Did Jesus Really Say That??!!

These devotions explain Scripture passages that might at first surprise us, confuse us, or astound us, but they contain important Bible truths!

Did Jesus Really Say a Small Donation Is Better Than a Large One?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Hair?

Did Jesus Really Say That About a Camel and a Needle?

Did Jesus Really Say That? Well, Slap My Face!!

Did Jesus Really Say That About Old Testament Laws?

Did Jesus Really Say I'm Greater Than John the Baptist?

Did Jesus Really Say That to a Sick Man?

Did Jesus Really Say They Swallowed a Camel?

Did Jesus Really Tell Us to Hate Our Parents?

Did Jesus Really Tell Us to Cut Off Our Hand?!

Did Jesus Really Call a Woman a Dog?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Jonah?

Did Jesus Really Say That About Ears?

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Whatever Was to Our Gain

I can identify with 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 when it says, “outwardly we are wasting away.” After all, I'm in my 70s, and aging is a natural part of life.

But I can also identify with Paul's statement that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” That's why we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We can take our negative, fearful thoughts captive when we focus on the beauty of eternity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Paul exemplified a passion for the Lord that I want to exhibit in my life too. He considered nothing more important than knowing Christ. He even welcomed suffering if it came from serving God (Philippians 3:7-11).

I admit I don't welcome suffering, but I pray God gives me the strength to endure it for His kingdom. 

As we face life's difficulties in our anti-Christian culture, let's press into our Lord, trust the Bible, and speak up even when it hurts. 

We may suffer rejection from friends and family for our uncompromising faith, but we have a God who loves us with an everlasting love that is worth more than anything the world offers.

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

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For more encouragement to live for the Lord, see We Must Stop the "Judge Not" Shame Game and I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.

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Why the World Calls Christianity "Foolish"

Sometimes I act pretty normal…too normal. I slip into the ease and comfort of the human “wisdom,” which means life is about me. 

But Christianity is making my life about Jesus.

The world thinks it's pure foolishness to take up a cross, die to self, obey unpopular commands, return good for evil, love our enemies, forgive offenders, and take the narrow, unpopular road in life.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“The power of God” always has been and always will be foolishness to the unsaved world. To live in God's power, we must be willing to give up popularity and worldly comfort. 

The teachings of Scripture are contrary to human nature. That's why “the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Are you willing to look foolish for the sake of the gospel? Are you willing to speak truth even when it's hard? Are you willing to stand firm in the fight when everyone else is taking a seat in the audience?

Today let's ask God to help us be someone whom the world calls a fool for Jesus. 

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See One of a Kind Book and the Bite Size Bible Study The Bible: Nothing Can Compare!! 

If you find it hard to respond when people say negative things about Christianity, I encourage you to check out Lies in Disguise. This book can definitely help you explain Bible truths with accuracy and grace. 

And please send this link to your friends and tell them why they should sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes: Stay Connected. 

 

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Why Did Paul Say We "Carry Around the Death of Jesus"?

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Paul uses “jars of clay” as a metaphor for our human frailty, but he explains that persecution cannot crush (destroy) us because we're filled with the treasure of God’s strength. 

 

“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

This is comforting because 2 Timothy 3:12 explains that all genuine believers will be persecuted, and this is especially true in our present anti-Christian world. 

Then Paul says something unusual:

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 

Jesus said we’ll be hated for His sake (John 15:18-19), which Paul describes as being “given over to death for Jesus’ sake” and death “at work within us.” Whenever we suffer for our faith, we’re participating in the persecutions that led to Christ’s death.

Paul considers everything unimportant compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-11). He participated in Christ's sufferings many times in his life (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Dear Lord, give us that kind of devotion!

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For more encouragement on this subject, see “Dead” People Expect Persecution and “Dead” People Have a Different Perspective.

 

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8 Reasons to Journal

In Journal Is a Verb, I explained five things you can journal to help you stay focused on God. Today I want to offer some additional insights into the value of journaling.

Even if you throw your journal away when you're finished, journaling can help you honestly process your thoughts with God. 

God encourages us to come to Him when we're distressed (Psalm 120:1), in trouble (Psalm 50:15), fearful (Psalm 34:4), lacking strength (Psalm 105:4), joyful (Psalm 100:1), thankful (Psalm 100:4) … no matter our mood or situation.

Journaling:

1. Improves our memory and comprehension. Slowly handwriting a Scripture passage has more impact than reading or typing it (source). 

2. Helps us record answers we find in Scripture so we can refer back to them when we face similar situations.

3. Helps us release stress by Unloading and Reloading—unloading negative thoughts and replacing them with God's truth.

4. Helps us gather our thoughts for more effective prayer and gives us a place to record prayer requests and answers to prayer. 

5. Actually strengthens immune functions to improve our physical health (source). This one surprised me too!

6. Helps improve our brain function (source), keeping us focused and alert.

 

7. Need not be fancy or even grammatically correct. No one will be grading our work. 

 

8. Can serve as a testimony to future generations, showing them how you related to God.

So grab a notebook and get started! It’s good therapy for body, soul, and spirit.

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See  Unloading and Reloading and 4 Things Christians Should Write. 

Some resources used for this devotion: source/source/source/source  

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