Day 14 - Matthew 6

New Century Version

What Happens Here:

• give in secret
• pray in secret (prayers with meaning, not just words)
• don't worship to get attention from people
• God > money
• don't worry, God provides

Reflection:

     God doesn't want us to give, pray, and worship to get recognition from other people. It doesn't glorify God to do things to impress people. Instead we should do things like this in private, just for God. That way we are not like the hypocrites. 

     Don't put money before God. Put God first and he will provide the money and items you need. But if you live for money you cannot also serve God, so don't be surprised if he's not providing for you. 

Highlight:

     Is God your first priority? If he is then you shouldn't be worried about the things you need, the money you need to make, or the people you want to please/impress.

Day 13 -- Mathew 5

New Century Version

What happens here:

• The beatitudes
• you are like salt and light
• the law is still important
• Jesus teaches about anger
• Jesus teaches about sexual sins
• Jesus teaches about divorce
• Make promises carefully
• Don't fight back
• Love everyone

Reflections:

      The beatitudes show who finds favor in God. Good news, if the worlds is beating you up. God is on your side. Its better with God to be on the bottom on Earth. 

      We are living testimonies for the God we serve. Jesus says we should be like salt and light. Where ever we go, out actions should show God's way. 

Highlight:

      What part of the beatitudes (verses 3-10) speaks out to you? Chances are, as a Christian you fit into at least one category, because the world is cruel to those who hunger after God. But Jesus says that we should rejoice when the world hurts us for following him because God will rewards us for it when we get to Heaven. A little suffering here is worth it for eternal reward. 

Day 12 -- Luke 10

New Century Version

What Happened Here:

• Jesus sends out the 72 to go harvest souls in different towns.
• Jesus wards unbelievers about how terrible it will be
• The 72 can command Satan
• Jesus prays
• the good Samaritan
• Mary and Martha

Reflection:

     Jesus commands us to share the word of God. All the lost people of the world are our responsibility to reach. Jesus doesn't mince words about what will become of those who don't believe. He says that those who even reject us are also rejecting him. 

     Jesus explains what he means by "love your neighbor as yourself" with the parable of the good Samaritan. It doesn't matter what or how a person is different from you, we are still called to love them. That includes peoples you hate or consider to be inferior. All people should be loved as you love yourself. this is half of how Jesus says to achieve eternal life. 

Highlight:

     Don't become busy with work like Martha did if it gets between you and God. Of course it is important to get things done. But don't let it take priority in your life. 

Day 11 -- Mark 8

New Century Version

What Happens Here:

• More than 4,000 people are fed with 7 loaves of bread and a few fish
• Jesus denies the pharisees a miracle
• Jesus warms against wrong teachings and tries to get his followers to understand
• Jesus heals a blind man
• Peter says Jesus is the Christ
• God will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of him. 

Reflection:

      Even though Jesus's followers JUST witnessed him feed THOUSANDS of people with just a few fish and a small number of bread loaves, with plenty to spare, they doubt and worry that they will have enough food to eat. Jesus is like, HELLO, where you even paying attention?? But we tend to be the same way. Time and time again we see and experience miracles, mercy, providence, and strength in our own lives, and yet we still doubt and worry that God has it under control. But he does! We just need to understand and have faith!

Highlight:

      Our relationship with God is like Jesus healing the blind man. He doesn't work slowly with us because he is stumped our because we are too difficult for him. When we draw closer to God he shows us greater depths of himself, but he only reveals more of himself to those who continue to draw near to his touch. 

Day 10 -- Luke 8

New Century Version

What Happens Here:

• Jesus casts out demons
• many women serve Jesus
• parable of the seed and types of believers
• use what you have or you will lose it
• those who listen and obey God's teachings are Jesus's family
• Jesus calms the storm
• Jesus calms the storm
• Jesus drives many demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs
• Jesus heals a woman that was bleeding for 12 years
• Jesus heals a dead girl

Reflection:

      Just a thought, Have you ever noticed how Jesus would tell some people to tell others about their healings, and other he would tell to keep quiet? Why do you think this is?

Highlight:

       How deep are you roots? are you going to grow strong in the Lord or die out?

Day 9 - Luke 7

New Century Version

Darby Translation

New International Version

What Happens Here:

• Jesus heals a soldier's servent
• Jesus brings a man back to life
• John asks a question about Jesus being the Messiah
• A woman washes Jesus's feet with her tears, hair, and expensive perfume .... people get angry because they don't understand

Reflection:

       John the baptist was in prison and wanted to know if Jesus really was the Messiah. John probably should have known considering he jumped for joy in his mother's womb when Mary came to visits, but he had been hearing conflicting stories. We all have doubts, and that's ok! Jesus will patiently remind us of the truths to erase our doubts. 

The Essence:

        You can talk to Jesus about anything. He already knows your heart inside and out. He loves you and can answer any questions that you have. Just like John did, come with him with your doubts and questions. 

Day 8 - Luke 6

New Century Version

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Amplified Bible

What Happens Here:

• Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath
• Jesus heals a man's hand on the Sabbath and the Pharisees start to plan how to get rid of Jesus 
• Jesus chooses his Apostles: Simon (whom Jesus named Peter), Andrew (brother of Simon Peter), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Mathew, Thomas, James, Simon (the Zealot), Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot (who later turns Jesus in)
• Jesus teaches and heals (those who will be blessed and those who it will be terrible for)
• Love your enemies
• Don't judge others, and look at yourselves
• Two kinds of fruit, good fruit and bad fruit
• Two kinds of people, those on a good foundation, and those on a poor foundation.

Reflection:

     Luke 6 is a gold mine, so much important stuff jammed into one chapter. So I will only look at a few for now. 

      In verses 17-26 Jesus talks about how when we go through hard times here on Earth, we will be blessed when we get to Heaven, but for those who have an easy life here on Earth aren't going to have such an easy time after they die. And woe to those who insult God's children. God is good, and he is the best judge. There will be justice. 

       Jesus also talks about the importance of not judging others. Its just not our place. If you want to be judgmental, look at you're own failures and work on those. 

        I would also like to point out the bit about fruit. If you want to know what kind of a Christian you are, look at the fruit you bear. Are you bearing good fruit, or sour fruit?

The Essence:

        Even this early in Jesus's mission the Pharisees start to plan how to get rid of him because of the good things he does. beware of the world, for it will seek to destroy you the more Christlike that you become. Stay strong in the Lord because he will bless you for doing his work. 

Day 7 - John 4

Common English Bible

The Message

New International Version

What Happens Here:

• Jesus talks to the Samaritan Woman at the well about eternal  life
• The woman goes back to town to announce her encounter with the Christ
• Jesus heals the officer's son without even going to see him. 

Reflection:

       The Jews and the Samaritans were kind of like the blacks and the whites during America's discrimination period. They didn't get along at all, and they didn't use any of the same stuff. They hardly went near each other at all. 

     Jewish leaders were never to bee seen conversing with any woman, especially a sexually promiscuous one. So just talking to this woman Jesus is breaking like... THREE social barriers. All because Jesus care about her salvation regardless of who she is or what she has done. Like Jesus, we should be reaching out to everyone, even the people that our society looks down on. 

The Essence:

      Jesus knows about our messed up lives, yet he still invites us into a deeper relationship with him. 

Day 6 -- Luke 5

New Century Version

New American Standard Bible

New King James Version

What happens:

• Jesus collects followers
• Jesus heals a man with a skin condition
• Jesus heals a paralyzed man
• Levi, a tax collector, follows Jesus
• Jesus answers questions about his followers fasting (parable of the old and new coat, and the old and new wine skins)

Reflection:

     Simon listens to Jesus even though it doesn't seem likely that they'll catch fish, keep in mind that God often asks us to do strange things. Just believe and trust him. Chances are if it doesn't work out it wasn't from God. And God will never ask us to do something that isn't biblical. 

      The friends of the paralyzed man didn't give up because they knew Jesus could help their friend. If you have a friend that needs Jesus in their life don't give up on them. Look for a door in the roof, be persistent, think outside the box, and live your faith in front of them. 

The Essence:

     The friends of the paralyzed man didn't give up because they knew Jesus could help their friend. If you have a friend that needs Jesus in their life don't give up on them. Look for a door in the roof, be persistent, think outside the box, and live your faith in front of them. 

Day 5 - John 3

New Century Version

God's Word Translation

New International Reader's Version

What Happened Here:

• Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus 
• Jesus tells him about the only way to get to heaven
• John the baptist becomes less important
• Jesus is from heaven FYI

Reflections:

       Its not enough to simply believe that God is real. Its not enough to recognize that Jesus did cool things. You have to accept that Jesus is the son of God from heaven and gave his life for ours. Only through Jesus can we be accepted into heaven. One must be born again in order to attain eternal life. Which is a concept that many people struggle with. Its not a physical rebirth, its a spiritual rebirth. Its when you receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus elaborates on this importance in John 3. 

         Being born again is also when we come out of the darkness and into the light. Jesus is the light and light can not coexist with darkness. When we are of the world we are full of sin and we hide it in the darkness. But when we are reborn and filled with the Holy Spirit and Jesus cleanses us of that sin, we can come out of the darkness and into the light. Its much easier to see what you are doing and where you are going when you are in the light. 

The Essence:

         If you want a clearer picture of you life, step out of the darkness and into the light. Jesus not only cleanses us of our sins, but gives us the Holy Spirit to help show us our sins, and also shows us the things we do that were done through God. He doesn't just hand us a measly little flash light, he gives us the SON/SUN

Day 4 - Luke 4

The Message

New Century Version

Holman Christian Standard Bible

What Happens Here:

• Jesus spends 40 days in the desert where he is tempted by the devil. 
• Jesus teaches the people of Nazareth but they became angry and threw him out. 
• Jesus drives out and evil Spirit out of a man in Caperneum. 
• Jesus heal's Simon's mother-in-law
• Jesus drives out many demons, not allowing them to speak because they know he is the Christ

Reflection:

      While in the desert, the devil tries tempting Jesus with three things: physical satisfaction, mastery over the world (in exchange for worshiping Satan), and the protection of God's angels. 

       Jesus responds:

1.  a person does not live on bread alone, meaning physical satisfaction is nothing without spiritual food
2. you must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him
3. do not test the Lord your God.

      All of these responses are from the scriptures, but so were Satan's temptations. Satan will try to use the scriptures to trip us up which is why it is important that we know the word and have it in our hearts, that way the enemy cannot tempt us with snippets of the word presented for unbiblical purposes. There is a difference between knowing the scriptures and knowing the truth. 

The Essence:

     Know the word of God in your heart so that the enemy will fail when he tries to tempt you with the scriptures, presented in a twisted way for evil purposes. 

Day 3 - Mark 1

New Century Version

Amplified Version

The Message

What Happens Here:

• John The Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, baptizing people with water.
• Jesus is baptized
• Jesus receives the Holy Spirit
• Jesus is tempted in the desert for 40 Days
• Jesus chooses followers
• Jesus forces out an evil spirit
• Jesus heals many people. 

Reflection:

       Jesus was a very compassionate man. A lot of those he healed, he healed because he genuinely care about them and felt sorry for them, not because he wore the spirituality or works cards. 

       Think of how God has shown his love to you. We are called to serve and reach out to others just as God has to us. Simon's mother-in-law immediately began to serve after Jesus healed her. We should have a servants heart because Jesus has a servants heart. 

The Essence:

      Jesus still saves us to serve. If you're a Christian, God's Spirit is in you, moving, changing, and refining your heart to be more like his. A heart like Go'd seeks to spread his love. 

Day 2 - Luke 2

Day 2: Luke 2:1-52

New Century Version

The Message

Darby Translation

What Happens Here:

• Jesus is born in a barn. 
• The angel of the Lord leads the shepherd to see Jesus
• Jesus is named and circumcised when he is 8 weeks old. 
• Jesus is presented to the Lord
• a Godly man, Simeon, sees baby Jesus and knows he is the Christ. 
• The prophetess, Anna, sees and tells people about Jesus
• When Jesus is 12 he freaks out his parents by staying behind in the temple to do his Father's work

Reflection:

     Luke gives us a little more insight to Jesus's childhood than the other gospels. Even as an infant people see and understand that Jesus is more than human. Even as a child, Jesus has qualities that we should try to emulate, and also look for in the people that we surround ourselves with. Jesus was growing strong Spiritually, respected his parents and his peers, and treated others with dignity while living his life to please God. The last verse says that "Jesus became wiser and grew physically. People liked him, and he pleased God." Jesus wouldn't have been the type of kid to slack off during school, fight with his siblings, kick the dog, or mouth off to his parents. 

       Look closely at the Prophetess Anna and the man Simeon. Even though they are just a small part of this chapter, their faith and patience is enormous. Both realize that He is the one they have waited for! God has revealed himself to them. Anna, a widow after only 7 years of marriage, lives her life alone because she refuses to let her promise to God die with her husband.  Her spiritual hunger was rewarded. Do you hunger after God's presence? The Bible says that she was so happy that she shared her joy with all who passed by.

The Essence:

      How do we respond when God reveals Himself to us? Do we recognize it right away? Are we so over joyed that, like Anna, we can't help but to tell everyone that we see about what God has done for us?

30 Days with Jesus

I love my Bible. It's a Revolve Devotional Bible written in the New Century Version. A lot of my devos come from, at least in part, from thoughts in devotional boxes throughout my Bible. But on the back cover there is a 30 Day with Jesus challenge that I've never actually done completely. I really feel like God is leading me to start it now. Keep in mind that God shows different things to each of us at different parts of our journey, so it's possible that this challenge might not speak very heavily to you RIGHT now... that doesn't mean it never will. However, please pray and try to take as much out of it as you can. But I'd be more than happy to find another source of devotionals if you feel like you need it.

That being said, I'd like to introduce the challenge now.

30 Days with Jesus

"Get to know God and His ways better by spending 30 days focusing on the teachings of Jesus. Here's a daily reading plan to get you started!" 

The challenge only provides the verses, any explanation or elaboration I provide will (hopefully) come from God, and other sources within my Bible and such.

Day 1: John 1:1-51

New Century Version

Amplified Bible

New International Version

What Happens Here:

     John prepares the way for Jesus without knowing who Jesus physically is.

 

     Jesus is eternal.

     Jesus is light = life.

     John kinda totally announces that Jesus is actually God.

     Jesus starts a posse.

Reflection:

      The first 13 verses talk about how God created everything out of the darkness.

      Verses 10-13 are so beautiful. We become God's children because he has given us that right although we are not worthy by anything that we have done.

      

      Jesus is how we find out what God is like. If you want to learn about God, then look at how Jesus was and is. This is what we are to become like.

 

     The people who followed Jesus (his disciples) dropped everything they were doing to follow Jesus because they saw and believed.

     Jesus tells us that we will see greater things. Making the first step towards Him opens up the doors for absolute wonders to be shown to us in our journey.

The Essence:

Light = Life. Jesus is the light and through Him we will have eternal life. When we choose to follow Jesus, He rescues us from the chaotic spiritual darkness of the world. His light changes us, directs us, and gives us life.

On Fire Again

For those of you who were able to attend Reckless Camp again this year, your fire has probably been rekindled like mine has. I am just SO excited about the things that God has done and will do.

I'm going to try harder this time to keep devotionals going this time. And I would really appreciate support if i start to get lazy. But I pray that if you are reading this, you will continue to seek after God, and I pray that he uses me in any way possible to help keep you going in you're journey. I am so blessed to be able to share what God reveals to me with you. The journey starts now.