by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Kings 19 and 20

Praying to Die

When you are young and have decades of living before you, or when life is great at any age, the idea of praying to die seems strange. Yet, it is something that older people or people in great suffering often do. Many have asked me to pray for their deaths. Elijah the prophet prayed to die.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1 Kin. 19:4).

As far as Elijah was concerned, he had no more reason to live. He had done all that he could. He lived life to the fullest. Therefore, he believed there was no reason to live anymore, after all, the queen of the country had promised to kill him within 24 hours. Rather than suffer horribly at her hands, he desired to die at the hands of the merciful God.

However, Elijah was not Lord of his life, but the God of heaven was. He still had plans for Elijah, although the prophet could not see those plans at the present. The fact that he prayed to God about this matter rather than taking his own life or asking someone else to take it for him, shows that he understood who is in charge of all things, who knows all things, and to whom we must give an account.

Please remember that when your life seems hopeless, there is a God in heaven who is looking over you and we should submit to Him all the days of our lives, even if those latter days are full of suffering.

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 22:47--71

He Who Was Called Judas

Listen to the manner in which Luke identifies Judas.

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him (Luk. 22:47).

We know who Judas was. We know him from Matthew and Mark. John was written later. We know Judas from earlier in Luke's account. Yet, you can detect something in Luke's attitude toward Judas. Here was this man coming, he was called Judas, and you know, he was one of the twelve, and he went and kissed Jesus.

Just the way that Luke refers to Judas lets us know that betrayal is no small matter. Anything that we do against the Lord is serious, costing our souls, if we do not repent. Let us never regard our actions, either for or against the Lord lightly, but see that it is the most significant thing that we do in life.

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 23:1--25

Questioning Jesus

Pilate had a high position in the Roman government. Yet, his position was not so high that he could put Jesus on trial. Just think of what happened in the verse quoted below.

3 Then Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say" (Luk. 23:3).

To voluntarily question Jesus in order to learn whether He is the King of the Jews so that one might submit to Him and not to another, is one thing, but that was not Pilate's intention. This was simply a civil matter that was thrust upon him. He did not intend to change his life. He was in Jerusalem to maintain the peace for his country. That was all. He was not seeking the religion of the Jews, but the religion of the Jews found him. Now, sometimes that happens to us, but when we meet with the truth, we change, although we never intended doing so. Pilate met the truth, and only disdained it.

What is also amazing about this whole thing is that Jesus allowed Himself to be put into the position where a puny governor might put Jesus on trial. Our Lord is awesome. He just wanted to save man, and was willing to do whatever it took to finish the job of saving man, which was started by God in the Garden of Eden when He promised to the serpent that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent.

What then shall you do with Jesus? Question Him to find out who He is. Then make a decision on what you are going to do with Him.

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