by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Luke 24:36--53

Do You Have a Hard Time Understanding the Scriptures?

If you do, do not get too frustrated, because even the apostles, the ones who gave us parts of the New Testament, took a long time to understand the Old Testament Scriptures, especially the prophecies about Christ. After meditating on the Scriptures all their lives, and after spending three and a half years with the Master Teacher Himself, they still needed helped.

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures (Luk. 24:45).

Therefore, keep reading, meditating, asking questions, praying, and doing whatever you have to do to understand the word of God. Do not get discouraged; many others have been in your place, even the apostles of Jesus Christ.

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 Second Kings 4--6

Gehazi Might Have Been Famous

There are many people in the Bible, who if they had not fallen, would have been well known for their righteousness or quoted by modern preachers in their sermons. Sadly, it is not the case. Judas is one. If he had not betrayed the Lord, there may have been a Book in the New Testament bearing his name (as in the case of Peter) or there may have been a letter written by Judas to a church from which we would quote, as we do with Paul's writings to the Corinthians.

Gehazi was a man who could have been a famous prophet, and we might have quoted him as he denounced a wicked king or as he made a prediction about God's Christ. Unfortunately, that did not happen. This man served the great prophet Elisha, who was grooming Gehazi perhaps to be a prophet to replace him as Elisha replaced Elijah.

After Elisha turned down a large reward for having healed Naaman, here is what Gehazi did,

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him" (2 Kin. 5:20).

This was the beginning of Gehazi's ruin. Naaman's leprosy went to Gehazi and he no longer served Elisha. It is so sad. This happens all the time, that is, a child of God gets caught up in some sin and falls. Some never repent.

Are you doing everything that you can to keep from becoming entangled in sin?

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 24:1--35

Do You Not Know What Has Happened?

The eyes of two men are restrained so that they cannot recognize Jesus. He asked them what kind of conversation were they having.

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" (Luk. 24:18).

Imagine someone walking down the sidewalk on September 13, 2001 in New York City. He hears two men talking sadly of the terrorist attacks. Then he asks them what kind of conversation are they having. How do you think they would respond? My guess is that they would say words very close to what Cleopas and his friend said. "Are you the only stranger in New York City, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?"

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the ultimate terrorist attack. How it affected the people of Jerusalem, and the rest of the world since that time, is even greater than the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Two thousand years from now, will people be affected by the events in America? Probably very little, but they will continue to be affected by what happened two thousand years ago, just as much as we are today. Think today on the ways that Jesus has changed your 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 23:26--56

Try Forgiving As Jesus Forgave

What do you think of Jesus when He prayed the following on the cross?

34 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luk. 23:34).

That was truly amazing. Now, think of this. He is our Master and Teacher. That means that we are learning from Him, and learning involves imitating. If you want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, pray as He prayed. Before I wrote this devotional, I thought of a man who is not a Christian, but who recently said some evil things about a member of the congregation where I preach. I prayed the prayer of Jesus for this man. Now, I ask you to do the same for someone in your life who has sinned against you or a fellow-Christian.

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 21 and 22

Why Do Some Need a Preacher?

The king of Israel and the king of Judah made an alliance and contemplated attacking Syria. The king of Judah wanted to know what God thought of this plan. The king of Israel gathered about 400 prophets to find out, but the king knew these men were only telling him what he wanted to hear, for they knew that if they contradicted his desires, then they were in trouble. However, the king of Judah saw through this smoke screen and asked for a true prophet of Yahweh God. The king of Israel knew of a man and sent for him. Here is what the messenger did.

13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement" (1 Kin. 22:13).

What is the use for such a prophet? What is the use for such a religion? If we have already decided what we want, why bother with finding a god or a prophet who will tell us what we already want? We have already made the decision. Therefore, go with it without finding a yes-man.

True prophets and preachers tell us the truth, whether we like the truth or not, that is why they exist. What are you looking for when you hear a man announce God's word? What are expecting when you search the Scriptures? Who is the Lord? You or Jesus?

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