Today's Verse 10-1-15 Rejected

Mark 6:4

New Living Translation

 

⁴ Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

 

Jesus said that a prophet (in other words, a worker for God) is never honored in his hometown. But that doesn’t make his work any less important. A person doesn’t need to be respected or honored to be useful to God. If friends, neighbors, or family don’t respect your Christian work, don’t let their rejection keep you from serving God.

 

Joe

Faith involves action! (Mark 5:24-34)

Mark 5:24-34

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him. ²⁵ A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. ²⁷ She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. ²⁸ For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

³⁰ Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

³¹ His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

³² But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

 

Jesus was not angry with this woman for touching Him. He knew she had touched Him, but He stopped and asked who did it in order to teach her something about faith. Although the woman was healed when she touched Him, Jesus said her faith caused the cure. Genuine faith involves action. Faith that isn’t put into action is not faith at all.

 

Joe

Find Time to pray. (Mark 1:35)

Mark 1:35

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

³⁵ Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

 

Jesus took time to pray. Finding time to pray is not easy, but prayer is a vital link between us and God. Like Jesus, we must break away from others to talk with God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it !

 

Joe

Satan's temptations bring turmoil. (Mark 1:12-13)

Mark 1:12-13

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, ¹³ where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Jesus left the crowds and went into the desert where He was tempted by Satan. Temptation is bad for us only when we give in. We should not hate or resent times of inner testing, because through them, God can strengthen our character and teach us valuable lessons. When you face Satan and must deal with his temptations and the "TURMOIL" he brings, remember Jesus. He used God's Word against Satan and won. You can do the same.

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

Take responsibility. (Matthew 27:24)

Matthew 27:24

 

 

The Message (MSG)

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”

In making no decision, Pilate made the decision to let the crowds crucify Jesus. Although he washed his hands , the guilt remained. Washing your hands of a tough situation doesn't cancel your guilt. It merely gives you a false sense of peace. Don't make excuses - take responsibility for the decisions you make.

Joe

 

 

 

 

Keep watch and pray. (Matthew 26:40-41)

Matthew 26:40-41

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Jesus used Peter's drowsiness to warn him about the kinds of temptation he would soon face. The way to overcome temptation is to keep watch and pray. Watching means being aware of the possibilities of temptation, sensitive to the subtleties, and spiritually equipped to fight it. Because temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable, we can't resist it alone. Prayer is essential because God's strength can shore up our defenses and defeat Satan's power.

Joe

Leadership (Matthew 23:5-7)

Matthew 23:5-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. ⁶ And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. ⁷ They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

People desire positions of leadership not only in business but also in the church. It is dangerous when love for the position grows stronger than loyalty to God. This is what happened to the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Jesus is not against all leadership - we need Christian leaders - but against leadership that serves itself rather than others.

Joe

A Servant's Heart (Matthew 20:26-27)

Matthew 20:26-27

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁶ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.

Jesus described leadership from a new perspective. Instead of using people, we are to serve them. Jesus' mission was to serve others and give His life away. A real leader has a servant's heart. Servant leaders appreciate others' worth and realize that they're not above any job. If you see something that needs to be done, don't wait to be asked. Take the initiative and do it like a faithful servant.

Joe

Faith as small as a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:17-20)

Matthew 17:17-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁷ Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.
¹⁹ Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”

²⁰ “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Jesus wasn't condemning the disciples substandard faith; He was trying to show how important faith would be in their future ministry. If you are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith.

Joe

 

 

 

Are you inconvenienced? (Matthew 15:22-24)

Matthew 15:22-24

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

²² A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”

²³ But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”

 

The disciples asked Jesus to get rid of the woman because she was bothering them with her nagging persistence. They showed no compassion for her or sensitivity to her needs. It is possible to become so occupied with spiritual matters that we miss real needs right around us. This is especially likely if we are prejudiced against needy people or if they cause us inconvenience. Instead of being bothered, be aware of the opportunities that surround you. Be open to the beauty of God’s message for all people and make an effort not to shut out those who are different from you.

 

Joe

Don't miss the rest of the message. (Matthew 14:35-36)

Matthew 14:35-36

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him ³⁶ and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

 

The people recognized Jesus as a great healer, but how many understood who He truly was? They came to Jesus for physical healing, but did they come for spiritual healing? They came to prolong their lives on earth, but did they come to secure their eternal lives? People may seek Jesus to learn valuable lessons from His life or in hopes of finding relief from pain. But we miss Jesus’ whole message if we seek Him only to heal our bodies but not our souls, if we look to Him for help only in this life, rather than for His eternal plan for us. Only when we understand the real Jesus Christ can we appreciate how He can truly change our lives.

 

Joe

Let Jesus multiply what you give to Him. (Matthew 14:19-21)

Matthew 14:19-21

 

¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

 

Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed over 5000 people. What He was originally given seemed insufficient, but in His hands it became more than enough. We often feel that our contribution to Jesus is meager, but He can use and multiply whatever we give Him, whether it is talent, time, or treasure. It is when we give them to Jesus that our resources are multiplied.

 

Joe

Your mouth = Your heart (Matthew 12:34-36)

Matthew 12:34-36

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

 

Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kinds of words come from your mouth? That is an indication of what your heart is really like. You can’t solve your heart problems just by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives, then your speech will be cleansed at its source.

 

Joe

Do you really want His help? (Matthew 9:27-30)

Matthew 9:27-30

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

²⁷ After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

²⁸ They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” ³⁰ Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

 

Jesus didn’t respond immediately to the blind men’s pleas. He waited to see if they had faith. Not everyone who says he wants help really believes God can help him. Jesus may have waited and questioned these men to emphasize and increase their faith. When you think that God is too slow in answering your prayers, consider that He might be testing you as He did the blind men. Do you believe that God can help you? Do you really want His help?

 

Joe

Just reach out in faith. (Matthew 9:20-22)

Matthew 9:20-22

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

²⁰ Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, ²¹ for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

 

This woman had suffered for 12 years with bleeding. In times of desperation, we don’t have to worry about the correct way to reach out to God. Like this woman, we can simply reach out in faith. He will respond.

 

Joe

Do you think that you are righteous? (Matthew 9:13)

Matthew 9:13

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

 

Those who are sure that they are righteous can’t be saved because the first step in following Jesus is acknowledging our need and admitting that we don’t have all the answers.

 

Joe

My quiver used to be full. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Psalm 127:3-5

 

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from Him.
⁴ Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

(Definition of QUIVER:  a case for carrying or holding arrows )

 

People are always telling me to have a “good day,” or have a “great day.” Usually I respond with “you too.” Every so often I give a different reply, “almost all my days are good”, “I only had one bad day in my life.” That day was September 15^th, 2003. That was the day my 19 year old daughter took her own life.

 

Amanda, you missed so much…

You never fell in love…

You never saw your sister Alycia get married…

You never met your nephew, niece or brother-in-law…

You never saw your sister Abby go to a dance…

You missed so much !

 

What could I have done different?

 

When you lose a child, you lose a part of yourself.

 

Parents, take the time today and listen to your child. Really listen to what they have to say. It’s important to them, make it important to you. Then hug them and tell them how much you love them. Tell them you will always be there for them.

 

Joe

You can be changed ! (Matthew 9:10-13)

Matthew 9:10-13

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. ¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

 

When He visited Matthew, Jesus hurt His own reputation. Matthew was cheating the people, but Jesus found and changed him. We should not be afraid to reach out to people who are living in sin – God’s message can change anyone.

 

Joe

Will you follow? (Matthew 9:9)

Matthew 9:9

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

 

When Jesus called Matthew to be one of His disciples, Matthew got up and followed, leaving a lucrative career. When God calls you to follow or obey Him, do you do it with as much abandon as Matthew? Sometimes the decision to follow Christ requires difficult or painful choices. Like Matthew, we must decide to leave behind those things that would keep us from following Christ.

 

Joe

Spiritual Health > Physical Health

Matthew 9:1-2

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

 

9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. ² Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

 

Among the first words Jesus said to the paralyzed man were, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then He healed the man. We must be careful not to concentrate on God’s power to heal physical sickness more than on His power to forgive spiritual sickness in the form of sin. Jesus say that even more than physical health, this man needed spiritual health. Spiritual health comes only from Jesus’ healing touch.

 

Joe

God can calm the storms of life also. (Matthew 8:23-26)

Matthew 8:23-26

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Jesus Calms the Storm

 

²³ Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. ²⁴ Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” ²⁶ Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

Although the disciples had witnessed many miracles, they panicked in this storm. As experienced sailors, they knew its danger; what they did not know was that Christ could control the forces of nature. There is often a stormy area of our human nature where we feel God can't or won't work. When we truly understand who God is, we will realize that He controls both the storms of nature and the storms of the troubled heart. Jesus' power that calmed this storm can also help us deal with the problems we face. Jesus is willing to help if we only ask Him. We should never discount His power even in terrible trials.

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

How would you respond? (Matthew 8:14-15)

Matthew 8:14-15

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

¹⁴ When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. ¹⁵ But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

Peter's mother-in-law gives us a beautiful example to follow. Her response to Jesus' touch was to wait on Jesus and His disciples - immediately. Has God ever helped you through a dangerous or difficult situation? If so, you should ask, "How can I express my gratitude to Him?"

Joe

(I love this verse.)

 

Examine their lives. (Matthew 7:15-20)

Matthew 7:15-20

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

We should evaluate teachers' words by examining their lives. Just as trees are consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. This does not mean we should have witch hunts, throwing out pastors, Sunday school teachers, and others who are less than perfect. Everyone of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for ourselves. When Jesus talks about bad trees, He means teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers' motives, the direction they are taking, and the results they are seeking.

 

Joe

 

Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-8)

Matthew 7:7-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through., and Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded. Don't give up in your efforts to seek God. Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give them to you.

Joe

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Matthew 6:9-13

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.


This is often called the Lord's prayer because Jesus gave it to his disciples. It can be a pattern for our prayers. We should: 1.) Praise God, 2.) pray for His work in the world, 3.) pray for our daily needs, and 4.) pray for help in our daily struggles.


Joe





 

Prayer...Who is your audience. (Matthew 6:5-6)

Matthew 6:5-6

 

New Living Translation (NLT)

 

⁵ “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. ⁶ But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Some people, especially the religious leaders, wanted to be seen as "holy," and public prayer was one way to get attention. Jesus saw right through their self-righteous acts, however, and taught that the essence of prayer is not public style but private communication with God. There is a place for public prayer, but to pray only where others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God.

 

(I knew someone who was one of those "public" pray-ers. He kept me from praying out loud because I always felt my prayers would not be good enough compared to his elaborate prayers. It took me a long time to feel comfortable to pray {simply} in public.)

Joe