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

by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 1--3

The Influence of One Man

Are you a follower of the Christ? He says to you that you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that is, you have influence that you probably do not know you have.

When the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom decided to attack Moab, the prophet Elisha said to the king of Israel,

14 "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you" (2 Kin. 3:14).

The wicked king of Israel was about to enjoy victory by the hand of the Lord because of the king of Judah. If the king of Judah were not present, the army of Israel and her king would meet defeat. The presence of one man changed the course of a battle.

Have things turned out differently in your family, school, work, church, or nation simply because of your presence? Who knows? The Lord knows. There is no doubt that your presence has had a positive influence in at least some cases. Therefore, continue on the path of righteousness. Then trust the Lord that He sees you and does things in such a way that even others around you are blessed.

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 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