by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark chapter 2

Faith Plows Ahead!

If Jesus is in your town today, can anything or any person keep you from seeing Him, regardless of how unpleasant that thing or person is? I think I know the answer. In Mark chapter 2, it is the same thing for a paralytic and the four men who carry him. The house where Jesus is teaching is so crowded that no one can enter the house. Yet, this man knows that Jesus can heal him of his paralysis. Watch what the four men do.

4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. And when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying (Mar. 2:4).

Wow! Nothing is going to stop this paralytic or his four friends from getting near Jesus Christ the Son of God. Have you allowed someone to keep you from getting near Jesus and His church? Do not let it happen anymore, but do whatever you have to do to get near Jesus in His house, which is the church.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Leviticus 26 and 27

The Meaning of Upright

In the Psalms, it is common to find that God tells us to be upright. I have generally understood that to mean the same as righteousness, until I read Leviticus 26:13,

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright. (Lev. 26:13).

Israel, God says, you are no longer slaves of the Egyptians. I have freed you. Therefore, do not walk as though you are still under the heavy burden of a yoke. Do not walk bent over. You are free! Walk upright!

Walking upright means to walk as free men and women! We are free in Christ, no longer under the burdensome yoke of sin. Walk as free men and women! Enjoy life! Enjoy your relationship with God! Enjoy doing His will!

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 4:1--20

The Approachability of Jesus

Jesus gets into a boat and teaches the people on the shore.

1 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea (Mar. 4:1).

Some preachers keep themselves aloof from the people, thinking they are holier than the common man is. Is this why Jesus gets into the boat, separating Himself from the people? No, in fact, it is quite the opposite. He is very approachable, which is why the people are thronging Him, and He is going to end up in the water, dealing with swimming rather than teaching. Therefore, He gets into a boat that He might do the thing for which His Father sent Him, and that is teach.

Are you approachable like our Master?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100