The Daily Dose

Word in the flesh

“And the Word (of God) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 

Today I want to turn the focus on to Jesus being the “Word” of God.  This passage in John 1 is truly amazing.  It starts out in verse 1 saying in the very beginning of everything, there was the Word, and that Word was with God and that Word was God! (Word = God) I am thinking about “Word” and my conclusion so far is that there is no “word” without speaking.  Even if it is just one word, it cannot be a word until it is spoken or else it is just a thought.  So, as you read the scripture reading today, consider the word “speaking” every time you read “Word” or “Him”, since He is the Word.  This is opening up my understanding on speaking God’s Word.  It seems when we speak God’s Word, we are speaking God, or at a minimum speaking “God” language.  (Heavenese)

The passage also says that “All things were made by Him (the Word/speaking), and without Him (the Word/speaking) nothing was made or created.”  If you go back in Genesis 1 and read the creation account, you see that everything that God created, He spoke it into existence.  The scripture says, “And God said . . .” and then it was there.  “Then God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)  It doesn’t say “and God thought let there be light.”  I’m sure He thought it, but nothing happened until He spoke.

So, consider that Jesus was God’s Word wrapped up in flesh and blood like us.  God’s very Word!  God’s breath became a man, just like one of us, in body form, to live among us, to show us how to live and live victoriously in this world.  Jesus said He only said what came from His Father, because He was His Father’s Word in the flesh.

I can’t seem to express this strongly enough or come up with the words big enough to stress the importance of speaking God’s Word.  Also, the privilege and power that God’s Words carry.  Yet, God gave us permission and wants us to speak them!  He created us to speak!  We are the only ones of His creations on earth that He gave this power and authority to.  Yet, how often do we abuse this great gift of speech?  Instead of speaking the words that God gave us, we speak the doubt and unbelief in agreement with God’s enemy.

I want to leave you with one final thought today:  “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God/speaking the Word of God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 God’s Word is a creative force and when we speak them, we put ourselves in agreement with His power and His will.

Today, I want to encourage you to consider your words and how they affect your everyday life.  Are you speaking life (God’s Words) into every circumstance, situation, and problem?  If not, you can start today.  Listen to yourself talking.  If you hear any words that seem contrary to what Jesus would say, repent quickly and ask God for the right words to apply in that situation. One hint is, God’s Words are encouraging, uplifting, and bring freedom/peace to any given circumstance.  If you are not seeing those results, ask the Holy Spirit for the God Words to say, then speak the power of God’s Words to your “mountain” of circumstances. Line your life up with God and His plan today by speaking them out with His Words.

Today’s scripture reading:  John 1:14-28

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 

25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 

27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

There was a man sent

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”   John 1:6

This passage is written about John the Baptist.  He was sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him.  As I read it, I consider that this is exactly what we all are sent to do.  It is our job description.  We are to prepare the way for the Lord to enter into the hearts and lives of those who are lost.  We do this in a variety of ways.  Sometimes it’s by inviting someone to church, or helping someone through a difficult time.  It could be simply sharing the love of God with someone or showing someone the way to salvation.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or dramatic.  John simply said, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD.” (John 1:23)

This passage in John says that he came as a witness of the Light that all through the Light would believe.  John wasn’t the Light, but his job was to lead people to the Light. That’s our job, too.  Jesus said, “we are the light of the world,” (Matthew 5:14) but our job as lights is to lead people to the true Light by shining in this dark world.  Our lives and example of love is our greatest display of His light.  As we live and walk in His light, others are drawn to that light because now they can find their way in the dark.

Today I want to encourage you to display the true Light in your life.  Be the witness and example that God has called you to be.  Don’t make it complicated or overbearing, develop relationships and trust with others so they want to get closer to the Light.  Be that witness that John was.  You can be the name in today’s verse. There was a person sent from God, whose name was (your name here.)  This is your job description and you are His witness so go ahead and prepare the way of the Lord to enter into the hearts of the lost ones around you.

Today’s scripture reading: John 1:6-13

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word gives life

_{The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. John 1:4}

The Gospel of John.  Many people start reading the Bible here, in the book of John as new believers.  It is a good place to start, but it is also a deep place to start.  The very first words are: In the beginning was the WORD.  Of course, most of us know that the WORD is Jesus.  Because the very next verse says He was in the beginning with God.  He is Jesus, the Word, the Life and the truth.  However, we are getting ahead of ourselves.  Let’s go back to verse one.  John said that in the beginning of everything was the Word.  We know this is a person, or being because it is capitalized as a name. Plus, just a few verses down, John is going to tell us that the WORD became a body.  Then John says that the Word was not only with God, but the Word was God and that all things that exist were made by the WORD.  John goes on to tell us that in the WORD was life and that life was the light of men.  God’s Word is life and when we speak His Words, we are shining His light.

If that were not enough to make us stop and praise God, let’s take this a step further and consider the WORD.  In the beginning was the Word of God.  The Word of God is what created and made all things, including people.  When the Word made mankind, they were the only one of God’s created things that He gave the Word to. Therefore, we have the same creative power in us that was in the beginning to create all things.  Oh, I’m not saying we have it to that extent, of course. But, today more than ever, we have the Word of God at our fingertips and when we speak that Word, it has the potential for power because it is God’s very own Word, Jesus.

This is pretty deep for me, but we do see many examples of the creative power of Words throughout the scriptures, starting with the creation of all things.  When we look at the account in Genesis, we see that the Spirit of God was hovering, but nothing came into existence until Words were spoken.  God spoke the Word’s “Let there be” and there was.  I know what you are thinking, and you are right.  That was God and of course that worked for Him.  He is the creator!  But did you know that when He spoke the Words “Let us make man in our own image,” He was including the image of the creative power of Words in them.  In fact, He said “Let them have dominion over everything on the earth”.  They certainly didn’t do that with strength and power, they were given that authority in Words.

There are many other instances such as Abraham was called the “father of many nations” long before he even had Isaac. David rehearsed killing Goliath to king Saul before he slung a rock at him and hit him in the head. The woman with the issue of blood said: “If I can touch the hem of His garment, I will be made whole” before she ever got close to Him.  Even Jesus Himself said if you have faith, you can speak to a mountain and tell it to move, and it will be done.

Lastly, I want to consider the Word as the light.  When you speak the Word of God to others, you are speaking His light over them and into them.  God’s light of His Word can be deposited into others simply by speaking to and praying it over those you love and come into contact with each day.  You have the power with you to speak God’s Words to those around you and to yourself to change the trajectory of the direction you are heading right now.

Today I want to encourage you to speak God’s creative Words into the world around you.  Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Begin today to take in the fruit of speaking life Words that build yourself and other up.  Search out the scriptures and find the wisdom of God in them that will put pressure on the struggles you are are dealing with to turn them around for good.  I will warn you, you will be tested when the situations do not change instantly, but continue to speak that power of the Word of God over those conditions and I promise you things will turn around for good.  Take authority over your life’s struggles by stepping into the creative power of the Word of God and your life will never be the same again.

Today’s Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was in the beginning with God. 

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him (the WORD) nothing was made that was made. 

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Receive the Power

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

Here we are at the end of the book of Luke.  This portion of each of the gospels is widely known as the great commission.  It is when Jesus told the disciples that they are now His witnesses and to go into all the nations to preach the good news of repentance and remission of sin through the blood of Jesus.

However, many people miss the first direction that Jesus gave the disciples and believe that all Christians are His witnesses and that all should go out into the nations or wherever they are and preach the gospel.  While we all are called to tell the good news to others no matter how long or short of time we have been saved, this passage tells us the way to be most effective is to first be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told the disciples to go back into Jerusalem and wait.  Wait until they would be endued with power from on high, the power of the Holy Spirit.  That is exactly what they did.  The final verses of chapter 24 say that Jesus prayed a blessing over them and while He prayed, He was taken up into heaven and parted from them.  Then, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.  Notice, they did not immediately go out into all the world to preach the gospel, they waited.  In fact, they waited for 10 days before the Holy Spirit came down on them.  That is when the were filled up with power from on high to go into all the world.  That power was so evident, that it completely transformed the disciples in the upper room and they began to turn the entire world upside down.

What would have happened if they hadn’t done what Jesus said to do and waited?  First of all, they would not have been in the right place on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came.  They would have all gone separate ways to cover the known world at that time and probably would have ended up quitting or being martyred.  It wasn’t until they received the power of God on their lives that each one of them became and effective witness and many were added to the Kingdom of heaven each day.

So how does that apply to us today?  Our direction is no different than it was for Jesus’ followers 2000 years ago.  After we receive salvation through the blood of Jesus into our lives and hearts and make Him Lord and Savior, we are to also be immersed into the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the fullness of His authority here in today’s world.  It will probably not be an experience like the disciples had when the room was shaken and tongues of fire sat on their heads, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit in the same way you received Jesus into your life.  Ask Him to empower you and plunge you into the ministry and calling that God has planned for your life.  Receive by faith even if you do not see an instant phenomenon and begin to walk through the open doors that He provides for you to be His witness.  First to your family, then to your neighborhood and then beyond.

Today I want to encourage you to receive the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.  If you already have at some point, maybe it is time for a refilling.  Much like your spiritual batteries need a recharge regularly, by getting in the Word and into God’s presence, you can be drained of the Spirit’s power and need a refilling to get back out there in the highways and byways.  Invite the Holy Spirit and His power into your life today and become that witness that turns your world upside down.

Pray:  Holy Spirit, I invite you to come into my life and immerse me into your power and authority in this world.  Empower me to be my Father’s witness to those around me and to those even far from me.  I receive You and your power to the fullest into my life right now, in Jesus name, Amen.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:44-53

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 

47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

48 And you are witnesses of these things. 

49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 

51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 

52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 

53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Open my understanding

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Luke 24:45

I remember the first time I saw this verse.  I thought, wouldn’t that be great to have the Lord Jesus open up my understanding so that I could comprehend the scriptures?  That is the day I began to pray that over myself and others and He has.

In today’s reading, the disciples were finally able to understand why Jesus had to suffer and die and all the prophecies that He had to fulfill to complete His mission here in this world.  Why did He wait until after to open their understanding and why couldn’t they get it when He told them the many times before His death what was going to happen?  It was because now it was time for them to take over this ministry and even though they heard most of what Jesus told them that day, many times before, they were not able to comprehend it until it had been accomplished and they could look back and understand.

It is kind of like when we are going through something, we take steps of faith that the Holy Spirit puts in our heart to do.  Sometimes it doesn’t even make sense, but we take the steps anyway.  Then, after some time, even years later, when we are through the situation, we can plainly see why we needed to take those steps of faith that didn’t exactly make sense in the process.  Our understanding was opened so that we could comprehend why the Holy Spirit led in that direction.

I have used this example before, but I will talk about it again today.  It has been years ago now that I had a situation that was being settled in the court system.  Things didn’t seem to be going well in the judges hands.  The court was making decisions based on what they were hearing and seeing not based on facts.  As I prayed about it and finally took time to listen to what the Holy Spirit was speaking to my heart, I heard in that still quiet internal Voice to get the matter out of the court system.  That didn’t make sense to me, and I felt like I was losing and had to give up all my rights.  Thankfully, I did follow that wisdom and now, all these years later, I am still seeing the good results of that decision made all those years ago.  My understanding has been open so that I comprehend what the Spirit was leading to way back then.

Now, I pray for Him to open my understanding to comprehend the scripture and the things He is leading me to day to day.  It doesn’t always happen instantly, but I do know that He is faithful to show me at just the right time and that gives me confidence to listen to those inner promptings even when I cannot see the end results.  I know He can see them, and He is leading me in the right direction.

Today I want to encourage you to pray for the Holy Spirit of God to open your understanding as you read the scriptures.  Pray for your spiritual ears to be open as He leads you through life’s ups and downs.  Then when you hear from your heart to your head a solution that may not exactly make sense in the natural realm, you can almost guarantee that God is up to something supernatural and by taking the steps of faith He offers, you will pull the rug right out from under the enemy that is trying to trap you.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:44-49

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 

47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 

48 And you are witnesses of these things. 

49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Why are you troubled

_{And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Luke 23:38}

Today is a day of great troubles and turbulent struggles in our world.  Looking at the latest headlines can be stressful and scary.  Wars and uprisings, plagues and incurable diseases, confusion and chaos, just to name a few of the traumas we face on a daily basis.  We are living in trying times for sure.  Some of the worst tension our world has ever known.  Yet in the midst of all of it, we still have hope, and we can still experience His peace.

When Jesus walked into a gathering of His disciples after He was raised up from the dead, His first question to the group was: “Why are you troubled?”  Never mind the fact that they had seen Jesus beaten, crucified and die in the last three days and now His body had disappeared.  Jesus’ question was legitimate, though.  He had told them before that it was all going to happen.  I guess He expected that they would all be celebrating that since His body was gone, He must have risen up from the dead, just as He said He would.  Instead, they were frightened that they would be blamed for taking the body and they were concerned for their own lives.  Now, Jesus in true Jesus fashion, comes into the situation bringing peace.  His first words to them were “Peace to you!”  His will was not for them to be afraid, and His plan was not for them to be troubled.  In fact, He told them what was going to happen so that they could be prepared, not perplexed and hiding away from the guards.

He has the same expectation for us today.  His will is not for us to be troubled and His plan is not for us to hide away until He comes back to get us.  He told us ahead of time what to expect and His plan is for us to have peace, believe His word and to occupy this world until He returns.  Jesus intended that His people would occupy and possess the earth as a conquered territory and rescue the lost souls of this tempestuous world and that is our part in the world today.  We are not the minority; we are supposed to be in charge.  Not in the political realm, but in the spiritual and in the realm of loving and rescuing other, and we are.  This world may look like a war zone, but behind the scenes, God has people in every nation rescuing the prisoners of His enemy.  He had people on the front lines and He has people in the background funding and supporting those on the front lines.  We are His occupying force in the earth and we will occupy and be in peace until He comes back to get us.

Today I want to encourage you to be in peace.  Don’t let the news of  the world trouble you and don’t look to leaders in the natural to make things better.  God’s people are the ones who carry peace in this world and we are the ones that are ruling in the spiritual world.  Step away from the turmoil, distractions and destruction of today’s world and step into your place of rescuing the perishing.  Whether it’s on the front lines or in the background, your part is important.  Seek Him out today and find out what your part is.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:36-43

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 

37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 

38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 

39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 

41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 

42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 

43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

Open your eyes

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. Luke 24:31

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t, see?  Couldn’t see what was going to happen next or even what was going on right now in the unseen world?  Maybe you are praying and believing that God is working in a certain area, but you just don’t know if anything is actually happening?  Well, I have good news for you today!  You can actually pray and ask for your eyes to be open to spiritual things.  God’s supernatural wisdom and revelation are available to us when we ask for it.  Paul showed us how to pray that way in Ephesians chapter 1.

In today’s reading, Jesus taught the men He was walking with, but it wasn’t until they sat down to eat with Him that their eyes were opened to Who it was they had been with all day long.  In their time of communing with Him, He was revealed on a more personal level.  That is also a way our spiritual eyes will be more in tune with what the Holy Spirit is working in our lives.  The more time we spend talking with, listening to and feeding on His words, the more we will be aware of His presence and His plans.  As we take the time to focus our attention and affection on the things of God, the more insight and revelation that will be given in return.  Think of it this way.  The greater investment of your time and resources that you give to God, the more your return on that investment will be in the things that God is showing you and leading you too.

Take time today and make it part of your daily routine to give attention and focus to Him.  Spend time in His Word and in His presence.  Make a space for Him to fill in your day.  Give Him the time and attention that you do to tv, social media, news and weather.  Make His priorities at least as important as your pastimes.  If you do, it will not be long until you want to make Him the priority of every day.  When you put Him first and His kingdom, then all the other things in life will begin to fall into place.

Today I want to encourage you to seek first God’s Kingdom and righteousness.  You can start by praying the praying that Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 – the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.  Begin to set special time aside to spend with Him each day and then make it a priority in your day.  Your eyes will be open to the great blessing He has for your life and you will know the reason you are in this world and what great things you will accomplish that will last for eternity.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:28-35

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 

29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 

31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 

33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 

34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 

35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

He is with you

But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. Luke 24:16

Have you ever felt like you were alone in this life?  Maybe you have felt like you have no one to turn to or talk to when you need a friend?  I could be that you have just felt like no one cares enough to reach out to you and you just want someone to listen.

In today’s reading, there were two men walking and talking.  Jesus was with them, but they didn’t know it.  As they talked, Jesus asked them questions about why there were so sad, but they didn’t know it was Him.  They Jesus opened up the scriptures to them and spoke His words of wisdom about the things that had just happened.  He showed them through the scriptures that they had a reason to keep hope alive even though the outward circumstances didn’t look hopeful, but they still didn’t know He was with them.

It can be that way with us some days.  We start out our day focused on what we are struggling with or the activity we have to do that day, never acknowledging that He is with us.  We start out running into the day and never take a minute to thank Him for His presence all day long.  Sometimes, we even wonder why He isn’t showing up in our troubles, but He is there all along and His wisdom is there in His Word.  God’s Word is His promise to us and Jesus is His Word in the flesh and even though we cannot see Him, He is with us and when we speak His Words over our lives and those we love, we are sending Him into those lives to bless and make a way in their circumstances.

God’s Word is light and life and when you take them with you, you can hear Jesus speaking into your heart and into your life.  His Words will strengthen and energize you when you need to remember He is with you.  You can choose scriptures to take with you every day so that when you do feel alone or troubled, you can speak them and know that He is with you.  Scriptures like:

Matthew 28:20 – I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Matthew 11:28 – Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

He is with you today even though you may not recognize Him or know it, but you can reveal His presence by speaking His Word into whatever your day holds for you.  Thank Him that He is with you and then thank Him for the promises He gave you in His Word.  If you do these things, you will always be able to chase your loneliness away.

Today I want to encourage you to start your day thanking Him that He is with you.  Don’t be like the men on the road to Emmaus that didn’t know He was with them.  Take some time to select some of His Words and promises to remind you that He is there and then when you feel lonely or afraid, speak that wisdom aloud and release His life into those feelings and your surroundings.  He is there with you all the time, but it is up to you to acknowledge Him in all your ways and speak the life Words that show His presence with you.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 24:13-27

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 

15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 

16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 

20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 

21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 

22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 

23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 

24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 

26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 

27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Focus on the details

“He is not here but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” Luke 24:6-7 

In a couple months it will be the time of year when we celebrate Resurrection Sunday!  It was the day that Jesus got up from being dead and walked out of a dead man’s tomb.  Usually around that time we think about Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection.  We think about the details of the things Jesus went through leading up to His death.  Some of those thoughts will be on the beating He took, other thoughts will be about the crowd jeering and mocking Him.  Still, you may have thoughts about Jesus carrying His own cross to be nailed to.  There may even be thoughts of His suffering as He hung on the cross.  Probably some will be reminded of the words He spoke on the cross, then the tomb and the three days His body lay there lifeless.  My point is that this will be the one time of the year that we really take time to focus on all the details of what Jesus actually did to save us from an eternity of separation from God and without Him we would spend our eternal life suffering in hell.  

However, what details will you be focused on after it has passed?  Will you immediately shift your attention back to the world and the current crisis we are in?  Will you scan the headlines to see what the greatest threat is for this week?  Will you learn every detail and possible outcome to discuss in every conversation you have?  Why does our focus have to change?  Why do we have to turn our attention away from the price Jesus paid to free us from the current world circumstances?  Why don’t we instead keep our attention on the details of heaven?  Can we keep our focus on the details of our God and the details of our Savior, Jesus?

Think about this:  What if you spent as much time studying and getting to know your Heavenly Father as you spend watching the news or learning about current events?  What if you focused on the details of heaven and the joy that is waiting for you there?  Why not learn down to the last detail about the love of God?  How He created us to have dominion over this world?  How He sent Jesus to defeat His enemy and every evil work he ever did in this world or ever will do?  Sin has been defeated!  Death has been defeated!  Sickness has been defeated!  Disease has been defeated!  Anxiety, worry, doubt, fear, all defeated.  He hung on a cross so we wouldn’t be crushed or even threatened by any attack of the enemy, right now, here in this world! The work Jesus did on the cross was so big, there is nothing that can stand against it.  Nothing!!!  It wasn’t just a partial work of Salvation for after we die, it was a complete work of redemption so we can live this life in total victory!  Evil is not our focus, Victory is!  

Today I want to encourage you to keep your focus on the details of your Savior, Jesus!  You already have the victory!  Please stop looking at the things that have already been defeated!  They are not a threat to God or His people, but the only way to believe that is to focus on God’s details, not the world’s.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus!  Let’s start acting like it!

Today’s scripture reading:  Luke 24:6-12

6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

8 And they remembered His words. 

9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 

10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 

11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 

12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Hi Daily Dose follow! I am so pleased to announce that a new Daily Dose Journal of the books of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians has just released and is now available at Amazon! I am very excited about this release because it is the 10th release in the Journaling series! I thank you all for your continual following and faithful prayers for the Daily Dose Blog and hope that you will share with others when you are encouraged by one of the daily posts.