While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:
How does Jesus' blood relate to the new covenant? People under the old covenant (those who lived before Jesus) could approach God only through a priest and an animal sacrifice. Now all people can come directly to God through faith because Jesus' death has made us acceptable in God's eyes (Romans 3:21-24).
The old covenant was a shadow of the new (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:1), pointing forward to the day when Jesus himself would be the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. Rather than an unblemished lamb slain on the altar, the perfect Lamb of God was slain on the cross, a sinless sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all. All those who believe in Christ receive that forgiveness.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Week 47 - Matthew 24:42-44
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Footnotes:
Christ's second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny.
Jesus' purpose in telling about his return is not to stimulate predictions and calculations about the date, but to warn us to be prepared. Will you be ready? The only safe choice is to obey him today.
I don't know about you, but in the culture we live in, there are a lot of days I find myself thinking, Lord Jesus, come quickly! As Christians, it will be a glorious day when Jesus returns but to many, sadly, it will be more like a thief in the night. Do you know people who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ? Don't wait! Jesus will return at an hour when we do not expect him!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Week 45 - Matthew 22:37-38 and Week 46 - Matthew 22:39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, Footnotes:
Jesus says that if we truly love God and our neighbor, we will naturally keep the commandments. This is looking at God's law positively. Rather than worrying about all we should not do, we should concentrate on all we can do to show our love for God and others.
I hope this is not too confusing -- I'm posting two weeks at a time because these commands go together.
For such a little word, LOVE is so big! Our family has been studying 1 Corinthians 13, which is commonly referred to as the love chapter. I wanted to study it with my children because it seems that almost any conflict can be resolved by simply applying this scripture.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 here:
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:
Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.
Love the LORD and your NEIGHBOR!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Week 44 - Luke 14:12-14
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
God opens his kingdom to everyone. In what ways can you invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind into your life, your home, your fellowship? May we seek to love and serve the Lord with our whole hearts and glorify Him in all we do!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Week 43 - Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself in the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
NIV, Life Application Study Bible footnotes:
Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as "magic" and perform capricious "mountain-moving" acts. Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith. What kinds of mountains do you face? Have you talked to God about them? How strong is your faith?
This verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing. God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or will. Jesus' statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom. The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will, and then God will be happy to grant them.
NIV, Life Application Study Bible footnotes:
Many have wondered about Jesus' statement that if we have faith and don't doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that his followers use prayer as "magic" and perform capricious "mountain-moving" acts. Instead, he was making a strong point about the disciples' (and our) lack of faith. What kinds of mountains do you face? Have you talked to God about them? How strong is your faith?
This verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing. God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or will. Jesus' statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom. The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will, and then God will be happy to grant them.
May the Lord increase your faith this week!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Week 42 - Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."
NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:
The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them -- but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the "perfect" number) was enough times to forgive someone. But Jesus answered, "Seventy-seven times," meaning that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.
The following scriptures are cross-references I found interesting:
Matthew 6:14 says, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
That's pretty good motivation for forgiveness!
AND
Luke 17:4 says, "If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
I didn't remember repentance being tied to forgiveness in this way although I know it's a vital part of restoration.
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times."
NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:
The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them -- but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the "perfect" number) was enough times to forgive someone. But Jesus answered, "Seventy-seven times," meaning that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.
The following scriptures are cross-references I found interesting:
Matthew 6:14 says, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
That's pretty good motivation for forgiveness!
AND
Luke 17:4 says, "If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
I didn't remember repentance being tied to forgiveness in this way although I know it's a vital part of restoration.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Week 41 - Luke 12:15
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:
Jesus says that the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so be on guard against greed (desire for what we don't have). This is the exact opposite of what society usually says. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products, we will be happier, more fulfilled, more comfortable. How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy?
Learn to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly good life -- living in a relationship with God and doing his work.
Have you ever known someone who was very wealthy but very unhappy? Or how about someone who was very happy but had very little in the way of possessions? I've seen real life examples of both. Our world often gets it backwards -- our abundance doesn't come in the form of "stuff" but only in our relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.
NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:
Jesus says that the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so be on guard against greed (desire for what we don't have). This is the exact opposite of what society usually says. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products, we will be happier, more fulfilled, more comfortable. How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy?
Learn to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly good life -- living in a relationship with God and doing his work.
Have you ever known someone who was very wealthy but very unhappy? Or how about someone who was very happy but had very little in the way of possessions? I've seen real life examples of both. Our world often gets it backwards -- our abundance doesn't come in the form of "stuff" but only in our relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Live ABUNDANTLY in Him today!
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