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10.25.07: Lftd
"What Would Jesus Do?"
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(Home) (VN) (C1) (C2) (Ko) (Sp) (Fr) (It) (De) (Ru) (Ar) ("Pray To Receive Christ") -- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 
What Would Jesus Do? Lord, throughout this day, As I try to follow You, Let this be my rule to live by: What would Jesus Do? When a friend or loved one Asks me for a moment or two, May I think of one thing only: What Would Jesus Do? In all my dealings, help me To be honest, fair and true, To measure each decision by: What Would Jesus Do? When I'm feeling troubled And I turn in prayer to You, Give me wisdom to decide: What Would Jesus Do? And let me promise each new day To live my whole life through, In love and peace, remembering" What Would Jesus Do? Then when the day is ended, May I resolve anew To guide tomorrow by the motto: What Would Jesus Do? -- Author Unknown
-- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (++ Jesus, our example, perfectly finished His race. Because He stands at the finished line, Christians should keep their eyes on Him, looking away from other distractions or options. It is upon Him that our faith depends from start to finish. Jesus is the first who obeyed God perfectly and thus began the New Covenant (Testament.) He set the course of faith, ran the race first (Heb 6:20), and now waits for us to join Him at the end, encouraging us all the way. He is also the one who brings us to our intended goal because He was made the perfect High Priest through suffering and obedience (see Heb 2:10, 5:8). + The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight. - LAB) -- John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." (++ Remaining in Christ means (1) believing that He is God's Son (1Jn 4:15), (2) receiving Him as Savior and Lord (Jn 1:12), (3) doing what God says (1Jn 3:24), (4) continuing to believe the Good News (1Jn 2:24), and (5) relating in love to the community of believers, Christ's body (Jn 15:12). ... + Many people try to be good, honest people who do what is right. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine? If not, you are missing a special gift He has for you. - Life Application Bible.) -- Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. (++ Can we really do everything? The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do His will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. He does not grant us superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to His interests. As we contend for the faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. As they come, ask Christ to strengthen you. - LAB) -- 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (++ Christians are brand-new people on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated -- we are re-created (new creations), living in vital union with Christ (Col 2:6-7). At conversion we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life under a new Master. - LAB)
-- Matthew 22:35-40 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Deut. 6:5) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Lev. 19:18) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (++ The Pharisees, who had classified over 600 laws, often tried to distinguish the more important from the less important. So one of them, an "expert in religious law," asked Jesus to identify the most important law. Jesus quoted from Dt 6:5 and Lev 19:18. By fulfilling these two commands (Love), a person keeps all the others. They summarize the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament moral laws. .... + Jesus said 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. - LAB) -- John 14:26-27 26 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (++ [14:26] Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what He had been teaching them. This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament. The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their individual perspectives. + We can be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did (see 1Co 2:10-14). The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. As we study the Bible, we can trust Him to plant truth in our mind, convince us of God's will, and remind us when we stray from it. + [14:27] The end result of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ's peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ's peace (see Phl 4:6-7.) - LAB) -- Luke 9:23-26 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? (Mark 8:36) 26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels." (++ Christians follow their Lord by imitating His life and obeying His commands. People are willing to pay a high price for something they value. Is it any surprise that Jesus would demand this much commitment from His followers? + [9:26] If people are ashamed of Jesus and His message, He will be ashamed of them at His second coming (they would be rejected from eternal life with Him). In the Bible, “ashamed” means more than embarrassment. It refers to the judgment of God (Isa 44:11), repentance (Eze 43:10), or submission before God (Mi 7:16). + This indicates the Second Coming - the time of future judgment when present life ceases and everyone will be judged for their decisions about Jesus Christ. - LAB)
-- Colossians 1:9-12 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (++ Sometimes we wonder how to pray for missionaries and other leaders we have never met. Paul had never met the Colossians, but he faithfully prayed for them. His prayers teach us how to pray for others, whether we know them or not. We can request that they (1) understand what God wants them to do, (2) gain spiritual wisdom, (3) honor and please God, (4) continually do good, kind things for others, (5) learn to know God better and better, (6) be strengthened with God's glorious power, (7) have great patience and endurance, (8) stay full of Christ's joy, and (9) give thanks always. All believers have these same basic needs. When you don't know how to pray for someone, use Paul's prayer pattern for the Colossians. + Paul was also exposing a heresy in the Colossian church that was similar to Gnosticism (possessing intellectual or spiritual knowledge.) Gnostics valued the accumulation of knowledge, but Paul pointed out that knowledge in itself is empty. To be worth anything, it must lead to a changed life and right living. His prayer for the Colossians has two dimensions: (1) that they might have complete understanding of what God wants to do in their lives, and that they might be wise with spiritual wisdom; (2) that they would continually do good, kind things for others and learn to know God better and better. Knowledge is not merely to be accumulated; it should give us direction for living. Paul wanted the Colossians to be wise, but he also wanted them to use their knowledge. Knowledge of God is not a secret that only a few can discover; it is open to everyone. God wants us to learn more about Him, and also to put belief into practice by helping others. - LAB) -- Colossians 2:6-8 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (+ [2:6] Receiving Christ as Lord of your life is the beginning of life with Christ. But you must continue to follow His leadership by being rooted, built up, and strengthened in the faith. Christ wants to guide you and help you with your daily problems. You can live for Christ by (1) committing your life and submitting your will to Him (Ro 12:1-2); (2) seeking to learn from Him, His life, and His teachings (Col 3:16); and (3) recognizing the Holy Spirit's power in you (Ac 1:8; Ga 5:22). + [2:7] Being rooted in Christ. Just as plants draw nourishment from the soil through their roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ. The more we draw our strength from Him, the less we will be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life's answers. If Christ is our strength, we will be free from human regulations. +++ [2:8] Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul himself was a gifted philosopher, so he is not condemning philosophy. He is condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ, with being the answer to life's problems. That approach becomes a false religion. There are many man-made approaches to life's problems that totally disregard God. To resist heresy you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God's Word. - LAB) -- Colossians 3:9-17 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (++ [3:9] Lying to one another disrupts unity by destroying trust. It tears down relationships and may lead to serious conflict in a church. So don't exaggerate statistics, pass on rumors or gossip, or say things to build up your own image. Be committed to telling the truth. + [3:10] Every Christian is in a continuing education program. The more we know of Christ and His work, the more we are being changed to be like Him. Because this process is lifelong, we must never stop learning and obeying. There is no justification for drifting along, but there is an incentive to find the rich treasures of growing in Him. It takes practice, ongoing review, patience, and concentration to keep in line with His will. + [3:11] The Christian church should have no barriers of nationality, race, education level, social standing, wealth, gender, religion, or power. Christ breaks down all barriers and accepts all people who come to Him. Nothing should keep us from telling others about Christ or accepting into our fellowship any and all believers (Ep 2:14,15). Christians should be building bridges, not walls. + [3:12-14] Paul offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day: (1) Imitate Christ's compassionate, forgiving attitude [3:12-13]; (2) let love guide your life [3:14]; (3) let the peace of Christ rule in your heart [3:15]; (4) always be thankful [3:15]; (5) keep God's Word in you at all times [3:16]; (6) live as Jesus Christ's representative [3:17]. + [3:15] Christians should live in peace. To live in peace does not mean that suddenly all differences of opinion are eliminated, but it does require that loving Christians work together despite their differences. Such love is not a feeling but a decision to meet others' needs (see 1Co 13). To live in love leads to peace between individuals and among the members of the body of believers. Do problems in your relationships with other Christians cause open conflicts or mutual silence? Consider what you can do to heal those relationships with love. + [3:16] Although the early Christians had access to the Old Testament and freely used it, they did not yet have the New Testament or any other Christian books to study. Their stories and teachings about Christ were memorized and passed on from person to person. Sometimes the teachings were set to music, and so music became an important part of Christian worship and education. + [3:17] Everything the believers said and everything they did should be done as a representative of the Lord Jesus, realizing His constant presence and bringing honor and glory to Him in every aspect and activity of daily living (*). To act in someone's name is to act on His authority; believers act as Christ's representatives. (*) 1Cor. 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. -- LAB)
-- 2 Peter 1:2-7 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 4 Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (++ Many believers want an abundance of God's special favor and peace, but they are unwilling to put forth the effort to get to know Him better through Bible study and prayer. To enjoy the privileges God offers us freely, we must "come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better." ... + The power to lead a godly life comes from God. Because we don't have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to "share in His divine nature" in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness. (See Jn 3:6; 14:17-23; 2Co 5:21; and 1Pe 1:22-23.) ... + Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away (Jas 2:14-17). A life of faith leads to learning to know God better, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don't finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but He also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow. We should not be surprised at or resentful of the process. - LAB) -- Romans 6:11-14; 22-23 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (++ "Consider yourselves dead to sin" means that we should regard our old sinful nature as dead and unresponsive to sin. Because of our union and identification with Christ, we no longer want to pursue our old plans, desires, and goals. Now we want to live for the glory of God. As we start this new life, the Holy Spirit will help us become all that Christ wants us to be. ... + If we're no longer under the law but under grace, are we now free to sin and disregard the Ten Commandments? Paul says, "Of course not!" When we were under the law, sin was our master -- the law does not justify us or help us overcome sin. But now that we are bound to Christ, He is our Master, and He gives us power to do good rather than evil. + [22-23] It is impossible to be neutral. Every person has a master -- either God or sin. A Christian is not someone who cannot sin but someone who is no longer a slave to sin. He or she belongs to God. + You are free to choose between two masters: sin or Christ Jesus. The wages of sin is eternal death. That is all you can expect or hope for in life without God. By choosing Christ as your master, you receive His gift of eternal life -- new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. What choice have you made? - LAB) -- Romans 8:1-2, 5-10 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (++ Have you ever worried about whether or not you really are a Christian? A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living in him or her. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord, then the Holy Spirit lives within you and you are a Christian. + You can be assured that you have the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised that He would send Him. Since you now believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that eternal life comes through Him (1Jn 5:5), you will begin to act as Christ directs (Ro 8:5; Ga 5:22-23); you will find help in your daily problems and in your praying (Ro 8:26-27); you will be empowered to serve God and do His will (Ac 1:8; Ro 12:6 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us....); and you will become part of God's plan to build up His church (Ep 4:12-13 + 12 To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.). + Use the Bible to discover God's guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, ask yourself, What would Jesus want me to do? When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly. For more on our sinful natures versus our new life in Christ, (see Ro 6:6-8; Ep 4:22-24; Col 3:3-15.) + [8:9] This life-giving Spirit is the Holy Spirit. He was present at the creation of the world (Ge 1:2), and He is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian. He gives us the power we need to live the Christian life. For more about the Holy Spirit, (see Jn 3:6; Ac 1:5,8.) - LAB)
-- Matthew 4:1-10 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (related: Deut.8:2) 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 The tempter came to Him and said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’" (Deut. 8:3.) 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If You are the Son of God," he said, "throw Yourself down. For it is written: "’He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" (Ps. 91:11-12) 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" (Deut. 6:16) 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give You," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’" (Deut. 5:7; 6:13-15; Ex. 20:1-6) 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him. (++ [Deut. 8:2 "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands."] ... + This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, able to overcome the Devil and his temptations... + We, too, will be tested. Because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. ... + This temptation by the Devil shows us that Jesus was human, and it gave Jesus the opportunity to reaffirm God's plan for His ministry. It also gives us an example to follow when we are tempted. Jesus' temptation was an important demonstration of His sinlessness. He would face temptation and not give in. ... + The Devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride (see 1Jn 2:15-16 for a similar list). But Jesus did not give in. Heb 4:15 says that Jesus "faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin." - He knows firsthand what we are experiencing, and He is willing and able to help us in our struggles. When you are tempted, turn to Him for strength. ... ++ Jesus was able to resist all of the Devil's temptations because He not only knew Scripture, but He also obeyed it. Ep 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the Devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Note that Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to obey it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the Devil's. - LAB) -- Revelation 3:19-20 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. + 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. (++ If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God, and you won't need to worry about hearing His knock. Letting Him in is your only hope for lasting fulfillment. - LAB) -- John 8:7, 10-11 7 When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (++ When Jesus invited someone who had not sinned to throw the first stone, the leaders slipped away one by one, from oldest to youngest. Evidently the older men were more aware of their sins than the younger. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness. We all have a sinful nature and are desperately in need of forgiveness and transformation. None of us would have been able to throw the first stone; none of us can claim sinlessness. We, too, would have had to walk away. + By saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, Jesus highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion. The Bible taught: "God loves sinner, but He hates sin." (Matthew 6:14-15 - "14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.") - LAB) -- 2 Timothy 3:15-17 15 And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (++ The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed His person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down His message for His people (2Pe 1:20-21). This process is known as inspiration. The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and life. The Bible is "God-breathed." Read it, and use its teachings to guide your conduct. (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31 + "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.") - LAB) -- 2 Peter 1:20-21 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
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