Gospel gems – Betrayer

And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. John 18:2 

Have you ever had a verse “jump out” at you? I have read this verse many times but this time it “jumped out”. I saw things I never noticed before.

Here is what I discovered:

·        Judas knew Jesus.

·        He knew what He did.

·        He knew where Jesus went.

·        Judas knew the “favorite place” of rest.

The results of the discoveries:

·        Judas violated his trust.

·        Judas revealed confidences.

·        Judas dishonored his friendship.

Lesson learned:

·        Don’t be a betrayer

·        Be true to Jesus first and then others

·        Be trust worthy

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Watch

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mark 13:33-37

As Christians, we need to pay attention to what is happening around us, no one knows when Jesus is coming back. There are signs and prophecies in God’s Word. Don’t let the cares of this world bog you down (Luke 21:34)

Here are the Greek meanings of some of the words:

Heed – to look at – behold, beware

Watch – to be sleepless, i.e. keep awake – watch

Pray – to pray to God i.e. supplicate, worship

Watch

We know what time our favorite TV programs are coming on. People know when certain concerts or plays are happing. But do we know the Word of God?

 Watch

Do we know how to discern the signs of the times? What is the most important thing to know? Which movie star is dating or marrying whom? What is the number one song this week? What does the Bible (not a book or an author but the Bible) say?

Watch

Have a blessed day, 

Donna

Gospel gems –Denying Jesus

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. 

Mark 14:72

Do I deny Christ? Do you? Denying can be an action as well as words. I need to let people know I am a Christ follower by words and actions.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Lying to achieve a goal

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. Luke 23:2

The people had nothing to “get” Jesus on so they resorted to lying. Exodus 20:16 tells us, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

There is never a time to lie! Let’s look at some of the key points in the verse:

·        “Perverting” (Greek 1294) to distort i.e. misinterpret or corrupt

Was Jesus distorting or corrupting the nation? Absolutely not

·        “Forbidding to give tribute”

Matthew 17:27 tells of a time when Jesus paid the tribute (tax)

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Not only did Jesus pay the tax but he did it to not offend anyone.

·        “saying he himself is a king”

There are 17 verses in the King James Version with the words, “King of the Jews”, not one of them is Jesus talking. Each time the phrase was used it was used by others.

False accusations are the way of the world. The next time you want to tell “a little white lie” remember the following verses:

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Proverbs 14:5

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Colossians 3:9

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –Be not afraid, trust God

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Luke 21:14-15

This portion of scripture is speaking about the end times. Jesus tells the disciples not to fret and worry about what they will say if questioned or arrested (my take) by the “authorities”. God will put words in their mouths so the adversaries (from the Greek to lie opposite, be adverse) will not be able to gainsay (from the Greek to refute or deny) nor resist (from the Greek to stand against).

It is no different today; we are closer to the end times than the disciples. Now more than ever we need to put our trust in God and not be afraid of men. God will protect and guide us in everything, even the words we speak.

We need to trust God and “be not afraid”. … because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Jealousy breeds hatred

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, Matthew 21:15

Jesus was doing what His Father had sent Him to do, the children saw it and some adults saw it too. As a matter of fact, everyone who was in the area saw the wonderful works of Jesus.

The only ones who were upset and displeased were the chief priests and scribes, the religious leaders. Displeased in this verse means “to be greatly afflicted – indignant.”

Can you imagine being so angry that it greatly affected you? They were angry because the children were praising Jesus. The second reason they were angry was because of the “wonderful things” that Jesus did.

Their jealousy had turned to bitter hatred. They hated that Someone was doing more than them and getting and receiving praise. Remember these were the same ones who “loved to be seen of men”. (Matthew 23:5)

When a problem of jealousy, hatred or bitterness starts to well up, confess it and turn from it now before it controls your life. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –The Lord of the 2nd chance

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Luke 13:8-9

God is not willing that any should perish. He gives us lots of chances to repent and turn to Him. God “digs around” and “prunes” and waits for “the fruit of salvation.”

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Check my motives

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,  Matthew 23:1-6

Jesus was giving a description of the “works” of the scribes and Pharisees. Each and everything they did was a “big show”. They wanted those around them to see them as “the religious”. They were quick to tell others what to do but would not do it themselves. They had to have the “best seats” and make sure everyone noticed them.

This scripture got me thinking. Why do I do the things I do? To be seen of men? or to please God?

A motive is something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act. I need to check my motives. Do I do things just because “it is the in Christian thing” to do? Do I do things because God has spoken to my heart about a certain situation?

He is a personal God. Praise Him we are not all puppets. God made each of us individually and deals with us as such.

I need to take my eyes off others, and not worry about what they are doing for God. My next step is to ask God, in prayer, to lead and direct.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Follow Jesus’ example

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. John 13:15 

Jesus constantly showed by example how we should live as Christians. We are here to serve others. It may be hard in some situations but it is doable. The purpose of serving is to show others the love of Christ.

Christ served with compassion Matthew 14:14

Christ served with kindness. Luke 17:11-19

Christ served the “underdogs” Matthew 9:11-12

Christ served with love. John 13:34

Christ served with gentleness. Matthew 11:29

Christ served with mercy. John 8:1-11

Christ served unselfishly. John 3:16

Is there something you can do for someone? Don’t procrastinate – just Do it!

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – How shall I live

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:44-48

What a wonderful place the world would be if we followed the simple (but hard) suggestions that the Lord told his followers.

Here they are:

Love your enemies. Sounds simple right, well not exactly. Enemies are the ones you want the furthest from you. When you see an enemy walking down the street, what do you do? Smile and run over and give them a big hug. I doubt it; most of us would turn the other way, cross the street to the other side or just plain ignore them.

What does Jesus tell us? Bless them that curse you. Bless in the Greek means “to speak well of “. When was the last time you said something nice about an “enemy”?

Do good to them. Thayer’s Greek Dictionary says, “rightly, so that there shall be no room for blame, well, truly”. When was the last time you made cookies or did something nice for an “enemy”?

Pray for them. Now this is an easy one, right? Wrong, most people have a hard time praying, but to pray for someone they dislike or someone who did something to them. You get the picture.

Jesus prayed for His enemies while He was hanging on the cross. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, also prayed for his enemies. Can you and I do any less? 

Why, oh, why would Jesus ask us to love our enemies? The next verse explains it. When we do what Jesus asks, we will be known as the children of the heavenly Father. People will certainly look at you strangely when you start to say nice things about the people who treated you badly instead of gossiping about them to those around you.

God lets the sun shine on the evil and the good and sends rain to the just and the unjust. How can I do any differently?

How Christian is it when I only “love” those who “love” me? I would be no different than all the people who do not know Christ.

Perfect in the Greek means “complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc”.  Let’s start today to be perfect as our Heavenly Father has commanded. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – The great I AM

Jesus is God, the Bible bears witness to this fact by the following verses:

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58 

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:7 

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  John 10:11 

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:1 

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14  

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Jesus and God are one

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:22-23

Jesus is equal to God. All judgment is given to Jesus. Jesus and God are One and the Same. Our simple minds cannot comprehend this but by faith we believe it. Both words in this section are capitalized Father and Son.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Believe

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.  Mark 9:22-24

The man with the lunatic son came to Jesus for help, after he had gone to the disciples. The disciples could not heal the son but the father knew where he could get help, straight to the source – Jesus.

Jesus then said to the father, as well as to the disciples, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” We need to believe; Jesus can do and will do if we believe. It is a two part equation (believe = all things are possible). How much faith (belief) do we need?

Jesus said, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” (Luke 17:6)

Mustard seeds are small but the black mustard seed from Israel can grow as tall as twelve feet.

Jesus is saying if we have just a little faith it will grow if we believe and trust His word.

Your faith may be “small” and you might have a hard time believing, then cry out with the father “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –God of miracles

30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31

We worship the God of great miracles. Imagine people came from all over the Middle East. We are not told how far some traveled but we know they traveled over rough terrain; some may have traveled on animals but most traveled by walking. The mode of travel was not as easy as it is for us today. I live on the east coast but within 7 hours I can be visiting family on the west coast, inventions from a hundred years ago (Wright brothers 1903) and modern technology make travel today much easier.

The travelers were not traveling alone; they brought family members, friends and neighbors who had health issues. Remember the medical community was not as knowledgeable in Bible times and again our modern technology has made great strides in many medical fields. They traveled and persevered because they had heard the wonderful stories of Jesus, stories of healing and restoration of body and spirit. It was not just the hearing of the stories and miracles but people believed what they heard.

Praise God, Jesus is still in the healing business today. He can spiritually heal the broken spirit.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

John Gill explains: And I will give you rest; spiritual rest here, peace of conscience, ease of mind, tranquility of soul, through an application of pardoning grace, a view of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, and full atonement of sin by his sacrifice;..

Come today to the God of miracles and He will heal your weary soul.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –Rewards for the humble

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:11-14

What is Jesus telling us in the preceding verses? Basically, don’t make a big deal out of helping others. God rewards the work done for the poor because they cannot repay. He rewards the humble at the resurrection of the just.

Don’t do things looking for a reward or recognition, but do it because it is right to do. 

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems –Keep God’s word

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Luke 11:28 

Hearing is good but keeping His word is better. What does it matter if all I do is listen. I need to follow through and obey (keep) and apply what I have heard.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Don’t walk away

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:66-67

This is a sad portion of scripture. We all have choices to make in this life. Some of our choices will be bad (wrong) ones and some will be good (right) ones.

Many, not one or two, but many disciples turned and walked away from Jesus and His teachings. His sayings were hard and they might have to change a thing or two in their lives. The easiest thing to do was to walk away. Maybe they thought if they walked away they were not responsible for what they had been taught.

Peter had the right idea, “where will we go ? You have the words of eternal life. You are Christ the Son of the living God.” Jesus has the answers. The answers may be hard, some may be easy but all the answers of Jesus are right and pure.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  John 14:6 

Don’t walk away from Jesus but towards Him. He is patiently waiting.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – The compassion of Jesus

33 And the people saw them (Jesus & disciples) departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:33-34

Jesus and the disciples were so busy doing God’s work they had no time to rest or even to eat. Crowds and crowds of people came to see the miracles and hear the words. It was time for a rest period. The only way to get a break was to leave the area and go somewhere to have a time of respite (Mark 6:31).

The people noticed them leaving and started to run after Jesus. Instead of saying, “I need a few minutes to get away” Jesus was “moved with compassion” and took the opportunity to teach the people “many things.”

Compassion from the Greek means to have the bowels yearn, that is, (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity: - have (be moved with) compassion.

Christ was overcome  with emotion when He saw the hunger of the people. The physical hunger as well as the spiritual hunger.

Jesus is compassionate to us today. He is waiting with open arms to forgive and welcome us to His kingdom.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Truth revealed

33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:33-34

God keeps His word hidden to those who do not know Him. He is the revealer of all truth. He taught His disciples the hidden things of the word when they “were able to hear it.”

Are we able to hear what he is teaching us?

Have a blessed day,
Donna

Gospel gems – Priorities

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 

Have you ever thought about priorities? Sure you have, we have no choice if we have a family, a job, or attend school. To have things “run smoothly” we need to prioritize. Even if you don’t have a neat list written out, you know in your mind what needs to be done to have a day run efficiently.

What is God saying in this verse? Basically He is telling us to prioritize. He is saying, “Put Me first and I will provide for you.”

Wait the verse continues “… and his righteousness”, we are to put Him first and his righteousness. Righteousness in this verse means “equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification…” We need to put on a “God like” disposition.

“All these things” is explained in the preceding verses.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Mathew 6:31-32

 Let’s start today seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Have a blessed day,
Donna