Tag: jesus

Morning Reading: Luke 10.25-37 NLT – show mercy

Reading: Luke 10.25-37 NLT

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

"Good Samaritan"He Qi (2001)
“Good Samaritan”
He Qi (2001)

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive me. I confess that I am more like the disinterested passers-bye than the good neighbor. Soften my hard heart… and open my eyes to the plight of those around me. And give me a willingness to respond with kindness and mercy. Make me more like you… so that I might honor you in all things. Amen.

Hymn: “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” – Frederick W. Faber (1862)

Souls of men, why do you scatter / like a crowd of frightened sheep? / Foolish hearts, why do you wander / from a love so true and deep?

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy / like the wideness of the sea, / and forgiveness in his justice / sealed for us on Calvary.

There is plentiful redemption / in the blood that has been shed: / there is joy for all the members / in the sorrows of the Head.

For the love of God is broader / than the measures of man’s mind; / and the heart of the Eternal / is most wonderfully kind.

But we make his love too narrow / by false limits of our own, / and we magnify his strictness / with a zeal he will not own.

If our love were but more simple / we should take him at his word; / and our lives would be illumined / by the goodness of our Lord.

Morning Reading: Luke 10:21-24 NLT – childlike amazement

Reading: Luke 10:21-24 NLT

Childlike_AmazementAt that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Your disciples were amazed at what they saw and heard… what you revealed to them. Renew that same amazement in me… the amazement that I felt when you first revealed yourself to me. Thank you for opening my eyes and ears to the wonders of your Kingdom. May I always approach you with childlike faith. And may I never lose the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Hymn: “I Stand Amazed” – Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1905)

Morning Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT – Kingdom duty

Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT

As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus hand follow meBut Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – So many distractions… so many good things to do. Give me the courage to sacrifice the good for the best – following you wherever you lead me. May I honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” – Selah (YouTube)

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus — no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me — no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

Morning Reading: Luke 9:51-56 NLT – road to Jerusalem

Reading: Luke 9:51-56 NLT

image

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?”

But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You weren’t distracted by “side shows” on your way to the cross. You understood your mission and purpose and kept to the Plan… painful and humiliating as it was. Give us the same clarity of vision to pursue the mission and purpose you have given each of us… no matter the cost.And may we be found faithful to the end. To you be all honor and glory. Amen.

Hymn: “We’re Marching to Zion” – Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

audio: Amy Grant (We’re Marching to Zion) – click below-

Come, we that love the Lord, And let our joys be known; Join in a song with sweet accord, Join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne, And thus surround the throne. We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.

Then let our songs abound, And ev’ry tear be dry; We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground, We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground / To fairer worlds on high, To fairer worlds on high. We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.

We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion; We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.

Morning Reading: Luke 9:28-36 NLT – listen to him

Reading: Luke 9:28-36 NLT

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

Mosaic of the Transfiguration, in the apse above that altar at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai, c. 550. Kurt Weitzman, Jan 1964 National Geographic: “…hanging like a veil.”
Mosaic of the Transfiguration, in the apse above that altar at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mt. Sinai, c. 550. Kurt Weitzman, Jan 1964 National Geographic: “…hanging like a veil.”

Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.

As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Open my eyes to see your glory… not just in the big things, but also in the little – even ordinary – things of life. Open my ears to hear you… to really listen when you speak to me. And give me the courage and will to live out your Kingdom purpose for my life… today and always. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Show Me Your Glory” – Third Day (YouTube)