Shared over the last few weeks were some thoughts as I journey through Luke. Jesus explains how best to live out life but goes through opposition from the chief priests and teachers of the law. We all go through times in life when we face opposition and it is during these times that we must maintain our hope and have confidence that God will provide the words and wisdom to fight back with.

The lessons of Christ are more precious than gold so let us store them up. The Word never passes away so let us guard our hearts and minds and not get trapped in the negatives the world tries to trick us into. Let us apply our faith by accepting the help of the Holy Spirit to guide our steps.

Jesus taught about the servant type of leadership in which the Word of God is used as the weapon against the opposition. We face difficulties daily … a family member is sick, rough days at work, the extreme difficulty of balancing work with home duties or school work. When we face these difficult times, turn them over to God. When we do, that’s when greatness truly begins.

When Jesus faced the pressures of life, He yielded to God’s perfect will. As we go through the challenges of life, there are a few questions we must ask ourselves. Are we going to go through life like Judas who pretended to care for Jesus but really only cared about himself, like Peter who wanted to fight the enemy, or like Jesus who submitted to God’s purpose.

As we face these challenges, let us internalize God’s guiding principles. Some of us are trying to meet what may seem to be impossible deadlines at work, some of us are facing health difficulties or many other concerns that life brings our way. We pray today to remain positive, to plan out each step, and to take action with the strength only God can give.

Let us take in the Word over the next few weeks in order to share thoughts or ideas in how best to build up our faith. The studies are designed to help apply our faith in the work place, at school, or at home. You can keep up with my spiritual journey by clicking http://wp.me/1ar6D. As the journey through God’s Word continues, below are questions for reflection as we head into the home stretch of our study of the book of Luke.

Luke 23:1-12
Although the Jewish council want to put Jesus to death because He claims to be the Son of God (the charge-blasphemy), what charges do they bring before Pilate? What about the accusations is false? Account for the “politics” of Pilate after his statement of verse 4. In what ways do you try to avoid making decisions? Why? Does it work?

Luke 23:13-31
What about Jesus is repeatedly stressed in this passage? In what ways are your decisions a result of your convictions? In what ways are your decisions a result of popular opinion and demand?

Luke 23:32-43
As you visualize the scene and the characters, what are the attitudes of the people and soldiers toward Jesus? Contrast the attitudes revealed by the requests of the two criminals. What kinds of deliverance are they seeking? What kind of people do you usually regard as impenetrable to the gospel? 

Luke 23:44-56
Describe the natural and religious phenomena that accompany Jesus’ death. What are the various reactions of the people to these events? What is the significance of Jesus’ death?

Luke 22:39-53
How does Jesus handle the pressure on Him? How do the disciples handle the pressure on them? What pressures to you face in your life? How do you handle them? When Judas led the officers of the temple guard and the elders to Jesus, What shows that Jesus submits voluntarily to the powers of darkness?

Luke 24:1-12
Who are the first to discover the fact that Jesus is raised from the dead? Are you discovering daily the life of Christ because you seek Him through acts of love? To what “proof” of Jesus’ resurrection do the angels refer (see vv. 6-7 with 9:22, 18:31-33)? Who can you tell that Jesus is alive today? 

Luke 24:13-35
In reading this passage, what motive for Bible study does this give you? What factors contribute to the two disciples’ recognition of Jesus? What was the response from the two disciples when they recognized Jesus and what should be our response? What is your basic way of gaining knowledge of Christ? 

Luke 24:36-53
What is the psychological state of the disciples when Jesus appears to them? With what kind of evidence of His resurrection is Jesus concerned? Are you asking God about His will for you in terms of making a difference in this world? How does the fact of the resurrection affect your daily living? 

The above reading plan will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing! At this link: God’s Plan for Us, is a post about accepting God’s plan or reaffirming our “YES” for Christ. 

When we accept Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit is our companion and it’s exciting to think about what the future holds. With God, we can get through anything, we can patiently grind it out during difficulties or give Him credit when the impossible is made possible. Beyond that, we can celebrate because of the victory we will always have with Him.

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God. 

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God. Downer Grove Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1978
First United Methodist Waco Podcast
Christ Notes
Family Times
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