August 1st
The people have sinned again and again, and I will not forget it...
I will not let them go unpunished any longer! They have rejected the laws of the Lord, refusing to obey Him. They have been led astray by the same lies that deceived their ancestors... They have perverted justice by selling honest people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They trample helpless people in the dust and deny justice to those who are oppressed. Both father and son sleep with the same woman, corrupting My holy name. At their religious festivals, they lounge around in clothing stolen from their debtors. In the house of their god, they present offerings of wine purchased with stolen money.
¤ "My people have forgotten what it means to do right," says the Lord. "Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. ¤ How they hate honest judges! How they despise people who tell the truth! They trample the poor and steal what little they have through taxes and unfair rent. I know the vast number of their sins and rebellions." ...Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.
¤ Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws I gave you. Do not turn away from them and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this book of law continually. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then, will you succeed.
¤ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is used to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, allowing us to be fully equipped for every good thing He wants us to do.
¤ For the Word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. For nothing in all creation can hide from Him. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.
Amos 2:4, 7, 8, 3:10, 5:10-12, 24 Joshua 1:7,8 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17 Hebrews 4:12, 13
August 2nd
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel.
There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. ¤ Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years... He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, imitating the detestable practices of the pagan nations whom the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. ¤ Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years... He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn aside from doing what was right. ¤ Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months... He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestors had done... Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years... He did what was evil in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestors had done.
¤ A king who is fair to the poor will have a long reign. ¤ A ruler prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to come. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused. Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out. Another said he had just been married, so he wouldn't be able to come.
The servant returned and told his master what each of them had said. His master was quite angry and said, "Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind." After the servant had done this, he reported, "There is still room for more, my lord." So his master said, "Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I invited first will ever know the smallest taste of what I had prepared for them."
¤ Do for others whatsoever you would like them to do for you. This is the culmination of all that is taught in the Law and the Prophets.
2nd Kings 18:5-7 2nd Kings 21:1, 2 2nd Kings 22:1, 2 2nd Kings 23:31, 32, 36, 37
Proverbs 29:14 Luke 14:16-24 Matthew 7:12
August 3rd
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.
But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." John then baptized Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and John saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." ¤ And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And so I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."
¤ Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, then left the Jordan River and was led out into the wilderness by the Spirit, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when those days had ended, He was very hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Mankind shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " Then the devil took him up to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for all this has been given to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."
But Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " Then the devil brought Him into Jerusalem, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not test the Lord your God.' " Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
Matthew 3:13-17 John 1:32-34 Luke 4:1-13
August 4th
Jesus came into Nazareth, where He had been brought up.
And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and was chosen to stand up and read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He read from the place where it was written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And he said to them, "Today, this Scripture, is fulfilled in your hearing."
¤ Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned." And from that time Jesus began to teach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."
¤ He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all, and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we cannot see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through Him and for Him. He was before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning; the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.
Luke 4:16-21 Matthew 4:12-17 Colossians 1:13-18
August 5th
I know, Lord, that a person's life is not his own. No one is able to plan his own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.
¤ One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Peter and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and went with Him. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets. He called them also, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with Him. ¤ The next day Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple." Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's home town.
Philip went off to look for Nathaniel and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth." "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathaniel. "Can anything good come from there?" "Just come and see for yourself," Philip said. And as they approached Jesus, He said, "Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel." "How do you know about me?" Nathaniel asked. And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree, before Philip found you." Nathaniel replied, "Teacher, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!" Jesus then asked him, "Do you believe all this because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this...The truth is, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
¤ Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for their precious harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. For look! The great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door! ¤ Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven, and everyone will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the earth will weep because of Him. Yes! Amen!
Jeremiah 10:23, 24 Mark 1:16-20 John 1:43-51 James 5:7-9
August 6th
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and diseases among the people.
His fame spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, of if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed—He healed them all. Large crowds followed Him wherever He went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
¤ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them saying: "God blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the kingdom of heaven is given to them. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right, for they will receive it in full. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, in the very same way they persecuted the prophets who were before your time.
You are now the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
¤ Those who are well have no need of a physician—sick people do. I have not come to call those who think they are already good enough, but to call sinners to repentance.
Matthew 4:23-25 Matthew 5:1-16 Mark 2:17
August 7th
In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy...
When the man saw Jesus, he fell down to the ground, face down in the dust, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if You want to, You can make me well again." Jesus then reached out and touched the man. "I want to," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go right to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing." Yet despite Jesus' instructions, the report of His power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear Him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the solitude of the wilderness for prayer.
¤ Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news of His arrival spread quickly throughout the town. Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn't room for one more person, not even outside the door. He was preaching the word to them when four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above His head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, "What? This is blasphemy! Who but God alone can forgive sins?"
Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so He said to them, "Why do you think this is blasphemy? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven', or, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!" The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. "We've never seen anything like this before!" they exclaimed.
¤ Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Luke 5:12-16 Mark 2:1-12 Philippians 4:6
August 8th
Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven...
You have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not murder. If you commit murder, you will be subject to judgement." But I say to you, if you are angry with someone, you are already subject to judgement! If you call someone and idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell... Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown into jail. I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
Moses also said, "Do not commit adultery." But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even if it is your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away as well. Again, it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. You have also heard Moses say, "A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce." But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, "Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord." But I say, don't make any vows! For if you swear by heaven, it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne. And if you swear by earth, it is a sacred vow because the earth is His footstool. And don't swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Don't even swear by your own head, for you cannot turn one hair white or black. Just a simple, "Yes, I will," or "No, I won't," should be enough! Yes, your word is enough. To have to strengthen your promise with a vow is of the devil. ¤ If you are living by the Holy Spirit, then walk according to the Spirit in every part of your life.
Matthew 5:20-22, 25-37 Galatians 5:25
August 9th
My Father and I are one and the same.
¤ I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe on Me through their word. My prayer for them is that they all will be one, just as You and I are one, Father—that just as You are in Me and I am in You, so they will also be one in us, so that the world will believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one, as were are—I in them, and You in Me, all being perfected into one, so the world will know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as much as You love Me. Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me, so they can see My glory. And You gave Me the glory because You loved Me, even before the foundation of the world!
Oh, righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I do, and these disciples know that You have sent Me. I have revealed You to them and will keep on revealing You to them, so that the love with which You have loved Me will be in them, and I in them. ¤ Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all, and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the One through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.
¤ Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased You to do things this way; My Father has given me authority over everything, and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him!" Then when they were alone, He turned to His disciples and said, "How privileged you are to see what you have seen! For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
John 10:30 John 17:20-26 Colossians 1:15, 16 Luke 10:21-24
August 10th
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him...
Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before Him, worshiping. "Lord," the man said, "if You want to, You can make me well again." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed... Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him, "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
But the centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come into my home. But just say the word from where You are, and my servant will be healed! I know, because I am a man under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go', and they go, or 'Come', and they come. And if I say to my servant, 'Do this or do that', they do it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed, and turning to the crowd, He said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the kingdom was prepared—will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way, and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour. ¤ What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. And God gave His approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command; that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen... It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before. By his faith he condemned the rest of the world, and was made right in God's sight.
¤ Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled. Such people claim they know God, but they deny Him by the way they live.
Matthew 8:1-3, 5-13 Hebrews 11:1-3, 7 Titus 1:15, 16
August 11th
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
¤ Jesus went into a synagogue and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched Him closely. Would He heal the man's hand on the Sabbath? If He did, they planned to condemn Him. And Jesus said to the man, "Come and stand in front of everyone." Then He turned to His critics and asked, "Is it legal to do good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing harm? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they would not answer Him. He looked around at them angrily, because He was deeply disturbed by their hard hearts. Then He said to the man, "Reach out your hand." The man reached out his hand, and it became normal again! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to discuss plans for killing Jesus.
¤ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs can never grow on thornbushes, nor grapes on bramble bushes. A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from and evil heart. ¤ Today, when people read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with a veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. ¤ Let us then go right into the presence of God with true hearts fully trusting in Him.
¤ Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plant sprang up quickly, but it soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Still other seed fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades, so that it produced no grain. But, some seed fell on fertile soil, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted... Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!
¤ Above all else, guard your heart; for from it flow the springs of life. ¤ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Luke 6:45 Mark 3:1-6 Luke 6:43-45 2nd Corinthians 3:15, 16 Hebrews 10:22 Mark 4:3-9
Proverbs 3:23 Matthew 12:37
August 12th
Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.
¤ 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 assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you openly. And when you pray, don't babble on and on as many religious people do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!
Pray in this manner: 'Our Father in heaven, may Your name be honored. May Your kingdom come, and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And let us not yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.' Know that if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins. ¤ Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For God will treat you as you treat others. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.
¤ So put away all falsehood and be truthful with your neighbor, because we are all in reality family. And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be kind and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit by the way you live, for He is the one who has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Matthew 7:7 Matthew 6:5-15 Matthew 7:1-3 Ephesians 4:25-32
August 13th
Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in Me?
¤ Then they came to the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet Him. This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, not even with chains. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he pulled apart the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles into pieces. No one was strong enough to control him. All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones. While Jesus was some distance away, the man saw Him and ran to meet Him, falling down before Him. He cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For Jesus had said from afar, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"
Then Jesus asked, "What is your name?" And the spirit replied, "Legion, because there are many of us here inside this man." Then the spirits begged Him again and again not to send them out of the country. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. "Send us into those pigs," the evil spirits begged. Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully clothed and in his right mind. Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone about it, and the the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.
When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go along with Him, but Jesus said, "No, go home to your friends. Tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been." So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region where he began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.
Mark 4:40 Mark 5:1-20
August 14th
To you it has been given to know the hidden truths concerning the kingdom of God.
¤ Now it happened that Jesus went into a city called Nain, and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, a funeral procession was coming out. The boy who had died was the only son of a widow, and many mourners from the village were with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't Cry!" He said. Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," He said, "get up." Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk to those around him! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Great fear swept over the crowd, and they praised God, saying, "A mighty prophet has risen among us and we have seen the hand of God at work today." The report of what Jesus had done that day spread all over Judea and even out across its borders.
¤ After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. And a huge crowd kept following Him wherever He went, because they saw His miracles as He healed the sick. Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with His disciples around Him. (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for Him. Turning to Philip, He asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them!" Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?"
"Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus answered. So all of them—the men alone numbered five thousand—sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward He did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted." There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat! When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely He is the prophet we have been expecting!" Jesus saw that they were ready to take Him by force and make Him king, so He departed and went higher onto the mountain by Himself.
Mark 4:11 Luke 7:11-17 John 6:1-15
August 15th
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
¤ How frail is humanity! How short is life, and how full of trouble! Like a flower, we blossom for a moment and then wither. Like the shadow of a passing cloud, we quickly disappear. Must You keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? Who can create purity in one born impure? No one! You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. So give us a little rest, won't You? We are like hired hands, so allow us to finish the task You have given us.
¤ It is wrong to say God doesn't listen, to say the Almighty isn't concerned. And it is even more false to say He doesn't see what is going on. He will bring about justice, if you will only wait. ¤ It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in people.
¤ One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to confront Jesus. They noticed that some of His disciples failed to follow the usual Jewish ritual of hand-washing before eating. (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they eat nothing bought from the market unless they have immersed their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremony of washing cups, pitchers, and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked Jesus, "Why don't Your disciples follow our age-old customs? For they eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony." Jesus replied, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, 'These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. They worship in vain, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' For you ignore God's specific laws and substitute your own traditions."
¤ Don't trust anyone—not your best friend or even your wife! For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies can be found right within your own household! As for me, I look to the Lord for His help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
Job 13:15 Job 14:1-6 Job 35:13, 14 Psalm 118:8 Mark 7:1-8 Micah 7:5-7
August 16th
O unbelieving generation, how long shall I put up with you?
¤ One day the disciples of John the baptist came to Jesus and asked Him, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?" Jesus responded, "Should the wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Someday He will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. And who would patch an old garment with unshrunk cloth? For the patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth, leaving and even bigger hole than before. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. That way both the wine and the wineskins are preserved."
¤ Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put in to effect a different plan to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature, but instead follow the Spirit.
¤ I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never find Him through human wisdom, He has used the foolishness of our preaching to save all who believe.
God's way seems foolish to the Jews because they want a sign from heaven to prove it is true. And it is foolish to the Gentiles because they believe only what agrees with their own wisdom. So, when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended, and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This "foolish" plan of God's is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Mark 9:19 Matthew 9:14-17 Romans 8:1-4 1st Corinthians 1:18-25
August 17th
Why do you call me "Lord, Lord," and not do the things which I say?
Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like the man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.
¤ Greater foundation can no one lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgement day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.
¤ God's truth stands like a firm foundation stone with this inscription; "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness." In a wealthy home some pottery is made of gold and silver, and some is made of wood and clay. The expensive pottery is used for special occasions, and the wooden and clay pots are for everyday use. If you keep yourself from iniquity, you will be one of these types of vessels which God can use for His purpose, cleansed by the Master for every good work.
¤ He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. We are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself. We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also joined together as part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.
Luke 6:46-49 1st Corinthians 3:11-15 2nd Timothy 2:19-21 Ephesians 2:17-22
August 18th
I am sending you out as sheep among wolves...
Therefore be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. But beware of men, for you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. And you must stand trial before governors and kings because you are My followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about Me—yes, to witness to the world. When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say in your defense, because you will be given the right words at the right time. For it won't be you doing the talking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed. And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to Me. But those who endure to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next...
A student is not greater than the teacher, and a servant is not greater than the master. The student shares the teacher's fate as the servant shares the master's fate. And since I, the Master of the household, have been called the 'prince of demons', how much more will it happen to you, the members of the household! But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Not even a sparrow, worth only a half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows. If anyone acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before My Father in heaven. But if anyone denies Me here on earth, I will deny that person before My Father in heaven. Don't imagine that I came to bring peace here on earth! No, I came to bring a sword... Your enemies will be right in your own household... If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for Me, you will find it... If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.
Matthew 10:16-34, 36, 38, 39
August 19th
I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the kingdom of God arrive in great power!
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed, and His clothing became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly process could ever make it. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus... Then a cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." Suddenly they looked around, and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them.
¤ On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, the apostles were meeting together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the entire house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flaming tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of the twelve, filling them with the Holy Spirit. They at once began to speak in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. At that time in Jerusalem there were devout men visiting from every nation under heaven, and when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were confused, because everyone heard the apostles speaking in their own language...
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd... "We are speaking according to the prophet Joel... Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved... Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ!" Now when the multitude heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brothers, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
¤ For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, and He has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Mark 9:1-4, 7, 8 Acts 2:1-6, 14, 16, 21, 36-39 Colossians 1:13
August 20th
"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said to the lawyer, "What is written in your law? What is your understanding of it?" The man answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and all you mind, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." And Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." But the man wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Then Jesus answered and said, "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. 'If his bill runs higher than that,' he said, 'I'll pay the difference the next time I am here.'
Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked. The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."
¤ He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor. ¤ The Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: To do what is just, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ¤ With the merciful, O God, You will show Yourself merciful, and with the blameless You will show Yourself blameless... You have given me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand supports me; Your gentleness has made me great.
Luke 10:25-37 Proverbs 21:21 Micah 6:8 Psalm 18:25, 35
August 21st
One in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
But Jesus said to him, "Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then He said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. For life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Then He told them this story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Then turning to His disciples, Jesus said, "So I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They do not sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was arrayed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after such things, and your Father knows what you have need of. But seek first His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near to steal and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ¤ Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Luke 12:13-34 Psalm 37:3
August 22nd
He who welcomes you is welcoming Me...
And anyone who welcomes Me is welcoming the Father who sent Me. If you welcome a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will receive the same reward a prophet gets. And if you welcome good and godly people because of their godliness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.
¤ After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John the baptist heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask Him, "Are You the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and what you see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed are those who are not offended by me."
When John's disciples had gone, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "Who is this man in the wilderness that you went out to see? Did you find him weak as a reed, moved by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothing? Those who wear expensive clothing live in palaces, not out in the wilderness. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
'Look, I am sending My messenger before You, and he will prepare Your way before You.'
I assure you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the baptist. Yet even the most insignificant person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he! And from the time John the baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, the kingdom of heaven has been attacked, and violent people have tried to force their way into it. For before John came, all the teachings of the Scriptures looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one whom the prophets said would come. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"
Matthew 10:40-42 Matthew 11:1-15
August 23rd
Jesus said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
And His disciples were astonished at His words. Then Jesus said again to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And the disciples were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With mankind it is impossible, but not with God; for with God, all things are possible."
¤ And it happened while Jesus was praying alone, the disciples came near Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?" They answered and said, "Some say John the baptist, and others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets of old has risen again." And He said to them, "But whom do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
¤ Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around Him, saying, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe Me. The miracles I do in My Father's name speak for Me, but you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My Sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
¤ Moses has said, "The Lord your God will raise up a prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything He tells you. Anyone who will not listen to that prophet will be cut off from God's people and utterly destroyed." Starting with Samuel, every prophet down through time has also announced these days... God has raised up His servant Jesus, and sent Him to bless you by turning everyone of you from your wicked ways.
Mark 10:23-27 Luke 9:18-20 John 10:22-30 Acts 3:22-24, 26
August 24th
They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, "Listen to what I say and try to understand. You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do." Then the disciples came to Him and asked, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?" Jesus replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Leave them; they are blind leaders of the blind, and if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Then Peter said, "Explain the teaching to us."
So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, and slander. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." ¤ A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let Me tell you something: Every one of these careless words you utter are going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of reckoning. Words are indeed powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.
¤ Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple, He asked, "Why do the teachers of the religious law claim that the Messiah will be the son of David? For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, sit in honor at My right hand until I humble your enemies beneath Your feet.' Since David himself called Him Lord, how can He be his son at the same time?" And the crowd listened to Him with great interest. Here are some of the other things He taught them at this time: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowering robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets. But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. These will receive greater condemnation."
Matthew 15:9-20 Matthew 12:35-37 Mark 12:35-40
August 25th
Some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons"...
Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. Now, if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and carries off his belongings.
Anyone who isn't helping Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me. When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and clean. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before." As He was speaking a woman in the crowd called out, "God bless Your mother—the womb from which You came, and the breasts that nursed You!" Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."
¤ A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Him, and the people begged Jesus to lay His hands on the man to heal him. Jesus led him to a private place away from the crowd. He put His fingers into the man's ears, and He spit, and touched the man's tongue with the saliva. Then looking up into heaven, He sighed and commanded, "Be opened!" At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly... People were overwhelmed with amazement. "Everything He does is wonderful. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!"
¤ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:15-28 Mark 7:32-35, 37 Romans 15:13
August 26th
Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit...
Be like those who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: Had the owner of the house known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."
Peter asked, "Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" The Lord answered, "I am talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and 'feeding' his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all that he owns. But if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk—well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. He will tear that servant apart and banish him with the unfaithful. The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given."
¤ I really don't need to write to you about how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "All is well; everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. And there will be no escape... Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
Luke 12:35-48 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3, 23
August 27th
To you who fear My name, the Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings...
¤ Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five alcoves. Crowds of disabled people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches, waiting for the movement of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. One of the men lying there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been in that condition for a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"
The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in there, someone else always gets in ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.' " Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being at that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." The man went his way and told the Jews that it was Jesus who made him well...
Jesus said, "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and tells Him everything He is doing, and the Son will do far greater things than healing this man. You will be astonished at what He does. He will even raise from the dead anyone He wants to, just as the Father does. And the Father leaves all judgement to his Son, so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. But if you refuse to honor the Son, then you are certainly not honoring the Father who sent Him. I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, for they have already crossed over from death into life.
Malachi 4:2 John 5:1-15, 19-24
August 28th
Then Jesus began to speak to them through stories...
"A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty handed. Then he sent another servant to them, but they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and that one they killed. He also sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. He had just one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to the estate. Let us kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
...Later some of the Pharisees and Herodians came to Jesus to try and catch Him in His words. They said to Him, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" He asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and He asked them, "Whose portrait is this: And whose inscription?" "It is Caesar's," they replied.
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.
Mark 12:1-11, 13-17
August 29th
I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, though they may die, shall live again. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Some Sadducees stepped forward—a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question to Jesus: "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir. Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest of them married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but soon he too died and left no children. Then the next brother married her and died without children. This continued until all the brothers had married her and died, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman died, too. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her."
Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry or be given in marriage, but will be as the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not then the God of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken."
¤ And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died, so you will not be full of sorrow like the people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when He comes again, God will bring with Him all the Christians who have ever died; I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet Him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we'll remain with Him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
John 11:25, 26 Mark 12:18-27 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18
August 30th
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
...A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me." So his Father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to be in want. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to fed his pigs. The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he fiinally came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men."
So he got up and left that country and started home to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Quickly now, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate... But the older brother became angry and refused to go into the celebration. So his father went and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never once disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!"
"My son," the father kindly replied, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!"
Luke 15:4, 11-24, 28-32
August 31st
Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth...
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in My people; the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat of their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of My people; My chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. But dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain.
¤ "Now," declares the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity... Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
¤ Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey... He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth... The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people. They will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be! ¤ I will strengthen them in the Lord, and in His name they will walk.
Isaiah 65:17-25 Joel 2:12-14, 21, 22 Zechariah 9:9, 10, 16, 17 Zechariah 10:12
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