Giving Christ the Credit

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The woman with the flow of blood illustrates that faith need not be very vocal to be real and effective.  But the story also shows us that it’s important to give Christ the credit for all He does for us.  Let’s look at the story:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’“

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”– Luke 8:43-48 (NKJV)

Perhaps she was simply shy; perhaps embarrassed about her condition.  People have many reasons to be less than public about their faith.  Nonetheless, many of our most private blessings deserve public attention for at least two reasons:

  1. Jesus deserves the credit in the eyes of others for what He does for us.
  2. Because others may be encouraged to trust Jesus for their own very private concerns. 

Bible Reading Checklist

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Here’s a new chapter checklist for reading through the Bible.  It doesn’t include any kind of a plan for reading, just a list of all the chapters in all the books.  You can go at your own pace, read the books in any order you want, and check off the chapters as you read them.

I fits on one 8 1/2 x 11 sheet folded in half, so it conveniently fits in the pages of an average sized Bible.

Bible Reading Checklist.pdf

“Father, Glorify Your Son.”

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The disciples really didn’t know what was coming.  After the crucifixion – and even shortly after the resurrection had already taken place – they still didn’t understand.  

But Jesus knew all along.  He saw into the glory of eternity.  He saw every failure and victory in the history of the church.  He saw you and me right now.  He saw the resurrection and He no doubt saw the cross.  And this is how he began His prayer – knowing that trials and suffering and death were the first things on His agenda:

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.'” – John 17:1-5 (NKJV)