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Today is Monday October 18, 2010 and we are reading through and studying the Bible one day at a time. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Mark, chapters 12-13. In these chapters we will read about, the parable of the vineyard, the resurrection, the greatest commandment, false Christ's, and what needs to come to pass before Jesus returns. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-18

Today's Message: Learning The Truth
As Christians it is important to read and study all of God's Word, it amazes me whenever a person tells me that the Old Testament is not significant for us today because we are to follow the New Testament. You know, the New Testament was taken from the Old Testament, in fact, it is a reflection of the Old. While we are not bound by many of the laws that were given through Moses, the same principles still apply. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16. It is important that we know all the Scriptures so we can learn the truth about everything the God wants us to know.

The center of the entire Bible is Jesus, they knew it back then as well, just like we are awaiting His return, they were waiting for His first coming. David himself said, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee...Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” - Psalm 2:6,7,12. Jesus will return one day and just like all the prophecies came to pass regarding His birth, death, burial, and resurrection, everything will come to pass regarding His return.

The Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees were very religious, but they were determined to destroy Jesus. Why? They did not want anyone proving them the liars that they were and would do anything necessary to keep the truth from being revealed. Jesus explained this further in a parable. “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country....But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.' And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others....And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” - Mark 12:1,7-9,12.

These men were determined to kill Jesus, they thought themselves to be righteous and God fearing, but the reality was they made up their own religion, instead of studying the Scriptures and learning the truth they did what they learned by bits and pieces of what they heard of God's Word, not by what they read. Religion is what destroys God's Word and it was the death of Jesus, piece by piece they remove God's truth and create their own image of who He is and what His truth is. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” - Romans 1:21,22. The right knowledge of the Scripture and the foundation on which it is built, is the best prevention against error and being deceived by false religion.

The Sadducees believed in God, but not the resurrection, trying to catch Him in off guard they questioned Him about the resurrection using an example about a widow woman. Jesus responded, “Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”- Mark 12:24-27.

The scribes, whom although knew a bit of Scripture, represent men and their traditions. They are the ones that put their own thoughts down, and call it "of God". They are the ones that think more of themselves and how they appear to others, than how God looks down upon them. Jesus is watching them as they cast their money into the treasury. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”- Mark 12:41-44.

Jesus sat there and watched the people cast their money into the offering plate, Jesus watches as this poor widow woman cast in two mites, which were the smallest piece of money that could be accepted as an offering. This little bit of money meant more to Jesus than all that the scribes gave. Why? This says a great deal about this woman and her love for God. She cast all she had into the treasury, trusting in God to provide for her. Christian's have nothing to fear when we put our faith and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and if anyone questions your loyalty to Him all you have to say is, “I am a forgiven child of the Living God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ” “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” - Romans 5:9-11.

Our Lord Jesus, when He ascended on high, left something for all His servants to do. We ought to be always upon our watch, in expectation of His return. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”- Mark 13:33-37.

Jesus is returning and when He does all the false prophets and religious leaders will see God's wrath. However, in the mean time, Jesus is trusting us to keep telling the truth and setting ourselves as the examples that we need to be to show all that they too need Jesus. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:..For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:...Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 5For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” - I Peter 2:15,21,24,25. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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