DIG for Sunday the 12th of October…..point people back to the Word…..Luke 7 v 22

Jesus quite often said things that are really hard to understand and seem quite unusual to us.

His answer to the question asked by the disciples of John the Baptist is one such time.

John was in prison and had been having doubts, so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah (Luke 7 v 17 to 20).

Instead of saying yes Jesus told them to advise John about all the miracles that He was doing.

The list of miracles was almost identical to that list in Isaiah 35 v 5 and 6 that foretold what the Messiah would do.

In essence He was saying, “Go and see what the Word says”.

Once John heard that Jesus was bringing sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, etc. he would have remember the Scriptures and realise that of course Jesus was the Messiah.

John was in doubt so Jesus turned his attention to the Scriptures.

That is great advice for us today; if we are in any doubt about something we should go and see what the Scripture says!

It is also great advice when we are trying to encourage and edify others; we should send them to the appropriate passage of Scripture to help them in their situation.

This means of course that we need to know the Word!

We should be willing to study the Word in order to be ready with encouragement, edification and exhortation as required (2 Timothy 2 v 15).

Remember how powerful the Word is; even Jesus said “It is written” to protect Himself from the temptations of the enemy (Matthew 4 v 1 to 11).

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for your Word and thank you for the freedom that we have to read, study and learn from your Truth”.

Luke 7 v 22…..Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached

DIG for Saturday the 11th of October…..acceptance, encouragement and love; that’s the way……Luke 7 v 32 and 33

The Pharisees really had it in for Jesus; at various times they tried to stone Him and plotted to kill Him.

Jesus could never do right in the eyes of the religious people of the day.

He said that they accused John the Baptist of being of the devil because he did not drink; yet they called Jesus a glutton and winebibber because He did drink (Luke 7 v 32 and 33).

Jesus is saying you cannot win with these people!

They were critical whatever Jesus did, always looking for an opportunity to have a go at Him (for example, trying to tempt Him with the situation over the woman taken in adultery).

Jesus on the other hand models a way of behaviour that is the opposite of this religious attitude.

He showed mercy, love, forgiveness, acceptance and compassion on those who came to Him for salvation and healing and to those He came across during His ministry.

On the odd occasion that Jesus was critical and hard hitting it was only ever to the religious people i.e. the Pharisees and the scribes.

I would suggest that this is a great model for us as born again believers living under grace; showing an attitude of love, mercy, forgiveness, acceptance and compassion and keeping our harshest speech for the religious bigots who are still alive and well today!

Criticism through religion has no place under the new covenant and should have no place in our lives; the model of behaviour exemplified by Jesus is what the world needs us to display.

Acceptance, encouragement and love, now that’s the way to go!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the example of Jesus, thank you that He was the perfect example of compassion and mercy”.

Luke 7 v 32 and 33…..For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publican and sinners!