Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Blogging the Bible, Matt 22:45. Mind blown.


Matthew 22:45
If then David calls him Lord, how is he His son?

In looking at and meditating on this verse, it is absolutely clear to me that Jesus is making a point about his lineage that probably overwhelmed the average person pondering the question. If then DAVID calls him (Jesus) Lord, HOW is he His Son? This goes way beyond physical bloodlines and gets into what may be considered to be His spiritual lineage. The mere fact that the spiritual lineage went backwards was incomprehensible to them.

In other words, mind blown.

The application of this is to see how this shows the ultimate Kingship of Christ. This is so important, and when we see that He is Lord of all, it spurs us on to respect Him more, therefore giving us more motivation to obey the Lord the first time he gives us direction. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (Prov: 1:7a)

This lesson can then be taken to the story in the beginning of the chapter where it talks about the wedding feast. Those who heard and answered the call of the Lord to the wedding feast were given the wedding garments that the King required. But when he found a wedding crasher (one without a garment), he had to kick him out. He did not fear the King, but tried to get in without giving him due respect by answering the call and going through proper protocol in the first place.

A show of disrespect. Bad form.

Both stories illustrate the Kingship of the Lord Jesus, and how important it is for us to respond to the invitation to the wedding feast while we are still able to do so. Let us walk in humble respect for our King, and answer Him when He calls.

Blessings....

Monday, March 30, 2015

Blogging the Bible, Matt 21:21-22

Matthew 21:21-22
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you will receive."

Observation:
Jesus is laying out one of the biggest concepts ever for his disciples, one that is required for salvation: Faith. "If you have faith", that is, if you have not buried it or lost it or succumbed to doubt, then this passage applies. "And do not doubt"...James says that a person who doubts is like a person tossed around at sea, the waves knocking him around and beating him up. Doubt is the devil's work, never to be trusted.

This is King Jesus who is decreeing this statement, and what He says is law.
An executive order, if you will.
If you have faith, you can do what He did and make a tree wither, or even command a mountain (problem) to move aside and it will be done.

Application:
"Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Prayer needs to be infused with faith, and when we ask for anything, we need to believe it's possible. That God cares. And listens. And acts on our behalf, in our best interests. Believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He promised. He is King, and He can do anything. Just ask in faith, and do not doubt.

Blessings...

Sunday, March 29, 2015


Word for today...enjoy his peace.
Peace, be still!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Blogging the Bible, Matthew 17:4-5

Scripture:
Matt 17:4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
Matt17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!"

Observation:
I find it interesting that God interrupted Peter while he still was talking. In our culture today, that would be considered to be rude. Apparently God didn't care if it was considered rude, He did it anyways. Although Peter thought he had a good idea, God the Father had a better one…instead of building tabernacles to honor Jesus, Moses and Elijah (as if they were all on the same level), He focused on only one person in that triad…Jesus. He did not say to listen to Moses (the Law, even though the Law was from God himself) or Elijah (even though he was a prophet, a mouthpiece that God used). He said to listen to Jesus, because he was the fulfillment of the Law AND the prophets. Moses and Elijah were used BY God; Jesus, however came FROM God. We need to listen to Him.

Application:
When many voices are clamoring for our attention, we need to remember the words of the Father regarding Jesus: "Listen to HIM!!!!" Don't listen to voices of advertising, culture, media, talk show hosts, etc. Don't listen to those that encourage you to sin, to eat too much, to take a drink, to have a little tryst, to lie about your whatever. Listen to Jesus, because He is the ultimate fulfillment of all that God wants to do here in the earth. He is God's son.

Prayer:
Father, I listen too often to the voices around me, to outside influences and not enough to You. Jesus, forgive me for not listening as much to you as I need to. Tune my ears to hear more clearly so I can follow You more closely. I love you Lord, amen.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Bible blogging...Matthew 20:33-34

Scripture:
Matt 20:33-34 "They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed Him."

Observation:
Jesus heard the two guys calling out to him from the roadside, and after being told to ignore them and move on, he stopped. He stopped. For them. Blind guys. Beggars. (Much like me…I'm blind in so many ways, I'm a beggar because I have nothing of worth to offer to Him, except for one thing--me.) Then, he talked to them, asking them a question. "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?" They answered, "Let our eyes be opened." He felt pity for these guys, dirt poor beggars who couldn't even see, so He granted their request. He did it by touching their eyes. Not by saying words, not by patting them on the head, but touching their eyes. The fingerprints of God touched their blindness, and they immediately recovered their sight. And they followed Him after that.

Application:
I have areas of blindness, weakness, sin, etc. in my life. I am like the beggars, so poor that I don't have anything of worth to offer to the King of Kings, but I can offer myself to His service to be used in whatever way He sees fit.

Kneeling prayer:
Lord let my eyes be opened so I might see what you want me to see, so I can follow you. Forgive me for the sins I have committed, I want your grace to come in and cover me, and help me to extend that grace to everyone else, especially to my family. I love you Lord, and I bless you. Amen.