“His Great Generosity” (Luke 7:5b)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/12/2026 9:25 AM

My Worship Time                                                                         Focus:  “His Great Generosity”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 7:5b

            Message of the verse:  “and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

            This will be another shorter SD than many that I have been posting lately, as Luke continues to talk about this centurion’s greatness.

            The centurion’s love was not mere abstract sentimentality; he expressed it practically by building  the Jews of Capernaum a synagogue. MacArthur adds “The use of the pronoun autos, in addition to the third person singular verb translated built, emphasizes the centurion’s personal role.  The Jewish elders gave him sole credit for building their synagogue.  Centurions were well paid, earning between 3,750 and 7,500 denarii, in contrast to the lowest paid soldiers, who warned a mere 75 denarii (Darrel. L. Bock, Luke 1:1-9:50, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994], 635), so he was able to finance the construction.

            “The primary function of the synagogue was to teach the word of God, and his building of the synagogue reflected  the centurion’s love for the truth.  Like Cornelius (Acts 10:1-2), he was a true God-fearer.  Somehow, despite the generally apostate condition of the Judaism of his day (cf. Matt. 23:13, 15; Rom. 2:24), the centurion had heard and believed the truth that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, Savior, and Lord.”  No in conclusion to this SD I will quote in order the verses mentioned above in this paragraph.

(Acts 10:1-2)

“1 ¶  At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2  a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.”

(cf. Matt. 23:13, 15; Rom. 2:24)

“13 ¶  "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”

“15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

“24  For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’”

Spiritual Meaning for my life today:  It is the best to be listening to the Holy Spirit in order to do the things that He desires you to do in order to show your generosity to others.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting the Lord to continue to deal with this great grief that I am going through after the death of my wife two weeks ago today.

8/12/2026 9:45 AM

 

 

“The Great Love” (Luke 7:2a-5a)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/11/2026 9:13 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                  Focus:  “The Great Love”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                               Reference:  (Luke 7:2a-5a)

            Message of the verses:  “a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.  When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.  When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; fore he loves our nation.”

            The centurion’s love can be seen first in his attitude toward his slave, for after listening to MacArthur’s sermon on this section he mentions that many owners would just kill their slaves if they were sick. The word for slave is Doulos, is a specific term describing a person purchased, owned, and completely subject to the will and control of his master.  The centurion also referred to his slave using the term pais (v. 7) which, though often used of slaves (cf. 1:54, 69; 15:26; Matt. 14:2), literally means, ‘child,’ or ‘son.’  In the context of this story, the term suggests the great affection the centurion had for his slave.  The use of pais may also mean that the slave was a young boy.  Entimos (highly regarded), is also used to refer to a distinguished guest at a banquet (Luke 14:8).  In Philippians 2:29 Paul used it to described Epaphroditus and other men who were to be honored in the church, while Peter used it to describe the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4,6).  It signifies that the centurion had an extraordinary level of affection for his slave, something that has been made clear in these verses that speak about him.

            I have mentioned that the centurion’s love for his slave was a marked contrast to the typical view of slaves, and the reason that this true is because slaves were not though of a real human beings.  Another thing that many times happened to young boy slaves had to do with sexual abuse.

            Now because of his affection for his slave, the centurion was deeply concerned about him when he was sick and about to die.  Luke did not describe his disease or symptoms, but Matthew noted that the young man was paralyzed and in severe pain (Matt. 8:6).

            MacArthur writes “The centurion’s compassion drove him in desperation to seek the Lord’s help.  He had heard much about Jesus, who had moved from Nazareth to Capernaum (Matt. 4:13) and was very well-known in that region (Luke 4:14, 37; Matt. 4:23-25).  Somewhere along the way, he had heard more than the usual superficial talk about Jesus’ miracles.  As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that he knew enough about Jesus to recognize who He really was.

            “Believing that he was not worthy to go to Jesus personally (see the discussion of his humility below), the centurion sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.  That these leaders in the Jewish community would consent to do so for a Gentile soldier is amazing, and demonstrate es the high regard they had for him.  In contrast to the centurion’s humble sense of unworthiness they, in keeping with their works-righteous religious system, touted his worthiness.  When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, ‘He is worthy for You to grant this to him.’’  His personal merit, they argued, obligated Jesus to help him—just as in their religious system their self-righteousness obligated God to save them.  

            “The reason the centurion was worthy, they told Jesus, was that he loves our nation.  Though not meritorious in the sense of obligating God to do anything for him, the centurion’s love for God’s people was both surprising and commendable.  Jews and Gentiles usually hated and despised each other. ‘Anti-semitism is not a new thing,’ writes William Barclay.  ‘The Romans called the Jews a filthy race; they spoke of Judaism as a barbarous superstition; they spoke of the Jewish hatred of humankind; a barbarous superstition; they spoke of the Jewish hatred of humankind; they accused the Jews of worshipping an ass’s head and annually sacrificing a Gentile stranger to their God’ (The Gospel of Luke, The New Daily Study Bible [Louisville; Westminster John Knox 2002], 101).  For their part, the Jews refused to associate with Gentiles (cf. Acts 10:25-28; 11:2-3; Gal. 2:11-13). But this centurion overcame those prejudices, recognized the Jews as God’s chosen people, and loved them.”

8/11/2026 9:53 PM

“The Content of the Centurion’s Amazing Faith” (Luke 7:2a-5a)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/11/2026 8:20 AM

My Worship Time                                 Focus:  “The Content of the Centurion’s Amazing Faith”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                  Reference:  Luke 7:2a-5a

            Message of the verses:  “who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. ³ When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him; ⁵ for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue." ⁶ Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; ⁷ for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ "For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." ⁹ Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." ¹⁰ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.”

            This morning’s SD will just be the introduction to these verses seen above, and so it will be a very short SD.  We will be looking at four aspects of the centurion’s exemplary faith as they stand out in the narrative:  his great love, his great generosity, his great humility, and his great trust.

            Now let me write something about what this day, 8-11-2026 means to me, and it means a lot as it was 53 years ago today that my wife Sandra and me got married, and now this is the first time that I am celebrating this alone as Sandra is now in heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

            We meet on March 11, 1972 and neither of us were then believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but soon after we were married, some five months while I was visiting a friend in Casselberry Florida I was listening to some tapes about the end times from a man named Hal Lindsey, and the Holy Spirit of God opened my heart to accept the total forgiveness God offered me through His Son Jesus Christ.  I called Sandy to tell her what happened to me and she did come down to Florida for a few days knowing that something had happened to me.  It would be sometime in April of that same year that Sandra also called upon the Lord for salvation, and so we had the beginnings of a marriage based on what the Lord had to say about marriage.

            There is no better gift than to receive the salvation that our Lord offers through His shed blood while on the cross taking my sin, my wife’s sin and all who will call upon Him for salvation.  I miss my wife very much, but know that she is in heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ awaiting the rapture of the church just like I am awaiting the rapture of the church.  I know that I will see her again, and that makes my sorrow different from anyone who does not have this sure hope that Christ offers.

            Lord willing I will begin “His Great Love” the first aspect mentioned above, in this evening’s SD.

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  I cling to the great hope of one day being with my Savior and Lord in the rapture, so that I can also be able to see Sandy, hoping that the Lord will allow us to work together in what the Bible calls the Millennial Kingdom.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting what I have written above will be what the Lord has for me.

8/11/2026 8:42 AM

"The Context of the Centurion’s Amazing Faith” (Luke 7:1-2a)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/10/2026 8:55 PM

My Worship Time                                   Focus:  The Context of the Centurion’s Amazing Faith”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                    Reference:  Luke 7:1-2a

            Message of the verses:  “When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.  And a centurion’s slave”

            Luke adds a chronological note that this incident took place when Jesus had completed all His discourse, and this is speaking of the Sermon on the Mount which was seen in 6:20-49, in the hearing of the people is of great significance.  The theme of the Lord’s sermon was true discipleship, and this Roman soldier was a living model of the genuine faith of a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Now everything that Jesus said was characteristic of a true disciple marked this man, and remember that this man was a Gentile.

            Now after preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus then went to Capernaum, and that city provides the geographical setting for this story we are about to look at.  Capernaum, which was Jesus’ adopted hometown as seen in Matthew 4:13, and headquarters for His Galilean ministry, was located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee within walking distance of the hillside where the Lord just delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  The name of this city means “city of Nahum,” but whether it was named for the Old Testament prophet Nahum is not known.  We do know that Capernaum was the main city on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and was a significant enough town to have had this centurion with his detachment of soldiers stationed there, perhaps as many and 100 soldiers.  A royal official (most likely in the service of Herod Antipas, also lived there as seen in John 4:46.  In Luke 10A:15 Jesus rebuked its people for their exalted view of their city’s importance:  “An you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?  You will be brought down to Hades!”  In fulfillment of the Lord’s words, Capernaum was eventually destroyed so completely that its precise location is actually unknown.

            Luke’s reference to the centurion provides the biographical setting for this story.  Centurions, so named because they were in charge of approximately one hundred soldiers, as mentioned, were the backbone of the Roman army.  A Roman legion at full strength consisted of 6,000 men, and was then divided into ten cohorts of 600 men each.  A centurion commanded 100 of these men, and a legion therefore had 60 centurions, each of whom reported to one of the legion’s six tribunes (cf. Acts 22:25-26).

(cf. Acts 22:25-26)

“25  But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26  When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

MacArthur writes “The Roman historian Polybius described centurions as ‘not so much venture-some daredevils as natural leaders of a steady and sedate spirit, not so much men who will initiate attacks and open the battle as men who will hold their ground when worsted and hard pressed and be ready to die at their posts’ (Histories vi. Xix-xlii, cited in Naphtali Lewis and Meyer Reinhod, eds. Roman Civilization: Source book 1: The Republic [New Your: Haprper & Row, 1966] 435).

            “Since Galilee was under the rule of Herod Antipas during the life of Christ, Roman  troops were not normally stationed there.  This centurion may have been overseeing some of Herod’s soldiers, or a small detachment of Roman troops may have been assigned to Capernaum (Leon Morris, The Gospel According to St. Luke, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries [Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 1975], 136).  He most likely was not an Italian, but a native of one of the nearby territories, such as Syria.  That he was a Gentile is clear from verses 4 and 5.  He was a career soldier, having risen from the ranks by proving to be a strong, responsible, reliable man and a brave, loyal, and skilled fighter.  His responsibilities included keeping order, enforcing the law, and overseeing the collection of taxes.

            “Like all the other centurions mentioned in the New Testament (Mark 15:39; Acts 10:1-2; 22:25-26; 23:17-18; 27:1, 42-43), this one is portrayed favorably.”   

(Mark 15:39; Acts 10:1-2; 22:25-26; 23:17-18; 27:1, 42-43)

“39  And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

“1 ¶  At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2  a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.”

“25  But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26  When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.’”

“17  Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18  So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.’”

“1 ¶  And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.”

“42  The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43  But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,”

“Along with the centurion in charge of Jesus’ crucifixion, and Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48), he became a believer in Jesus Christ.”

(Acts 10:44-48)

“  44 ¶  While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45  And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46  For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47  “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”    8/10/2026 9:32 PM

 

Intro to “The Man Who Amazed Jesus” (Luke 7:1-10)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/10/2026 9:48 AM

My Worship Time                                                 Focus: Intro to “The Man Who Amazed Jesus”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                   Reference:  Luke 7:1-10

            Message of the verses:  “7 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. ² And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. ³ When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; ⁵ for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; ⁷ for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” ⁹ Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” ¹⁰ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.”

            “There is no doubt that Jesus Christ is the most amazing person who ever lived.  The gospels repeatedly record that people were astounded, astonished, even traumatized by the words He spoke and miracles He performed.  His divine knowledge and supernatural power exceeded all comprehension.

            “After hearing the Sermon on the Mount, ‘the crowds were amazed at His teaching’ (Matt. 7:28).  In the next chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee that was so intense that the disciples feared for their lives (Matt. 8:25).  But afterward the realization that God incarnate was in the boat with them terrified them even more than the storm outside the boat had.  Verse 27 records that they ‘were amazed and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Himn?’  After He cas a demon out of a mute man’ ‘the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’’’(Matt. 9:33; cf. Mark 7:37).  When Jesus taught in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth, ‘they were astonished, and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’’ (Matt. 13:54; cf. Luke 4:22).  Those who heard Him teach in the synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:22) and in the temple (John 7:14-15) had similar reactions.

            “The huge crowds that flocked to Jesus along the shore of the Sea of Galilee ‘marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel’ (Matt. 15:31).  After the rich young ruler rejected Him, the Lord told His disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matt. 19:23).  Since in Jewish culture the wealthy were thought to have the inside track to heaven, ‘when the disciples heard this they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ (v. 25).  ‘Seeing a long fig tree by the road, [Jesus] came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, ‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’  And at once the fig tree withered’ (Matt. 21:19).  Despite all the miracles they had witnessed during their time with Jesus, ‘the disciples were amazed and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither all at once?’’(v. 20).

            “The Jewish religious leaders’ futile attempts to trap Jesus failed, leaving both them (Matt. 22:22) and the crowds (v. 33; cf. Mark 11:18) STUNNED BY His answers.  Unlike those who were astonished by what Jesus said, Pilate was astonished by what He did not say.  The governor was accustomed to hearing the accused prisoners brought before him either vehemently protest their innocence or desperately plead for clemency.  Therefore he was ‘quote amazed’ when Jesus maintained a majestic calm and remained silent (Matt. 27:14).  The disciples understandably were amazed when they saw the resurrected Christ (Luke 23:12, 41).

            “But while Jesus frequently amazed people, there are only two times in the gospels when He is said to have been amazed.  As noted above, the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth were first astonished, then angered by Jesus’ teaching.  In response, as Mark records, Jesus ‘wondered at their unbelief’ (Mark 6:6).  The only other time Jesus was amazed was because of the faith of a Roman soldier.  This passage is the story of Jesus’ encounter with that man, who was not a Jew, but a Gentile centurion.  Luke’s account presents first the context, and then the content of his faith that amazed Jesus.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Thinking about Jesus being amazed by this man’s faith makes me thankful that this man had the kind of faith to make Jesus amazed.

            My Steps of Faith for Today:  To have the kind of faith to amaze my Savior is something that I surely strive for.

8/10/2026 10:18 AM

 

“The Consequences of the Decision” (Luke 6:47-49)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/9/2026 10:21 PM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus: “The Consequences of the Decision”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 6:47-49

            Message of the verses:  “⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when there was a flood, the river burst against that house and yet it could not shake it, because it had been well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; and the river burst against it and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

            John MacArthur writes “This unforgettable illustration reveals the inescapable consequences of the decision one makes about Jesus Christ.  The one who comes to Him and hears His words and acts on them…is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock.  The phrase dug deep alludes to the deep heart searching that marks true repentance.  The only foundation for salvation is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), while rock refers to God in the Old Testament (e.g., Deut. 32:4, 15, 18; 2 Sam. 22:2-3; Pss. 18:2; 28:1; 78:35; 95:1; Isa. 26:4; 30:29) and Christ in the New (1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Peter 2:5-8).”

(1 Cor. 3:11)

“11 ¶  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

(e.g., Deut. 32:4, 15, 18; 2 Sam. 22:2-3; Pss. 18:2; 28:1; 78:35; 95:1; Isa. 26:4; 30:29)

“4  "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

“15 ¶  "But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.”

“18  You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

“2 ¶  He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 3  my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.”

“2  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

“1 ¶  «Of David.» To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.”

“35  They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.”

“1 ¶  Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”

“4  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”

“29  You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.”

(1 Cor. 10:4; 1 Peter 2:5-8)

“4  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”

“5  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6  For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7  So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8  and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”

            “On the other hand, the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation.  This religious edifice appeared superficially to be identical to the first house, and was located in the same region, since the same storm affected both.  As was illustrated in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:24-30), false believers are often indistinguishable from true believers until judgment comes and sweeps their self-righteous religious edifice away.  But when the flood and torrent of divine judgment and fury burst against each house the results were dramatically different.  When the storm of judgment hit the house built on the solid foundation of salvation in Christ it could not shake it, because it had been well built. Those who build their lives on the foundation of the gospel have nothing to fear from the storm of judgment, since Jesus promised, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My Word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life’ (John 5:24; cf. 3:16, 18; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 4:17).”

(cf. 3:16, 18; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 4:17)

“16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

“18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

“1 ¶  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

“17 ¶  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”

“The other religious house, having no grounding in Christ and the gospel, could not stand.  When the torrent of divine judgment burst against it…immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.

            “The choice every person faces is clear.  Those who follow the blueprint provided by false teachers and foolishly built their spiritual houses on the sand of human achievement will be swept into hell by the flood of divine judgment.  But those who build on the solid foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be shaken (cf. Rom. 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6).”

(cf. Rom. 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6)

“33  as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

“11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

“6  For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’”

“The hymn ‘The Solid Rock’ expresses their joyous confidence:

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

8/9/2026 10:56 PM

 

 

The Nature of the Decision” (Luke 6:46)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/9/2026 8:37 AM

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  The Nature of the Decision”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                       Reference:  Luke 6:46

            Message of the verse:  “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

            I will begin to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary for this section:  “Religion thrives in the world because people want to life after death in heaven, however they define it.  Whether conceived of as the nirvana of Buddhism, the paradise of Islam, the eternal progression of godhood of Mormonism, or the freedom from the cycle of reincarnation and union with Brahman of Hinduism, religions offer some form of bliss, happiness, fulfilment, or reward on a higher place after this life.

            “In this age of tolerance and rejection of absolute truth (especially religious truth), there is a widespread belief that anyone who is sincere in their faith will go to heaven.  Even many professing evangelicals hold to an inclusive view of the gospel.  God, they maintain, will accept those who are sincere in their religious commitment, even if they never leave their false religions, or profess faith in Jesus Christ.  In fact, some even argue that they may actually be aided in coming to God by those false religions.

            “But the gospel is uncompromisingly exclusive.  Jesus declared, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’ (John 14:6).  The early Christians proclaimed the truth that ‘there is salvation in no one else [other than Jesus Christ]; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).

            “If there were any religion apart from biblical Christianity close enough to the truth its followers might get to heaven, it would be Judaism.  After all, Christians and Jews have much in common.  Both believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Both believe that God is holy, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, creator, sustainer, holy, sovereign, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, creator, sustainer, and judge.  Both believe in the reality of sin and the need for righteousness.  Both believe in virtues such as humility, honesty, kindness, and forgiveness.  And Jews believe in the Old Testament Scriptures.

            “But it was to people who held those very beliefs that Jesus addressed this sermon.  Many were fascinated by Him, as evidenced by the huge crowds that followed Him wherever He went.  Some even identified themselves as His disciples and affirmed Him to be in some sense their master or teacher.  Yet despite all of that, many fell short of salvation because, as the Lord’s pointed question ‘Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?’ makes clear, they failed to obey Him.”  (8/9/2026 8:55 AM)  (8/9/2026 1:48 PM)

            “Submission to Jesus Christ as Lord is a non-negotiable element of true salvation.  Romans 10:9 says plainly, ‘If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved’ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3).”

(cf. 1 Cor. 12:3)

“3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says accursed “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

“Saving faith is obedient faith.  Acts 6:7 relates that ‘a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.’  Three times in Romans the apostle Paul spoke of obedience in connection with saving faith (1:5; 15; 18; 16:26).”

(Romans 1:5; 15:18; 16:26)

“5  through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,”

“18  For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,”

“26  but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith”

“Jesus is ‘to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation’ (Heb. 5:9), and Peter wrote that the goal of salvation is ‘to obey Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 1:2).  Those who love Jesus will keep His commandments (John 14:15, 23; 15:10; cf. 1 John 5:3).”

(John 14:15, 23; 15:10; cf. 1 John 5:3)

“15 ¶  "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

“23  Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“10  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

“3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

“On the other hand, ‘He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him’ (John 3:36), because ‘not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter’ (Matt. 7:21), Paul pronounced a curse on those who reject Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 16:22).”

(1 Cor. 16:22)

“22  If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!”

“But prove yourselves doer of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves,’ warned James (James 1:22).  To have God on one’s lips but not in one’s heart is profane blasphemy.

            “The non-negotiable requirements of confessing sin, repenting of it, and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior are necessary for salvation.  Those who fail in those respects but trust in good works and religious ritual will not see heaven, no matter how sincere their religious beliefs.”

Spiritual meaning for my life:  I heard a story about what one will be surprised about when getting to heaven.  Who is there; who is not there; and you are there.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting the Lord to do a work in my heart in order to be with me in a special way as the mourning over my wife going to heaven will bring healing to my heart.  8/9/2026 2:08 PM