Daily Bible Blog

“The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.”

Matthew 4:24 (NASB)

Bible Reading Comments:

Jesus came announcing and delivering a message of hope. Here He was, “God With Us”, and bringing with Him the ministry of healing, deliverance, salvation, and hope. As He continued His ministry here on this earth, he raised up twelve leaders who were completely equipped to carry on the same ministry after He left. In John 17 Jesus declares to the Father that He has taken the glory given to Him and has given it to the twelve. That same glory, the connection to the power and presence of almighty God is available to each of us today. What would happen if we were to truly tap into the glory of God and were to engage in the ministry of Jesus; the ministry of healing, deliverance, salvation and hope for all who would receive it?

Prayer:

Father, I ask for a refreshing wind of Your Spirit to blow over us so that we are filled with the passion to be Your messengers in our day. Empower us with boldness to carry on the ministry You began through Jesus, and may Your Kingdom come, Your will be done here in our own towns, just like it is in heaven. I ask for Your grace and Your power because it has become available through all that Jesus accomplished, Amen.

“And to man, He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Job 28:28 (NASB)

Bible Reading Comments:

All wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. One cannot truly fear God unless he is willing to declare with boldness that Jesus is God’s Son, and that He (Jesus) alone is the way, the truth and the life. It is in our recognition and acceptance of Jesus that we are able to know and acknowledge the one true God. Out of that recognition comes the ability to discern between good and evil and to make decisions that will bring glory to God in the end.

Prayer:

Father, my prayer today is that, through the ministry of the church, many more will come to see and know Jesus as the Son of God, and that they will accept the gift of salvation which is offered only through Him. As you change hearts, I ask for wisdom and understanding to face and engage the world which does not accept Jesus for who He is. Empower the church to live with boldness and light, and may Your Name be known as we walk faithfully according to Your Word, Your Will and Your Power. I ask for these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”"

Mark 16:15-18 (NASB)

Bible Reading Comments:

While we as U.S. citizens participate in shaping the future of our nation through an election today, we are also called to remember the ministry which Jesus has placed within our care. That is the ministry of taking the great news of His goodness everywhere we go. His invitation to us today is to join Him in presenting truth to all we meet, and then to allow each person to make their choice. Will they believe or not? My hope today is that Christians everywhere will keep their eyes on Jesus, and on the hope that comes ultimately through Him alone.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, we thank you for the gift of salvation that comes only through your Son, Jesus. Remind us and draw us today to the hope that is found only in Him. As we participate in our national process of electing our leader, I ask that You remind Your people that You are still God, and we are still called to be about Your business. I ask for mercy and grace on our nation which has progressively turned from You, and I ask that Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray all of these things through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

“Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”"

Mark 8:27-29 (NASB)

Bible Reading Comments:

When we receive the revelation that He (Jesus) is the Christ (The one sent to save), and we acknowledge that Jesus IS the son of God, we live our lives out of that revelation by accepting everything that He said about himself and the world. We need to take heed to the truth of who Jesus is, and carry that message everywhere we go. While the temptation may arise to focus solely on an election, or political circumstances, as Christians we are called to remember that in everything that goes on, Jesus is still the Christ. He is still ready today to heal, deliver, save, and reveal truth to any and all that would come to Him.

Prayer:

Father, I ask for your deep and abiding peace as we pray through the current events of our day. Fill us today with a fresh awareness of the hope that is in You. While we participate in the world and engage our current events, I ask that you protect us from lowering our gaze to this world alone. Lift up our heads and remind us of the power of Christ which is available to every believer. We want to see people all around us experience YOU and YOUR GLORY. Fill us for the purpose of revealing YOU to all those around us. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

Judges 17:6 (NASB)

Bible Reading Comments:

I’m taking a little liberty today and not using the normal “daily reading schedule” as the basis for the blog. Yesterday as I was reviewing the book of Judges with my family (We’re on an “overview” journey through the Bible), I was struck by the themes of JUDGES and by a comment I read in the book, “What the Bible is All About” by Henrietta Mears. As she was reviewing the final chapters of the book, she observed the following. Speaking of chapters 17-21: (bold added by me for emphasis)

“These chapters give us a picture of anarchy and confusion. Israel had forsaken God and now we see the depths into which they have sunk. Read Judges 17:6 and you will find the reason for it all.

First, we find confusion in the religious life of the nation. (Judges 17, 18)

Second, we find confusion in the moral life of the nation. (Judges 19)

Third, we find confusion in the political life (Judges 21).

These events no doubt took place soon after Joshua’s death. It gives us a picture of the internal condition of the chosen people. The story of backsliding of individuals is followed by the backsliding of the nation.”

I found the comments highly relevant to current events.

Prayer:

Father God, maker of the heavens and the earth, I ask today for your grace and mercy to be poured out upon our own nation. While we have walked away from you individually, morally, and as a nation, I ask that you would pour out your grace and mercy upon us. Bring revival in the hearts of individuals, and may our passion for you be seen and known by others so that they too will be drawn to You. I ask these things with boldness through the authority given to me in Jesus Christ YOUR SON, Amen.