LUKE & JOHN

This morning, I was reading the last few eight chapters of Luke and the first twelve chapters of John.  It was a joy to read them again.  I have so many verses marked in John that it is hard to find new verses to mark up.  People ask how to get something from God's Word and the answer is:  easy!  I always have my pen with me to underline a verse or phrase that jumps out at me and many times I will draw a star in the margin of a phrase I just underlined.  Sometimes I will write down a statement or phrase that I thought of as I read the scripture.  Here are a few things I thought: 1) WOW!-In Luke 20:17,18, I wrote:  Yes! And Wow! In the margin beside these two underlined verses.  One says that Christ is made the "head of the corner" and the other says: "on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."  Yes! Jesus is the Head of the corner upon which the church is built.  Don't underestimate the importance of the church, to do so is to underestimate Christ.  This "head of the corner" is not going anywhere.  And...Wow! Those who stand against Jesus are sure in for a rude awaking of being "ground into powder."  2) PRAY-In Luke 22:40, I put a star beside the verse that says: "Pray that ye enter not into temptation."  We want to pray when we are tempted and when we have given into temptation, but the Bible says to pray that we don't enter into temptation.  I put a star by that verse because I want to be reminded of that truth.  Again in verse 46: "rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  3) GOD IS SEEKING-In John 4:23 it says: "for the Father seeketh such to worship him."  I wrote in my Bible margin, "God's Searching!".  God is seeking for someone who desires to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  Let us decide to so live our lives that God is looking (seeking) for us!  Here am I, dear Jesus! 4) THE WORK IS TO BELIEVE-In John 6:28, 29, I wrote in the margin:  "Our work is to believe!"  The question was asked: "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"  and answer in verse 29 is: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." For those who feel like they have to "work" to get to Heaven, the "work" is to believe.  Just put your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  Last night a young lady of about 23 did just that as I shared the plan of Salvation.  She was so open and she believed in Jesus!  She did the required "work".  FAITH!  Well, so much more I could say, but that's enough for today.  Join me tomorrow for another cup of coffee.   Pastor Mike Mutchler