by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 22:24--46

They Did Continue with Jesus

We know that on the night Jesus was arrested, His disciples forsook Him. However, that was not their normal course of action. Even Jesus said to them,

28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials" (Luk. 22:28).

It was true. For three and a half years, the Jews persecuted Jesus, and the twelve apostles stayed with Him every time. He could always count on them. However, when He needed them the most, they failed Him. While that was the exception, it was a significant exception. We might lead 199 of the 200 laps of the Indianapolis 500, and then lose an engine. In that case, we do not win; we do not even get the credit of having finished the race.

Therefore, let us look deep within ourselves to make sure that we are filled with the mind of Jesus Christ that we might be faithful until death.

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 First Kings 14 and 15

Casting God Away

Jeroboam really angered God. Therefore, God said to Jeroboam,

9 "but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back" (1 Kin. 14:9).

Every time I read in the Bible that someone made for himself gods, it just cracks me up. Did they not see the irony, or more accurately, the contradiction of having to make their own gods? It is hilarious! Yet, God was highly offended when Jeroboam did this. The heavens and the earth cannot contain our God. Therefore, to reduce Him to a man-made image shows a gross ignorance of His true nature. Jeroboam went even further and cast God behind his back.

Listen, you do not cast the God of heaven away as you would trash. What is more insulting to Him than that?

This is precisely what the secular movement is attempting to do. God is not happy. Please pray for open hearts that people may receive the truth of God and that He not do to us as He did to Jeroboam.

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 Luke 22:1--23

Spiritual Self-Examination

Jesus had just revealed that one of His apostles was going to betray Him.

23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing (Luk. 22:23).

It is good to look inside ourselves through the lenses of the word of God that we might see and understand what we are and what is in us. A time of great temptation was just about to hit the apostles. They had no idea of the severity of the moment, although the Lord tried to make them understand.

What lies ahead for each of us? There will be both very good and very bad times, both of which carry unique temptations. Therefore, we must prepare for those times now. It is too late when the temptations come. Ground yourself in Christ right now that you might always be faithful.

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 First Kings 16--18

The Prophet Who Outran a Chariot

There was a three-and-a-half-year drought in Israel. Elijah the prophet told the wicked King Ahab of Israel that rain was finally on the way, and it was a heavy rain. Therefore, the prophet told the king to get going to Jezreel before the heavy rain prevented travel, because the king would be traveling by chariot (1 Kin. 18:44, 45). Then the Bible says this,

46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel (1 Kin. 18:46).

Have you ever heard of the prophet who outran a chariot? It is not often that we hear about this story, but it did happen. How could a man outrun a chariot? Horses are more than twice as fast as the fastest man is, but the man can only sustain that speed for a very short distance. The only way that Elijah was able to do this is that "the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah." With the hand of the Lord present, anything can be done. In fact, if Ahab and Elijah had lived today, the Lord could have made the prophet outrun a car. Laugh if you wish, but nothing is impossible with Him who created all things.

Can the Lord help you through your struggles? Can He help you overcome? Do you laugh or believe?

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