Bible League: Living His Word Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.In Old Testament times, God's redemption at first focused on the whole human race, but as time went on His focus narrowed to a smaller and smaller percentage of people. The prevalence of sin was the reason for the narrowing. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, God's redemptive focus narrowed to the line of Seth. When sin began to dominate even in the line of Seth, God narrowed His focus to the line of Noah. After Noah, God narrowed His focus to the Israelites. Then to the southern kingdom of Judah, and then to the remnant of Judah that returned from captivity in Babylon. When Jesus came to the earth, there were not many true believers. A good metaphor to describe this narrowing process is a barrel of apples. In the beginning, the barrel was full of good apples. However, whenever an apple turned bad, God would remove it from the barrel lest it pollute the remaining apples. The process continued until there were very few apples left in the barrel. In New Testament times, in contrast, God's narrowing stopped with Jesus, who was perfectly faithful to God. From that point on, God has expanded His redemptive focus. It began in Jerusalem, then all of Judea and Samaria, and it now embraces the whole world (Acts 1:8). Jesus Christ's conquest of sin and His assumption of all authority in heaven and earth is the reason for the expansion. Our verses for today reflect this new universal focus of God's redemptive concern. The barrel metaphor now needs some development. At the time of Christ, the barrel had very few good apples in it. However, God began to take bad apples from outside the barrel and put them into the barrel. Instead of polluting the good apples, however, the bad apples were turned into good apples. This process will continue until the full number of apples is brought into the barrel. The transformative power of God's redemptive work reaching the ends of the earth is a marvel to behold. We should be eternally grateful to God that, instead of being removed from His Kingdom for our sins, we have been added to His Kingdom through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 3, 4 Numbers 3 -- Levites Designated as Priests NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 4 -- Duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites, Merahites NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 3:22-35 Mark 3 -- Jesus Heals on the Sabbath, Chooses the Twelve, discusses Beelzebub, Mother and Brothers NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But the LORD's plans stand firm forever;his intentions can never be shaken. Insight “The LORD's plans stand firm forever.” Are you frustrated by inconsistencies you see in others, or even in yourself? God is completely trustworthy—his intentions never change. There is a promise that good and perfect gifts come to us from the Creator who never changes. Challenge When you wonder if there is anyone in whom you can trust, remember that God is completely consistent. Let him counsel you, and trust in his plans for your life. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.A holy character does not avert temptation--Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but in Christ's case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of. Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Ghost, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial. Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness, and was tempted of the devil. Solitude has its charms and its benefits, and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation. The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ was consecrated through and through. It was his meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him: and yet he was tempted! Your hearts may glow with a seraphic flame of love to Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean lukewarmness. If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hebrews 3:8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. • But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. • Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Psalm 106:14 But craved intensely in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert. Luke 4:1-3 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness • for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. • And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Hebrews 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Luke 22:31,32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; • but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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