Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • Luke 10:25-42

    “One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: ‘Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?’

    26 Jesus replied, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’

    27 The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [a]

    28 ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’”

    Jesus answered a question with a question knowing that the “expert in religious law” was trying to debate this fact.  But in this we find a great answer that can easily be overlooked.  Jesus says, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’  This tells us that any question we have about life, has an answer found in scripture.  Many times the problem isn’t what the Bible says, its how we read it or interpret it.

    When read in context, (meaning reading the passage before and after as well as understanding the setting, people, place, and time)  we see the truth of what the Bible says.  Unfortunately, the Bible has been twisted and taken out of context to try to justify agendas or lifestyles.  It all depends on how you come to the Bible when you read it.  Do you come to shape what you believe and how you live by what the Bible says, or do you come to shape the Bible into what you believe and how you live?

    When it comes to questions of how to live, where do you go to find answers?

  • Luke 10:1-24

    “When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, ‘Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!’” v.17

    Can you sense the excitement?  These Disciples have just been used by God to do some amazing things.  They were Faithful, Available, and Teachable.  There is a whole lesson to be learned there, but that might be more of a talk than a devo.

    As you read further, Jesus prays this prayer,

    “At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.’” v. 21

    Again, Jesus emphasised the importance of child like faith.  When we are given an opportunity to be used by God, but our first response is, “there is now way I could do that” we miss out on an opportunity.  You are right, we can’t do a lot of stuff.  But don’t let your own pride keep you from experiencing the Holy Spirit’s ability to  empower you to do something that only God can do!

    Today, think about the opportunities around you, maybe today would be the day that you saw God do something big in your life, simply because you were faithful, available, and teachable!  Swallow your pride and have child like faith and leave the details up to God!

  • John 8:21-59

    “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” v.31-32

    Powerful words.  In these two verses Jesus sums up how to live in true freedom from sin.  I think the key word that many of us want to overlook is the word “faithful”.  How faithful are you to Christ?  I am not asking how many Christian t-shirts, or CD’s you own, I am asking, are you faithful to Him?  I think many of us would say, “I am pretty faithful” and feel good about it, but should we?

    If I told my wife that I was “pretty faithful” yesterday, how do you think she would feel?  I know how she would feel, she would be hurt, and then I would be hurt.  If I told her that I was pretty faithfull I am admitting that I wasn’t 100 percent faithful and it causes problems in our relationship.

    Jesus says, when we are faithful to His teaching, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free.  We don’t experience all the things of Christ by simply knowing the truth.  I can know the things I should do and not do them.  But when we are faithful, moved by a deep love that changes our actions, it puts our knowledge into action and there we find the freedom that Jesus is talking about.

    Today, ask yourself, Am I faithful?  Are there areas you are more faithful in than others?  What has to change, in me, for me to experience what this verse is teaching today?

  • John 8:1-20

    “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’” v.12

    This verse give new meaning when you understand the context in which Jesus says it.  Here is the scene, Jesus is teaching again in the Temple.  The day before, the Pharisees had tried to convict Jesus of breaking the law and questioning who He was.  So on this day, they bring a Lady whom they caught in adultery to Jesus for permission to stone her.  This was a trap.

    First, the Pharisees had some legal authority but not the authority to stone people.  Second, both the man and the woman if caught in adultery were supposed to be stoned. The Pharisees only brought the woman.  Jesus dismisses the crowd by saying, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” After everyone had left Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more!

    This gives me goose bumps every time I read it.  We see in this Jesus Compassion for people.  He doesn’t condone or condemn, He simply forgives and says don’t do it anymore.

    When we have an encounter with Jesus, it changes us!  We don’t have to live in the sin (darkness anymore). Today, will you remember Jesus words?

    “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

  • John 7:1-31

    “There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, ‘He’s a good man,’ but others said, ‘He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people. 13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.” v. 12-13

    Have you ever been there?  Have you ever been in a place where people were talking about Jesus, but you chose not to say anything?  Sadly I have to admit that I have.  Sometimes we think it is easier to not say anything than to argue with someone.  Somtimes we are more concerned with what people will think of us if we do say something so we stay quiet.

    Fear is a powerful suggestion the enemy uses to keep us quiet.  We play the what if game.  “What if they reject me?”  “What if they make fun of me?”  “What if they won’t listen?”  “What if they ask a question I can answer?”  It’s amazing how fear can keep the most dedicated Christ Follower quiet.  Fear will always turn the what if negative!

    But what if God wants to use you in that moment?  What if you are there because you have influence with that group of people?  What if they do listen, and you are able to tell of the great things God has done for you?  What if someone is so moved that they begin to ask more questions and even ask Jesus to be there Lord and Savior?  What if, that conversation, was to lead to other conversations where you got to share to more people about Christ?

    What if . . . . It’s a powerful suggestion or thought!  Today, you have a choice to live in fear and ask negative what if questions, or you can live in Faith and ask positive what if questions.  However, the choice is yours.

    What if today, God started doing something different on the inside of you?

    What if today, you would now longer be silent about Jesus?

    What if . . .

  • Matthew 18:10-20

    “If another believer[d] sins against you,[e] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”  v. 15-17

    Are you good at conflict?  I am not asking if you like to argue, I am asking if you handle conflict well?  This is a challenge for me.  I really dislike conflict, and have found from personal experience my tendency has been to avoid instead of confront.  When I choose to do this, the situation tends to get worse than better.  Jesus tells us that we should handle conflict with one word . . . communication!  I know, powerful.  Here is really what need to happen:

    • You communicate privately!
    • You communicate the hurt, disagreement, confusion, situation, sin!
    • You communicate care, resolution and restoration!

    Many times conflict happens when communication doesn’t, when expectations aren’t known or met, and when sin isn’t confronted.  However, the next time a conflict is on the verge of happening, take the high road, pray, listen, then talk.  You might be surprised by the outcome!

  • Mark 9:42-50

    42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell[a] with two hands.[b] 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.[c] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’[d]

    49 “For everyone will be tested with fire.[e] 50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

    This startling language is not meant to promote self-mutilation, but instead stresses the importance of cutting sin out of our life.  Painful self-discipline is required of his true followers.  Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God’s will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand, but Christ is worth any possible loss or discomfort.  Nothing should stand in the way of faith.  We must be ruthless in removing sin from our lives now in order to avoid suffering for eternity.  Make your choices from an eternal, not temporary perspective.  — NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Matthew 18:1-6

    About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

    Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

    “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” v. 1-6

    The first step in becoming the greatest in Heaven is to turn from our sin.  That means we acknowledge that we have sinned and then turn (run) the opposite way of that sin. But Jesus takes it a step further.

    Why would Jesus say that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are those who are like children?  I can see the confused faces now, can’t you?  This shocked the disciples because it’s not exactly what they expected to hear.  They thought they would hear Jesus say things like, if you do this and that and . . . then you will become the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.  You name it, they wanted to be able to evaluate themselves and puff themselves up and aim for that position.  But when Jesus says to be like a child, He cut away any outward approval that would have caught them up in pride and achievement.  Jesus is so smart!!!

    So what can we learn from Children?  I have seen several times how kids have impacted adults and inspired change.  Maybe it’s the age of innocence, but we can learn a lot from watching and connecting the characteristic we see in a child, to the things God desires from us.

    Here are some quick thoughts that I have about learning from children:

    • They don’t have the extra baggage (pains, fears, doubts, experiences) that keep them from fully trusting God and others.
    • They are dependent.
    • They don’t have to have all the details before they can believe.
    • They are obedient (most of the time).
    • They are always learning.
    • They know how to have fun.

    We can learn a lot from looking at children.  What are some other characteristics that we can glean from children and apply to our faith?

    Today, will you have childlike faith, or will you continue to try to figure things out on your own?

  • Luke 9:37-43

    37 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”

    41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?”
    Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”

    42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.

    Today I want to learn from you!  Why does Jesus say, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?”

    Let me know your thoughts or your answers!

  • Mark 8:22-9:1

    “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’” v. 34-38

    Jesus asks His disciples “Who do you say that I am?”  Upon this question Jesus tells us what it truly means to be one of His followers. The NLT Life Application Study Bible Notes says this,

    We should be willing to lose our life for the sake of the Good News, not because our life is useless but because nothing – not even life itself – can compare to what we gain with Christ.  Jesus wants us to choose to follow Him rather than to lead a life of sin and self-satisfaction.  He wants us to stop trying to control our own destiny and to let Him direct us.

    Many people spend all their energy seeking pleasure.  Jesus said, however, that worldliness, which is centered on possessions, position, or power, is ultimately worthless.  Whatever you have on earth is only temporary; it cannot be exchanged for your soul.  If you work hard to get what you want, you might eventually have a ‘pleasurable’ life, but in the end you will find it hollow and empty.  Are you willing to make the pursuit of God more important than the selfish pursuits?  Follow Jesus, and you will know what it means to live abundantly now and to have eternal life as well!