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2: These twelve men were the ‘apostles’ that Jesus sent out. There was another time in which he sent out seventy at once. But, here it was only the twelve. These sent ones were likely sent out just as they are listed here, two by two. In this verse we see Peter and Andrew, James and John, in that order. Peter and Andrew were, of course, brothers, as were James and John. These were the four fishermen, and were the first that Christ called to follow him.
   These men are here referred to as apostles. A little must be said to clear up some confusion about apostleship. The twelve were disciples of Jesus Christ. Christians today are disciples of Jesus Christ. However, we are not one of the ‘twelve,’ just as there were other disciples of Jesus in that time that were not one of the twelve. This was a special group, selected by Christ himself. Thus, there is a difference between being a disciple, and being one of the twelve disciples. There are many disciples alive today. But, the twelve (actually eleven, leaving out Judas Iscariot) are all in heaven now. There will not be any more of them.
   This then carries over to the ‘apostle’ idea. The word apostle, in its literal sense, simply means ‘sent one,’ and nothing more. Every Christian is a sent one because we are sent to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. So, like disciples, there are many apostles, even today. However, like the twelve disciples, there were a group of men known as ‘the apostles of the Lord.’ In this group was included eleven of the original twelve, Matthias, who was added later, and the apostle Paul. Others also were likely included in this group, such as Jesus’ brothers James and Jude. Though all of the Christians alive in that time were apostles in the sense that they were sent ones, they were not all members of this group. So, just like that special group of twelve disciples, there will not be any more ‘apostles of the Lord.’
   Now, in our day, it is wise not to use the term ‘apostle’ because it easily causes confusion. This is due to the fact that some have, in the history of the church, mistakenly identified themselves as ‘apostles’ with the intention of making themselves one of that original group. This simply cannot be, because that original group is all in heaven. There will not be any more of those apostles. So, as a result of a misunderstanding of the truth, we do not identify ourselves as ‘apostles’ even though we are ‘sent ones’ just as much as we are disciples.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 23:1-24:53

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Daily Tidbit: 1 John 1:10 reminds us of a very important concept that is often missed. Since the death of Christ, the focus of God’s wrath against sin has been made more apparent. Almighty God knows that we are sinners. If he was going to judge us simply on the basis of that alone, it would all be over (hence, the flood). However, he is interested in a bit more than just our actions. He is also interested in our attitude. Jesus said it well when he was talking to the Jewish leaders about sinning against the Holy Spirit. What is in view here is our attitude towards what God has to say about us. I am convinced that nobody goes to hell only because they are sinners. No, the key is whether we make God a liar. That is what God judges. To be a sinner is our fault, yes. But, we were born that way. Physical death, which we will all face, is the punishment for that. Denial of the Word of God, calling God a liar,  failing to accept the free grace that he offers; these things will bring eternal damnation.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love for us! I have been reminded of it so much this week. You are so kind to us! Thank You for using our lives for Your glory. Thank You for allowing us to help in the mission of the gospel. Thank You for making us disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for making it possible to spend eternity in heaven with You. We will proclaim for all eternity Your love for Your world. You are such a great Creator! I love You and praise You for all that You have done in my life. Only in eternity will we see the true extent of all that You do. Your purpose in every comfort, in every trail, in every thing, will come to light. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for two families that just lost loved ones. Pray for a woman recovering from a kidney infection. Pray for a man with terminal cancer.

Personal Journal Entry #13042

1: We should take note of a couple things here. First, we must not presume to do anything without Christ. He must supply the power and authority to do his work. We must remember that we are but helpers in the work, and not lords over it. Secondly, Jesus will always give us the power to do what he wills. If we have not the power to do something that we would, we must ask ourselves if it is in the will of the Lord.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 22:1-71

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“

Daily Tidbit: In Luke 22:45 we are told that the disciples were sleeping ‘for sorrow’ when they fell asleep in the garden. This means that they were depressed by what Jesus had been saying about his death, and going away from them. Indeed, his whole demeanor had been less than encouraging in their estimation. Thus, they fell asleep partly because they had warn themselves out worrying about the matter, and partly because they were afraid of what it all might mean. Sleep is often a way that we try to run from our worries and fears. It is at these times that we must not sleep. It is then that, as our Master, we must watch and pray.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful day to serve You. We can never praise You enough for all that You do in our lives. Thank You for giving us the power to do Your will. It is great to know that You are the force behind our lives. We should not be worried or afraid because we can trust in You. Your care for us is complete. We praise You for sending Christ to us. Jesus’ love for us is a blessing to us. May we love him always! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for Christians everywhere to be reminded this week to love one another.

Personal Journal Entry #13041

37: Jesus here expresses the need for more workers to match the great harvest of souls which lay before them. The need is always great. Never will a minister of Christ find no needs. Unless we fail to look, there will always be a great need for the gospel. If we think there is no need in our present location, we need not go far to find masses of people lost and dying without Christ.
   Why, indeed, are the laborers so few? Where are all those who would go to their fellow man and tell them of heaven? Is God weak? Is he unable to call more laborers? In his infinite wisdom, Almighty God knows who will answer his call upon their lives. We need not think that he is unable to bring laborers to the work. However, God has chosen to use humanity to reach humanity. He expects us to see our need and respond in faith. He has endowed us with the resources to understand the Truth when we hear it. We are responsible for it. We are expected to hear and believe.
38: And, as such, we are to cry out to the Almighty to send forth laborers into the harvest. Humanity must cry for humanity. Like Christ, it is compassion for the multitudes that will bring the gospel to the world, not a herald angel in the sky.
   Christian people, knowing that terrible plight destined for those who do not recognize the Truth, are to be burdened for their brothers and sisters according to the flesh. We must have compassion on this great, large world of ours. We need not love the world (in its evil), nor the things in it. But, to be a lover of human kind, that is at the bedrock of what it means to be a child of God.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 20:1-21:38

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Daily Tidbit: In 1 John 1:9, the word confess is quite interesting. In the Greek, it is ὁμολογέω, which literally means to ‘say the same.’ So, to confess is more than just telling someone what we did wrong. It is more than just saying we are sorry. It is admitting that the accusation against us is correct in every respect. It is to say that Almighty God is completely accurate in his appraisal of our sins. It is to freely and unequivocally plead guilty to every charge without argument. Now, I have met many people who will say they are sorry, or admit that they are not perfect, or that they are only human. But, to find the kind of admission that is in view here; well, that takes a heart that is willing to lean totally upon Christ for forgiveness. Without total reliance upon him, we will always try to ‘doctor it up’ ourselves a little before confessing everything.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, Your goodness to us is just so nice. How can we ever deserve You? Your grace makes our unworthiness apparent, but keeps it from tripping us up. How wonderful that is! We will spend our lives saying Your Word to ourselves and others. It transforms us from the inside out. As we look at ourselves, we realize that we are not our own. You have made us, and bought us. We are glorious creations of Your hands. And, as such, our lives will fill to the brim only as our understanding of You grows. You make us so much more than we could ever be on our own. With You in our lives we stand as ambassadors of the Living God. We are representatives of the Most High. Could we find a better position? I think not! you have given us all things, and made us to sit higher than we could have ever dreamed, or deserved. We will humble ourselves before Your mighty greatness. You are worthy of our very lives. Thank You so much for Your astounding love! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady and her son who both have cancer.

Personal Journal Entry #13040

36: The multitudes came to Christ. The hurried masses of the common people assembled about their true hero. They recognized that Christ held the answers they could find nowhere else. He saw them in droves. He was not impressed by how many came, or by what they thought of him. This would be our thoughts. No, Jesus thought of their great needs. He knew of needs that the people did not even know they had. It is the same today, Jesus can see into the heart of the masses and hear the cry of their hearts, even if they are deaf to it.
   He has compassion. The word here is σπλαγχνίζομαι, which refers to the seat of the emotions being deeply moved. In our day, the heart is seen as the seat of the emotions. In that day it was the bowels, or the spleen. Jesus was moved to sympathy. Sympathy is a surprising and wonderful thing to get from Jesus. It means that he feels like we feel. He identifies with us. How wonderful is that!
   Without a shepherd, sheep will wander themselves into all kinds of dangers and troubles. They faint in that they will lie down and seemingly give up, beset by adversaries on every side. They wander about, not knowing the best rout for their well-being. They are very much a fitting illustration of humanity without Christ.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 18:1-19:48

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Daily Tidbit: 1 John 1:9 is a great comfort to us. And yet, we may easily miss a big blessing right in the verse. If we confess our sins, he forgives us for those sins. However, our estimation of our sins is defective. We need his help to truly grasp the depth of our unrighteousness. Thus, Jesus is not only faithful to remove sins that we confess; but, on the basis of genuine confession, he cleanses us from all that stands between us and Almighty God.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, our Lord God Almighty, thank You for another day to know You. Each day with You is better than the day before. Though we know that You know what we are thinking, our praise bring honor to You. We will sing Your praises all the days of our lives. We will be joyful in the house of the Lord. We will come before You in delight for evermore. You are so worthy! Almighty God, we long to know You more. We want to lift You up in our praises. We know You are already high and lifted up, but You want us to lift You up in our hearts and lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a five-year-old with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Pray for a man who just had a heart attack. Pray for a woman’s unspoken request.

Personal Journal Entry #13039

35: We would do well not to miss this verse. Though it contains no exciting stories, and appears only as a summary, yet it is a blessing as well. For one thing, we can see here that the ministry of Christ was widespread. He did not fail to get around to visiting places that might otherwise be seen as ‘out of the way’ and unimportant. This is a model for us upon whom the end of the world comes. Jesus commands us to go everywhere. This means not just to every country, or to every city, but to every place. If the gospel had been preached in every corner of the globe except for some small island that might have very few inhabitants, it would still be our duty to preach even there.
   Next, we must see the manner of Jesus’ ministry. He taught in the synagogues. Though many might disdain teaching the gospel in a place that was not built specifically for that purpose, one must remember that not every synagogue ruler responded positively to the message of Christ. Nowadays we seem only to want to preach the Word were we feel it may be likely to be accepted, rather than were we know it must be preached.
   Jesus preaching was the gospel. There has been much discussion over the delineation of the ‘kingdoms’ of Scripture. This discussion can become confusing, heated, complicated, and otherwise intense. However, may I suggest one thing to keep in mind? Jesus is the King of them all, no matter how many you may think are delineated in the Bible. He brings glory to the Father by his Kingship, which he receives from the Father. The good news of the kingdom is the good news about Christ, for he is the King and the kingdom.
   Finally, take note of what Jesus did among the people. He ministered to the common mass of society. It would be hard to prove that Jesus left anyone out. His ministry reached to the lowest, and the highest. Beyond this, we see that he healed ‘every’ sickness and disease. Nowadays we have so-called faith healers. You will find with these certain aliments missing. Why? It is easy to say that a bad back has been cured, but to restore a limb gnawed off by leprosy? That is a true miracle! To help a man who is hard-of-hearing is one thing. But, to put a man’s ear back on after it has been severed from his head by a sword, that is a miracle. Jesus is the real deal, no phony show.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 15:1-17:37

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.“

Daily Tidbit: The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 has inspired many. We love the beautiful picture of forgiveness that is found there. And yet, I cannot help but think that many today would react differently than the father in the story. Now I think many fathers would go to one of to extremes. Some would be like the older brother and fail to forgive the prodigal. Others would find nothing wrong with what the prodigal had done, and would thus receive him back with joy, but not with love. The proper response that we see in this story is a lesson to us today. Forgive sinners, remembering that we are all sinful. However, never forget that there is something that needs to be forgiven, and repented from.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father thank You for Your forgiveness! Many people think You are too hard on our sins. But, the extent of our sin only serves to highlight the amazing power of Your grace. Though we would not sin only that grace may abound, it is so good to know that sin cannot overcome Your grace. You are able to forgive, always, those who truly repent. Father, Your love in this is astounding! To think that You care for us is well nigh unbelievable. Thank You for sending Christ to this old broken world to fix our mess. He is such a comfort to us! Knowing that we have a Mediator on Your right hand really makes a difference. We can feel that You are not listening to us grudgingly, but willingly. We can feel that You listen as if Christ makes the requests for us, for surely he does. Oh, how nice! May we never take it for granted! Thank You for all that You mean to me! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a woman who just had braces put on her legs.

Personal Journal Entry #13038

33: The key thing to recognize here is the crowd’s association of Jesus’ miracles with an exception in Jewish history. What they are literally saying is that Jesus did greater miracles than all who had gone before him. This response, though brought on by Jesus’ healing of the mute man with the demon, was likely due to a recognition of the nature of many of the miracles he had done. These were not things that happened every day, to say the least. Even the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, who arguably performed more miracles than most in the Old Testament, could not top the power of Christ. Furthermore, the authority of Jesus was, throughout the gospels, recognized by those who saw and heard him.
34: The Pharisees had to say something. They were forced into some type of statement because of the evidence of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Their response only serves as more evidence. If Jesus had been easy to argue against, or disprove, their response would have been far different. Instead, they blasphemed the Holy Spirit and said that Jesus cast out demons by the power of the devil. That they addressed his ability to cast out demons above all else is vital. The reason reveals that they understood that his authority over the forces of the devil was a huge proof of his Messianic identity.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 13:1-14:35

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Daily Tidbit: Ewing’s Sarcoma is a cancer of the bones or soft tissues. It is quite rare. It is usually found in bones such as the pelvis, humerus, ribs, or clavicle. It is named after the man who discovered the disease and distinguished it from other forms of cancer. A person can survive with treatment, depending upon how the disease develops.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this wonderful day! You have, by Your power, given us such hope for our lives. I cannot ever thank You enough for the difference that You make in my life. It is such a joy and privilege to serve You. You are worthy of all my adoration. Never will I ever find the perfect word to describe You, Almighty God. Your name alone is enough to inspire all that I can muster in the way of vocabulary. Every characteristic of Your personality is precious to me. It thrills my soul to think of constant fellowship with You, and yet You offer just that. Can  I ever ask for more? I will joy in asking for more of You every day of my life. It is a pleasure to pursue You. You are worth finding out, like a treasure that is worth digging for. Thank You, Father, for Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is precious to me! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for several people who are sick. Pray for a man who just had a heart attack. Pray for a woman’s unspoken request. Pray for a woman who just had stints put in. Pray for a five-year-old girl with Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Personal Journal Entry #13037

32: The construction of the words here lets us know that the ‘they’ refers to the two blind men, now healed. They went out and found this man, who they evidently knew, and brought him to Christ. As funny as it may sound, this was just as much an act of faith as believing that Jesus could heal them. Many of us, receiving great things from Almighty God, fail to share our knowledge of him with others. We think that he cannot help in their troubles. We are afraid, or lazy, and do not talk to them about him. These men likely had this in their plans the whole time. Once they had their sight, they knew just what they would do. Though Jesus had told them to keep quiet about their miracle, this one was done in public. This may partially explain their failure to keep their miracle quiet.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 11:1-12:59

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Daily Tidbit: Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done. You give us the strength to face another day in spite of ourselves. We need Your help so much! But, You never seem to tire of our neediness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to remember the frailty of our existence, and to bless our lives so richly. Without You, life is truly meaningless. I cannot ever overestimate the importance of all that You have done in my life. Thank You for Jesus! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Today, join me in praying for pastors all over this nation. We need men who will be faithful to the little things, and depend upon Almighty God when they face big things.

Personal Journal Entry #13036

31: Often we must remember that the obvious thing may not be the best thing. Though these men sought to honor Christ before others by spreading the news, they could have honored him more by obeying him better. Now his command to us is to publish the gospel everywhere, and we seem to have trouble obeying that! Either way, it is a matter of obedience.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 9:1-10:42

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Daily Tidbit: When the business of life gets to be overwhelming, let Jesus help you make it through.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done for us. You are truly gracious and wonderful. You love is more than we could ever ask for. We will never be able to fully understand the full measure of Your love. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a mother and her son that both have cancer.

Personal Journal Entry #13035

30: Jesus order to these men must be commented on. We must keep in mind that we do not know the exact situation in any case. What can be said is that faith, even during times when miracles were very common, should never be based solely upon miracles if at all possible. Faith based solely upon miracles doe snot mature as quickly, or well, as that based upon the Word of Almighty God.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 8:1-56

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Daily Tidbit:  1 Corinthians chapter 6 reminds us in verse 13 that our body belongs to the Lord. Do we live like it?

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, thank You for this day! You are worthy of our praise at all times, but Sunday is so special. It reminds us of Your constant care for us. It reminds us of our need to be devoted to You all the time, not just on this day of the week. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for the family of a lady that just passed away.

Personal Journal Entry #13034

29: According to your faith is the message of Almighty God throughout history. All that we receive shall be according to our faith. Salvation is received by faith. God’s word is accepted by faith. The Christian life is lived by faith. Jesus is looking for faith. That is what he wants, that is what he asks for, that is what he expects to find. Genuine faith will take care of the rest, for our works will follow our faith.

Daily Bible Reading: Luke 6:1-7:50

Daily Memory Verse: 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Daily Tidbit: Samuel Francis Smith, who wrote ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,’ was a Baptist. He was influential in the beginnings of Baptist interest in foreign missions.

Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, Your ways are always best. Giving us Your Word, and simply asking for faith, is the best way. Salvation is a beautiful plan, and we are glad to be recipients of it. It is never embarrassing to explain Your way, because it is so wonderful. We will live to serve in Your plan. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a woman with a tumor in her heart. Pray for a family that just recently lost a loved one.

Personal Journal Entry #13033