<\/p>\n
Luke 14:25-17:10; John 11:1-37<\/strong><\/span> Luke:<\/strong> Today in Luke chapter 14 verse 27 we read \u2013 \u201cAnd anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m not so good at carrying \u201ccrosses.\u201d I\u2019m not so good at taking on perceived burdens. I\u2019m not so good at suffering at all. I like to get my way. I often feel entitled to get a lot of good stuff in my life. . . And yet. . . Jesus says if I am to be his disciple I must carry my cross. And I must follow him. I think sometimes in our culture we want to keep up with our neighbors \u2013 be hip; be cool; be relevant; know the latest styles; wear the latest fashions; and this list can go on. Jesus tells us to carry our cross. And truly, this is the eternally hippest \/ coolest \/ most relevant decision any one of us can make \u2013 to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Nothing else matters. <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Luke chapter 14\u2019s readings today titled \u201cTable Talks\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary on today\u2019s readings titled \u201cHow to Hate your Wife\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Beautiful verses today in Luke chapter 15 verses 8 through 10 \u2013 \u201c\u201dOr suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won\u2019t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin. In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God\u2019s angels when even one sinner repents.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Do you believe that there was joy in the presence of God\u2019s angels when you repented?\u00a0 Or\u2026 when you will repent?\u00a0 That is a beautiful thought indeed!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> The story of the shrewd manager in Luke chapter 16 today concludes with some powerful teachings from Jesus.\u00a0 \u00a0Verses 8 & 9 stand out to me today \u2013 \u201cAnd it is true that the citizens of this world are more shrewd than the godly are. I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I like that teaching \u2013 we should use our worldly resources to benefit others.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been thinking about this a bit more lately.\u00a0 And I wondered what it would be like if I went through my days consciously trying to make other people happy.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve really ever done this over a sustained period.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ve glimpses of using my resources to benefit others.\u00a0 To make them happy.\u00a0 I want to do more of this\u2026\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Are you consciously using your resources (time, treasure & talents) to make others happy in your life each day?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> Today in Luke chapter 16 we read about the rich man and Lazarus.\u00a0 I have always found verse 31 to be such a great reflection on what it means to have having a soft heart and a strong faith \u2013 \u201c\u201dBut Abraham said, `If they won\u2019t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won\u2019t listen even if someone rises from the dead.\u2019 \u201c\u201d <\/em>Basically, Abraham is saying that people whose hearts are hardened to faith will not even believe it if a dead man returns to them and tells them to repent.\u00a0 They still won\u2019t repent even with this miracle.\u00a0 And I believe this is true.\u00a0 Let us pray that our hearts are soft and open to faith and that we can share the Good News of Jesus with others in our life whose hearts may be becoming more and more hardened with each passing day\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Luke Chapter 16 readings today titled \u201cThe Rich Man and Lazarus\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary titled \u201cDeath: The Door to Eternity\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow.\u00a0 I love Luke 17 verse 10 \u2013 \u201cIn the same way, when you obey me you should say, `We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I wonder if sometimes we do good works for Jesus expecting some praise or return on our works?\u00a0 \u00a0This is obviously not a good motive.\u00a0 We should simply be obedient to Jesus and not expect praise for our obedience \u2013 from Jesus or from others.\u00a0 It is simply a blessing for us to be called to Jesus\u2019 service.\u00a0 That is more than enough.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> John:<\/strong> Today in John chapter 11 verse 35 we read the shortest verse in the Bible \u2013 \u201cJesus wept.\u201d<\/em> Though this may be the shortest verse, I do not believe it is small in meaning. What does it say to you that Jesus wept? What does it mean to you that Jesus wept? I love this verse because to me it shows Jesus\u2019 humanity (while at the same time he is divine). During his time living as a man on earth, Jesus experienced the full range of emotions that you and I experience today. Jesus was tempted. (though, unlike us, he did not give into temptation and sin ever) Jesus was joyful. Jesus was angry. Jesus loved. Jesus wept. Knowing this about Jesus, does this help you to realize that you can approach Jesus with absolutely any situation in your life that you might be struggling with? Do you believe that Jesus will understand you if you are weeping? Do you believe that Jesus will rejoice with you when you are rejoicing? I do. \u201cJesus wept\u201d says so much to me about who Jesus was, is, and forever will be. Jesus wept.<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s John chapter 11 readings titled \u201cDealing with Death\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video::<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Luke about the Prodigal Son reminds me of the Jeremy Camp song \u201cTake You Back:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today:<\/strong> \u201cI tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.\u201d<\/em> Luke 15:7 NIV<\/span><\/p>\n Prayer Point:<\/strong> Pray that you have repented of your sins. Pray that you are evangelizing others you know to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus. Pray that the angels in heaven will rejoice over the lost you know being Found.<\/span><\/p>\n Comments from You:<\/strong>\u00a0 What verses or insights stand out to you in today\u2019s readings?\u00a0 Please post up by clicking on the \u201cComments\u201d link below!<\/span><\/p>\n God bless, p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n p.s. #2 \u2013 Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n p.s. #3 \u2013 I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Luke 14:25-17:10; John 11:1-37~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~ Luke: Today in Luke chapter 14 verse 27 we read \u2013 \u201cAnd anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\u201d\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about you, but<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[3645,45,46,558,53,231],"class_list":["post-32794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bible-study","tag-19th","tag-bible","tag-blog","tag-chronological","tag-october","tag-readings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
More beautiful verses today (22-24) as we read through the famous Prodigal Son story: \u201c\u201dBut his father said to the servants, `Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.\u2019 So the party began.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Luke chapter 15 readings today titled \u201cLost and Found\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Verse 10 is also a strong teaching from Jesus today \u2013 \u201c\u201dUnless you are faithful in small matters, you won\u2019t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won\u2019t be honest with greater responsibilities.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think there was a very popular book out there a while back called \u201cDon\u2019t Sweat the Small Stuff.\u201d\u00a0 Well, it looks to me in this verse that God sweats the small stuff.\u00a0 And you and I should sweat the small stuff.\u00a0 We need to be faithful in small matters in our daily lives or else indeed we will not be faithful in large matters.\u00a0 Will you join me in sweating the small stuff when it comes to matters of our integrity before God?<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Luke chapter 16 readings today titled \u201cDoes Christ commend the crook or \u201cThe Sting?\u201d\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Luke chapter 7 readings today titled \u201cTaking Sin Seriously\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Mike<\/span><\/p>\n