Month: August 2020

Will You Follow When Jesus Calls?

Scripture: Luke 9: 57, 59, 61-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (57) He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (59) Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (61-62)

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, casting a net. Jesus told them to follow Him, and straightaway, they left their nets and followed.

And going from there, Jesus sees James and John with their father. Jesus told the two brothers to follow Him and immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.

What does Jesus want from us?

He wants total dedication, not half hearted commitment. We can’t pick and choose among Jesus’s teachings and follow Him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy.

It’s necessary to count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. In Luke 9: 59, Luke does not say if the father has died or is dying. In Luke 9: 61, Luke doesn’t say if he wants to say goodbye to family or friends. But we see in Matthew 4, Jesus calls to Simon, Andrew, James and John, and they dropped everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus is calling. Are you going to follow?

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Luke Chapter 9

Matthew Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

Lord, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom

How Do You Use Your Worldly Goods?

Jesus Makes the Rough Places Smooth

Scripture: Isaiah 42: 16

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do;

Scripture Commentary:

God guides us when things are unfamiliar; He dispels the darkness and makes rough places smooth. I was blind but now I can see. This is because God, through His grace and mercy, has taken us out of the darkness of this world and has placed us in His marvelous light.

This was done when the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came into the world and gave His life for our sins. Jesus’s mission here on earth was to demonstrate God’s righteousness and to be a true light in the world

Are you God’s servants?

Through Jesus we have the opportunity to share in His mission. God has called us to be His servants. Are you God’s servants? That is the question being asked.

The road we were on was crooked but because of His love, rough places have become smooth. His brilliant light shows the way. We are given the privilege to take God’s message to the world.

Ask God for His direction.

Don’t rely on your own thoughts. Let Him truly guide you; don’t guide yourself. Let His light shine in the world with brightness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Isaiah Chapter 42

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Isaiah:

Find Security in God’s Plan: See What is Right

Judgment and Hope

Jesus’s Heart Goes Out to Us; Don’t Cry

Scripture: Luke 7: 13-15

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Scripture Commentary:

Luke chapter 7 details some of Jesus’s miracles. When He enters Nain, He sees a mother crying over the death of her son. She has already lost her husband and now her son. Jesus’s heart went out to her and He says, “Don’t cry.” He then touches the bier and tells the young man to arise.

Earlier in the chapter Jesus enters Capernaum where a certain centurion’s servant is near death. The centurion sends his friend to Jesus to ask him to heal his servant. The centurion had such faith in Jesus that he sent word that Jesus didn’t need to come Himself. He believed that Jesus need only say the words, and the servant would be healed.

These stories illustrate Jesus’s compassion, and how the people, through their faith, were saved.

What about you and your faith? Ask and it will be given; seek and you will find Jesus.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke Chapter 7

Read Other Chapters from the Book of Luke:

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

I Once Was Lost But Now Am Found

Approach God with Confidence

Scripture: Ephesians 3: 12, 20-21

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (12) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (20-21)

Scripture Commentary:

Paul was under house arrest when he wrote to the church of Ephesus. The letter to the Ephesians encourages them, and us, as the living body of Jesus on earth. Through faith, we can approach God. Overcome by emotion, Paul remembers all that God has done and challenges the Ephesians, and us, to live a Christ-like life.

Where would you be right now if not for the love of Christ?

Because Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, which he was jailed for, today we can read and learn about Our Lord and Savior. Paul endured the pain of persecution to bring new believers to Christ.

Following and obeying Jesus is never easy.

Jesus tells us to take up His cross and follow Him. Are you willing to endure pain so that God’s message of salvation can reach the entire world?

We are blessed that others have suffered and sacrificed for us. The question is, “Are you a follower?”

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Ephesians Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Ephesians:

God Is Rich in Mercy – He Loves You

It Is By Grace that You Are Saved

Don’t Forfeit Your Eternity with God

Scripture: Matthew 16: 25-26

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 

Scripture Commentary:

Will you forfeit your soul? Is this earth your god? Are the people in your life more important to you than Jesus Christ? Who do you listen to? Yourself, Satan, or God?

Real discipleship implies real commitment.

If you are a disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, losing your earthly life for Him is real. If you try to save your physical life from death, pain or discomfort, you risk losing your true eternal life.

Who are you serving?

From the time you were born, you were placed in line for a journey of service. If you protect yourself from pain, you begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Think of the pain and suffering Jesus took for us on the cross.

You lose true purpose in life if you turn your life inward. However, when you give your life in service to Christ, you discover the real purpose of living.

This life is just an introduction to eternity with God.

If you don’t know Christ, you make choices as though this life is all you have. In reality, this life is just an introduction to eternity with God. How you live this brief span of time determines your eternity.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the light that we all need to guide our living.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 16

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Have your iniquities separated you from God?

Do Not Worry – Give It to God

Note: For the remainder of the summer, we will post once a week on Monday.