Week 2, Day 2

Reading for today:  Luke 13-14

I’m sorry I haven’t gotten the post up for today yet.  Check back a little later and I will try to add some thoughts from yesterday’s reading.  However, for now, I have to get some errands done before the DMV closes.  Feel free to go ahead and share your thoughts from yesterday!

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Week 2, Day 1

Today’s Reading:  Luke 11-12

Some thoughts from Friday’s reading…

I want to look at two things today, both from chapter 9 from our previous reading.  I just have a terrible time narrowing it down to one thing

First, consider the scene on the Mount of Transfiguration in verses 28-36.  Peter, as was his impetuous nature, was quick to come up with a “plan of action” when he saw Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah.  He decided that it would be a good idea to build three tabernacles:  one for Jesus, one for Elijah and one for Moses.  I find it particularly interesting that Luke makes the point that Peter didn’t know what he was saying.  We might say he spoke without thinking, or at least without not thinking enough.

Peter here had the best of intentions.  After all, these were all great “prophets”, and it would be wonderful for them to be able to show proper respect by building these tabernacles in their honor.  But, the problem was that this “idea” was outside of what God had commanded!  Peter had decided what needed to be done, and he didn’t wait for instructions from God.  Of course, God then showed what He wanted in the matter.  He spoke from the cloud, saying of Jesus:  This is My beloved Son, hear Him!  When the cloud lifted, Jesus was standing there by Himself.  The point was that Jesus now had all authority–the Law and the prophets were not to be followed.  They were to now follow the instructions given by Jesus.  And that is the same thing that we are supposed to do.

This reminds me of the following passage:

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
–Colossians 3:17

Far too many people are like Peter when it comes to religious activities.  They decide what they think is good, and they run right in and start doing it.  They don’t stop and think about what God wants in the matter.  But, we need not be so presumptuous!  We need to step back, and hear what God has to say on the matter.  Whatever we are going to do must be authorized by God.  The only way that we can know what it is that He desires is to listen to what He has to say in His word.  He has revealed His mind for us, we just have to open our ears and listen!

The second thing I wanted to take a look at is at the end of chapter 9 (verses 57-62).  Here, we see Jesus calling people to discipleship.  The first says that he will follow Jesus wherever He would go.  Jesus then showed this disciple that the road would not be an easy one.  He had no home to return to for comfort, and that would be the least of the challenges that would lie ahead for Him.  Progressing, Jesus then called another to follow Him, and he asked to first go and bury his father.  Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”  The third man addressed asked Jesus if he could go home and say goodbye to his family.  Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This section really speaks to commitment in discipleship.  When we are called by Christ to be His disciples, there should be nothing that interferes with it.  Don’t let family, inconvenience, discomfort or anything else keep you from doing what Christ wants you to do.  Often, we think that our situation is different from everyone else.  That was the case (it seems) at least with the second man called.  Surely, burying his father was an important enough reason to go back.  But, Jesus was clear that even this “extreme” situation was not enough to excuse this man from service.  This illustrates the need for us to always put Christ, and His cause first in our lives.  May we be the true disciples, who do not allow anyone or anything to keep us from our service to Him!

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First Weekend…

Well, this is our first weekend with the blog, and with the reading assignments.  We are going to follow the suggestion in Edwin’s book, Give Attention to Reading, and leave the weekends open (that is devoid of assigned readings) so that you can have an opportunity to catch up on any readings that you may have missed, and to prepare for upcoming Bible studies.  We will pick up on Monday morning with a new reading, and hopefully some comments about Friday’s reading.  I think that I will try to post at least a little something “extra” on Saturdays, but don’t hold me to it!

For now, I’d like to ask how you like the current set up, after having worked with it for a week.  Are there any changes that you would like to see made as to how I am doing the blog?  I was curious to see if you like for me to post about the previous day’s reading, or would you rather me post about the current day’s reading?  Let me give you my thoughts on why I chose to do it the way I am, and you all can jump in and tell me if you like it this way, or would prefer a different way.

I thought that posting a reading for the day and holding comments until the next day would give everyone the opportunity to read the assignment, and then meditate on it for a while.  After thinking about it, then we can come “together” to discuss the reading a bit.  One of the challenges is that there is so much in the readings!  Sometimes, it is hard to pick just one thing to address.  That is one reason that I will probably use Saturday as a day to add an “extra” post about something in the readings. Even with that, there is a ton of material that I will not address.  I have enjoyed the thoughts brought out by various people thus far, and I hope that more will jump in and contribute to the discussions and studies.

So, what do you think?  Do you like the format as is, or is there something you would like to see changed?

Thanks for reading, and keep those comments coming!

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Week 1, Day 5

Today’s Reading:  Luke 9-10

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

In this reading, one thing that stuck out to me was how many miracles Jesus did.  Going back into Luke 4, we see Jesus telling the people that he was not going to do miracles among some of them.  Consider:

He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ” Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
–Luke 4:23-27

This seems to indicate that Jesus was going to be selective (for various reasons) with the miracles that He would work.  However, in our current reading, we see Jesus working a very wide variety of miracles:

• The Centurion’s  servant is healed without Jesus even going to him.
• A dead man, in a funeral procession was raised.
• Jesus stilled the sea by speaking to it.
• A man cursed with demons was healed–the demons were cast into a flock of swine
• The woman with a hemorrhage for twelve years was healed by touching Jesus.
• Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead.

There is much that I think is shown through these various miracles.  We learn a lot about not only the purpose of miracles, but a lot about Jesus Himself from these miracles.  We know that the Hebrew writer tells us that the purpose of miracles was to confirm the word that was being spoken:

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
–Hebrews 2:1-4

But, we see even more than that in these miracles.  Not only is Jesus proving who He is, and confirming the message He was delivering, but He reveals His own character as well.  He was not going to work miracles just to be some kind of a “sideshow” for the pleasure of the Pharisees, but when He was struck with compassion, He used His miraculous powers to help.  Several times throughout the reading, we are told that Jesus had compassion for someone, and at other times, though it is not stated, Jesus’ actions show His compassion.

Think of how different this is from the “faith healers” that we see today.  We don’t see people using their (fictitious) power for expressing compassion, but rather for profit.  Jesus could have certainly used His true power for profit, but He wasn’t going to do that.  he used His power to help people who needed help, and He used His power to prove who He was.

Finally, today I would like you to consider some of the lessons that can be learned from some of the miracles that Jesus worked in Luke 7-8.

• The healing of the centurion’s servant. In this miracle, Jesus was able to heal a person who was not even within sight.  This demonstrated Jesus’ control over space.  Jesus didn’t have to see someone to be able to work a miracle on him.  This is certainly a display of power, not only in healing the servant, but exhibiting power over the natural world.
• Raising the dead. At least twice in this reading Jesus raised the dead.  With all of the fake miracles that take place now (and took place then), this type of miracle stood out.  There was no faking this.  Jesus raised a man that was in a casket in a funeral procession.  No one doubted what they had seen!  This displays Jesus’ power over life and death–something no one else could claim at this point!
• Stilling the sea. Jesus was able to stop the tumultuous seas, which displayed His power over the natural realm.  He was able to speak to the seas, and they obeyed His voice.  We will see other instances of this as we continue with our studies.  It is important to understand how Jesus had power over all of the natural realm.  That is the very nature of the miraculous–it is not natural.  However, when we see Jesus calming the sea, we see Him showing power over what we call “nature” itself.
• Healing the woman with the hemorrhage. This is a most amazing miracle, because Jesus was able to heal this woman simply by having her touch Him.  I don’t believe that everyone who touched Jesus was healed.  However, this woman was healed, and Jesus knew that she was healed.  I believe that Jesus knew who it was that was touching her, and why she was touching Him.  He asked who it was to draw her out, to show that she had been healed, and to praise the faith that she had.  This miracle shows Jesus’ control over all His surroundings.  With all the people pushing against Him, and touching Him, He was still able to heal this one woman who touched the hem of His garments.

All miracles are amazing.  It is so interesting (at least to me) to consider the purpose for each of these miracles, and to see just how much power Jesus was exhibiting.  I’m sure that there is more that you can add to this discussion, or you can jump in with other things that you saw in this reading…there is a lot of good stuff in these chapters!

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Week 1, Day 4

Today’s Reading:  Luke 7-8

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Most of us have sung the song about the wise man building his house on the rock, and the foolish man building his house on the sand.  I know it was a regular song when we were in small classes, and I’m pretty sure that the teachers are still teaching it to the young children now.  This comes from the story that Jesus tells at the end of Luke chapter 6 (and parallel passages).  But, we need to look at the passage and see what it is that Jesus was teaching with this story!

First, notice that Jesus starts the final section of the chapter by asking the question:  “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things that I say?”  How many people today are guilty of the same thing?  How often might we be guilty of the same thing?  We cannot call Jesus our Lord, and then ignore the instructions that He gives!  The story that followed this question was to emphasize the point that the wise man will do just as Jesus instructs.

Jesus said that the one who would come to Him, and listen to what He said (thus, putting it into practice) would be like the wise man.  The  man who was willing to listen would dig down through the soft soil until he found the rock.  He would build the foundation for his house on that rock, so that it would be solid.  No matter what might come, the house would stand.  There would be no storm, nor flood that could knock down the house that was built on solid rock.   However, the man who hears what is said by Jesus, but refuses to act in accordance with His instructions is like a man who would build his house on the earth, without any foundation.  Of course, when the storms came, the house was completely destroyed.

The question to us is:  where will we build our house?  The only way to answer that question is to look at our own reaction to the instructions of Christ.  Are we willing to listen to what He tells us, and put it into practice in our lives?  Or do we (like so many around us) think that we can act in any way that we choose?  If we hear the word of Christ, and then ignore it for our own desires, we are building our house on very unsteady ground.  We can be sure that it will fall at the first sign of trial, or tribulation.  However, if we are dedicated to applying the instructions of Christ to our lives, we will be building on the solid foundation.  If our foundation is on Christ, then we will be able to withstand the trials and tribulations that come our way.

Here is a passage for further consideration:

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
–1 Corinthians 3:9-16

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Week 1, Day 3

Today’s Reading: Luke 5-6

Some thoughts from Yesterday’s Reading…

The easy passage to pick out today is the temptations of Christ.  It is interesting to take a look at the temptations that Jesus had to face, and realize that he was indeed “tempted in all points as we are” as the Hebrew writer states in Hebrews 4:15.  Please don’t think that this is the only time that Jesus was ever tempted.  It is simply the most direct, and most obvious time of temptation.  One of the things that we see in our text is that Jesus was tempted in the same manner as John warns we will be tempted.  Consider John’s writing:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
–1 John 2:15-17

Each of these temptations of Jesus fall into one of these categories.  Notice how Jesus was tempted:

• Satan told Jesus to turn stones into bread.  Jesus was very hungry at this point, as he had not had anything to eat for 40 days.  This was a temptation of the “lust of the flesh.”  Can you imagine how tempting it would be to follow the words of Satan if you had the power to make your own food, and had not eaten for 40 days?  Obviously, those who think that Jesus couldn’t really be tempted, either do not understand, or do not believe in his humanity!
• Satan took Jesus to a high place, and showed him all of the kingdoms of the earth.  He told Jesus that he would give him all the kingdoms of the world, if He would just fall down and worship him.  This is a temptation of the “lust of the eyes,” as Satan was showing Jesus all that He could have.   Jesus’ desire was to have all mankind in His kingdom, so this must have been a temptation for Him.
• Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, and told him to cast Himself down.  This is a temptation of “the pride of life.”  If he were indeed the Son of God, then surely the angels would come and save Him!  Here it was, the opportunity for Jesus to prove who He was!  He could take away all questions–at least for Satan.  However, there really was no question in the mind of Satan of who Christ was!  This was nothing but a test, and Jesus was able to pass the test easily.

I want to point out that Jesus answered each of these temptations by quoting scripture, and that is the perfect way for us to be able to get past the temptations of Satan as well.  We must first be educated in scripture (that is, we must study God’s word, so that we will know what it is that He wants for us.  Then we must be willing to actually use the word of God when tempatations arise.  Make sure to spend enough time in God’s word to know what the answers are, and then use it correctly!

Also notice that Satan quoted scripture.  This tells us that there are those who can and do use scripture in a way that is not correct.  How many “religious leaders” do you know who will quote scripture and then make applications that are obviously not what was intended by the passage.  Just yesterday, I heard some one quote scripture, and then make a completly false application to it.  This is not uncommon, and so we must be on our guard.

Keep in mind:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
–2 Timothy 2:15

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Week 1, Day 2

Today’s Reading:  Luke 3-4

Some Thoughts From Yesterday’s Reading…

As you probably noticed, the reading from yesterday was quite lengthy.  There was a  lot of good things in there, and that makes it a bit difficult to decide on a particular section to write about this morning.

One thing that stood out to me was the “Song of Mary” (Chapter 1:46-55).  In this section, Mary praises God for all that He has done, and all that He was going to do.  She realized just how blessed she was, and it seems the importance of her position.  Verse 48 says:

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Mary knew that what was about to happen to her was something special.  She was a virgin, yet she was going to have a child.  Earlier, she had been told that this Child would be called the “Son of God,” and that He would be conceived by the Holy Spirit.  I cannot imagine the feelings that must have been welling up inside of Mary during this time!  Imagine how she must have been terrified on one hand, having to deal with something that no one else would ever have to deal with.  On the other hand, she must have been full of joy.  I beleive it is her joy that is evident in the song of praise that is expressed in this chapter.  Mary addresses some of the characteristics of God in this song of praise as well.

Mighty. Mary calls God “the Mighty One”, and then goes on to speak of the mighty deeds that God had done.  He had done “great things” for Mary, which probably included far more than just allowing her to be t he mother of the Messiah, though that was certainly the greatest act that she had seen thus far.  She went on to speak about how He had done mighty things with His arm, scattering those who were proud, and bringing down rulers, and exhalting those who were humble.  God was in control, and He could do whatever He wanted to do!  There is great comfort in coming to the understanding that God is indeed in control!

Merciful. God is merciful to those who are obedient to Him.  Mary quotes from Psalm 103:17 in verse 50 of chapter 1.  God’s mercy is ever present.  It was especially present in the Child that was about to be born unto her.  The bringing of the Messiah was a sign of the mercy that God had, and was showing to Israel.  He had not forgotten His people, and was coming to them, remembering the promises He had made going back to at least the time of Abraham:

He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
–Luke 1:54-55

Mary was chosen to be the mother of the son of God because she had all the characteristics that were necessary for that difficult task.  She exhibits these characteristics in this short song.  She is certainly a great example to us, in that she put her full confidence and trust in God.  Her praise rings out as a statement of her faith, even when she had to be unsure of what the future held for her in a lot of ways.

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Week 1, Day 1

Reading for Today:  Luke 1-2

As you read through the daily readings, jot down some notes about what stands out to you.  Be sure to come back tomorrow, and post some comments about the reading.

I know it may be hard for some to keep up with all of the readings.  Most will be broken up into 1 or 2 chapters per day.  Make reading a family affair, sitting down and reading with the whole family.  Remember, if you keep up with all of the readings, you will read the whole New Testament in the next six months!

Tune in tomorrow for some of my thoughts on today’s reading, as well as the reading for tomorrow!

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Welcome!

Welcome to The Higher Rock Blog.  The name comes (as you can see in the tag line above) from Psalm 61:1-2, which reads:

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The point is, and hopefully the point of this blog will be, that we need to turn to God for the answers.  When we struggle with life, when temptations come, when trials arise, we must turn to God.  My hope is that this blog will be a place where we can study from God’s word, the Bible, and figure out what message He has for us today.

One of the ways that I hope to accomplish that end is to post daily readings from the New Testament.  I will be following the reading plan laid out by Edwin Crozier in his book, Give Attention to Reading.  Each day (5 days per week), I will be posting the new reading.  I will also try to post some commentary based on the previous day’s reading.  I would also like to hear from you.  What did you find particularly interesting, or compelling from the day’s reading?

Be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed so that you can keep up with the readings each day.  If you subscribe in a reader, we can also keep  up with how many folks are “on board” with us.

We will be starting with the first reading today, so check out the next post for the schedule!

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