Burden

Monday April 13, 2009: Matthew 11:28–30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Background: The Lord Jesus Christ speaks about removing the load of sin from a repentant soul and the life to follow.
Why is His burden light? He knows what we can bear and will not overburden us as we ourselves do.

Tuesday April 14, 2009: Matthew 23:1–2, 4

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Background: Over the years the Pharisees had added to the law many rules that God gave never Moses.
What was the effect of the additional rules of the Pharisees? The Pharisees interpreted them so they themselves were never in the position of suffering the heavy load.

Wednesday April 15, 2009: Galatians 6:4–5

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
Background: These verses are the final bits of advice to the Galatian Church.
Why is it good to examine your own work? Self-examination of your work after it is done provides a great basis for improvement and leads to the joy of a job well done.

Thursday April 16, 2009: Acts 15:28–29a

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Background: A letter from the apostles in Jerusalem is going out to Gentiles who have believed in Christ.
What is left out? The Jewish laws and signs, like circumcision.

Friday April 17, 2009: 2 Corinthians 12:13–14

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Background: Paul is defending his apostleship against slander.
What burden did Paul NOT lay on the Corinthian Church? Financial support: he worked as a tentmaker to support himself while he preached Christ to them.

Peter and the Risen Christ

Monday, April 6, 2009: Matthew 26:74

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Background: When Jesus Christ was awaiting trial, Peter went cautiously to see events as they unfolded. He was recognized as one of the disciples, but denied the accusations.

How did Peter hope to prove that he did not know the Lord? Peter cursed and swore, a trait missing in Christ’s disciples.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009: John 21:6-7a

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

Background: After the resurrection, Peter and John made an attempt to go back to fishing and caught nothing all night.

How did John recognize the Lord? John recognized the miracle, not the Man.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009: John 21:18-19

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Background: After asking Peter to ‘feed My lambs,’ Jesus Christ prophesied about Peter’s death.

Did the repentant Peter follow his Lord? Peter, knowing how he would die, nevertheless followed his Lord.

Thursday, April 9, 2009: Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Background: after the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed thousands. Some of them were the very ones who crucified the Lord.

What was Peter’s change? Peter boldly declared Jesus to be Lord and Christ, the promised Messiah.

Friday, April 10, 2009: Acts 4:10, 12

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Background: Peter healed a lame man who begged at the temple and was brought before the leaders of his people to answer.

What was Peter’s bold declaration? Peter stated that they crucified Jesus Christ, that God raised Him, and in His name the lame beggar was healed.

Enduring Suffering

Monday, March 30, 2009: 2 Timothy 2:3–4

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Is enduring hardship part of being a Believer in Christ? Hardship can happen to anyone; enduring hardship to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is pleasing to Him.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009: 2 Timothy 2:8–9

Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.

Will the world call you evil if you express your belief in Christ? Yes, they still do so and will restrain you by ‘legal’ means. You will be able to express your beliefs in spite of restrictions.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009: 2 Timothy 4:5

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

What is God’s purpose in you enduring affliction? Do your God given work while enduring affliction and in spite of it.

Thursday, April 2, 2009: James 5:10–11

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Why is Job an example of enduring suffering? The reward for Job and us is an eternal reward, unlike the suffering, which is temporary.

Friday, April 3, 2009: James 5:13

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Who truly understands your suffering? The Lord Jesus Christ does: His suffering was for your sin.

Seal

Monday, March 23, 2009: John 6:27–29

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Background: The Lord Jesus is speaking to those who followed because of the miracle of feeding 5,000 with a few fish and some bread.
What seal did God the Father set? The miracle identified the Lord as the giver of everlasting food. All one has to do is believe in Christ.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009: Ephesians 1:13–14

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Who seals whom? The believer is sealed in the Lord Jesus with the promised Holy Spirit.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009: John 3:33–34

He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

Who seals (certifies) whom? The believer who accepts Jesus Christ’s testimony certifies that God’s true words were spoken by the Lord.

Thursday, March 26, 2009: 2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Background: Two believers had come to the wrong conclusion that the resurrection of the dead had taken place.
What is the seal on the foundation? God knows who has believed.

Friday, March 27, 2009: Ephesians 4:30–32

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Who is the one who seals the believer? The Holy Spirit, whom we should not grieve with bitterness or malice.

Altar in the New Testament.

Monday, March 16, 2009: 1 Corinthians 9:13–14

Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Background: This refers to the altar of sacrifice in Jerusalem, where the offerings were burned.
What is the New Testament analogy to the altar of sacrifice? Just like the priests took a portion of the sacrifice to feed themselves, so can those who preach the Gospel.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009: Luke 1:11–12

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Background: Zacharias (father of John the Baptist) was a priest burning incense at the altar of incense in the Holy Place in Jerusalem.
Why did fear fall on Zacharias? No one else was supposed to be there! The Angel was sent to tell him of his future son.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009: James 2:21–22

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Background: the altar, on which Abraham bound his son Isaac, was built by him.
Did Abraham offer his son, Isaac? No, it was a test and a picture of God offering His only begotten Son.

Thursday, March 19, 2009: Hebrews 13:10, 12, 15

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Background: This altar is the place of crucifixion, where Jesus Christ was sacrificed for our sin.
Are believers priests of God? Yes, and we offer only praise as a sacrifice at this metaphorical altar. The perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God was once, for all. It cannot and will not be duplicated.

Friday, March 20, 2009: Revelation 8:3–4

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Where is this altar? This golden altar of incense is before the throne of God in the heavenly sanctuary.

Sufficiency

The Greek for sufficient is also large enough, worthy, sufficient in ability, meeting qualifications.

Monday, March 9, 2009: Luke 3:16

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Background: John the Baptist was asked if he was the promised Messiah.
What does ‘loosen a sandal strap’ mean? It means that John considered himself to be the lowest of servants compared to Messiah.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009: Luke 7:6–7

Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Background: Romans were hated as the occupying rulers; Centurions, who commanded 100 soldiers were also feared. But this Centurion cared about his servant!
What showed that the Centurion had more faith than the Jews? He had heard enough to believe that Jesus Christ had God- given authority to heal the sick without regard to distance.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009: Matthew 28:12–13

When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’
Background: The body of Jesus Christ was inexplicably NOT in the tomb.
Why did the Jewish leaders have to bribe the Soldiers with a rather large sum of money? The alternative was acknowledging that Christ had risen from the dead and was the Messiah.

Thursday, March 12, 2009: 2 Corinthians 3:5–6

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Background: Paul defends his apostleship as being from God after starting out as a persecutor of Christians.
Why does Paul link sufficiency as a minister of the new covenant with killing as opposed to life-giving? The law of the old testament only show that we cannot fulfill it; faith in Christ not only fulfills the law but gives the believer power from God.

Friday, March 13, 2009: Colossians 1:12–14

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Have we earned an eternal inheritance? No, it is God who qualifies the believer by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice paying the qualifying price.

Thirst

Monday, March 2, 2009: Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Background: These are the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus Christ at the Sermon on the Mount.
Are you hungry and thirsty for being right in God’s sight? If you really are, here is Christ Jesus’ promise that you will be satisfied.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009: John 6:35

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
What does coming to Christ Jesus signify? It is symbolic of having faith in Him for salvation.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009: Matthew 25:34–35

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
Does your entrance into God’s kingdom depend on giving food and drink to a needy soul? The food and drink spoken of here can only be given by those who have that eternal food of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone.

Thursday, March 5, 2009: Proverbs 25:21–22

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Have you ever tried this tactic? If not, why not? Try it: you will be surprised by the results!

Friday, March 6, 2009: Revelation 7:16–17

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Background: This is about the Martyrs of the Tribulation dressed in white robes.
What will make these people so special? They shall be comforted eternally by Jesus Christ Himself.