Things in our culture are changing rapidly. Many believe the attacks on biblical principles, the marginalization of our beliefs, the loss of our freedoms, and the persecution toward us as believers will continue to increase. How will we respond to the challenges? Will we stay true to what we say we believe? Will we continue to stand up for biblical truth when it’s unpopular? What if it were outlawed? What can we do to prepare ourselves for what could happen?
Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 33 & 34
Psalm 40.13-17
Proverbs 13.13-14
Luke 8.1-25
Will You Follow Jesus to the End?
Luke 8.1-25:
Faithful Women
Reading this chapter, I was reminded of just how many women were followers of Christ from the beginning (vv. 2-3). Not only did they follow, but many of them went with Him all the way to the cross (Lk. 23.49).
But lest we turn that into criticism toward those men and women who weren’t at the cross, we might need to remember a few things.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13.7 that “love believes all things.” That doesn’t mean we walk around in denial, but that we give others the benefit of the doubt. We view them in the best possible light. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts.
First, it’s obvious that even though Jesus repeatedly told them of His impending death, they didn’t see it coming. They were shocked and confused.
Second, even though Peter denied Him, we should remember that his first response was to defend Him (Matt. 26.51). And even though they all fled in the garden, they came back together and obediently prayed and waited for the day of Pentecost (Acts 1.4). After that day, they went out in the power of the Holy Spirit and turned the known world upside down (Acts 17.6).
Third, though the two Jewish leaders, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were largely silent during His life (Mk. 15.42-43; Jn. 19.38-42), they stood up at great risk after His death.
But, what about us? How would we have responded had we been there? We can’t really know. But all of us have opportunities to be faithful to Him or to pull back out of fear of what people might think or fear of consequences.
Changing Attitudes
It is hard to believe how quickly attitudes can change. We’ve all known people who at one point were coming to church and excited about the things of God. Then something happened and the next thing you knew, they were nowhere to be found.
People’s attitudes toward Jesus changed just as rapidly during His life on earth. Look at the difference in their responses during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the day we celebrate as Palm Sunday (Matt. 21.1-11) and when they cried out for His death a week later (Matt. 27.22-25).
Today, people’s attitudes, in general, seem to be changing almost as rapidly. Biblical principles that were once widely accepted are being attacked. Christian beliefs are being criticized and attempts to limit religious freedoms are increasing.
How will we respond to the challenges? Will we stay true to what we say we believe? Will we continue to stand up for biblical truth when it’s unpopular? What if it were outlawed? Would we follow Him to the end … even to the cross, if necessary?
I know it’s a drum I beat frequently, but if we are going to remain strong in the Lord, we must be strong in the Word. We must practice what we believe daily in the little things if we’re going to be able to practice it in the big things when they come (Jas. 1.22-25). We need to focus on His character and grow in our trust in Him (Rom. 10.17). And we need to be part of a healthy church, one whose members encourage, pray for, and correct one another. We need a church where the gospel, including the need for faith and repentance, is preached regularly, the Bible is taught in its entirety, and God is worshiped whole-heartedly and for who He is.
Today’s Other Readings:
Deuteronomy 33 & 34:
Hear the Word of the Lord
We have come to the end of this book, the last of the five books of Moses or the Pentateuch, meaning “five scrolls.” The Pentateuch forms a foundation for understanding the rest of Scripture. Moses himself commanded that these important truths be read publicly.
Deuteronomy 31.12:
Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law.
It’s just as important for us to read and study and understand the truths contained in these sacred books so that we will “fear the Lord our God”—have that reverential respect that He alone is due and not fear man (Matt. 10.28) as I talked about above.
Psalm 40.13-17:
Our Help in Need
But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God (v. 17).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5.3). When we recognize our spiritual poverty apart from Him, we are most ready and able to receive all that He has for us.
Proverbs 13.13-14:
Destruction or Reward
He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.
Respect for and obedience to the laws of God lead to life, but as the next verse in Proverbs 13 says, “the way of the unfaithful is hard” (v. 15). Life gets hard when we decide we can make our own rules. Who among us hasn’t lived that truth at one time or another?
You can read more about the effects of making our own rules and see a simple illustration called the Y-chart that can help you remember these truths here.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about responding when friends betray us, developing a thirst for God, how faith can be risky, and parenting from the foot of the cross.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them.
If you would like to receive a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the book of Mark, you can click here for more information.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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