TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 12
God had given them great joy. - Nehemiah 12:43
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Psalms have been described as the songbook of Israel. The final psalm is a crescendo of praise: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

From the account in our reading today of the dedication of the Jerusalem wall, it seems that Nehemiah was certainly familiar with Psalm 150! Just as this psalm builds into a chorus of praise, the description of this celebration almost bursts off the page with music and joy.

Instruments of cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets were appointed for praise (vv. 27, 35-36, 41). Singers gathered from around Judah, and Nehemiah divided them into two large choirs “to give thanks” (v. 31). Then he sent them in opposite directions around the wall, in effect surrounding the city with a citadel of praise. What a beautiful picture of the power of praise literally encircling the city along with the rebuilt wall! The rejoicing was so full, rich, and loud that it could “be heard far away” (v. 43).

Not only was the celebration full of joy, it was also concerned with appropriate worship. The priests and Levites ensured their own ritual purity as well as that of the people (vv. 30, 45). This outpouring of praise to dedicate the wall extended to acts of generosity and service to ensure that the ministry of the temple was provided for (vv. 44-47). The people didn’t stop with songs and rejoicing; they were willing to bring their firstfruits and tithes required by the Law.

By the end of this dedication, we see that the spiritual life of Judah has been ordered according to God’s instructions. “All Israel contributed,” rejoicing “because God had given them great joy” (v. 47).

APPLY THE WORD
If you have breath in your body, you have reason to praise the Lord! Take some time today to praise Him with music. You might choose to gather with friends or family to sing or play musical instruments. Or you could listen to some praise music throughout the day, whether at work, home, or in your car. Thank the Lord for the works He has completed in your life, and thank Him for “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 13:1-14
LORD, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. - Psalm 26:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
At its peak, an estimated 24 million listeners tuned in to Paul Harvey’s radio programs, The Rest of the Story, News and Comment, and Paul Harvey News. He was probably best known for The Rest of the Story, which was sometimes described as part history and part mystery. With his trademark delivery, Harvey would have millions of Americans on the edge of their seats when he began, “Hello Americans, I’m Paul Harvey. You know what the news is. In a minute, you’re going to hear . . . the rest of the story.”

After the glorious celebration in yesterday’s reading, our text today is like the rest of the story. And in many ways, we might wish that the book of Nehemiah had just ended on the high note of praise and joy and worship. But instead, we have the unvarnished truth about the way that spiritual community began to disintegrate over time.

The first three verses pick up where chapter 12 ended. When the people heard the instructions in the Law to keep separate from the idolatrous enemies of true worship, they complied. Then things went downhill. After 12 years as governor in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was recalled to the court of Artaxerxes (v. 6). We’re not told how long he stayed in Persia, but at some later point he was given permission to return to Jerusalem.

He discovered that one of his chief opponents, Tobiah the Ammonite, was being housed inside the very temple of God (vv. 4-7)! This directly contradicted the command of God that no Ammonite should be allowed in the assembly of God (see v. 1; Judges 10:6). Now this foe of righteousness had wormed his way into the heart of Jewish worship and identity.

Nehemiah responded by forcefully removing Tobiah and all his possessions and ordering the rooms to be purified again (vv. 8-9). He then learned that the commitment to provide for the Levites and singers had been neglected, forcing the spiritual leaders to leave the temple in order to provide their own food (v. 10). Nehemiah installed new leadership to ensure that the house of God and its service would be provided for and respected.

APPLY THE WORD
Scripture is honest with us about the reality of the spiritual life. A great high point of fellowship with God might be followed by a drift away from our commitment to serve Him. Do you have a sustained passion for the work of God, or have you grown complacent about things in your life that contradict a life of faith? If you resemble Eliashib, who let Tobiah into the temple, repent and return to your commitment to the Lord. Pray to have Nehemiah’s zeal for the things of God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Nehemiah 13:15-31
Remember me with favor, my God. - Nehemiah 13:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
Chapter 2 of the Gospel of John describes Jesus’ passionate purification of the temple: “To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’ His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me’” (vv. 16-17). The passage the disciples recalled comes from Psalm 69:9, and the end of that psalm concludes: “For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there” (vv. 35-36).

Throughout the book of Nehemiah we’ve seen his dedication to the Law of the Lord and his frequent prayers to God. In chapter 12, it seems evident that Nehemiah knew the psalms and modeled the celebration after their prescriptions for praise. In chapter 13, Nehemiah’s heart for the temple and Sabbath of God are consistent with Psalm 69, and it is reasonable to think that he believed the prophetic words that God would rebuild the cities and resettle the people in Zion. Nehemiah’s passion for the things of God foreshadows the passion of Jesus Himself.

In today’s reading, Nehemiah discovered that the commitment to keep the Sabbath, made in 10:31, was now ignored (vv. 15-18). Both Jews and foreigners were trading on the Sabbath instead of consecrating the day to the worship of God. Nehemiah didn’t merely bemoan this state of affairs—he took zealous action to ensure that the Sabbath observance would be in keeping with the commands of a holy God. He shut the gates, posted a guard, and warned the merchants that they would be removed by force (vv. 19-22).

The plague of intermarriage had again afflicted the people, even including a marriage between a priest and the daughter of Sanballat. As Nehemiah noted, if even the wise king Solomon couldn’t maintain his loyalty to God when surrounded by his foreign wives, how did these men expect to be obedient to the Lord (vv. 23-31). Again, Nehemiah demonstrated that spiritual leadership requires a commitment to doing God’s work in God’s way.

APPLY THE WORD
Twice in this passage Nehemiah prayed for God to remember him (vv. 22, 31). This was evidence of God’s faithfulness and ability to judge his heart and deeds accurately. Are we more concerned with what God thinks of us or what others think of us? As we conclude our study of Ezra and Nehemiah, spend time in prayer and reflection on your heart for the things of God. By His grace and power, resolve to serve the Lord and others with joy and commitment.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:1-56
The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:35
TODAY IN THE WORD
To celebrate the 75th birthday of F. A. Porsche, grandson of the founder of Porsche Design, the company offered an extravagant “Advent Calendar” for sale this past Christmas season. The “calendar” consisted of a selection of Porsche products, 24 in all, including designer sunglasses, running shoes, cuff links, a gold watch, a complete kitchen, and a 28-foot speedboat. Sold through the London department store, Harrods, it cost $1 million.

That’s a lot of money to spend to miss the point! Advent calendars are not about giving or getting expensive gifts, but rather about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Angelic announcements of this world-changing event are what open the Gospel of Luke, the book we’ll be studying this month in Today in the Word. Luke was a medical doctor, a friend and ministry companion of the apostle Paul, and a careful historian. In addition to his Gospel, he also wrote the Book of Acts, a record of the early church. Both works are dedicated to Theophilus, probably a fellow believer and wealthy patron who sponsored the writing. Luke’s main theme, as in all the Gospels, is the good news that Christ came to redeem us, and that this has been God’s loving plan throughout history (cf. Gen. 3:15).

The angel Gabriel actually proclaimed two miraculous births in Luke’s first chapter. First, he announced that the Messiah’s forerunner, John the Baptist, would be born to an older, barren couple (reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah). He made this announcement to the prospective father, Zechariah, as he was fulfilling his priestly duties at the temple in Jerusalem. The baby would bring joy, would be a prophet full of the Holy Spirit, and would preach a message of repentance to the people.

Second, Gabriel announced that the Messiah Himself, the Son of God, would be born to a younger, engaged-but-not-yet-married couple (as prophesied in Isa. 7:14). He made this announcement to the prospective mother, Mary, at her home in Nazareth. The baby would be a king in the line of David and the Son of the Most High God.

APPLY THE WORD
Despite a life of obedience in priestly ministry, Zechariah responded to the angel’s announcement of John’s birth with fear and doubt. By contrast, Mary, an inexperienced and untested young woman, responded to the even more incredible announcement of her virgin conception with humble trust. The quality of her humility and faith is seen in verses 46 through 55, a passage known as the Magnificat. Pray these words of adoration to God in your own prayer time today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:57-80
You will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him. - Luke 1:76
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last year saw the 500th anniversary of the first decorated Christmas tree. In 1510, a fir tree was placed in a public marketplace in Riga, Latvia, and decorated with paper roses by local merchants in order to honor the birth of Christ. The idea of decorating Christmas trees caught on—ornaments included apples, nuts, cookies, colorful paper, and lighted candles—and eventually German settlers brought this holiday custom to the United States. Colored glass balls were popular ornaments at the end of the nineteenth century, with electric lights soon following. The lighting of the first White House Christmas tree took place in 1923.

Luke continued his account of the first Christmas in today’s reading by narrating the birth of John the Baptist. From a human perspective, this was a joyful occasion. Elizabeth knew that God had blessed her and Zechariah and answered their prayers for a child. Her relatives and neighbors shared in the joy and praised the Lord with them for this miracle baby. From God’s perspective, though, much more was going on, and He reminded everyone of this during the circumcision and naming ceremony. The baby’s name itself, John, contradicted expectations because it was not a traditional family name. And when Zechariah spoke for the first time in nine months to affirm that they would be obeying God and naming the child John, the onlookers were doubly astonished.

What did it all mean? One point here is that God’s plans are a sure thing. No sooner has Gabriel made the announcements in Luke than we see them coming to pass. Another point is that the time has come. After so many prophecies and centuries of waiting, the time has at last arrived in God’s plan for the advent of the Messiah.

At a personal level, the transformation in Zechariah’s heart foreshadowed the work God would do and has been doing, in countless hearts through salvation in Christ. Verses 67 through 79, known as the Benedictus, show clearly that Zechariah had come to trust not only in the angel’s words concerning baby John, but to trust more deeply in God’s covenant faithfulness.

APPLY THE WORD
God is in the business of changing lives. Sometimes the change is lightning-quick; sometimes, as in Zechariah’s case, it takes more time. The result is always a deepened faith and a hunger for the glory of God. The question becomes, then, in what ways is God transforming your heart? He loves you no less than He loved Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. And though we stand at a distance in time from the Christmas story, we are equally in need of the Savior.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:1-20
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. - Luke 2:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
On October 30, 2010, shoppers at Macy’s in downtown Philadelphia enjoyed a “Random Act of Culture” sponsored by the Knight Foundation. In honor of National Opera Week, local organizers brought over 650 singers to the department store. At a prearranged signal they surprised everyone by bursting into the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. They were accompanied by the famous Wanamaker Organ, the largest pipe organ in the world. Shoppers consumed with buying things were suddenly reminded of deeper truths.

It must have been similar for the shepherds. One minute, they were out in the fields taking care of sheep, just doing their jobs; the next minute, they were experiencing an angelic host singing the original “Hallelujah Chorus”! The fact that they were favored with this dazzling announcement of the birth of the Son of God is inexplicable from a human point of view. Why them? They weren’t rich, they weren’t educated, they weren’t powerful—they weren’t even “religious.” What they did have was faith. After the angels had gone, the shepherds responded obediently and imme-diately to what they had been told, found the baby, and spread the good news. This episode in Luke reflects the writer’s emphasis on God’s love for the poor and socially marginalized—the gospel is truly for everyone!

The shepherds weren’t the only participants in the drama. The angels were clearly eager to deliver the most incredible news of all time to these oblivious humans. No doubt they could hardly comprehend the union of God and man who lay there in the manger that night, but they knew it was world-changing. Mary and Joseph were also key actors on God’s stage, and their simple faithfulness should not be underestimated. Even the Roman government played an unwitting part, decreeing a census that fit right into God’s sovereign plan and helping to fulfill the prophecy of a Bethlehem birth.

What was it all for? “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men” (v. 14). This peace is first and foremost peace with God (Rom. 5:1-2).

APPLY THE WORD
Thanks to the Internet, you, too, can share in the joy of seeing the “Hallelujah Chorus” at Macy’s. Video of the event in today’s illustration has proved immensely popular online. To watch (and perhaps even sing along), go to www.youtube.com and search for Macy’s Philadelphia Hallelujah Chorus. As we approach the celebration of Easter and the commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, this beautiful music is particularly appropriate.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 2:21-52
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. - Luke 2:52
TODAY IN THE WORD
The St. Chad Gospels are a rare treasure. A beautifully illustrated, eighth-century Latin manuscript containing the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and part of Luke, it has endured for more than a thousand years. It is preserved at a cathedral in Litchfield, England, and is in delicate condition. Scholars from the University of Kentucky have recently been able, however, to use digital imaging techniques to make this manuscript available without further wear and tear. Computer technology allows those who wish to study the text and illustrations without having to travel to England or handle the physical manuscript.

The St. Chad Gospels manuscript tells the same story as the printed English Bible you hold in your hands today. In Luke’s Gospel, the story is that the direction and purpose of Jesus’ life were clear right from the beginning. This is seen in today’s reading in two events that take place at the temple.

The first happened when Jesus was still a baby. Joseph and Mary came to offer ritual sacrifices for her post-birth purification and to dedicate their son to the Lord. While fulfilling these religious responsibilities, they encountered two faithful servants of God who had long been awaiting the Messiah. The Holy Spirit led first Simeon, then Anna, straight to the unremarkable-looking young couple and their baby. Simeon declared that God’s saving love was found in this baby, not only for Jews but for all humanity—“a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel” (vv. 30-32).

The second occurrence at the temple took place years later, when the boy Jesus was twelve years old. His family had gone to Jerusalem for Passover, then headed home to Nazareth. Mary and Joseph thought that Jesus was among their travel group, and when they realized they had left Him behind they hurried back to the city. After several days of searching, they found Him in the temple, conversing as an equal with the rabbis. Though at the time no one understood, this episode revealed Jesus’ awareness of His identity as well as His commitment to honor and obey His heavenly Father (v. 49).

APPLY THE WORD
Anyone who’s ever lost a child at a playground or the store has doubtless felt the same emotions as Mary and Joseph: sad, panicked, irritated, frantic, regretful, upset. I thought you were watching him! The humanity that permeates the Gospel narrative is here in all its richness. But Jesus was not only human, He was also divine. And so this very human story ends with a wonderful moment of divine strangeness: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 3
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. - Luke 3:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Both Matthew and Luke include genealogies of Jesus in their Gospels. According to New Testament professor Grant Osborne, Matthew organizes his genealogy into three groups of fourteen names each, thus emphasizing Jesus’ kingly ancestry in the line of David. Luke’s purpose, though, is a bit different. His genealogy goes all the way back to Adam, thus focusing on Jesus’ universal humanity as well as affirming the claim that He is the unique Son of God. That’s why Luke placed his genealogy between Jesus’ baptism and temptation (see 3:22; 3:38; 4:3), instead of at the beginning of the narrative (as in Matthew).

Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist marked the beginning of His public ministry. John’s own ministry of preparing the way had begun, like that of previous prophets, when the word of the Lord came to him (v. 2). His mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah, and he was well aware that in doing so he was fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah (vv. 4-6). His message was one of repentance and forgiveness. This was not an easy message to bring, for it included strong condemnations of sin and warnings of God’s wrath, from which the Jews’ status as God’s chosen people would not protect them. “Speaking truth to power” landed him in jail when he dared to condemn King Herod’s immorality. But those who believed John were baptized, signifying faith and a public commitment to live out his words.

We might legitimately wonder why Jesus was baptized. He had no sins to confess and no need for repentance. But by allowing John to baptize Him, He identified Himself with John’s ministry and message. Indeed, the themes of repentance and forgiveness would be at the heart of His own ministry and of the gospel.

In addition, this event revealed the person and ministry of Christ as recognized and approved by the other two members of the Trinity: “The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’” (v. 22).

APPLY THE WORD
Repentance is much more than a prayer. Confession must be followed by turning away from sin toward righteousness: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (v. 8). Scripture gives specific, concrete instructions to those who repent, such as to share with those in need and not to abuse positions of power. Jesus preached this: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” (6:43). Seek to live in accordance with your confession and repentance today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ezra 4
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me. - Psalm 27:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Christ Liberty Family Life Center in Avondale Estates, Georgia, was a church focused on serving the poor, providing youth ministry, and worshiping in their leased building. They were forced to leave their building just a few months later, however, when the city enforced a zoning ordinance requiring churches to have a minimum of three acres of property. Without a suitable building, tutoring classes and youth ministry had to be canceled, and attendance dwindled as the church was forced to move from one temporary location to another.

Our text today depicts how difficult it can be to carry out the Lord’s work in the face of opposition. As we saw, others will notice when we praise and serve God—but they won’t always be happy about it.

The news of the rebuilding of the temple was met with hostility by the people living in the land, mostly various tribes who had been resettled into Samaria during the Assyrian Empire after Israel had been taken captive (see 2 Kings 17:24-41). Their claim to worship God was true; the problem was that they mixed the worship of the Lord with worship of their own gods (2 Kings 17:33). Zerubbabel understood the spiritual stakes. They could not dilute or defile the true worship of the true God with pagan rituals and sacrifices (v. 3).

The peoples of the land revealed their true motives by their actions. Instead of a desire to participate in worship, they were opposed to the return of Israelites, the restoration of the temple, and the reassertion of Jewish faith and identity. Since their first plan to corrupt the building of the temple failed, they turned to another strategy: political and legal manipulation. They sent letters to the Persian monarchs accusing the Jews of insubordination (v. 15). They preyed on that most sensitive subject for a ruler: his pocketbook. They alleged that a re-established Jewish presence would undermine royal revenues and even imperial control of the region (vv. 13, 16).

The ploy succeeded. The Persian king ordered the work to stop. The Samarian peoples enforced the decree. As a result, construction of the temple ceased for over a decade.

APPLY THE WORD
This low point in the story should encourage us—because even today, we will face opposition when we are serving and praising God. This is not retaliation for obnoxious provocation; this is spiritual resistance to the work of the Lord. When these times come, we can take comfort knowing that we are not the first of God’s people to experience opposition. Reading the psalms is especially helpful as they cry out for God’s righteousness, justice, and protection to prevail.

[david749]

Thanks Tom for the post. 


The patience of God ....as He has looked down upon the evil in this world for so many years.... is beyond human understanding. 


"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 5:1-32
Follow me. - Luke 5:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Dr. Amit Goffer of Israel has created a robotic suit that can help paralyzed individuals to walk. Created after Dr. Goffer himself was disabled in an accident, the ReWalk suit is a kind of exoskeleton with leg supports, motion sensors, and a computerized control box. According to one news report: “With the assistance of crutches, which offer balance and support, people paralyzed from the waist down can walk, bend, sit and even climb stairs when they wear the suit.” Benefits are said to include better physical health and a stronger sense of personal dignity.

Jesus needed no modern technology to help the paralyzed man in today’s reading walk. He had the power to heal at a word. What’s more, He had the power to forgive sins. When the paralytic’s friends lowered him through the roof, in fact, this was the issue Jesus dealt with first (v. 20). As the Pharisees recognized, Jesus was claiming to be God—because only God can forgive sin. When Jesus backed up His claim with divine healing power, what could they say? They could have praised God, as did others who were present (v. 26), but instead they took offense and continued to oppose Him. They saw not with eyes of faith, but with small minds and petty hearts (v. 30).

We see a variety of examples of Jesus’ power in Luke 5. He healed a leper as well as the paralytic. He demonstrated power over nature by filling nets with fish. His teaching was powerful, as people crowded around to hear the word of God (v. 1) and the call to repentance (v. 32). He clearly believed in the power of prayer, for He cultivated it as a personal discipline that sustained His inner spiritual life (v. 16). He also showed spiritual power in calling individuals to follow Him, and it is notable that He chose not from among the ranks of religious leaders but instead called fishermen (vv. 10-11) and a tax collector (vv. 27-28). Unlike the Pharisees, these new disciples responded to the person of Christ in wholehearted faith—they “left everything and followed him.”

APPLY THE WORD
Where do you stand in relation to Jesus. Are you a Levi, a forgiven sinner eager to introduce others to Him? Are you a face in the crowd, attracted by His teachings or miracles but still undecided? Are you a skeptic, offended by the idea that Jesus is the only way to God? Are you a fisherman, unsure of what this extraordinary Jesus person is going to say or do next, or why, but still ready to follow Him anywhere? Wherever you are, Jesus stands ready to welcome you as His follower.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 5:33-6:16
Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? - Luke 5:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
“I used to believe in God,” wrote actor and comedian Ricky Gervais. “I loved Jesus. He was my he-ro.” But then one day his “cheeky” brother came in and asked their mother, “Why do you believe in God?” She panicked and could give no answer. Startled, young Ricky felt she must be hiding something, and very soon he concluded that Jesus was as big a fake as Santa Claus. “Within an hour, I was an atheist.” Now he tries to do the right thing and be a good person, but he thinks that God, heaven, and hell are security blankets for people who can’t handle the truth.

Rejection of Jesus and God’s truth is nothing new. Though it was present from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, opposition becomes a major theme from this point forward in Luke.

Several conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees take center stage in today’s reading. The first involved a challenge to His disciples’ spirituality (5:33-39). The setting was Levi’s evangelistic dinner. Jesus answered their question about why He shared a meal and fellowship with sinners with a rebuke that implied they didn’t understand His ministry (5:30-32). Their pride stung, they attempted to regain face by asking Jesus why His disciples didn’t fast. Fasting is a spiritual discipline indicating devotion or self-denial, so the question was obviously an insult. Who does this rabbi think He is? they might have been thinking. Choosing such ridiculous disciples! Jesus’ answer was a wise surprise. Days of fasting would come, but the arrival of the Messiah meant the present time was one of joy and celebration (5:34-35).

Two additional conflicts involved challenges to Jesus’ righteousness (6:1-11). The Pharisees accused the disciples, then Jesus, of doing “work” on the Sabbath and thus breaking the fourth commandment. To count rubbing heads of grain together or speaking words of healing as “work” seems strange, but it broke their traditional regulations. Jesus responded with a biblical reference to David, identified Himself as “Lord of the Sabbath,” and asked a rhetorical question—about whether doing good was “against the law”—that exposed their spiritual blindness.

APPLY THE WORD
If many of us are honest, the attitude of the Pharisees might feel familiar. It’s often easy to critique someone’s choice of friends or seeming lack of piety. We become indignant when others don’t follow our interpretation of what’s appropriate. When we are tempted to react like the Pharisees, we should search the Scriptures and pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to search our own hearts. We want to follow Jesus in having the spiritual wisdom to know what is truly important and honoring to God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 6:17-49
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. - Luke 6:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent book by Stan Guthrie gives readers an excellent overview of Christ’s teachings. All That Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us examines the nearly three hundred questions asked by Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels. Guthrie has organized these questions into 26 chapters and asserts that Jesus’ questions reveal His priorities, what He wants us to believe, and how He wants us to live. If we take His questions seriously and measure our lives accordingly, we’ll be challenged to a closer walk with Him.

Today’s Scripture reading also gives an overview or quick tour of the teachings of Jesus. Up to this point, we have seen a few main themes—His identity as the Messiah and Son of God, His mission of saving the lost, His message of repentance and forgiveness, and His power as seen in His miracles. Now in the Sermon on the Plain—named this because Jesus “stood on a level place” (v. 17) and in contrast to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7)—we get more details. Rather than being delivered on only one occasion, these were likely truths that Jesus stressed throughout His years of teaching.

Jesus reaffirmed the Golden Rule, saying, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (v. 38). But He also stressed going above and beyond the Law. For example, loving your neighbor isn’t enough. Imitating God means we must love our enemies, pray for those who mistreat us, and go the extra mile in honor of God’s mercy (vv. 27-36).

Jesus also frequently reversed the world’s ways of looking at things. For example, the “poor” (or humble) would inherit the kingdom of God, while the “rich” (and proud) are condemned (vv. 20, 24). Qualities that God blesses include humility, righteousness, and endurance of hardship and persecution, whereas those who put their hope in material and temporal things are warned that such things cannot satisfy. The only sure foundation for a righteous life is obedience, that is, putting into practice the words of Christ (vv. 46-49).

APPLY THE WORD
You might be interested in the book featured in today’s introduction: All That Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, by Stan Guthrie (Baker Books, 2010). It can be purchased online or at your local Christian bookstore. Guthrie wrote in the acknowledgments: “No one benefits more from a book than the one who writes it, and I am no exception. Walking with Jesus as he asks his questions is the most exhilarating spiritual journey I have ever undertaken.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 7
Your sins are forgiven. - Luke 7:48
TODAY IN THE WORD
Kate and David Ogg grieved. Last March in Australia, Kate gave birth prematurely to twins, and while Emily survived, doctors were unable to revive her twin, Jamie. He was declared dead. Kate and David held the boy’s lifeless body close, cuddling him. She unwrapped him from his blanket and held him against her skin. Then a miracle happened. After two hours of being talked to and touched, little Jamie began to breathe. He opened his eyes. He began to nurse. He moved his head. The doctors couldn’t believe it—the “dead” baby was alive!

The Ogg family’s joy helps us understand the joy felt by the widow in today’s passage (vv. 11-17). Widows had no social standing in that day—and to be a childless widow, well, that was the lowest of the low. Why would an up-and-coming young rabbi waste His time on such a person? To show God’s love and power, that’s why. Jesus’ “heart went out to her.” By raising her son from the dead, He performed His most powerful miracle so far. The people saw God’s covenant love in this deed, and the word that “God has come to help his people” spread quickly.

Three other improbable events in this chapter also testify to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and Son of God. First, tremendous faith was ascribed not to a Jew but to a Roman centurion (v. 9). The man showed great humility and spiritual understanding in his approach to Jesus, and as a result his servant was healed. Second, doubt was expressed not by a Pharisee but by John the Baptist, the forerunner himself. He sent two followers to get a definitive answer, showing that no one is immune to doubt. Jesus gave him what he asked for (v. 22) and honored his ministry (v. 28).

Third and finally, respect and honor were paid to Jesus not by His own disciples but by a former prostitute. She anointed Him with expensive perfume, an act of respect and worship and an implied prayer for forgiveness. Jesus granted her prayer and taught His listeners a powerful lesson (vv. 47-50).

APPLY THE WORD
Be encouraged—what seems improbable or impossible is possible with the Lord! Are you, like a widow whose only son is dead, in a desperate situation? God is the giver of hope! Are you, like John the Baptist, a committed believer going through a crisis of doubt? God is the encourager of faith! Are you, like the sinful woman, someone who wonders whether God can ever forgive the horrible things you’ve done? God loved you so much that He sent His only Son to die for your sins!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 8
The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables. - Luke 8:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
Sweet potatoes might be an ancient solution to the modern problem of hunger. They have been grown as a food crop for more than 5,000 years. Ninety-five percent of the global sweet potato crop is currently grown in developing countries, where they rank fifth in importance as a food source. Adaptable and hardy, as well as rich in carbohydrates and vitamin A, sweet potatoes have often served as lifesavers in times of famine. The American Society for Horticultural Science recently published research that will help small-scale farmers in developing countries raise even more of this valuable crop.

Planting sweet potatoes can help fight world hunger, and planting the seed of the gospel can help fight world sin. The Parable of the Sower, the first of 29 parables recorded by Luke, is well placed in his Gospel.

The narrative to this point has revealed who Jesus was, why He came, and the central themes of His message. Jesus had already encountered the responses described in the parable (vv. 11-15). First is unbelief, as the devil “takes away the word from their hearts.” Second, people accept it—if it’s convenient. “They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” The third response is stunted growth. “As they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” And the fourth response to the seed of the gospel is obedient faith. They “hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” These four are meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. That is, they do not cover all possible scenarios, but rather represent a spectrum of possible responses to Jesus.

The rest of the chapter gives us plenty of reasons to respond to Christ in faith. We can trust in the One who rules over nature and is able to calm storms and heal diseases. We can trust in the One who rules over the supernatural world and is able to cast out demons. We can trust in the One who reverses death itself and raises a dead girl to life. If we “hear God’s word and put it into practice” (v. 21), this is the One who counts us as family!

APPLY THE WORD
Time and relationships are key to discerning responses to the gospel. A seed is planted, and then we must wait to see what happens. For example, Nicodemus was a Pharisee, but he sought deeper spiritual truths and eventually accepted Jesus’ explanation of spiritual rebirth. This should encourage us in our own witness. The Spirit might be working in the heart of that friend or neighbor who seems so resistant to the gospel. Keep praying for them!