by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Mark 1:1--22

Does Jesus Have Authority in Your Life?

When Jesus teaches, see how people respond,

22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Mar. 1:22).

When people hear Jesus, they recognize His authority. Well, at least most people. Some can tell that He is different, but they are not sure what to make of Him. What do you think? Do you recognize the authority of Jesus in your life?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Leviticus 23 and 24

A New Grain Offering

God begins describing the feast of Pentecost, saying,

16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD (Lev. 23:16).

This countdown begins with the Passover. The Passover commemorates the deliverance from Egypt, but the day of Pentecost foreshadowed a new time of deliverance that is coming. It symbolizes a new beginning. Therefore, the priests are to offer a new grain offering.

The new harvest is to be of the spirit, and with perfect timing, the new harvest happens on one glorious day when three thousand souls are saved from their sins. Acts chapter 2 shows this wonderful event. The new harvest has not stopped, but Lord continues to reap daily, those who are turning to Him.

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 Matthew chapter 28

A Great Earthquake Is Most Appropriate

Now, we read that 28th chapter of Matthew. What do we see? Two women are going to the tomb of Jesus. Here is the beginning of what happens,

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it (Mat. 28:2).

Oh, how things are going to change. The world is never going to be the same. What is the first sign that something awesome, that something more radical than the world has ever seen, is about to begin? There is a great earthquake. There was already an earthquake a few days before. Why was there an earthquake then? It was the death of the Son of God. Why is there an earthquake now? It is the resurrection of the Son of God! How strong was this earthquake? What was the magnitude? Is it possible that this earthquake was only near the tomb of Jesus? The Bible does not use embellishment when telling its stories, but here the word great is used. What is happening? Just keep reading the Bible and you shall see!

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 21 and 22

Do Not Profane the Name of Your Redeemer

After stating that the high priests must be perfect in body to serve God in the tabernacle, the Lord says,

31 Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the LORD. 32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD (Lev. 22:31--33).

See how often the Lord refers to Himself in the passage above. He wants the high priests and the rest of Israel to know who He is and what He has done for them. If they remember Him, they will remain holy. If they forget Him, they will become like the rest of the world.

I have noticed the same thing among Christians. Those who remember the Lord Jesus Christ, somehow strive to keep themselves holy, but watch what happens to those who forget Him. Now, what does your life show?

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 Matthew 27:51--66

They Thought That They Stopped Him Finally

Jesus is dead. He is in the tomb. However, the Jewish leaders believe that it is not over. Remembering that He had prophesied to rise from the dead, and believing that His disciples might come and steal His body to make it appear that Jesus has fulfilled His prophecy, the leaders go to Pilate, asking to prevent what they believe is the last possible deception of Jesus when His disciples come and steal the body. Pilate grants their wish. Matthew writes,

66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard (Mat. 27:66).

Often the chapter and verse divisions break up our thoughts as we read, and that is not good. On the other hand, sometimes they are good for the very reason that they break up our thoughts, making us stop reading for the moment. I think that it is good that the verse above is the last one in Matthew chapter 27, and that the next verse starts a new chapter, because Matthew 27:66 ends one of the greatest events in history, and chapter 28 begins one of the greatest events in history.

Let us pause for a day, thinking of the Son of God suffering horribly at the hands of men. Then men place Him in a tomb. Is it over? Is there no more to story? What happens next? What will His disciples do now that He is dead? Let us think about those questions, and then tomorrow we will see what happens. While you are waiting, remember that the disciples had to wait three days, not one like we are going to do.

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