The Devotional

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 161.1 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah An excerpt from yesterday’s devotional: In our passage, the point of the LORD is not that of being a newscaster but placing the death of these people beyond human judgment, in fact; Jesus does not look at the death of human beings as we do. All humans, past present and future will die ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 161 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such things? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Discerning the signs of the times in which we live in godly righteousness is okay with God, this type of judging glorifies God and is a blessing to you and me. We observed this last week in Luke 12:54-56. However, when people become our reason for judging we will never be blessed of God, G...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 160 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:54-59 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so, it is. “And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Make Peace with Your Adversary. “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? “When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison “I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Luke 12:49-59 are not parables, these are snippets of Truth regarding the first coming of Messiah. Warnings to the nat...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 159 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:35-49-53 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! “But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. “For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.   “Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Jesus begins to lament over Jerusalem, as He knew beforehand that the end of His present ministry was at hand. Isaiah says – “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:3). No one has ev...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 158 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:35-48 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people? ” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. “Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.   “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. “And that servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 157 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 12:35-48 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat and will come and serve them. “And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. “Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Please take the extra few moments and read the remaining verses to this parable. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah This parabl...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 156 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Various Scripture I trust that all children of God through faith and obedience to the gospel, remembered with bitter-sweet moments the sacrifice of God’s Son. His resurrection brings love, faith and hope to the forefront of our life, doesn’t it! The resurrection of The Son of God is the most important and most documented event in all of the history of mankind. Luke as a historian records, along with the other gospel writers very clear evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. On that Friday, which we call “Good Friday” Jesus was buried in a wealthy man’s tomb. Joseph of Arimathea and the Pharisee Nicodemus who are saved and disciples of Christ provide for the LORD’s burial. Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42. The apostle John reveals that Nicodemus provided the linen and spices for the LORD’s body. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah If this were the end of the story, t...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 155 Special #3 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Various Scripture Friday slips into Saturday, Jesus has already been taken from the cross. In death, He took His place with ‘ALL THE DEAD’ those of the past, present, present and the future. Scripture reveals that He tasted death (Hebrew 2:9) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. What does this mean that Jesus tasted death for everyone in order that we might not have to taste death? Shall we not all die a physical death? YES INDEED! Jesus does not want us to “die the Second Death” thus He died to live again because He trusted the Father’s Will, Jesus became obedient to the will of His Father; just as we are to be obedient to the Father’s Will too! (Philippians 2:8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to th...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 155 a Special SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Various Scripture 9 PM to MIDNIGHT, the day is Friday, it is mid-April, near the end of the Jewish month NISAN, it is Mid-Friday since the Jewish day began at dusk around 6 PM. During the third watch of this Friday, what is Jesus thinking, He has no control over the events, He has but only to follow the Father’s Will “TOTAL REJECTION” from the perfect RIGHTEOUS and JUSTICE of His God and Father, TOTAL REJECTION from the world that has fallen as a result of Satan’s Coveting and Pride. For God the Father’s and the sake of all humankind Jesus becomes the PROPITIATION, a pleasing sacrifice for SIN-the BLOOD of Jesus cleanses the world of SIN. May I ask! Why would anyone refuse to accept this TRUTH? All sin is paid for by the LAMB (John 1:29) all anyone needs to do is BELIEVE IT and the BLOOD of the sacrifice of Jesus will cleanse them from SIN. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah We sing songs, ...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 156 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Various Scripture THE HEAVENS declare the GLORY of GOD, and the EXPANSE of HEAVEN shows THE WORK HIS HANDS! Psalm 19:1 MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME? Why are YOU so FAR from helping ME, and the WORDS of my GROANING? Psalm 22:1 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men . John 1:1-4. And the WORD became FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth . John 1:14. Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah There are NO WORDS to describe the agony in the hu...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 155 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 22:41-46 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah There are many things that Jesus has done or spoken up to this point that we have not covered; The washing of the disciple’s/apostle’s feet, the disciples argue about who is the greatest, the Passover/supper. Judas plots to betray His LORD. All of these events happened earlier on Thursday, these ar...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 154 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Matthew 7:24-28 “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men; So, shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, and what th...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 153 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Matthew 7:24-28 “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah The week ahead for us, “God’s children” is of great significance. This week exceeds the Birth of Jesus in spiritual priority and on the LORD’s Day, the Sunday following, at His resurrection, the suffering Messiah becomes the King of kings and the LORD of lords. We will look at some of the highlights of this week through the prophet Isaiah, then...

The Devotional – Search the Scriptures – 152 SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:   Luke 19-41-44 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.   “For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,   “and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Jesus, the Christ of God/Messiah We will return to Luke 12 after this week of sacrifice “Jesus is forsaken GOD is estranged from GOD!” Think about this in your soul. It is not enough to know the words of this wonderful hymn (HIS robes for mine) as we ought to let the truth of RIGHTEOUSNESS sink deep, deep where life matters! It seems that we readily cloth our bodies with the robes...