Will We Ever Be "Completely Trained Pupils?" - By The Grace Of God We Will

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 6:35-45

Luke 6:35-45

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
41 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.



LAGNIAPPE:

Luke 6:40
Amplified Bible (AMP)
40 A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:40
King James Version (KJV)
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luke 6:40
New King James Version (NKJV)
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.


Luke 6:40
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

St. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:1
"Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

Go - Make - Baptize - Teach - Observing All That Jesus Commanded

Today's Focus Scripture: Matthew 28:10-20

Matthew 28:10-20

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’
14 And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Betrayed and Conspired against for "Silver."
Interesting thought!!!!

Jesus was betrayed by Judas for silver.
A conspiracy to deny Jesus' Resurrection was paid for with silver, verse 12.

(vs 12 - "Money" in the Greek = silver _-_ Strong's G694 - argurion - drachma or shekel - piece of silver)

Does Our Fruit Show That We Are Doing The Will Of Our Father In Heaven?

Today's Focus Scripture:  Matthew 7:11-21

Matthew 7:11-20
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

A LITTLE LAGNIAPPE: 
How many "Believers" are in this boat?  What must it be like for the one who thinks they are doing the will of the Lord, to think they are serving Jesus, to think they are firm in their belief, their doctrines, and "religion," only to find out all they have done is practice lawlessness and to have Jesus inform them on their day of Judgement that He never knew them, and that they practiced lawlessness for all that time instead of actually serving Jesus?

A REAL EYE OPENER FOR SURE TO THOSE WHO FOOLED THEMSELVES THEIR ENTIRE WALK WITH JESUS.  Just Who did they think they were praying to and serving all that time?

Matthew 7:21-23 
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Grace Of The Lord Jesus Christ Be With Your Spirit

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

--

Thank you Lord Jesus for paying our penalty and thereby blessing us with an escape, through Your blood,  from eternal destruction.

The Little Things Could Be Opportunities God Uses To Prepare Us

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 16:10-17


Luke 16:10-17

10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 
12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail."

Today we also included a devotional by Ed Young - "Trustworthy"

This devotional can be found at http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/edyoung/ 

Week of February 18

Ed Young Television Weekly Devotional

Trustworthy

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

Can you be trusted? I think the first response for all of us is, "Of course I can!" And there are probably plenty of times when that is true. Most of us can be trusted when we make a promise, or when there are serious consequences at stake. But that is only part of being trustworthy.

Can you be trusted in the little things? That is where the rubber meets the road. When you tell someone you will call them, do you? When you say you will meet a friend at a certain time, do you show up 15… 30… 60 minutes late?

Real trust is proven when we follow through with the little things, not just the big ones. Because the little things could be opportunities God uses to prepare you for something more.

When a friend asks you to help with something small, remember that the little things matter. Be trustworthy with them. And discover how it can lead you to being "trusted with much."

God Set Eternity In The Heart Of Man - A Time For Everything

Today's Focus Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15


Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth, and a time to die;
   A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;
   A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
   A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;
   A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;
   A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together;
   A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate;
   A time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

Eternity is waiting for us all after the physical aspect of our lives is done. Then that time for us to enter into eternity becomes our new reality.  Question is, will you be with Jesus for all eternity?  If not, all you have to do is ask the Lord to forgive you for your sins.  Of course one must lay down their ego and pride and all justification for all their sins before one can admit they are a sinner.

What Is It To Walk In A Manner Worthy Of God - Humble And Contrite Maybe?

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-20


9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
18 because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us. 
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 For you are our glory and joy.

THOUGHT: Satan attempts to hinder only those who are a threat to his plans. (vs 18)

A Little Lagniappe: <(A term used a lot in New Orleans ^ Lan-Yap)


Isaiah 1:18-19
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;

Mark Twain writes about the word [Lagniappe]in a chapter on New Orleans in Life on the Mississippi (1883). He called it "a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get."

Gift Of Obedience

Today's Devotional is from "Cross The Bridge" from Pastor David McGee

Hosea 1:2
When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: "Go; take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD."

We often hear Christians say things like, "The Lord just wants me to be happy" or "God wouldn't ask me to do anything that I can't handle." The truth is that God often asks His people to do what seems impossible. It is also clear that happiness rarely has anything to do with His commands. Hosea was told by God to take a wife that would cause him much pain. Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son, whom he called 'laughter' and loved dearly. Mary, who was called most blessed among women, was required to stand by and watch her son die on the cross. These three, and many others in the Bible, were asked by God to do what we would think impossible for them; things that would bring pain and suffering. They had different circumstances, and different struggles, but the one thing they shared was obedience.

Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'"

Jesus went through incredible suffering and pain to free us from the bondage of sin. He did not die just so we could be happy. He did not give His life so that we could simply pursue our own selfish desires. He died to set us free, and to give us the model of how to live free. He taught the disciples through His word and example that our calling is to lay down our own lives for the sake of others.

Life Lesson: Following Christ is hard, but it's the least we can offer Him for the price He paid.

The Lord Delivers Us, Even When We Are Not Aware

Today's Focus Scripture: Joshua 24:11-18

Don't lose perspective of what the Lord is doing in your life.

Joshua 24:11-18
11 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. Thus I gave them into your hand.
12 Then I sent the hornet before you and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow.
13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’
14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
16 The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;
17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.
18 The Lord drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”


Just a thought:
Verse 12 makes us wonder if Joshua was really aware of the "Hornet" sent before them to drive out their enemies, if he were aware of it while the deliverance was occurring.

Influenced To Godliness Or Evil - What Influences You?

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1; 21:1-7

2 Kings 18:1-6
1 Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.
2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
3 He did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.
4 He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.
6 For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

2 Kings 21:1-7
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.
2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
4 He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.”
5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 He made his son pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord provoking Him to anger.
7 Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.

Direction And Wisdom From Within Dreams

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-14

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
13 I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
14 If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

Making Personal Application From The Teaching And Instruction Of The Lord

Today's Focus Scripture: John 18:10 (From "Cross The Bridge" eVotional)

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. ~ John 18:10 (NKJV)


Sometimes in life, we face challenging moments. This moment was a summons to contest for Peter. Even with all that Jesus had taught him and with all that he had learned, he still had to make personal application. In the heart of the matter, Peter had to learn how to do it God's way and not his own.

Do not lean to your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

I think that is something all of us have to learn. We would like to learn it all at once or all in one sitting, but that's not the way it happens. Most of us will have many opportunities, in some, we will succeed beautifully and in others, we will fail miserably. Each day that we awake, however, brings us the glorious chance for a fresh start and a new beginning. It is important to remember that and, in that process, please be careful of the ears.

Life Lesson: The Lord wants to direct us in our daily activities. 

Consecrated, Even Before Being In The Womb, To Speak God's Words

Today's Focus Scripture: Jeremiah 1:3-19

3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

And before you were born I consecrated you;

I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God!

Behold, I do not know how to speak,

Because I am a youth.”

7 But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’

Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,

And all that I command you, you shall speak.

8 “Do not be afraid of them,

For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

9 Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To pluck up and to break down,

To destroy and to overthrow,

To build and to plant.”

The Almond Rod and Boiling Pot

11 The word of the Lord came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 

14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. 

15 For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the Lord; “and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah. 

16 I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 

17 Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them. 

18 Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. 

19 They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Not Only "Take Up" The Armor Of God - Use It

Today's Focus Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-24

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.