Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: (Jesus) said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

Mark 3:5 “And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”

Observations:  Jesus looks at hardness of heart (porosis – callused, dulled perception, blunted mind, stubbornness) with anger.  It grieves Him.

Application: “Lord, show me where my heart is hard.  Help me see my callused stubbornness with a righteous anger and give me, through the Spirit, the strength and wisdom to soften it.”

Does Jesus look at you with anger, grieved by your hardness of heart?  What can you do today to soften your heart?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Jesus returned to Capernaum “preaching the word to them.”  The crowds gathered together in such large numbers that there was “no more room, not even at the door.”

Mark 2:3-4 – “Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.”

Observations: The four men did not heal the paralytic.  Even though it was difficult, the paralytic’s friends found a way to get him to Jesus.

Application:  My mom told me story of a man who was in great pain.  When asked how people could help him, he said, “Through prayer, take me to Jesus.”  Once, an old pastor visited me in the hospital and said, “I can’t help you, but I know Someone who can.  Can I pray with you?”

The primary way I can help people is to bring them to Jesus.  Today, I want to commit to going the extra mile to bring people to the feet of Christ.

How can you bring those around you to Jesus today?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, in his prophetic vision, is allowed to see the new Jerusalem where the “Lamb” will be the “lamp.”

Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.’”

Observation: As I read this morning, I observe the similarity here to John 1:14.  The first advent anticipated the coming of Christ: “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  We are now in the second advent, anticipating the coming of Jesus when “He will dwell with (us).”

Application: I want to spend time today thinking about the second coming.  I need to focus more on the joy found in my future hope.

Are you living in anticipation of the second coming?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: In John’s prophetic vision, the angels and the altar have praised God for His just judgments.  However, those who are living in sin will not repent when the sun burns their skin (v.9).  Now they have been plagued with darkness.

Revelation 16:11”(The people) cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”

Observation: God will judge people’s sin.  Instead of repenting (turning away from sin), many people will curse God.

Application: I want to stop right now and spend some time looking at my life.  “Lord, keep me from being resistant to repentance.  Show me my sin and give me a repentant heart.”

Will you be the kind of person who repents or curses God when your sin is revealed?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, in his prophetic vision, has seen the coming of a beast that blasphemes God and makes war on the saints.  A second beast comes that makes the earth worship the first beast…

Revelation 13:13 “It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people.”

Observation: For Christians, I do not believe that the work of our enemy is easily confused with the work of God.  However, this sign reminds me of Elijah (2 Kings 1 and 18), David, (1 Chronicles 21) and Solomon (2 Chronicles 7) calling down fire from heaven.  Our enemy has power.  We cannot assume that a miraculous sign signifies the work of God.

Application: Father, give me Your eyes to see the power of the enemy and how he deceives my family, my community and me.

Are you being misled by our enemy’s power?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  John has been caught up into heaven, he sees around the throne of God four living creatures who sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  He also sees 24 elders who “fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne,” saying:

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”

Observations: Worthy = (axios) Meaning: of weight, of worth, worthy, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much, befitting.

Application: I want to verbalize more often that God is WORTHY.  He is deserving of all glory, honor and power.  “Revelation Song” is on my mind.  I want to sing this song throughout the day.

When was the last time you told God how much He is worth?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  Jesus is giving His words to the seven churches in Asia.  The first word is to the church in Ephesus.  “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not grown weary…”

Revelation 2:4 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Observation: Jesus implies that they love Him, but have abandoned that love.  We don’t know if it is from distractions, specific sins, persecution, etc.  To fix it He says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”

Application: “Lord, show me the areas of my life where I have abandoned my first love.  I want to be driven by a love for You.  I want to remember where I have fallen from, repent, and do the works I did at first.”

Have you abandoned your first love?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Peter writes: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God…”

1 Peter 4:19 “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Observations:  When we suffer it is easy to get self-focused.  Paul challenges us to entrust ourselves to God (God-focused) and do good.

Application: “Lord, keep me from feeling sorry for myself and focusing on my trials.  Give me the strength to serve others as I focus on You.”

Are you doing good while suffering?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we walk through the New Testament.

Context: Peter challenges Christians to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.”

1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

Observations:  We are to honor (timao – to treat with respect or value) everyone.  Peter specifies that this honor must also include the emperor.  The emperor when Peter writes was evil and murdered Christians.

Application: As our country focuses on electing a president, I am reminded that I am called to honor (treat with respect and value) whoever serves in office.

Are you honoring and ready to honor our president?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Peter has explained that Jesus has “caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”  He goes on to say that this salvation is something “into which angels long to look.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Observation: Since we stand in the grace of Christ, we are to “prepare our minds for action.”  Grace motivates, not mandates, action.

Application: I want to meditate on the grace of Christ today.  I need to consciously prepare my mind for action.  “Lord, use me today.  Let Your grace motivate my actions.”

Are you preparing your mind for action?