Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 1 (day two)
“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” Have you said these words? Perhaps it wasn’t about being too young but rather not being qualified for the task to which the Lord has called you. Like Moses, Abraham, David and countless others before and since, Jeremiah voices the question of doubt. It is clear that God doesn’t need us, and yet he chooses to use us to accomplish his will on earth. That is an encouraging thought and more so when you think who he uses. Today remember when you doubt your purpose that he rarely calls the qualified, he just qualifies the called.
Hard and long assignment
Re: Verse reading – Jeremiah 1 (day one)
“The words of Jeremiah. . .The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year. . .of Josiah. . .and through the reign of Jehoiakim. . .down to the. . .eleventh year of Zekekiah. . .when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.” (v 1-3) 40 years. That is how long Jeremiah labored with the people of Judah. Kings came and went. Three of them. He stayed at the task. Courageously communicated the word of the Lord. There were times (many) when it was unpopular to do so. Times it was dangerous. Times when he complained to God at the difficult and thankless task that was his. One thing, however. Jeremiah remained faithful. Even when there was no success to point to. No encouragement from others. For the next 12 weeks it will be our privilege to study the life and message of this brave man (and another like him named Ezekiel). They were faithful to hard and long assignments. You?
All the prophets
RE Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day seven) “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (v 26-27) It is a good transition for us. Today is our last study in Luke. Next week we begin 12 lessons in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Jesus referenced the prophets because they inspired Him. He learned from them. Learned that suffering would be a necessary part of His ministry. Ours too. “Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you. Rejoice and be glad. . .for this is the way they treated the prophets.” (Matthew 5:11-12) What price/privilege will be required for us to know the Lord and speak for Him in an unbelieving age? The prophets can tell us! Lord, give us ears to hear in the next few weeks. “Your sons and your daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17)
We Were Hoping
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day six)
Not rare, I suppose. Many people find themselves in a place like the Emmaus road disciples. “We were hoping (past tense) that He was going to redeem Israel” (v 21) Been there? Know someone who is? Tried faith. Tried prayer. Sincerely hoped to find power and help. AWOL now. Disappointed. The problem (for them and for us) is that we do not believe the Scripture. “Was it not NECESSARY for the Christ to SUFFER these things and to enter into His glory?” (v 26) None of the prophets predicted an easy or quick solution to the problems of this planet. If we cherish such ideas, it is because we did not listen to them. Christ faced days that were painful and long and unfair. We will too. The glory that follows is worth every sacrifice, but nothing exempts us from the price. Many who give up hope, never had Biblical hope in the first place.
Reality
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day five) Verse 15- “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.” This is the reality of this encounter from the beginning. The 2 men were with Jesus but didn’t know it (perception). Sound familiar? Often times our own issues, experiences, and circumstances keep us from a close and connected “fellowship” with Christ. Notice the word “fellowship”. The relationship NEVER changes, just OUR ability to hear and sense the presence of the Living God. One of the significant truths found in this passage is that Jesus shows us the future reality (we experience as New Testament Believers) of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
He helps us see and sense REALITY. The continued promise and presence of the Lord. Matthew 28- “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Open Mind
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day four)
Wouldn’t you like to have been in on that bible study! As the two men were walking and talking, Jesus joined them. He began a process of teaching them the Word of God. He explained the scriptures to them so they could understand. Later, in the closed room with His disciples, verse 45 says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”. Jesus will do the same for you and me. He will open our minds, through the Holy Spirit, so that we can understand God’s Word. God does not want His Word to be a puzzle to us…He wants us to clearly understand. How often do we depend on our own resources though to ‘figure it out’? God stands ready to open our mind to understand the Scriptures…all we have to do is ask. We may also run back seven miles in order to tell someone else what we now understand.
What
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (Day Three)
“What things?” [Jesus] asked. Even after his resurrection, our Savior was the same Jesus, the same teacher who patiently walked alongside anyone who would engage him, engrossed in conversation, shepherding the curious to clarity, leading the acquiescent to alarm, bringing the sorrowful to surprise. Jesus wasn’t playing dumb when he asked the Emmaus-bound travelers to explain their dejected state. He well knew that when we tell him what is on our minds, when we converse with him, we begin to think more deeply. He leads us into the light. Jesus knew “what things.” The question is, do we?
Stay With Us
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day two)
“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them” Luke 24:28-29 What strikes me first about this great story is that although the disciples are kept from knowing who Jesus was, they were captivated by him. What does that tell us about the nature and character of Jesus? He was compassionate, he listened as they told them of the events of the past week. He was knowledgeable and able to teach as he explained the words of the Prophets. He was certainly compelling for they desired greatly for his company. Jesus drew people to himself even when they had no idea of his true nature, he does that still. So that they would truly know the fullness of the Prophets stories, the Lamb that was broken, broke bread with them and their eyes were opened. What a remarkable story.
The Son, the Spirit and the Scripture
Re: Verse reading – Luke 24:13-35 (day one)
My favorite Bible story. Ok, one of them. After the resurrection, but before the truth becomes clear, two men (disciples) are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Small town. 7 miles away. Suburb. Jesus appears to them and supernaturally prevents them from recognizing Him. Why? Because He has an important lesson to teach them. As they walk, He explains His own story using nothing but Bible to do so. Moses. All the prophets. Carefully and passionately He points out the Spirit’s witness to the Son through the Scripture. Later they describe the experience. “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” This is our task! This is the kind of church we want to be. Bibles open. Hearts burning. Spirit speaking. The most powerful and enduring testimony that Jesus is alive! Better even than a personal, physical appearance? Apparently so. Son! Spirit! Scripture!
Knowing but not doing
Re: Verse reading – Luke 22:66-71; 23:1-25 (day seven)
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) At the end of life, we may look back and realize that there were no big moments, just a lot of small ones. God never presents the full picture. Not to any man. Not at any moment. “We see through a glass, darkly”, said the Apostle Paul. But we do SEE. That is the point. We see something of what is required. Some part of right and justice and obedience. A step pressed on us by conscience and Spirit. Not to do it is life’s greatest mistake. Pilate’s story is, therefore, a tragedy. Not because he was guaranteed to become a believer. Rather because he rejected the only opportunity that any of us ever have to find Christ and to find life. Do what you know! Stand for truth! Pilate didn’t. Will you?