The Defiance (John 8:59a)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/1/2016 9:41 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                          Focus:  The Defiance

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                           Reference:  John 8:59a

            Message of the verses:  “Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him.

            Seeing how the day has gotten away from me due to babysitting and other chores I will make this a very short SD, as I will actually quote the two short paragraphs from John MacArthur’s commentary.

            “The Jewish leaders understood Jesus’ claim perfectly.  In response, their hatred flamed into violence.  Infuriated by what they perceived as blasphemy (cf. 10:33), ‘The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.’  They took the law into their own hands and ‘picked up stones to throw at Him (cf. Lev. 24:16 ‘’Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.’

            “Here is the grip of unbelief so powerful that in the face of irrefutable evidence they were unwilling to accept that as God in human flesh, Jesus was incapable of committing blasphemy; rather all of His claims, no matter how astonishing, were absolutely true.  How ironic that the Jewish religious leaders, seemingly so passionate for God’s honor that they were ready to cast stones at a blasphemer, were, in fact, accusing God Himself of blaspheming God.”

            This of course is a very sad commentary that not only went on during the time that Jesus Christ was on earth but still goes on today around the world as people believe the lies that Satan can put into their minds and then kill true believers who have the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ living in them.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Know the truth, live by it and be ready to defend it no matter what the cost.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to teach me each and every day, to bring honor and glory to the Lord each and every day.

Memory verse for the week:  (Rom. 6:1) “What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “John the Baptist” (Mark 1:6).

Today’s Bible question:  “In which book is the story of Gideon told?”

Answer in our next SD.  7/1/2016 9:54 PM