November 7

Mark 13
This is the passage many people use to support the doctrine of the rapture.  Unfortunately, they miss the verse where Jesus tells them that these things will happen before that generation passes away.  Unless we have 2,000-year-old people running around, the “rapture” has already taken place.  Otherwise, we might be able to see the fulfillment in the first chapters of Acts, or in the spiritual realms which all Christians reside.  I don’t think this is really important, as it doesn’t effect our salvation.  However, it does speak to where our faith is directed.  Is it on things we can see with our eyes, or on those things that are unseen?

November 6

Matthew 23; Luke 20-21
Jesus compares the religious people of His time to whitewashed tombs with dead men’s bones inside.  I once worked at a TV repair shop that really put this on display.  It was the cleanest, most efficient shop I had ever worked in.  Fortunately, I only sat on a bench, repairing what was put before me, and listing what I did.  From there, it went to a supervisor who modified the ticket, padding the bill, in order to get the maximum amount he believed the owner of the product would pay.  The ticket was then given to a salesman who would call the customer and sell them on the repair.  Every repair, as presented to the customer, was a major repair, regardless of the truth.  The truth was that many of those repairs were very minor.  However, because of the clean, efficient process, the customer was never the wiser.  Jesus is saying that some religious leaders do the same thing, deceiving their followers with teachings that neglect the telling of the complete truth.  These kind neglect the weightier matters – justice, mercy and faithfulness.

November 5

 
Matthew 22; Mark 12
Jesus answers those who were against Him, trying to give Him questions He wouldn't be able to answer. Of course, He shamed them with His answers, because these left them without any standing. We need to take a lesson from our Lord. There are those who would attempt to trap us in the same manner, with questions about our faith. We must always be careful in how we answer these naysayers, providing solid Godly answers that demonstrate the love and grace of the Prince of Peace.

November 4

 
Mark 11; John 12
We're told in today's reading that there were Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. Reading this reminds me of a conversation I once had with another preacher. He said, "Rod, I agree with a lot of what you teach, but if I were to preach it no church would ask me to preach." I thought it sad that a man of God would refuse to preach certain truths for fear of not being asked to preach.

November 3

Luke 19
When Jesus decides to dine with Zacchaeus, the tax collector, the religious people are offended because He is in the company of a sinner.  When Jesus interacted with worldly people, partaking of their food and drink, the only people offended were the very ones who should have been following His example.  His actions were not a stumbling block to the sinners, but they were a stumbling block to the religious people.  He encourages His followers to be light and salt in the world.  However, if our light or salt doesn’t go beyond the saved, we are not fulfilling His edict.  In order to influence those still in darkness, we must go to where they are at, interacting with them with the same love and grace our Lord did.  Unfortunately, when we do this, there will be some of our very own who will look down on us, perhaps even condemning us for the company we keep.  Take heart!  For when you are being persecuted for doing this, know that you are in good standing with the Lord, even if you aren’t with some of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

November 2

Matthew 20-21
The Lord offers a parable to demonstrate His sovereignty.  The workers grumbled because those who were hired near the end of the day received the same pay as those hired earlier in the day.  Of course, we find this practice to be unfair.  That those who work a fraction of the time would receive equal pay seems absurd.  However, when we receive that which we agreed to, we have no reason to grumble.  The one giving the wage can do whatever he wants with his money.  God can do whatever He wishes, regardless of how fair, or unfair, we might think Him to be.  In agreeing to work for an employer, or in accepting the Lord, we do so on their terms, not ours.  When we receive that which has been promised we have no right to place conditions on how others are treated.  If we want to keep our jobs, we allow our boss to be the boss, and we mind our own business.  In the same manner, we must let God be God, and mind our own business.

November 1

Matthew 19; Mark 10
Jesus addresses the sanctity of marriage.  Many in that day, as in our own time, failed to understand the importance of their marriage vows.  Divorce was not only an option, it was often the first option.  God feels so strongly about this subject that He modeled how it should be.  He married Israel.  Even though she was unfaithful, He continued to honor the marriage covenant He has established with her.  It was only after multiple episodes of Israel’s unfaithfulness, and her unrepentant spirit, that He finally decided to divorce her.  Divorce was not the first, nor the second, third, fourth . . . option, it was the last option.  And, it only happened because she had broken the marriage bond with her repeated unfaithfulness.  This demonstrates God’s feelings toward the marriage covenant.  It should never be taken lightly.  Divorce is to be avoided, only taken when all else has failed.