<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+7:13-29">Matthew 7:13-29</span></span></p><p>If the men and women of this world took an unbiased look at Jesus as presented to us in the four Gospels, they would see, as Bishop Stephen Neill put it, that "Jesus Christ is not in the least like anyone else who has ever lived." The way He taught, for example, is not the same as that of any other religious teacher. When He concluded the Sermon on the Mount, which some believe to be idealism, the people "were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching, for He was teaching as [One] Who had [and was] authority . . ." (Amp. Bible)." What was this "authority"? An authority imposed from without? No, it was the authority of the facts. Jesus was divulging the meaning of life. He was uncovering reality. It was the authority of God; when He spoke, God spoke. It was the authority of truth, deed, and love. A good many people make the mistake of thinking that Jesus came to impose upon humanity a moral code. But Jesus was not a moralist in that sense at all. He was a revealer of the nature of reality. He revealed first the nature of God, and that the nature of God is the ground of God's conduct and ours. He then lifted up the laws written into the universe, written in the warp and woof of our being, and showed us that the only way to live is God's way. Instead of being an imposed idealism, it was exposed realism - Reality itself was speaking. No wonder it was authoritative. Here was the indicative become the imperative. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Lord Jesus Christ, revealer of all that is hidden, thank You above everything that You have revealed God to me. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. All of Your ways become the way - for everybody, everywhere. Now I am on the way. Hallelujah!</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mr+1:1-27">Mark 1:1-27</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+28:18">Matthew 28:18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+5:27">John 5:27</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+8:27">Matthew 8:27</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What amazed the people?</li><li>What amazed the disciples?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"... he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." (v. 29) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ga+4:1-8">Galatians 4:1-8</span></span></p><p>The Incarnation, we are saying, is one of the chief distinctives of the Christian faith. But there are some within the Church today who cast doubt on this and many other aspects of Christianity. The Christian faith is being attacked not only from the outside but also from within. The source of these attacks can be traced to those theological seminaries and training establishments which adopt a liberal approach to Christianity. Christ was not born of a virgin, they say, the miracles can be accounted for psychologically, and though Christ died on a cross His resurrection was not a physical one but a spiritual one. A theological student, who is taking a course in comparative religions, said: "If I were to accept what I am being taught, then I would leave college with the idea that the Christian faith has slightly higher moral teaching than other religions, is a little more consistent in its view of God and man, and is a little better in general, but not unique." Is it any wonder that so many students graduate from such institutions with few or no convictions and with nothing to preach - no gospel, no good news-nothing except philosophical arguments or a moral code? How sad that from so many pulpits one hears nothing more than a word become - moralism, philosophy, and so on. In a radio interview the interviewer asked me: "You go around the world preaching. What do you have that other religions do not have?" It was a good question and valid. The answer was simple and simply given: "I have Jesus Christ, the Word become flesh." </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, though we see You faintly through the lattice of nature, that would never have been sufficient to satisfy the longing of our hearts. You have come to us in the Person of Your Son. Now we are satisfied. All praise and glory be unto Your worthy Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+2:1-11">Luke 2:1-11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mr+1:15">Mark 1:15</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+10:15">Romans 10:15</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How does the Bible describe the Incarnation?</li><li>Share the good news with someone today.</li></ul></div></div>

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son . . ." (v. 4) 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">15 </sup><woj>“The time has come,”  </woj> he said. <woj>“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe   the good news!”  </woj> </span></p>

<woj>“The time has come,”<cr>1</cr> </woj> he said. <woj>“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe<cr>2</cr>  the good news!”<cr>3</cr> </woj>

Mark 1:15

 15 “The time has come,”   he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe   the good news!”  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

<p><span class="bible-text "><woj>“The time has come,”  </woj> he said. <woj>“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe   the good news!”  </woj> </span></p>

 “The time has come,”   he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe   the good news!”  

Bible Verse of the Day

July 5, 2023

Mark 1:15 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

More on the web

Group of Brands