A Little Walk With God

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. When I get blasted with false accusations, my first thought is usually to strike back, argue, retaliate for the wrong done, but Jesus taught us a different way to handle those accusations. Listen to what Jesus did.
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 23:3
   2. Jesus: It’s as you say.
4. Devotional
   1. Back up to the rest of the story as we look at what Jesus says in this verse.
      1. Spent the night and early morning with the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin
      2. Beaten, humiliated, questioned until they found an answer they could incriminate Him on, they thought
      3. Took Him to Pilate because they couldn’t kill Him
      4. Tell Pilate Jesus forbids Jews to pay taxes to Caesar
      5. Tell Pilate He claims to be King
   2. See the irony in their accusations and actions?
      1. At a time when defenders were still asleep
      2. Pilate didn’t care about their religion or leading others away from it
      3. Would probably encourage anyone to pull populace away from the strict adherence to Jewish tradition; got in the way of obedience to Caesar’s rule
      4. Said he forbade paying taxes when Jesus encouraged supporting government responsibility. “Give to Caesar...give to God.
      5. Stirring up discontent - only against them
   3. Wrongfully accused by the Sanhedrin
      1. False witnesses
      2. False charges
      3. False accusations
      4. False testimony to Pilate
      5. Lies they knew were lies from the leaders bound by the Ten Commandment.
         1. Ninth Commandment - You are not to give false testimony against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16)
         2. Didn’t understand what false testimony was
         3. Didn’t consider Jesus a neighbor
   4. What did Jesus do?
      1. Listened
      2. Let them speak without recourse
      3. Went to the cross for us
   5. What do we usually do?
      1. Argue
      2. Fight back
      3. Get even
   6. Maybe we should learn from Jesus and keep our mouth shut. Look what a difference it made in the people who watched Him. It might do the same for the people who watch you respond with God’s spirit in you.
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.

2. Missouri is known as the Show Me state. It is said her residents don’t believe anything they don’t see for themselves. Do you know anyone like that? Are you one of those? Jesus met a few...in court.

3. Scripture

4. 1. Luke 22:67-69

   2. Sanhedrin: If you are the Anointed One whom God promised us, tell us plainly.

Jesus: If I give you an answer, you won’t believe it. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer it. But this I will say to you: from now on, the Son of Man will take His seat at the right hand of the power of God.

Sanhedrin: So You are the Son of God, then?

Jesus: It’s as you say.

1. Devotional

   1. Have you ever met anyone that no matter what you say and no matter what evidence you give, they just won’t believe you? It’s everywhere with almost everyone these days, I think. I know I’ve been guilty at times.

   2. Research information

      1. Internet

         1. .com - selling something

         2. .org - raising money for cause

         3. .edu - professor’s ideology

         4. .gov - well…

      2. Written word

         1. Peer review - maybe

         2. Junk science

         3. Fantasy

         4. Just to sell books and make names

      3. 1. Found out in elections

         2. Hard to trust

         3. Hard to believe

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.

2. Does God have a mission for you that might just change the world? Sometimes He gives someone a simple message that does just that.

3. Scripture

   1. Luke 22:52-53

   2. Jesus: Do you think I’m some sort of violent criminal? Is that why you came with swords and clubs? I haven’t been hard to find—each day I’ve been in the temple in broad daylight, and you never tried to seize Me there. But this is your time—night—and this is your power—the power of darkness.

4. Devotional

   1. In just a few days we will celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the United States. This year it is on January 16th if you don’t have a calendar handy. Through the years there has been some controversy about whether or not we should have a holiday celebrating his birth, but there is a lot of controversy today about celebrating Jesus birth, too. A lot of difference in the two, but there are a few similarities, too.

      1. Spiritual leader in the sixties

      2. Divided the nation about how we should understand humankind

      3. Promoted peace, not violence

      4. Understood there would never be an end to violence this side of eternity

      5. Life snuffed out because of his preaching

   2. Martin Luther

      1. Named after great protestant reformer

      2. Baptist preacher

      3. Decried injustice between blacks and whites in the 50’s and 60’s

      4. Became the symbol for peaceful demonstration to demand equality

      5. Never wanted violence and consistently condemned those who did

      6. Was willing to die for the cause he supported

   3. Jesus’ words today remind us He came in peace, too.

      1. Preached daily

         1. Kingdom of heaven is here

         2. Repent and be saved

         3. Believe in the Son of God

      2. Only act that approached violence was turning the tables over in the temple and driving out the money changers

      3. Career was one of healing, forgiveness, salvation

      4. Openly shared His mission, given to Him by the Father

      5. Was not afraid of death

   4. Am I as committed to the mission God has given me?

      1. Sharing His

         1. Love

         2. Forgiveness

         3. Mercy

         4. Grace

      2. Testifying of what he has done for me

5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.

2. What is the one thing you hate doing most of all? So why do you do it? Out of a sense of duty, fear, responsibility, love, all of those? We all face those tasks at some point, Jesus taught us how.

3. Scripture

   1. Luke 22:40-42

   2. Jesus: Pray for yourselves, that you will not sink into temptation.

He distanced Himself from them about a stone’s throw and knelt there, praying.

Jesus: Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done.

1. Devotional

   1. Jobs you just don’t want to do.

      1. Dusting

      2. Dishes

      3. Yardword

      4. Painting

   2. We do them most of the time without too much complaint even when we don’t want to

      1. Sometimes talk others into doing them

      2. Sometimes swap with others

      3. Sometimes hire out the work

   3. Every once in awhile get tasks that no one can do but us

      1. Our responsibility

      2. Can’t shirk or put it off

      3. Must be done

      4. But nothing like what Jesus faced

   4. He wanted out of His task

      1. About to bear the weight of the world’s sins on His shoulders

      2. Pay the penalty required for each of our sins

      3. Guiltless but paying anyway

      4. Asked if there was any other way to let Him take that alternate way

   5. Resolved to do what the Father wanted rather than what He wanted

      1. May ask us to do some things we don’t want to do

      2. May be unpleasant or difficult

      3. Can be sure they will never be as difficult as what Jesus did for us

      4. He will help us accomplish whatever He tells us to do

      5. He understands our reluctance to do difficult things because He’s been there

      6. He also knows the importance of doing what the Father asks, because He’s been there

   6. Not my will but Your will, can you say that from your heart

2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Ever make a big promises that you didn’t keep? Peter made a whopper of a promise. Jesus caught him in his failure in less than half a day. Remember what that promise was?
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 22:31-32
   2. Jesus: Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Peter:Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You—to prison, to execution—I’m prepared to do anything for You. Jesus: No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? Disciples: Not a thing. Jesus: It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true. Disciples: Look, Lord, we have two swords here. Jesus: That’s enough.

1. Devotional
   1. Peter is like a lot of us.
      1. Think we can stand the test
      2. Make promises we can’t keep
      3. Crumble under the intense pressure against us
   2. Honest with ourselves
      1. We’ve done the same
      2. Failed to honor Him in the tough times
      3. Kept silent when He said to speak
      4. Went the path of least resistance
      5. Denied Him when the pressure was on
   3. Jesus says something important
      1. I have prayed for you
      2. That you faith will hold firm
      3. That you will recover from your failure
      4. That you will become a source of strength for your brothers
   4. Peter still failed that night and many other times recorded in the New Testament
      1. Recognized his failure
      2. Repented
      3. Learned from his errors
      4. Became stronger in his faith each time
      5. Finally was executed for his faith
   5. Jesus prayer extends to us as He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us
      1. That our faith will hold firm
      2. That we will recover from any failure
      3. That we will become a source of strength for our brothers and sisters
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. Have you ever felt like you had some dread disease when you were going through tough times? Did you feel like everyone abandoned you? Jesus had something to say about that.
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 22:28-30
   2. You have stood beside Me faithfully through My trials. I give you a kingdom, just as the Father has given Me a kingdom. You will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will have authority over the twelve tribes of Israel.
4. Devotional
   1. I had an interesting experience midway through my military career that taught me a good lesson about being there for people in all kinds of circumstances.
      1. 1987 Major’s promotion board - non-select
      2. Friends disappeared
      3. Didn’t know what to say or do
      4. Avoided me like it was contagious
      5. Records missing and went to relook, selected, and promoted on time
   2. There were a few the called and stood by throughout the ordeal
      1. Right or wrong they were with me
      2. All knew me and my faith and knew I’d make it through the situation
      3. Others watched on the sidelines to see how I would react
   3. Made me empathetic toward non-selects the next 18 years of my career
      1. Never shied away from them
      2. Knew how they felt
      3. Knew how to help them through the process if they chose to appeal
      4. Some of those have become closest friends
      5. Stayed in touch long after retirement if 10 years is a long time
   4. Jesus looked around at those twelve around the table and felt the same way
      1. Many left because of His preaching
      2. Many left because of the ridicule they receive
      3. Many left because of the pressure from the religious leaders
   5. Promises for those who remain through the trials
      1. Best news for me
      2. You will eat and drink at My table
      3. Eternity with Him
      4. 70 or 80 years of enduring what the world dishes out is not so much in terms of eternity, is it?
   6. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. The description Jesus gave the public servants of His day isn’t far from the description we could give the public servants of our day. Stick around and see what He has to say.
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 22:25-27
   2. Jesus (interrupting): The authority figures of the outsiders play this game, flexing their muscles in competition for power over one another, masking their quest for domination behind words like “benefactor” or “public servant.” But you must not indulge in this charade. Instead, among you, the greatest must become like the youngest and the leader must become a true servant. Who is greater right here as we eat this meal—those of us who sit at the table, or those who serve us? Doesn’t everyone normally assume those who are served are greater than those who serve? But consider My role among you. I have been with you as a servant.
4. Devotional
   1. This past year during our election process we sure saw a lot of that gaming and muscle flexing, didn’t we.
      1. All those politicians talking about what good public servants they would be and how well they would serve our interests as citizens.
      2. Yet, somehow more than half of those long-term congressmen and women on just $174,000 annual salary becoming millionaires
      3. Is that really public service?
   2. Talk a lot of how they will help us, but seem to help themselves a lot more than helping us
      1. Scandals in their internal banking system
      2. Scandals in travel accounts
      3. Scandals in abuse of privileges
      4. Scandals with congressional aides, pages, and staff
   3. We do have examples of real public servants
      1. Police responding to crime and getting violent people off the streets
      2. Fire department responding to fires
      3. Medical personnel in multiple disciplines
      4. Counselors in a variety of specialties
   4. Even among those real public servants, we find competition
      1. Chiefs
      2. Hierarchy
      3. Department heads
      4. Within those organizations the servants do a lot of infighting to get to the top
   5. Jesus gives us a different way
      1. Greatest will be least, least will be greatest
      2. Servants receive the greatest honor
      3. He is our example
   6. How do we stop the competitive spirit within us and become a true servant?
      1. Follow Jesus example
      2. Let Him into your heart
      3. Die to self let Him be Lord
      4. Only then can you really serve as He served
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. We use a lot of things to help us remember important events in our lives. Jesus’ words today gives us an important memento to help us do just that.
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 22:16-22
   2. Jesus: It has been My deep desire to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. Know this: I will not eat another Passover meal until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it.

Jesus: Take this; share it among yourselves. Know this: I will not drink another sip of wine until the kingdom of God has arrived in fullness.

Then He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them.

Jesus: This is My body, My body given for you. Do this to remember Me.

And similarly, after the meal had been eaten, He took the cup.

Jesus: This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant, made in My blood. But even now, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on this table. As it has been determined, the Son of Man, that firstfruit of a new generation of humanity, must be betrayed, but how pitiful it will be for the person who betrays Him.

1. Devotional
   1. Time to think back about last year
      1. successes
      2. failures
      3. goals left undone
      4. happy memories
      5. sad memories
   2. Establish tokens or mementos to remember those events
      1. Ticket stubs
      2. Photos
      3. Souvenir
   3. Last Supper is the memento Jesus gave us to always remember the event that established the means for our salvation – His sacrifice on the cross
      1. Penalty for sin
         1. Eternal death
         2. Separation from God
         3. Blackness of isolation
      2. We all sin
      3. Jesus paid that penalty for us
      4. Institution of memento to remind us of the price He paid for us; gift He gives
   4. In 2017, your church will no doubt participate in the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you call this sacrament several times in 2017.
      1. Remember why Jesus gave us this memento
      2. Remember the suffering He endured for your sins
      3. Remember the blood He shed in payment as the penalty you should pay
      4. Remember the death He experienced so you can have life eternal with Him
      5. It’s not just a ritual we go through, let it truly touch your life each time you share
2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

• Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
• What does it mean to guard your heart? Have you ever thought about that? Let's see what Jesus has to say.

• Scripture
  • Luke 21:34-36

• So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Then the day I’ve been telling you about might catch you unaware and trap you. Because it’s coming—nobody on earth will escape it. So you have to stay alert, praying that you’ll be able to escape the coming trials so you can stand tall in the presence of the Son of Man.

• Devotional

• Have you ever thought much about that command from Jesus? Guard your hearts.
• We aren’t doing very well as a society.
  • Description of what He said makes it heavy
  • Moral laxity
  • Drunkenness
  • Hassles of life
• Drag by day after day with heavy hearts, what does it mean?
  • Sounds a lot like depression – listless, purposeless, everything hard
  • Anxiety – worry about everything, anything that can go bad will go bad for you
  • Frustration – things never work out the way they should according to your plan
  • Despair – never get there, never succeed, never accomplish your goals
• Direct result of some of those warnings.
  • Think tolerance of all things would improve society, it hasn’t and it won’t
  • Drunkenness loosens judgment, leads to moral laxity, creates the same problems
    • Nothing good happens after midnight
    • Never lose control of mental faculties unless under a doctors care
  • Rut of daily life underwhelm and make us trudge through life
• Military know how to guard things.
  • Put barriers in place, physical and electronic, to keep the enemy out
  • Put warriors in place to keep watch on all those barriers to make sure no one and nothing slips through
  • Trains almost daily, even while in combat, to make sure they are ready to face the enemy and repel him
• Do we know how to guard our hearts against the enemy?
• Do we even try in these days? Sometimes I’m not sure we do as I look at the state of the world and our society.
  • Back to Jesus warning - Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life.
  • Moral laxity – rampant
  • Drunkenness – 20% of all drivers on the road are intoxicated, that means over the legal limits, with drugs or alcohol, but over 65% of all drivers are on the road with a buzz or some sedation from drugs or alcohol. Drunkenness? Here!
  • Hassles of daily life – road rage, gun sales, violence, hatred spring up everywhere
    • criticisms instead of complements
    • petitions instead of praise
    • complaints instead of thanksgiving
    • we live in a pessimistic, hate filled time surrounded by evil
• How do we guard our hearts?
  • Spend time with God
  • Listen to Him from His word, hymns, devotionals,
  • Pray – a lot
  • Study His word, don’t just read it
  • Keep garbage out
  • Put up barriers to the things Satan would use to fill your mind
  • Be aware of your weaknesses and watch carefully in those areas
  • Did I say pray – a lot
  • By the way – pray – a lot

• If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

• Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
• Topic Introduction with headline.
  • Can you tell time without a watch? Jesus tells us how today. Stay tuned to learn how.
• Scripture
  • Luke 21:29-33
  • (continuing with a parable) Look over there at that fig tree—and all the trees surrounding it. When the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. It’s the same in the larger scheme of things. When you see all these things happening, you can be confident that the kingdom of God is approaching. I’m telling you the truth: this generation will not pass from the scene before everything I’m telling you has occurred.Heaven and earth will cease to exist before My words ever fail.
• Devotional
  • Gretchen and Gilley demonstrations of needs
    • Gretchen
      • Paw face for food
      • Turn head to go outside
      • Growl and nip at pants to go to bed
    • Gilley
      • Paws on seat and stretch for food
      • Turn circles to go outside
      • Runs to bed when he wants
    • Don’t need to talk, understand what they need and what’s coming if I don’t take care of their needs.
      • Not good with doorknobs
      • Will eat when they get hungry enough
      • Will relieve themselves at some point wherever they are
    • I pay attention to their signs; if you have animals and toddlers you understand
      • Signs come like clockwork; 7:30, noon, 4:30, 9:00, 10:30 bed
      • Know what time it is by their behavior
    • Just like my example, Jesus used the example of the fig tree to let His hearers know things are about to happen
      • seasons
      • weather
      • illness
      • tragedies
    • He laid out all the signs that would precede
      • End of time
      • Return
      • Taking His bride home
      • Judgment
    • We watch the signs for the things we are interested in, but do we watch for the signs of the truly important things in life
      • Told us He’s coming
      • Told us to watch
      • Told us what to look for
      • We ignore all the indicators
    • Will we be able to watch the signs and know what time it is? 2017 might just be a very interesting year for more reasons than you thought when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve.