Make Every Effort

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 6:17-19 ESV

17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place,
with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people
from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 
18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 
And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 
19 And all the crowd sought to touch him,
for power came out from him and healed them all.
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Though it was many, many miles from Jerusalem
to the part of Galilee where Jesus was teaching,
and though there were many wise rabbis in Jerusalem,
still they came to hear Christ.

They came also from Tyre and Sidon.
Those who lived in these areas were generally men of business,
with busy days, much to do, and much on their mind.
Yet they made Jesus a priority.
They came to hear Jesus.

And Jesus preached to them.

We too need to be under godly, biblical,
and doctrinally sound teaching.
Teaching that exalts God and His Word.
We need to have teaching that feeds us, that challenges us,
that focuses our minds and our hearts,
not on man’s ways, but on God’s ways.
We need to have teaching that addresses our sin,
calls us to die to self and pick up our cross and follow Him.
We need to go out of our way to hear the Word of God.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Each and every day we want to make every effort–
to do whatever we need to do–
so that we can be in the Word of God.
Listening to God’s Word.
Learning from God’s Word.
And submitting to God’s Word.
Not to the ways of the world,
the ways of our flesh,
or the ways of the devil.
We need to do all that we can do and look to God to
do what only He can do.
Thankfully, you don’t have to travel from Tyre or Sidon.
You have been given the Holy Spirit,
the mind and heart of Christ within,
if in fact you are in Christ.

So, spend time with Him.
Submit to His Word.
And Serve Him.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 6 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 
And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 
19 And all the crowd sought to touch him,
for power came out from him and healed them all.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, give me the strength to make every effort
to be in your Word.
Show me the importance of the Scriptures
for my life.

In His hands for His glory,

Laurie
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