Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 30

Answer the following questions regarding your readings for this week:

1.) What is the number 1 thing that keeps you from being your best for Christ?             What can you do to remove that hindrance?

2.) If you knew this would be your last year to live, what would you want to do             with your remaining time? Make a list of your top 10 goals.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 29
Read Luke 5:36-6:23

Jesus lived in the world, but He was never bound to it. He lived fully in the present, but He could see far beyond it. He told people who they could be and where they could go. He was a future-tense Savior living in a present-tense culture. His words gave people hope and a new direction for their lives.
When your soul is troubled, turn to Jesus “shall be” statements. Remember, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Dwell on the good to come, and let your heart be full of hope!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 28
Read Luke 5:12-35

No matter what Jesus did, the Pharisees never liked Him. They accused Him of doing things for the wrong reason, or on the wrong day, or to the wrong person. They said He did too much or too little. The Pharisees’ usual response to Jesus’ good deeds or miracles was to “reason” among themselves (vs. 21), which is just a polite way of saying that they vainly searched for a way to condemn Him. They always found it — they were determined to find faults in Jesus. Talk about misplaced priorities! Is it any wonder that Jesus told them, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27)?
Don’t let fault finding become a way of life like the Pharisees did. Pray for God to rid you of self-righteousness and to help you keep a humble, repentant heart that is loving, gracious, and generous to others.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 27
Read Luke 4:31-5:11

Being told what to do is not always easy, especially when you think you know more than your instructor. When Jesus commanded Peter to “launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4), Peter challenged the idea. His initial response to Jesus’ command could be read as having an air of cockiness: “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing” (vs. 5). He seemed to infer that as a professional fisherman, he knew more about catching fish than Jesus did. However, he then said, “Nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net (vs. 5).
Praise God that Peter was a “nevertheless” disciple! His first duty as a follower of Christ was to obey Him. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all would confess that Jesus knows more than we do? He is God and we are not. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Like Peter, put faith in Christ by saying, “Nevertheless . . . I will do as You say, Lord.”

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 26
Read Luke 4:14-30

The warm welcome Jesus received in His hometown was short-lived. At first, His audience in the synagogue was open & respectful to His preaching — so much so that they “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (vs. 22). They could hardly believe their ears! They were astounded that a local young man, the son of a carpenter could speak such wonderful & prophetic words.
But while Jesus’ listeners loved His mention of the poor, the broken-hearted, the captives, and the oppressed, they were incensed when He dared to suggest that God was also interested in showing favor to the Gentiles. Jesus reminded them of several times when God had chosen to bless or heal a Gentile in the past. Jesus was simply telling them that if Nazareth, and all of Israel, did not accept Him as Messiah, He would extend His grace to the Gentiles. When He said that, the people were angered and they kicked Him out of the city and even came close to killing Him.
Jesus’ message was not just unpopular, but violently rejected. Jesus told His disciples they could expect to be hated by the world just like He was (John 15:18). Following Jesus often involves going against the grain of the crowd — maybe our friends or family — and things can get ugly fast. When it is painful, remember what an honor it is to belong to God in Christ. Paul described believers as “children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Remember this description of God’s will for you as His child and inhabit it. Stay true to Jesus and keep on the path of life.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

June 25

Read Luke 3:23-4:13

When the devil tempted Jesus, he already knew who He was, what He could do, and who protected Him. Yet he challenged Him to turn stone into bread, to worship him, and to throw Himself down from the top of the temple. The most sinister part about Satan’s temptations was that he attempted to make Jesus prove His divinity on command. Satan opened two of the challenges with the phrase, “If You are the Son of God…” (Luke 4:3, 9). It was clearly a call for authentication by demonstration, suggesting, “If You can’t show it, then You don’t have it.”
T. S. Eliot wrote, “The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.” Jesus could have shown His divine power that day. He certainly put it on display later in His public ministry through His miracles. But He served one Master — His Father. He was very clear that He only did what the Father led Him to do (John 5:19).
Following the Father’s plan means doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. Is there anything you’re considering doing for the wrong reason? Be honest about your motivations, and ask God for wisdom and guidance. Make the Father your Master.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

June 24

Read Luke 3:1-22

In commenting upon the life and ministry of John the Baptist, the apostle John simply declared, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (John 1:6). He appeared on the public scene, accomplished what God sent him to do, and then moved away from view, quickly slipping into the shadows of obscurity.
Unimpressive in appearance but bold in proclamation, this unique man from the wilderness harbored no vain illusions of grandeur. John was wise enough to know who he was and who he wasn’t, and he was perfectly content to fulfill his significant yet limited role. His will was aligned with the will of God. He wanted to see Jesus at work, exalted and glorified, saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
That’s a worthy life aim for the child of God. Wherever you find yourself today, keep John’s attitude of submission and love for Jesus in your heart. Carry out your role in God’s will, and lift up the name of Christ.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

June 23

Answer the following questions regarding your readings for this past week:

1.)     In what way does your life reflect a heart of belief in Jesus? If the signs that accompanied the early believers were so radical, what signs accompany your life today?

2.)     Have you missed the significant while searching for the sensational and spectacular? How are you tempted to lay aside the eternal in order to experience the temporal, and how are you responding to that temptation?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

June 22

Read Luke 2:27-52

This passage contains some of the few words we have about Jesus’ childhood. They reveal the amazing process of the infinite God-Man becoming mature. He grew, became strong, and was filled with wisdom. He increased in stature and favor with both God and people (vs. 52). These words could describe anyone, Yet they describe Jesus, the Son of God, in His younger years in human flesh.
What a powerful reminder that we have a Savior and Lord who has walked with us through literally every step of life. He was at one point young and inexperienced. He grew and matured. He was misunderstood by His parents and others. He gained His maturity by carefully walking with His Heavenly Father, something we are also called to do.
Be encouraged by the reality that “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus understands your struggles. Let Him lead you and empower you to obey the Father today.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
June 21
Read Luke 1:78-2:26

What an unexpected entrance! While the world expected the arrival of a Messiah, they did not expect Him to come this way. It’s a humble picture: a virgin mother, a smelly stable, an obscure location. Even the shepherds who were the first to hear the announcement were the humblest of means and standing. No wonder Mary pondered in her heart. It seemed nothing like what one would suppose. And yet, it was clearly divine.
How often have you looked for the spectacular, and missed the significant?