Bible In 90 Days – Day 72
Reading: Mark 9:14 – Luke 1:80
Take Away(s):
- Belief Mark 9:24. Every time I read this verse, its like looking in a mirror. It is so easy to say it – but if we’re honest…we are just like the boy’s father.
- Pastor John. Mark 10:13-16. Each week at church, we have a children’s message. It is an East Valley distinctive – I don’t recall attending any other church that does this on a weekly basis. I always think of this passage when the kids come running and sit around John on the steps of the platform. Their innocence and wonder and honesty is convicting at times – OK, a lot of times… I have to admit, I get a lot from these messages! When you think about it – aren’t we all supposed to approach God with that child-like innocence and wonder and honesty?
- Conversations. Mark 13:1-2. Three thoughts on these verses: (1) We have to believe that Jesus and the disciples had “normal” conversations. Jesus was fully God & fully man and the disciples, well, they were like you and me. The extent of their interactions couldn’t have been limited to the profound ones we read in the Bible. They HAD TO have had conversations about the regular “stuff” in life. I think sometime we miss that. (2) From those “regular” conversations, Jesus sought to have “teachable” moments with the disciples (and others). I’m sure they weren’t all like that, but He was firm in His purpose and had the discernment (He’s God…it was PERFECT!) to know when to teach and when to just talk. (3) It may be lost in the translation of the Greek to English, but Jesus’ response provokes an image (at least in my Seinfeld-influenced mind) of the disciple doing a “Dooh!” 🙂
- We Don’t Need Anymore. Mark 13:23, 31. I think sometimes we read the Bible and think, “If only we had a better explanation” or “If only God had been a little more detailed in this area.” We must realize…it’s all here.
- Access. Mark 15:38. This verse is HUGE. I think sometimes we miss the significance of the curtain being torn: “Access to God is now provided by the unique sacrifice of Jesus, rendering the temple sacrifices obsolete.” -ESV Study Bible
- “Could it be me?” Luke 1:69-70. I wonder if those in the line of David thought “could the fulfillment of prophecy be from me?” when they heard this? Imagine the pressure and disappointment. Imagine the resulting pride by those who had some form of status?. Think about how we handle the thought of potential in our children and friends – how much more would it have been to know that the Messiah would come from your family line!
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Bible In 90 Days – Day 73
Reading: Luke 2:1 – Luke 9:62
Take Away(s):
- Reputation Luke 2:52. This verse shows Jesus’ humanness and the fact that as He grew, he had a good reputation. We can surmise that he obeyed (with notice from all who observed) the commands of God and the laws of man. It’s a little weird that it says that He grew in favor with God (since he was/is God), but I think the gist is that God’s favor was evident in people’s observation of Him and also in the blessings that He received as an obedient person.
- Power and Presence. Luke 4:28-30. It’s interesting to see how Jesus let the people go right to the brink of killing Him – then displayed His power as God. We don’t know how it happened, but the mob let Him walk away. Maybe some were convinced of His being the Messiah that day or after He was crucified when the recalled the experience.
- JDLR. Luke 5:5, 11, 28. JDLR…Just Don’t Look Right. Simon and the others were savvy businessmen – they had to be in their respective businesses. They knew when someone was putting them on – they knew when something JDLR. Jesus assuaged that JDLR feeling in them and they cast their nets when they normally wouldn’t have done so (probably chasing anyone else off) AND dropped everything they were doing (life, business, etc.) when they followed Jesus. Sometimes we have an opportunity or choice to make and we know it is from the Lord, but we hedge on the JDLR factor a little too much instead of the JTTL* factor.
- Imagine if… Luke 6:27-42. Just imagine if we actually practiced this – as a basic human trait…even if you are not a Christ Follower. We went to Karen’s 25th High School reunion last weekend – I’m sure there were old grudges, hurts, and other junk that popped into people’s minds as they saw people from High School. Hurt and hatred can be stifling – in these passages, Jesus is offering freedom. Just think about how He practiced what he “preached” a short time later…now WE are free.
- Woe. Luke 6:46. Can you imagine Jesus saying this to your face?
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*Just Trust The Lord
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