Luke 18:31-34
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
These passages are Jesus telling his disciples about what is about to happen to Him. The same passage appears in Matthew (20:17-19) and Mark (10:32-34) but they leave out something that Luke makes note of in the last verse in this passage; the fact that the disciples didn't understand what Jesus had just told them. Perhaps they thought Jesus was telling one of His parables and would explain later. Maybe they thought it would happen figuratively. Whatever they imagined, it was just something they understood that they would not understand at that moment.
Verse 34 also says something else--what Jesus was telling them about his death and resurrection was "hid" from them. They wouldn't have been able to understand no matter how bad they wanted to because God had hidden it from them.
Sometimes we don't understand why some things happen in our life. Well, remember that you are in good company! The disciples didn't understand either. When a love one dies, when we barely have enough food to eat, when we can't pay the bills, when ten zillion things seem to go wrong all in one day....we may ask God, "why did that have to happen to me?" We may never get the answer we are looking for here on earth, but we can take comfort in some simple truths from the Bible.
Jesus knows what it is like to feel forsaken. Matthew 27:46 says: " And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He took on all our sin and in doing so felt forsaken by His Father. When we feel forsaken we can pray to Jesus and trust that He knows exactly how we feel and loves us dearly.
Remember that all sufferings here on earth are only for a short period and as long as you have asked Jesus into your life you will have eternal glory in heaven.
2Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction which is but a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
In closing I wanted to share the words of an old hymn, "We'll understand it better by and by" written by Charles Albert Tindley.
We are tossed and driven on the restless sea of time;
somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day, when the mists are rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by.
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we'll tell the story how we've overcome,
for we'll understand it better by and by.
We are often destitute of the things that life demands,
want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;
we are trusting in the Lord, and according to God's word,
we will understand it better by and by.
Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand
all the ways of God would lead us to that blessed promised land;
but he guides us with his eye, and we'll follow till we die,
for we'll understand it better by and by.
Temptations, hidden snares often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed for a thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,
but we'll understand it better by and by.
Showing posts with label Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word. Show all posts
Friday, July 2, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Word for the Weekend
This post will be an ongoing series called "Word for the Weekend." I will post it each Friday and share a scripture passage. I pray that God will speak to you in some way through what I share.
My scripture for this weekend comes from two of my favorite passages: Proverbs 31 and Titus 2. When I attempt to do anything I ask myself, "Does this bring glory to God?" You may not think that everyday tasks you do bring glory to God, but I have to tell you they do! These verses prove that point. They also lay out how women should live, which is in a way that glorifies God.
Proverbs 31 is a mother's advice to her son. Beginning in verse 10, she tells him what kind of woman to marry. Let's examine that passage. Words in italics are mine.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She is rare.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband trusts her and he is not lacking.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She constantly loves him. She doesn't mock him and his goals are her goals.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is industrious--and willing to be! She desires to help her family.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She is thrifty and doesn't always buy what is easy to grab. She waits for that bargain so that she can be sure her husband has "no need of spoil" v.11.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She doesn't need anyone else to motivate her, she motivates herself.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She is an entrepreneur.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She doesn't shy away from doing hard work. She isn't afraid to sweat!
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She isn't only willing to do hard work, she is willing to work long hours.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She is also willing to work consistently.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She has compassion on people and is generous in giving.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes sure that her family has everything they need so that when hard times comes they are prepared.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She knows how to clothe her family.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Her husband is the leader of her family.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She makes extra money using her talents to help her household.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She isn't afraid of hard times and isn't easily swayed.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She is smart and her words are gentle.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She knows what needs to be done for her family and does it!
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. She is blessed! Amen!
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. She isn't satisfied with ordinary or second best.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. She is a woman after God's own heart.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. People praise her because of her virtuous nature.
Now, I don't know about you, but, Oh! how I desire to be a virtuous woman!
Titus 2 shed a little bit more light into the kind of woman God would have us to be.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Women must have good, proper behavior that is holy. In order to do that we must not be gossips, not drink, and remember to teach good things. Our lives are our example; our teaching tool.
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Older women are to teach the younger. You are always older than some other woman/girl! We should love our husband and children, which may seem simple enough, but how many times have you acted in way that you didn't love them?
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. We are to be discreet, meaning modest. Modest in dress certainly, but also in the way we live out our lives. Modest women are not loud, rude, or crude. They don't dress in a way that would cause a man to sin in his heart. The verse says we are to be chaste, which means staying pure until marriage. We are to be keepers of our homes, not being idle in our tasks at home. The verse says that we are to be obedient to our husbands, meaning we should remember that Christ has put our husbands as the head of the household for a reason. The reason we are to act in this way is so the Word of God is not blasphemed. We don't want to say we are Christians and not follow every word of this God-inspired scripture. Then, how would be good examples unto others so that they may come to the saving grace of Jesus?
This weekend's Word has been lengthy and it won't always be that way. I've shared what the Lord would have me to. May it be a blessing to you.
My scripture for this weekend comes from two of my favorite passages: Proverbs 31 and Titus 2. When I attempt to do anything I ask myself, "Does this bring glory to God?" You may not think that everyday tasks you do bring glory to God, but I have to tell you they do! These verses prove that point. They also lay out how women should live, which is in a way that glorifies God.
Proverbs 31 is a mother's advice to her son. Beginning in verse 10, she tells him what kind of woman to marry. Let's examine that passage. Words in italics are mine.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She is rare.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband trusts her and he is not lacking.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She constantly loves him. She doesn't mock him and his goals are her goals.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is industrious--and willing to be! She desires to help her family.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She is thrifty and doesn't always buy what is easy to grab. She waits for that bargain so that she can be sure her husband has "no need of spoil" v.11.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She doesn't need anyone else to motivate her, she motivates herself.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She is an entrepreneur.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She doesn't shy away from doing hard work. She isn't afraid to sweat!
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She isn't only willing to do hard work, she is willing to work long hours.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She is also willing to work consistently.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She has compassion on people and is generous in giving.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes sure that her family has everything they need so that when hard times comes they are prepared.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. She knows how to clothe her family.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. Her husband is the leader of her family.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. She makes extra money using her talents to help her household.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She isn't afraid of hard times and isn't easily swayed.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She is smart and her words are gentle.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. She knows what needs to be done for her family and does it!
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. She is blessed! Amen!
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. She isn't satisfied with ordinary or second best.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. She is a woman after God's own heart.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. People praise her because of her virtuous nature.
Now, I don't know about you, but, Oh! how I desire to be a virtuous woman!
Titus 2 shed a little bit more light into the kind of woman God would have us to be.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Women must have good, proper behavior that is holy. In order to do that we must not be gossips, not drink, and remember to teach good things. Our lives are our example; our teaching tool.
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Older women are to teach the younger. You are always older than some other woman/girl! We should love our husband and children, which may seem simple enough, but how many times have you acted in way that you didn't love them?
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. We are to be discreet, meaning modest. Modest in dress certainly, but also in the way we live out our lives. Modest women are not loud, rude, or crude. They don't dress in a way that would cause a man to sin in his heart. The verse says we are to be chaste, which means staying pure until marriage. We are to be keepers of our homes, not being idle in our tasks at home. The verse says that we are to be obedient to our husbands, meaning we should remember that Christ has put our husbands as the head of the household for a reason. The reason we are to act in this way is so the Word of God is not blasphemed. We don't want to say we are Christians and not follow every word of this God-inspired scripture. Then, how would be good examples unto others so that they may come to the saving grace of Jesus?
This weekend's Word has been lengthy and it won't always be that way. I've shared what the Lord would have me to. May it be a blessing to you.
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