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

Context: The author of Hebrews challenged us to fix our eyes on Jesus and receive the discipline that He offers His children.

Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Observation: Our gratefulness overflows in acceptable worship.  Acceptable worship is offered with reverence and awe in response to the consuming power of God.

Application: I want to live today in worship.  I want to be grateful for God’s gifts and aware of His power.  “Lord, help me to offer acceptable worship.”

Are you offering to God acceptable worship?

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

Context: The author of Hebrews has explained clearly that we have “confidence to enter the holy places by the Blood of Jesus.”

Hebrews 10:35 “ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Observation: Confidence in our faith brings us great reward.  We can throw it away.  He will add in a few verses: “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Application: I must be confident in my spiritual position through faith in Christ.  I want to purposefully watch my life today.  If I shrink back from any opportunity to be used by God, I want to apply this verse and move forward.

Are you experiencing the reward of the confidence you can have through faith in Jesus Christ?

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

Context: The author of Hebrews is encouraging his audience to maturity through obedience.

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Observation: God sees your service.

Application: I want to rest in this fact – God sees my service.  I don’t have to try to impress others or do anything “big.”  I just need to work hard by showing love for His Name through serving the saints.

Are you encouraged by this verse today?

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

Context: The author of Hebrews has just expressed: “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Observation:

• Draw near to the throne of grace (Jesus)
  • That we may receive mercy and find grace (undeserved favor)
    • To help in time of need (when we are tempted)

Application: Often, my first response in temptation is to hide myself from God.  Instead, I need to draw near to Him.  That is where I will find help.

What do you do when you are tempted?  Make the decision to draw near to the throne of grace.

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

Context: After the resurrection, some of the guards from the tomb went into the city and told the chief priests that the tomb was empty.  “And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said…”

Matthew 28:13 – 15 “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Observations: The world did what it could to make Jesus’ crucifixion public and then did (and does) what it could to make Jesus’ resurrection private.

Application: I want to make much of Jesus’ resurrection.  “Lord, give me opportunities today to show the world that we have a risen Savior.”

Are you telling people about your risen Savior?

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

Note: We are back from our London mission trip.  Thank you to all who were praying.  We saw incredible things: conversion, growth, and clarification of calling… life transformation.

Context::  This is the beginning of the parable of the wedding feast: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'”

Matthew 22:5 “But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business.”

Observations:  The reason those invited to feast with the king did not respond was that they were preoccupied by their work.  It is the only reason given for the rejection.

Application:  I am type A.  Today I want to focus on responding to God first.  I want to enjoy fellowship with Him before my to do list.

Are you saying no to a banquet with the King and choosing “business” instead? 

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

Context: Jesus explains the parable of the sower and the seed.

Matthew 13:18-23 “Hear then the parable of the sower:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Observation: Good soil qualities: hears the Word, understands it and bears fruit.

Application:  As I serve today, I want to focus on hearing the Word, seeking to understand it and applying it to my life.  “Lord, bear fruit through me!”

What kind of soil are you?

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

Context: The Pharisees ask why Jesus is hanging out with tax collectors and sinners.

Matthew 9:12-13 “But when He heard it, He said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

Observations:  “Go and learn what this means…”  We must realize our deep need for Jesus.  The self-righteous don’t seek the perfect righteousness that Jesus gives us.  Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 in verse 13 – “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Application:  I must live in a constant realization of my desperate need for Christ’s spiritual healing.  “Thank you, Lord, for being my Physician and healing me.  Thank you for Your mercy.”

Do you think you need a spiritual doctor?  Why or why not? 

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

Context:  John the Baptist is rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees by saying, “You brood of Vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?…

Matthew 3:8 “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Observation:  John commands the Pharisees and Sadducees to bear fruit that shows a true repentant heart.

Application:  Galatians 5 tells us that spiritual fruit is the overflow of walking with the Spirit.  I want to pray for the Spirit to lead my life today and to look for ways that I can consciously repent through the strength He gives.

Can you see fruit in your life in the past week that would keep with repentance?

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

Context:  Matthew 2:19b-20 “…(A)n angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

Matthew 2:21 “So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”

Observation:  The command was “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel.”  Joseph’s immediate response was complete obedience.  “He got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”

Application:  Lord, I want to completely and instantly obey anything You lead me to do today.

Are you living a life of instant and complete obedience?