Category: Bible (Page 380 of 425)

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

Jesus, Luke 11:28

Two aspects of this declaration jump out to me. First, I am blessed just hearing the word of God. I am blessed every time I sit and read the word of God. I am blessed to own multiple versions of the word of God in my native language. Access to the word of God constitutes a incomparable blessing to my life.

Second, blessing follows obedience. Hmmm, there’s always a catch, right? Obeying the word of God leads me toward a life of God’s design, a life in tune with the music of the Lord. Blessed are those who find this score and play it.

What other person or philosophy offers such a promise? I experience many false assurances as I grow longer in years, all clanging cymbals compared to the word of God.

#Blessed. Hear and obey the word of God, and you’ll be on your way.

Week twelve of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ann

Few parables still resonate like the Good Samaritan. Down the road from us stands the Good Samaritan Hospital. Stories in the news often feature a good samaritan who went out of their way to help a stranger.

Today as I read the story for the thousandth time, the responses of the man who prompted the parable stood out. An expert in the law, he asked Jesus, who is my neighbor?

Jesus told this familiar parable in response, then asked a follow-up question, which of the three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? The expert answered, The one who had mercy on him. Jesus replied, Go and do likewise.

When I think of good neighboring, my first thought doesn’t run to mercy. More toward helpfulness, sharing, a friendly greeting, perhaps.

Mercy, it seems, weighs more. Mercy involves compassion and forgiveness, or refusing to insist on the repayment of a debt or the fulfillment of an obligation. Mercy costs more.

Mercy feels way more challenging for me, especially coupled with this directive from Jesus: go and do likewise.

Luke 10 in week twelve of reading the Bible cover to cover

The Good Samaritan, by Vincent Van Gogh 1890

Yesterday my wife’s text feed started rattling with friends and family checking in to see if we were safe. Thus we discovered the horrific shooting at a Boulder grocery store.

It’s not our regular store, although we have friends who live close and shop there. This event brings to mind the Columbine shooting and the Aurora theatre massacre, which also involved calls to make sure our family was ok.

I read this quote from Paul Tripp this morning, “We live in a broken world that doesn’t function the way the Creator intended.”

Join us in praying for the people of Boulder, the families of the slain, and traumatized shoppers and employees.

Pray for mercy, as we make our way through a world adrift.

The crew following Jesus numbered more than his his twelve disciples. It also included several women, who Luke identified as cured of evil spirits and diseases (a physician, Luke took special notice of such details).

Mary Magdalene walked with Jesus, along with Joanna, Susanna, and many others. These women brought influence – Joanna’s husband managed King Herod’s household – and money. The women helped support the missionary group out of their own pocketbooks.

From the very beginning, dedicated women developed and spread the Christian faith. Thank you to Luke for reminding me of a few of their names, which I can now match with their tremendous legacy.

Luke 8:1-3 in week twelve of reading the Bible cover to cover