation was sent to him. It is important to notice what he set his heart to do, because these things are necessary if we wish to understand the will of God today.
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September 7, 2012

"For My Holy Name" (9/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 35-37.

After punishing the people for their sins, God revealed to Ezekiel that He was going to restore them to their land. But it is important to notice why God was going to restore them.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land”‘” (Ezekiel 36:22-24).

God wanted the people of Israel to clearly understand the reason why He was restoring them to their land. It was not because of them and what great works they had accomplished. Rather, it was because of God and His desire that His name not be profaned among the nations.
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August 1, 2012

Holier Than Thou (8/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Isaiah 64-66.

It is not uncommon to hear people use the phrase “holier than thou” to speak critically of those who arrogantly operate as if they are somehow better than others (or are perceived to do so). People do not appreciate it when others act in this way. The passage below shows us what God thinks about this attitude.

“Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day” (Isaiah 65:5).

As God described this “rebellious people” (v. 2) who would “continually provoke” Him (v. 3), one of His complaints against them was this arrogant, “holier than thou” attitude they had toward their fellow man.
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July 1, 2012

"The Arrogance of Your Heart Has Deceived You" (7/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Obadiah 1; Psalm 82-83.

Obadiah prophesied of the coming destruction of Edom because of their sin. They would be ransacked (v. 6), overpowered (v. 7), and slaughtered (v. 9).

Yet Edom, in their arrogance, refused to believe that such destruction could come upon them. They believed they were secure in their position and that no harm could befall them. While they were in a good strategic position “in the clefts of the rock” (v. 3) to defend against attacks, they were no match for God.

“‘The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in the loftiness of your dwelling place, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to earth?” Though you build high like the eagle, though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the Lord” (Obadiah 3-4).

Their arrogance deceived them, causing them to think they had no reason to correct their sin for fear of divine punishment. Because of this, God would bring them down.
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June 11, 2012

Solomon’s Plan to Build the Temple (6/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3.

When Solomon was about to build the temple, he contacted Hiram (or Huram, depending on the translation), the king of Tyre to receive workers and materials from him that would be necessary for the project. In his message to Hiram, we see four attitudes that Solomon possessed that are important for us to emulate.

“Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, this being required forever in Israel” (2 Chronicles 2:4).

We first see that Solomon had a desire to worship God according to the pattern He had given to Israel. In building the temple, Solomon was not trying to do things his way, but God’s way.
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