Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Understanding to grow in
The religious teachers display their dire spiritual state by their attitudes to Jesus. Rather than being genuinely interested, they try and catch him out. The Herodians, Pharisees and Sadducees were different groups. But they were quite happy to unite in their opposition. Jesus' responses display his superior wisdom, pointing to his true identity. His point about there being no marriage in heaven as we will be like angels, does not imply we will not forever know a special relationship with our spouse. It is simply to say that like angels we will not be married in the kingdom of God, for now is the time for having and raising children (The comment about resurrection was a challenge to the Sadducees as they didn't believe in it). As one teacher comes and quizzes Jesus about the greatest commandments, we see that some leaders were spiritually open. In what follows Jesus points out from scripture that the Messiah was always going to be greater than the great king David, warns against the hypocricy of the leaders and commends a poor widow for her sacrifical giving. The reader is being moved to assess their own response. So as you read consider whether you lean towards those who try to catch Christ out, or those willing to learn from and obey him.
Mark 12:13-44
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.