Excel Still More

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Luke 1

Luke opens his letter by noting that he has investigated things carefully so he can report “the exact truth.” He details the events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist and the conception of Jesus in the longest chapter in the New Testament. Elizabeth is barren until an angel appears to her and Zacharias and tells them they will have a son named John. Six months later, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary. He tells her she will conceive of one named Jesus, “the Son of the Most High,” who will reign forever! Mary visits Elizabeth and offers a beautiful prayer of praise to God. After Mary’s departure, John is born, and his father Zacharias prophesies concerning redemption, mercy, forgiveness, and peace! The age of the Savior begins!

Luke sets out on a specific mission with this gospel. This record of the life of Jesus provides carefully researched facts intended to build the faith of a man named Theophilus, and it can do so for all who read it today. It begins by showing God’s supernatural involvement in the birth of John, the forerunner for Jesus. Angels from heaven appear to Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth’s womb is open. Zacharias is struck mute for a time. Later he regains his speech, is “filled with the Holy Spirit”, and begins to prophesy. The story of Jesus begins with God’s hand directly involved in the affairs of mankind. God actively accomplishes redemption for those who would see His works and believe.  

Benevolent Lord, among all the gifts You have given, there are none as valuable as Your Son. We praise You for Gabriel’s message to Mary, that Jesus would rule and “His kingdom would have no end.” Living in that kingdom is our daily and constant source of peace. We see Your consistency and wisdom in bringing John the Baptist into the world to fulfill prophecy and prepare the way for Jesus. His teachings call people to repent and surrender their lives to Christ. Lord help us to receive that message and prepare ourselves to be led by the Savior.  

Thought Questions for the Day:

-       Elizabeth and Zacharias were “both righteous in the sight of God” and they were blessed. Does God hear and help people of faith today?

-       Zacharias questioned the angel’s words and was struck mute for nine months. Might God still react like that if we doubt His promises?

-       Mary praised God, believing she carried the Messiah. Why is it important to rejoice in faith even before we see incredible outcomes?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Mark 16

Women followers of Jesus come to the tomb early on Sunday morning, hoping to anoint His body with spices. They arrive to see the stone rolled away. A young man is sitting inside the tomb, an angel of the Lord, who tells them the most wonderful thing about Jesus: “He has risen.” Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene and sends her to report to the disciples. When they hear, they refuse to believe. Jesus appears to two other disciples. They report it to the apostles, who still will not believe. Jesus then comes to the eleven and reproaches them for their unbelief. He charges them to go and preach the gospel to all, performing miracles to confirm His word. They witness Jesus ascend into heaven and immediately begin spreading His message. 

The empty tomb is the most life-changing event of all time. It took some time for the disciples to believe it, as they had always struggled to understand the death portion of Jesus’ ministry. But His resurrected appearance in the flesh changed all of that. The followers of Christ went from fear to faith, committing themselves to sharing the power of Jesus over death. Having watched Him ascend into heaven, they gave their lives teaching others that He would once again return. If we believe in His resurrection, then our hopes are forever secure, our fear is taken away, and we can live for Jesus in full assurance of faith, sharing His message everywhere and with everyone.   

Great Father of Power, we believe. We believe that the grave is empty. We believe Jesus has forever defeated Satan, sin, and death. Thank You for the testimony of eyewitnesses and all the evidence of His resurrection. Please provide us opportunities to share this message with others and open their hearts to move from fear to faith, from unbelief to absolute assurance. Father, we are committed to the ministry charged to believers. Please help us to be so certain of Christ’s ascension and return that we will share the gospel in any environment and with everyone we know. 

Thought Questions:

-       Why do you believe Jesus was raised from the dead? How important are the proofs of His resurrection to know and share?

-       Christ’s resurrection changed the Apostles forever. How is your life changed by the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus? 

-       We are not apostles, but we are messengers of Christ. What can you do today to share saving belief and baptism with someone you love?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Mark 15

Mark’s record of Christ’s crucifixion focuses heavily on the people around Him. The Jewish leaders seek to kill him. Pilate gives in to them, but he is confused about the Christ. Barabbas, an actual murderer, is released instead of Jesus. Soldiers scourge the Messiah, beat Him, mock Him, and crucify Him. Jewish onlookers relentlessly attack Him. The two criminals hurl abuse at Him. But at His death, the focus shifts to people of faith. The Centurion says, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Women of faith stay close to the body of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea requests the body and gives Him a proper burial. This sets a contrast between the sinful work of man in Christ’s death and the faith and hope that would grow from His sacrifice. 

The sinful work of man is on full display during Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. People get so sure of what they believe, and they let envy and pride lead them to the most heinous behavior. We must learn from their failures. We must check our hearts, pride, and intentions, to center them on honoring Christ. If not, we may end up living our lives against Him. If we trust in Him, then His life, death, and resurrection can become the anthem of our lives. So many have been changed by His sacrifice, like the Centurion and Joseph in our story. That change is possible in you. But also, in many around us, if we will share Jesus with them.

Tender Father, how painful it must have been to watch Your Son be ridiculed by those He came to save. Above all today, we pray to never be that way in Your sight. Humble and mold us to be people who appreciate His death and who seek to glorify Him because of His sacrifice. Lord God, give us a voice to proclaim the gospel message. Others are living in sin and need to see what He did and learn to love Him for it. Will you reveal those people to us today and give us the courage to speak His name?

Thought Questions:

-       Pilate is a tragic character. He was conflicted about Jesus, but he ultimately relented. How does your faith show more resolve than Pilate?

-       Jesus’ death changed people, like the criminal and the Centurion. Do you think His self-sacrifice still has the power to do that today?

-       The women and Joseph were faithful even at personal risk. How does your life prove that you serve Jesus no matter what cost is required?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Mark 14 

Mark’s gospel moves swiftly toward Jesus’ arrest and trial. There is a powerful contrast between the woman who anoints Him with expensive oil and Judas who betrays Him for thirty pieces of silver. Both would be remembered for generations for very different reasons. Jesus proceeds to meet with the disciples and institute the memorial supper. He announces that a betrayer would come from among them. But He later tells them that, in the short term, they will all fall away. Peter, of course, denies this vehemently. Following this, Jesus prays in the garden, while Peter, James, and John fall asleep a short distance away. Jesus is then arrested and accused of blasphemy by Jewish leadership. In those moments, Peter falters in faith and denies Jesus three times. Peter then weeps in sorrow. 

The potency of this chapter is in the characters around Jesus. The woman anoints Him with costly oil, demonstrating service and her understanding of His sacrifice. Judas, on the other hand, lets greed dominate his thinking. It has blinded him to true and selfless faith. We would do well to study them both and decide who we want to emulate. The rest of the chapter turns attention to Peter and his pride. He said he would never desert Jesus. While he certainly had a stronger faith than Judas, he did not prepare well to stand firm. He was overconfident and it cost him. We should learn humility from this story, to pray fervently, and to prepare for temptation. 

Dear loving Father, who sent Your Son to die for our sins and redeem us to You. Thank You for His willingness to suffer and die for us. Some never understood the value of His death. Some even contributed to it. Others struggled to understand what it means to stand up for it. Lord God, help us to learn from all those people. Give us the gratitude to praise His sacrifice every day and help us develop the humility to spend time each day in prayer. Prepare us and encourage us to share in His suffering with selfless, faithful living.

Thought Questions:

-       Judas traveled with Jesus but harbored greed in his heart. How do you cultivate your heart to remain selfless and free from greed?

-       The Lord’s Supper is important to Jesus and to Christians. How are you already preparing to partake on Sunday in fellowship with Jesus?

-       Peter was a man of faith, but he had a lot to learn about humility, prayer, and facing temptation. What do you learn from his example?

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My recent passion has been to discover Jesus on every page of Scripture. For a long time, my first impulse was to seek myself, which is honestly typical human behavior. However, at times I overlooked the Ruler to focus on the rules, which led me to misunderstand them. I encourage you to perceive the entirety of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, as a JESUS BOOK. When you see Him, you witness perfection and glory, resulting in deeper faith and greater appreciation for the Messiah. Then, when you examine a second time for application, things may appear a bit different, and you will be the better for it. Join me as we explore a couple of examples to illustrate all of this.

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Mark 13 

Jesus leaves the temple and announces that it will be completely torn down. His four closest apostles later ask Him about this devastating event. Jesus tells them that many things must happen first, and they should not believe those who claim to know the time of the temple’s destruction. The gospel must first be preached. The apostles would face heavy persecution before it happened. But when the attack draws near, He warns them to flee to the mountains and get far away from Jerusalem. It will be a judgment on the Jews and the destruction will be accomplished by Jesus. These things would happen during their generation. The disciples are warned not to be misled by false teachers, but to stay alert. No one knows the day or the hour. 

Jesus describes the destruction of Jerusalem. It was the judgment of Christ after He ascended to heaven, but it was carried out by the Roman government. Jerusalem was destroyed, many Jews were killed, and the temple was completely dismantled. This was God’s punishment upon the Jews for killing His Son and refusing His kingdom. This took place in 70 A.D. Leading up to it, there were rumors and false prophecies. Jesus was warning about that decades in advance. The key was to stay alert and ready to go. This has clear parallels to the destruction that is coming in the final judgment and our need to be alert and prepared. No one knows the day or the hour. 

Dear Father, we know You took no joy in the destruction of the Jewish city, temple, and people. Your judgment was forced by their refusal to honor Christ. They were warned, and most did not listen. Great God, we pray for open hearts and ears. Help us to commit to Christ and to wait for His return. Sadly, it will also be a judgment day against the ungodly, and it will come on a day no one knows. We want to be ready. Please discipline us to be on the alert, so we will be saved when that day comes.    

Thought Questions:

-       God destroyed His temple because of unbelief among the Jews. What does that tell you about how serious the Father is about faithful living?

-       Before the judgment day of God, the apostles would have to face persecution and trust in the Spirit. Are you prepared to do the same today?

-       There is a final day of judgment coming. What are the daily things you think and do to make sure you are always prepared for His return?

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Mark 12

Jesus and the Jewish leaders battle in this chapter. It begins with the parable of the vineyard workers. They attack the owner’s delegates and eventually kill his son. The result was wrath from the father and the destruction of the murderers. The Jews know Jesus is talking about them, so they send inquisitors to try and trap Jesus in His words. They ask Him about paying poll taxes to Caesar. Jesus responds by saying to give Caesar his taxes. They ask about a seven-time widow and her marriage in heaven. Jesus responds with divine wisdom about eternity. They ask about the greatest commandment, and He responds perfectly with the law of love. These prideful men are set in contrast with the humble widow who contributes all that she has to God.  

The widow at the end is praised by Jesus because her devotion to God is real and sacrificial. She is fully committed to God, while many others only give out of their surplus. She is the opposite of the Jewish leaders. The parable at the beginning is about killing the son of the owner so they can have the vineyard. The motivation is selfishness and greed. All their questions for Jesus are about diminishing Him so they don’t have to submit. Their main priority is themselves and what they can get and keep. We are challenged to be less like them and more like the widow at the end. It cannot be about us and Him. We must choose Him.

Benevolent Father, You are a gracious gift giver and we have all that we could ever need. Help us to see this in Jesus and His church and to flee the temptation to be greedy and worldly. The Pharisees turned against Jesus because He sought a seat of authority in their hearts that they wanted for themselves. Father, forgive our selfish thinking and any greed or envy that is born of it. Train us to trust Jesus and never to question His wisdom. Humble us to be like the widow, freely giving all that we have to You.  

Thought Questions:

-       How does your life change when you see yourself as belonging to God, instead of seeing God and His creation as merely gifts for you?

-       The Jews asked hard questions of Jesus. We may ask some as well. What is the right way to approach your King when asking for clarity?

-       Most believers are somewhere between the ones giving out of surplus and the widow giving all she had. How do we grow in this area?

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Mark 11 

The events of this chapter connect to a barren fig tree. Jesus approaches a tree that has no fruit on it. He immediately condemns it to never bear figs again. The next day, the tree is shriveled up and the disciples ask about it. Jesus responds with these four words: “Have faith in God.” He goes on to say that incredible things are possible if disciples trust in God. In Jesus’ midst are people of faith, like those who lay down coats and worship Jesus as He enters Jerusalem. But there are also hard-hearted Pharisees who have no faith. They defile God’s temple with money tables. And they question Christ’s authority over them, though He silences them almost immediately. They are like that fig tree, condemned for being spiritually barren. 

The gospel of Jesus has had the same effect, all over the world, for centuries. Some believe. They lay their coats before Him and worship Him as their King. Believers pray in His name, live with great faith, and bear amazing fruit in His honor. These are the few and they belong to Him. But there are always many who live for themselves, are overtaken by greed, and will not submit to Christ’s right to rule their lives. They are plants with every ability to thrive but are fruitless and dead. We must choose, every day, which of the two we are going to be. We are the fig trees, and Jesus has the ongoing right to draw from us richly.   

Loving Father and gift giver, we praise Your name for the coming of Jesus to be our Savior and King. May we sing as believers did when He entered Jerusalem: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…” Indeed He is blessed, and He is a blessing to all who believe in Him. Help us to bear fruit by His power and for His glory. Lead us to be prayerful, to ask forgiveness when our branches grow bare, and to give Him the authority and the right to draw from us things that please Him.   

Thought Questions:

-       The plant imagery is helpful. If you are a fig tree that belongs to Jesus, how does that impact the nourishment and growth you pursue daily?

-       Jesus was deeply offended that the temple of God was infiltrated by greed. Is there a sense in which that has meaning for us in His church?

-       There is instruction on prayer in this chapter. Why does Jesus call us to forgive “anything against anyone” before we seek God’s forgiveness?

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Mark 10

This chapter is packed with events: the Pharisees question Jesus about divorce and the rich young ruler turns from Jesus when asked to sell all he has. Jesus speaks of how difficult it is for the rich to be saved. The apostles have given up everything, but they struggle to understand that the mission will cost Jesus His life and theirs as well. James and John ask for positions of glory, but Jesus informs them that great sacrifice will be required first. A blind beggar approaches asking Jesus to heal Him. The disciples try to silence him, but Jesus heals him because of his faith. There is a common thread of love and mercy throughout all these stories. Everyone needs to learn that the kingdom is about caring for others. 

The Pharisees asked about divorce. But that was not God’s will, because it would be unloving and consequential for the wife who was sent away. The rich man was asked to sell his goods and give them to help the poor, but he did not have the heart to do it. The apostles sought places of honor because they struggled to see the mission as being about others. They even tried to prevent a blind man from being healed. Jesus came to earth because He loves us and wants to provide blessings for us. His followers will make decisions based on how they affect other people. We are here to love God and love our neighbor with sacrificial love. 

Wonderful Father of love, please soften our hearts to feel more love and compassion for others. It was Your love for us that brought Your Son to come and die for our sins. Whether it is our spouse, the poor among us, or fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, help us to make decisions that reflect care for them. Selfishness is dangerous and hurtful. Cleanse our hearts and make us more like Your Son. Give us the wisdom to see the blind around us looking for sight and develop in us the Christ-like compassion to show Jesus to them. 

Thought Questions:

-       What would happen to divorce in our country if everyone prioritized selfless love and service for the person they chose to marry?

-       How would the poor and homeless be affected in our area if all believers extended charity to them in the likeness of Jesus’ kindness to us? 

-       Will you take some time today to look around at people, all people, and see them with the same love and compassion that Jesus does?

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Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
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Mark 9

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain, as Peter, James, and John look on. They see Elijah and Moses appear, and they hear the Father say: “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” This is a great moment of honor for the Son. Afterward, however, many seem to lack full trust in Him. The disciples lack the faith to cast a demon from a boy, and Jesus must step in and do it. Jesus later tries to teach the disciples more about His coming death, but they are enamored with a discussion of who among them is greatest. Jesus emphasizes the greatest to be the one who serves. He then teaches about not causing others to stumble, and instead making sacrifices to serve them. Hell is reserved for those who refuse.

The comforting part about the imperfect faith of the disciples is that we can relate. He had shown them so much. And He was counting on them to shine so brightly. Yet, they sometimes were not prayerful enough and lacked the power to do great things. They often got sidetracked about places of honor and personal greatness. We know too well those same shortcomings and emotions. And yet, Jesus came to save us. He came to patiently teach us and help us grow in understanding. He warns us of the possibility of hell if we are prideful and hurt others, but even that warning is an act of grace to help us yearn and strive for greater faith. 

Holy, heavenly Father. We know You sit in a place of eternal glory. Thank You for sending Jesus to this earth to lead us home to You. Thank You for testifying of His glory in wonderful ways. We lack the faith You deserve. Lord, we believe; but we ask you to help our unbelief. Help us to make time to pray, and to commit to a closer walk with Christ. May that extend beyond just loving Him and cause us to be more loving and committed to the people You put in our lives, careful to not make them stumble.  

Thought Questions:

-       The Father said, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” How do those words affect you? What are some things Jesus said that you must hear?

-       Jesus was upset when the man said, “If you can do anything, take pity on us.” How does faith require more than just asking “if” Jesus can help?

-       To cause tender souls to stumble is highly offensive to the Lord. How far are you willing to go to keep someone from being discouraged?