Luke – Page 142 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Chapters: Luke 23-24
Message: Challenge Yourself

Hello My Friend,

I started this sixty day challenge two weeks ago in order to eat healthier and wean myself off of refined, and overly processed foods. Many people joined the challenge with the false expectations of losing twenty to thirty pounds in a matter of weeks, and within these past two weeks people are already complaining that the plan is not working because they only lost a couple of pounds, or in some cases gained. Challenging yourself to make better choices is often like taking the step to follow Christ, it takes one day at a time, learning what is right or wrong for your body, and having the patience to wait to see the results. The end result for any born again Christian, regardless of what they do with our lives here, is an eternity free from death, sin, and any kind of pain, but to challenge ourselves to be more like Christ while we are still here will bring much sweeter rewards. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – I Corinthians 15:58.

We all get tired and weary no matter how strong our faith, life weakens us, sometimes to the point that it takes every bit of strength to get up in the morning. To grow in Christ and strengthen your mind, body, and spirit you need to challenge yourself to get in the Scriptures and pray often, especially when you do not feel like it. So many people know of Jesus, they even go to churches that talk about all the miracles He has done, but they lack one thing, a personal relationship with Him. That begins first by believing that He is the Son of God. Luke goes into more detail about Jesus standing before the counsel for judgment, and how Pilate wanted nothing to do with the death of Jesus. In fact, he sent Him to Herod first to let him deal with it, Herod and Pilate learned one thing, He was innocent of the charges they were accusing Him of.

“And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.” – Luke 23:8-16.

“and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.” What was Herod expecting when he saw Jesus? That He would just raise someone from the dead or heal someone who was sick right before his eyes? So many people seek Jesus, not for what He has done, but to see instant miracles, and if they do not see them right away they give up on Him. Let me tell you, Jesus knows who truly believes in Him from the start, if they do not believe in the unseen, He would not trust the to do something right before their eyes. Point in case, we learn that Jesus spoke something to the women who were crying as they walked to Golgotha to crucify Him.

“But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.” – Luke 23:28-32.

“For if they do these things in a green tree,” The green tree, the living and flourishing tree, it has life from the root and more resilient than a dead tree, which is useful for nothing, but firewood. The green tree represents Jesus, who is the tree of life, the dead tree, the wicked who will be cast into the fire for their unbelief. Challenging yourself to be more like Christ will often bring trials and sometimes persecution for your faith, but remember, you will be saved from the fire. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” – I Peter 4:17-19.

All of the four Gospels tells of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, each one giving a little more insight into what happened. I love how Luke explains it, it reminds me that no matter where you are in life or what you have done Jesus died for you, and will save you if who received Him, even if it is the last breath you take. We learn this from one of the men being crucified next to Jesus. “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.” – Luke 23:39-43,48-49.

“smote their breasts, and returned.” Do you see how they behaved themselves? This reminds me of the fools who kill someone or destroy something and act like a mad gorilla full of pride beating on his chest. The unbelieving, full of pride will never step up to the challenge and accept Christ, no matter how many miracles they see, once again, even if it were right in front of their faces. Jesus would never justify Himself for them anyway, but He does justify all who believe in and receive Him, even on their death bed. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” – Romans 3:24-26.

We do not like to admit it, but the biggest challenge we face as Christians is trusting God when things look impossible. Now, that Jesus was dead, many of the Jews, understanding that He was the Messiah, expected Him to come with great force, becoming their King and saving them, but when He died they lost all hope. Now, just as He told them all from the beginning He did rise on the third day, He sees the people mourning Him and walks up to a group of people talking about it.

“But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” – Luke 24:16-21.

“But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel:” How quick are we to forget the promises of God? How quick are to we give up on God when things look hopeless? Ho quick are we to resort to the things of the world when something happens that goes against our expectations? Jesus will redeem all of Israel and in case you are wondering who Israel is, it is His believers, not the nation itself. Jesus Himself said that just because they were of Abraham’s seed that did not mean they were God’s. “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.” – John 8:35-38.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” – Luke 24:44.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You faced Your biggest challenge when You took the beating, the mocking, and the pain to die on the cross for my sins. I cannot thank You enough for the great sacrifice You made for me, I know You finished the work for me and that my faith in You alone is the only thing that saved me, but I want to do more than just be saved, I want to live a victorious life with You while I am still here. I has been a challenge at times to walk by faith, but I know with every challenge I face You never fail to show up. Lord, keep me faithful and looking to You no matter what challenges I face as I challenge myself to be more like You. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power, wisdom, mercy, and grace to step up to the challenge. In Jesus’ name…Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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