Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“The wine ran out, and Jesus’ mother told Him, ‘They have no more wine.’ ” –John 2:3 In John’s Gospel, Jesus began His public ministry at a wedding feast where they had “no more wine.” Likewise, many people begin to let Jesus work in their lives when they realize they are out of wine, love, strength, energy, ideas, or hope. In the weakness of our emptiness, God’s power in us can reach perfection (2 Cor 12:9). It is literally true that without Jesus we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Of ourselves, we are always on “empty” in the important things...

“As He moved on He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, at his tax collector’s post, and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Levi got up and became His follower.” –Mark 2:14 Although it was a serious sin for a Jew to be a tax collector, Levi chose to be one. Jesus called Levi out of his sinful job and into being an apostle and missionary. If we repent, we can follow Jesus’ call even if we are damaged goods, for Jesus comes not for the healthy but for the sick, not for the righteous but for sinners (Mk 2:17). Jesus...

“I command you: Stand up! Pick up your mat and go home.” –Mark 2:11 Will you receive “the promise of entrance” into God’s rest (Heb 4:1), that is, will you be with the Lord forever in the perfect happiness of heaven? “Therefore, while the promise of entrance into His rest still holds, we ought to be fearful of disobeying lest any one of you be judged to have lost his chance of entering” (Heb 4:1). By ourselves, we are unable to obey the Lord and enter eternal rest. We are spiritually paralyzed. Our only hope is to come to Jesus...

“Oh, that today you would hear His voice: ‘Harden not your hearts.’ ” –Psalm 95:7-8 Jesus miraculously and instantaneously healed a leper and then gave him a stern warning not to tell anyone (Mk 1:43-44). The man promptly and completely disobeyed Jesus and began to publicize the whole matter (Mk 1:45). This casual attitude toward disobedience has been the curse of the human race from Adam and Eve to the last person going to hell. All of us recognize this casual attitude toward disobedience in other people. We chide or condemn those who disobey in areas where we may be...