Luke 6

Love your enemies.

This is hard. Not only do you need to love your enemies, you also need to have enemies. You need to put Jesus' words into practice. You need to pull the plank out of your own eye before commenting on others. You need to forgive instead of judging and condemning.

What if you don't have enemies?

verse 26. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."

And what happened to the false prophets?

Punishment and destruction for themselves and their families and those who followed them (Jer23:34, 1Pet2:1). How can the blind lead the blind? Will not both fall in the pit?

But when men hate you on account of the overflow from your heart, when you would dare to challenge the world to share the way, truth, and life with someone in need; know that you are blessed and may very well have played a part in bringing one out of the pit of their sin and battles and to peace, life and salvation.

They may stop being your enemies.

Go find more.

Luke 3

Verse 19-20

"But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: he locked John up in prison."

Herod added to his list of evil things he had done.

There was a list.

Thankfully, love 'keeps no record of wrongs' (1Cor13:5). But in God's justice sent Jesus to take the penalty for the trespasses. God did not just forgive and forget. He paid for it with Himself.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:17-19)

In Christ, our sins are not counted against us.

But by no means continue sinning (Rom 6:1-2) but to bring the peace and forgiveness to others, as God's ambassadors to share this message of reconciliation. You can't give what you don't have.

Be reconciled to God!

One of the most memorable things that happened in my first year was in a Business student MDA. We were reading 1 John 1 and so we took time and wrote out all the sins we could think of onto a piece of paper. Folded it up. Wrote 1John1:9 on it. And then we went outside and burned it. =D

That list you keep can easily be confessed and forgiven by Christ's death on the cross, to be remembered no more.

Mark 13

So, the first thought I had was actually about what the disciples said coming out of the temple. "Look, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings."
And I just had this, like, Architecture moment imagining all of the most amazing buildings and structures I've ever seen.
But then Jesus says that there would not be a single stone still standing upon another.
Jesus may have been prophesying about the fall of Jerusalem, but beyond that this Earth is passing away and shall be made new again. Which is why when asked when this will happen Jesus responds with indicators of the end times and how the gospel will go to the ends of the world.
I'm not sure how all architects think, and this is definitely not true of all of them, but I know some strive to build something to make a name for themselves, something that will live long past their own death. So, when you see all those great buildings, sure they have outlived their architects, but even they shall fade and crumble.
I guess this is just a reminder to look past the present into eternity. Is what you're doing now changing eternity for someone?

Mark 11-12

Yo. Do you ever sit down and think "man, I am so blessed"? Well, you probably should. Canada is very well off. Education, opportunity, travel, freedom, finances.

The verses that really stuck out to me today was at the very end of chapter 12 where Jesus is at the temple and he sees what people are giving to the treasury. Some threw in large amounts, others less than a penny. But Jesus commends the widow who offered nearly nothing.

Why?

She gave out of her poverty, and put in all she had to live on.

All of it.

Was she being stupid? How could she live like this? Was she being legalistic? Was she being pressured? Did she have family? What was she doing at the temple?

The tithe was 10%. Based on that alone I don't think she was doing it out of legalism. She could have just put in one coin instead of the two.

I don't have answers to everything, but 'going all in' as it were is not something you risk without something on the line.

Even though she'd be giving up what was right in front of her now, she knew God would provide and that greater things could happen with this money (Matt6:31-34).

Where is our heart? In the salary we make and the things we buy? or in how we use it to further the Kingdom, to have others hear the good news of Jesus Christ?

There are so many ways that even just a couple dollars could be used to reach someone with the gospel, yet we live in such luxury.

I think this passage comes with a real challenge to think over where the money and possessions and even time God has given us is going to.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21

Mark 10

Verse 47-48

"When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Many rebuked him and told him to e quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Bartimaeus is shouting and the crowd tells him to shut up.

How many would stop and blend into the crowd? Especially unable to see where Jesus was going, if he was turning towards him or long gone.

But this man, although blind, could see the value of going against the crowd here; he could see the value of Jesus Christ and all that He was. So he called all the louder.

What would have happened if he had stopped shouting? We can't say for certain but this we can the words "Go, your faith has healed you" would never have been said.

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Let us persevere in following Christ, pressing on towards the goal, pushing through every trial with gladness proclaiming our weaknesses and God's strength to help us and build us up.

Hebrews 10:39 "But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

Mark 9

Yo.

What is this transfiguration and why is it important?

When I have big questions I usually just ignore it and move on. But I want to find an answer to this. So, please, give me your thoughts on it.

Mark 7-8

So today the verses that really stick out to me are verses 18-23 of chapter 7.

"18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”"

All foods are clean. This is again seen in Acts 10 with Peter's vision.

Generally I do not drink alcohol. There are many reasons, but none of them are 'because I am Christian'. This verse as well as Acts show that it isn't the alcohol that is bad. Jesus was not opposed to drinking, he made the water into wine (John 2). Timothy was instructed to drink wine instead of the polluted water that was making him sick (1 Tim 5:23).

One reason I don't want to drink is the chances that I do stupid things afterwards. Being drunk impairs judgement and makes it easier for evil to come out of our hearts into reality. Eph 5:18 "Do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Don't get drunk is what that is saying, since it leads to "extreme indulgence in sensuality" aka sexual immorality. The verse also implores us to be filled with the Spirit, which we need daily for guidance, wisdom, and strength to follow His commands, which will ultimately also help us avoid drunkenness.

But we can drink, right?

1 Cor 10:23 "“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."

Yesterday I did drink. I was camping with a couple non-Christian friends and had been praying that it would be a great time and have many opportunities to share my faith in Christ as well as chances to build a deeper friendship since I really only just met them a week ago.

God really answered prayer and so much happened. lol

Nearing sunset we were going to play a game of 'Never have I ever', the drinking version. lol. At this point it was mainly meaningless fun, but even that has benefit, right? What is more beneficial: me sharing the gospel and then walking away, or me sharing the gospel with my words and my life and continuing to build a friendship with them for further opportunities?

1 Cor verses 10:31-33 "31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."

It was one can. You are allowed to drink. It was so I could continue to be part of their journey to Christ, so that they may be saved.

I am very happy I didn't sit there condemning their drinking because 'I don't really drink'.

What do you think about drinking alcoholic beverages? Have you ever been in situations where your usual answer might be the wrong one?

Mark 4

When you read a passage where Jesus tells a parable and then explains it to the disciples, what do you think?

Jesus is a jerk for not telling the crowds?

Jesus is being really nice to explain to His disciples?

Either way that is unfair?

But do you ever think, "Man, Jesus explained it to me too."? Like we actually have on record an explaination of this parable. God's word (prophecy, the good news, Christ) is shared and people all receive it differently. That and all the specifics wrapped up in a story about a farmer.

When it comes down to it though, there are many parables, an the whole Bible without God's written word explaining it. So, how do we find out the meaning of that?

Ask Jesus to explain?

Pretty much.

Where as He in person had been explaining to them while He was with them, the Holy Spirit can now explain. John 16:12-15. The Spirit will make these things known. Mark 4:22. Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed.

God is a God who reveals mysteries and secrets (Dan 2:28, Amos 3:7) you just need to ask. xP

Mark 2-3

The crowds.

Crowds are good things, right? They are strong. They are inclusive. They always know what is right, right? That's how wikipedia works.

Well, I think the crowds aren't great. Not just because I am pro-hipster. Multiple times we see the crowd getting in the way, the crowd keeping people from stepping out in faith, the crowd being passive and just following whatever is trending in the crowd.

In this passage we see the story of the paralytic. His friends knew Jesus was the only one who could heal this, but there was a crowd in the way. And obviously they would have tried to get through the crowd first, right? I mean the alternative was tearing a hole in the roof. >.>

And another time 'the crowd' got in the way you can infer a little from the verse Matt23:13 where Jesus is speaking Woes to the Pharisees for closing the kingdom of heaven in the faces of others when they themselves are not going to enter. The way it was the Pharisees were in command, dictating what the people had to do to come before God, when religion isn't what is required, but humility and a real relationship with the Father through adoption, forgiveness, redemption in Christ.

Are there good crowds then?

My first thought on this question is the church.

The church, is supposed to be a good crowd.

Instead of blocking people from coming to Christ, they'd make a path, even helping the friends carry the paralyzed man.

Instead of hogging Jesus to themselves, they'd go far and wide to tell others about Him.

Instead of standing around and expecting others to do something (bystander effect) they would encourage each other, spur one another on to love and good works reflecting what God did in Christ for us.

In whatever way we can, let's try to be a good crowd. Praying for the work of the Spirit and living as the living sacrifice setting an example in speech, faith, life, love, and purity (1Tim 4:12).

Matt 28-Mark 1

So, when Jesus rose, the very first thing He did was tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee; Galilee of the Gentiles. And it was there that He commissioned them to go to the world. He didn't go to Jerusalem.

He didn't mince words here either and one of the last things He says before the ascension is arguably some of the most pressing words right now; to keep on going and make real disciples wherever that is for His glory, for their salvation, and ultimately He is with us the entire time, so what do we have to fear?

Matt 27

So, this is the crucifixion. From the betrayal through to the cross and His burial.

I've heard a bunch about this, so my first thought was "WHAT?! There are zombies in the Bible?!?!"

Now calm down. This thought is pretty wrong. lol.

v. 50-53 "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people."

Zombies. They are pretty much still dead, just moving and usually mildly aggressive..?

But these people were raised 'to life', not just raised to walk around.

When Jesus died, He brought life.

Each of the things mentioned after His death shows God's power and plans.

The curtain in the temple was torn. I'm no expert in Old Testament temple traditions, but I heard many times that there were different sections for different people, Gentiles and women, men, priests, the high priest once a year. This last place was 'the holy of holies' where God was said to dwell. It was separated by this curtain that was now torn. Being able to experience God personally was no longer limited to just the High Priest once a year.

The earth shook and rocks split. God's power being seen here. This whole event was known by God and ultimately planned. This was not some normal person. Why would this happen is just a normal person died? Did rocks split and the earth shake and the sky grow black in the afternoon at all the prior crucifixions?

The tombs broke open and the holy were raised to life. They had died. But by Jesus' death they had new life. I've said this many times now. God's grace anf new life in Christ. Only those who were 'holy', assumedly trusting in the hope of the coming Messiah, were raised to life. Only by the blood of Christ are we forgiven and given life after death. And after this they went out and told others about what had happened in their lives.

Matt 25-26

So, we are at the sheep and goat sorting passage now. At the end times he will return and judge, separating those who blend into the flock, just going with it, with the actual flock who follows the shepherd's voice (John 10).

After separating them the king explains his reasoning, his criteria by which the sheep are different from the goats.

v. 35-36 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

This was said of the sheep, while the opposite was said of the goats.

All of them asked 'when were you in these situations?' to which he basically said 'whenever you did these things for the least, you did them for me.'

Putting others before ourselves (Phil2:3-4)
Loving our neighbours sacrificially (Luke 6:27-31, 10:25-37)
Giving without expecting to be paid back (Luke 6:35)

How much time do we spend helping those in need instead of thinking of ourselves? Praying for those in need? Going to those in need with assistance, compassion, and aid?

Jesus came all the way from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, and from the grave to the sky for us. Can't we go a little out of our way, even to the people living right beside us?

Matt 24 (plus 25:1-13)

So, yesterday I didn't have all that big a thought when it came to the passage. I really don't know that much about the end times. So, my thought for yesterday is kinda part of chapter 25.

The first parable told in chapter 25 is about the end times (and so are the other two. lol...) But the first one relates a lot better to the material covered in the 24th chapter.

v36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, (nor the Son,) but only the Father."

The first parable is about the 10 virgins waiting for the wedding banquet to begin. 5 brought extra oil, the other 5 did not. They all fell asleep, but were awoke as the cry went out saying 'Here he comes!' The 5 now had no oil for their lamps so they had to go get some and while gone he came and took the other five into the banquet, shutting the door on anyone else, including the other 5 when they show up late.

Now, I think this parable stresses being prepared (having the extra oil) as do a number of other parables about staying alert and watching for when the master of the house returns, but at the same time shows God's grace. Fact: in the parable they all fell asleep. Had the bridegroom returned at that point they may all have been left outside.

2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

The timing was such that those 5 were awoken by the time he returned.

However, the other 5 were still not prepared. They could have gone off at anytime before and acquired more oil. It's probably way harder to get some in the middle of the night, while you have no oil in your lamps.

So, be prepared for His coming back and know that if you do stumble, there is still grace for you as you seek His face each day.

Matt 22-23

Yo, so this chapter. My first thought was that it reminded me of this one on going sketch that they did at Urbana this last winter. The theme of the whole conference was 'The Great Invitation'.

((OPTIONAL: If you want to watch the sketch the video links are below (less than 20 minutes for all 5 videos):
http://vimeo.com/56446607
http://vimeo.com/56446725
http://vimeo.com/56552544
http://vimeo.com/56560752
http://vimeo.com/57099352))

Basically a summary of the videos was this master holding a banquet so he sent out his servant to get those who had already RSVP'd expecting them to all be getting ready and anticipating the banquet, but they were all too busy with their new fields, or other business, so the master says to 'bring whoever is willing to come and eat!' And so the servant goes and does just that and the banquet is filled with all sorts of people.

Now, this is all a parable, but it is a very real invitation. He stands at the door and knocks (Rev 3:20). This is an invitation for each of us to come to know God better and open the door to our lives.

But the verses which really stuck out to me were verses 6-7 and 12-13.

Verse 6-7 detail how some guests killed the servants, so the king burned the city of murders. o.O Seems a bit strong, but death for death isn't that hard to consider, right? That's how a lot of the old Laws worked, pay back an eye for an eye, an ox for an ox, a life for a life. Stronger still is that all sin warrants death (Rom 6:26) and that we all have sinned (Rom 3:26).

And I think that is partially what happens in verses 12 and 13. This man wasn't dressed in 'wedding clothes' so they were thrown out into the darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth (the way hell is oft described). This guy didn't kill the servants, he came to the banquet. But he still wasn't presentable; they still weren't ready for a wedding banquet (which is presumably the wedding of Christ and the church after judgement).

Rev 3:17-18 "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

Although we think we are going the right way, our paths lead to destruction (Prov 14:12, 16:25), although we think we are good enough, our deeds are crap (Isa 64:6), although we think we are satisfied, our wells run dry (Jer 2:13).

But if we turn to Him, His Spirit and Word guides us (John 16:13, Psa 119:105), in His death on the cross we are made new, our sins paid for, and us now imbued His righteousness by faith (1 John 2:2, Rom 5:1-2, 2 Cor 5:21), and more over, He satisfies our every desire, the fountain of living water that never runs dry (Jer 2:13, Rev 21:6).

In this passage we are not told to go get wedding clothes of our own, but to sell all we have to buy from Him clothes of pure white to cover our nakedness, finding our righteousness in Him.

Matt 21

My thought came from verse 13. ""It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'""

It will be called a house of prayer.

Throughout these last chapters the faith of the people is what made things happen, not their own abilities. I think this is again partially what it means.

Yesterday I was at dinner with the other summer students and my supervisor. When asked what I was doing this weekend I replied "Not sure, but I am going to start looking for a church." There are a lot in Saskatoon apparently so my supervisor started suggesting some. There are a couple at school which would have a lot of student aged people. She then said she was thinking of all the weddings she had been to and then suggested the nicest buildings and one that had like professional musicians that might play there.

So, church is about music? church is about the nice buildings? church is about people my age? church is about being close to walk to?

No.

The church, the house of God, that is where God's children adopted by the blood of Christ on the cross come together to worship God for what He alone has done, to encourage one another as to what He alone can do, and to come before Him humbled asking for Him to do even greater things through us.

We should be a house of prayer.

Prayer is coming before Him and humbling ourselves. Not relying on our own strength, but asking Him to be our strength. Not trusting in our plans, but asking that His will be done. Not demanding of Him based on what we have done, but asking that He as our Heavenly Father would give us the daily bread we need. Not taking the things we have and being proud that we have earned them, but thanking Him for giving them to us.

We need to be in prayer more. Eph 5:18a, Phil 4:6, Col 4:2, 1 Thes 5:17.

Matt 15-16

Yo!

My thought for this passage was triggered by verse 21 "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Until this time Jesus had been healing. He had been teaching. He had been living among the disciples. He had done miracles. He had been calling people to himself. He had been questioned by the Pharisees.

These things he had done with authority. He had done with confidence. He had done these things as Son of God and Son of Man. But now that His disciples believed He was the Christ, now is when He started to unpack what all that meant.

The Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One sent to save the lost, sent to die on the cross, sent to pay the price that we couldn't so that by it's payment we could know the Father, Son and Spirit.

But it was only now that He acknowledged it. Not earlier. Only after God had revealed this to Peter.

This may be going along with the fact that it wasn't His time yet to be revealed fully since again he cautions them to not tell others. But then, why did He ask? Hmmm.

Matt 13-14

So, the thing that really stuck out to me about this chapter was wheat. lol.

I'm going out to Saskatoon right now to work with wheat and fungal resistance breeding.

So when Jesus tells them a parable in verses 24-30 about a farmer and his field of wheat I just had to stop and read again. lol.

It's also along the same lines as my last thought.

Although the enemy planted weeds alongside the wheat the farmer allowed both to grow fully before uprooting the weeds. Sure the weeds would make the wheat grow a little slower or potentially beat out a few, he was really protecting the wheat by not pulling out the weeds earlier, which could hurt the wheat and stop it from growing at all, especially since the entire field had weeds strewn throughout.

Once the wheat had grown fully then the weeds could be safely removed.

So, even if there may be some difficulties now, God allowing those weeds there is so that we can continue to grow instead of being uprooted together with the weeds. He is there to give us strength through these trials and to grow us through them.

(I feel like I will understand this all so much more after living in Saskatoon for the summer. lol)

Matt 12

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (v30)
These words are incredible to me. They strike such a strong warning and such a powerful rebuke. Everything in our lives need to be for Jesus, for the Kingdom of God (Matt6:32), a living sacrifice (Rom12:1-2), to His glory and praise (1Cor10:31; Col3:17,23).

But if we are not for Him, as that verse, as the words Jesus spoke say, we are against Him. There is a dichotomy here. There is no middle ground. Well, there is, but it says in Revalation that God would rather we were one or the other and because of this 'lukewarmness' He is going to spit them out (Rev3:15-16). The goats, although not wolves, will still be sorted out (Matt25:31-46). Those who did great things in His name, yet did not know Him will be sorted out (Matt7:21-23).

So really, it's either for Him or against Him and the next part is even more frightening. If I am not gethering... I am scattering.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk19:10).

To gather those who are afflicted and injured, weary and scattered (Ezk34).

But this is a very real reality Matt25:46: "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Either we are for Him, gathering others as we have seen His great love and justice through the cross.
Or.
We are against Him, scattering even those who had been found, insulting His every deed done to save us and spitting in His face only to be spat out into punishment.

And it is far too easy to slip back into our sinful nature, but by Christ, anyone who calls upon His name can claim the gift of forgiveness and redemption through the blood on the cross. They can ask for God's Spirit to indwell and sanctify, guide and make new that which had been broken; empowering them to live lives reciprocating God's love.

So, ya, are you gathering or scattering?

Matt 10

So, I was reading this chapter and it seems like it's all about disciples. I really want to spend more time thinking about all these verses. Jesus' words really are powerful. Lol.

But ya, right after the twelve were named He gave them authority and power, He provided for their every need, He instructed them in the ways they should go and what to do and He'd even give them the words to say to rulers amd authorities.

But it's not all easy, right?

He said they will be persecuted, He said it would be hard, He said He brought a sword to divide families.

Have you experienced this persecution? I have been thinking about this a lot recently. If we aren't hated by the world, are we following Jesus closely enough that we actually are reflecting His image and glory and light that the world of darkness actually hates us?

Thoughts?

Matt 8-9.

So, today, kinda this whole two chapters is showing Jesus's ability as Son of God.

First there is a lot of healing people's illnesses. Leprosy, bleeding, all kinds of sickness.

Next, He commands the storms from chaotic to calmness. Who can do this?

Next He shows His power over Spiritual forces, commanding demons. I always wondered why he would send them into the pigs to die though..?

And even after this he forgives the paralyzed guy of his sins and raised the dead to life!

All this was not hindered by Jesus' own ability, but it came down to the faith of those being healed. "He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick." Jesus could do it, He just wanted them to trust in Him.

However, many demanded miracles; to see it for themselves before they believed. The people cared more about their pigs than the freedom from the demons and so drove Jesus away. None of them listened when Jesus said don't tell anyone. They tried to make up reasons for how Jesus was doing this.

So, let us trust in Him and His power that is alive in us to do even more than we can ask or imagine (Rom8:11, John16:7, John4:12, Eph3:20).

Matt 6-7

I have a lot of thoughts. How can you not? It's Jesus' sermon on the mount part 2 and the crowds were amazed with his authoritative teaching (8:28-29).

So here's one thought:

My thought is about the 'righteous acts' described throughout the first part of chapter 6. Jesus pretty much says 'do it in secret, who cares what others think? Your Father in Heaven will reward you for what is done.' Even to the point of, 'when giving do not let your left hand know what the right is doing' (6:3).

A couple months ago I was talking with one person about our prayer meetings and she brought this point up saying that a small room would be way better than the open space.

And again just a few days ago me and a couple guys got into a conversation stemming from a study of 1 Tim, and we got to how we can make anything an idol, even working for God, craving the praise of others.

These are good thoughts and I know our motivation should not be to look good and spiritual in front of others, ultimately the only praise that matters is the words from God "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Luke 19:11-27). And that these acts by themselves have no ability to save, but are ultimately as 'filthy rags' (Isa 64:6).

However, I have seen multiple times people get involved or be pushed to trust God more because of visibility of these things. I have seen guys join into a Bible study because we were doing it behind Starbucks; I've seen people get involved and even come to know Christ personally because someone wore a P2C shirt while sharing by Timmies; I've seen people ask when we've prayed in Tory lobby; I know I have been greatly encouraged to give more and trust in God because of what I have seen others do in faith.

So, because of all this, my thought is a bit of a question: What are your thoughts on these 'acts of righteousness' being done in public? Is it beneficial? Should we do them only in secret? Both? 

Please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Matt 4-5

My thought is about all the prophecy in the book of Matthew. I haven't been counting very well, but yesterday alone there were more than 5 phophecies cited as being fulfilled and about 5 dreams or phophecies given from God to the people. There are so many things written in the old testament that point to Jesus it is amazing.

But my thought is about the words cited in chapter 4 when Jesus goes to Galilee:

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Matt 4:15-16; Isa 9:1-2.

Right after being baptized and having the Heavens declare him as son of God with light and dove descending on him; after the temptation and fasting and hunger in the wilderness; right after all this Jesus goes straight to Galilee, to the land of the Gentiles in Israel. Clearly Jesus is intent on reaching all people. He first calls to Simon and Andrew, who were not Gentiles and once a crowd gathered sat down and taught.

He told them to let their light shine, but also showed how much the law condemned them.

Jesus is the light of the world and He shines through us (Matt 5:16), His peacemakers (Matt 5:9), ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), those who are like Him on earth (1 John 4:17). So, let's ask for Him to be our light since we have all lived in the darkness and He lone is our righteousness.

Matt 1-3.

My first thought was about the genealogy of Jesus, specifically about the four women who were mentioned. Each of them had been through a difficult situation, but God used each of them. God brought the Saviour of the world through them, Jesus (God saves), Emmanuel (God with us).

If we are going through tough situations, I know God can use it for greater things than we can imagine right now.

This Summer

Doing a summer reading plan of the New Testament.

One Thought each day.