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Tag: Luke

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31

    “But seek the kingdom of God, and all
    these things shall be added to you.” – Luke 12:31
    HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE and Happy New Year

    WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY?

    Portions of what we call the Sermon on the Mount that are found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7 are found in Luke 12.  Luke places His teaching on worrying and anxiety after Jesus has addressed people about being covetous.  Being consumed with the cares and concerns of life chokes out our life.  (See Luke 8:14) Our lives are so much more than food and drink and clothing.  And our lives are not about GETTING and HAVING THE MOST and having the BEST of everything.  We draw from Luke 12:15 that the best things in life are not things. 

    If life is not about getting things and not even about making sure we survive by focusing all our attention on getting the basics for living, what then is life about?  Luke 12:31 says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Matthew 6:33 reads, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

    Luke 12:31 reminds us of what our top priority should be.  I am not sure what you are SEEKING but based on Scripture seeking and doing the will of God should be the preeminent priority of the Christian’s life.   
     
    Consider a couple of other verses to help solidify that seeking and doing God’s will is your top priority;

    Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

    Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

    Psalm 27:8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.“

    Notice a comparison of Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, and Philippians 2:21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
    Will you be a 1:21 person or a 2:21 person in 2024?

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 31 (12/31) is Luke 12:31. It says, “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

    Continue Strong with Jesus always being FIRST!!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 20 (12/20) is Luke 12:20

    “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;
    then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ – Luke 12:20
    Don’t be a FOOL with your SOUL!

    It is sobering to know that our lives on earth end and more often than not it comes with an unexpected deadline. Yet when our lives end it is just beginning as we have a soul that will continue to live for all eternity.  The location of our soul is determined by a decision we make here on earth while living.  Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment.”  This judgment is not the final judgment but it is the first judgment that has you either in heaven or hell at the very moment of your death.  If you have decided to accept Christ and you have been born again you immediately go into heaven when you die.  2 Corinthians 5:8b says, “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”  But if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior you will perish and be in hell.  

    Even knowing how certain death is we still find so many putting off this decision as they have different priorities for their lives. Here is Luke 12 Jesus addresses having the wrong priorities.
    There are the wrong priorities regarding money.  There are the wrong priorities regarding time and eternity.  In Luke 12:16-19 we have a man who thinks he has plenty of time to get right with God and be prepared to meet him.   Yet our verse tells us that time has run out.  God calls this man a fool as he has failed to be prepared for life after death.

    While preparing for and pursuing earthly pleasure he was unprepared for eternal pleasure and now will face eternal punishment.  

    With the uncertainty of a certain ending to life, Scripture appeals over and over to accept Jesus now. For instance,  2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”   While there is uncertainty about when your life will end, let there be no uncertainty about your eternal future being in heaven. 

    Are you being a fool with your soul?  Matthew 16:26 says, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

    Are you prepared to meet God face to face?  There is a heaven and there is a hell.  Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.  Are you prepared to meet God face to face as you are appointed once to die and then the judgment?

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 20 (12/20) is Luke 12:20. It says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

    Don’t be a fool with your soul!

    Continue Strong by having prepared your soul for eternity!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 15 (12/15) is Luke 12:15

    “And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life
    does not consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.” – Luke 12:15
    THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS!!

    Our verse to consider starts with a double warning as JESUS says, “Take heed and beware.”  While we should be listening to everything Jesus says and everything the Bible teaches, a double warning should have our full UNDIVIDED attention. 

    So, ARE YOU LISTENING?  So, ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?  

    With the double warning stated our verse continues with Jesus telling us to WATCH OUT for COVETING or being GREEDY.  “Take heed and beware of COVETOUSNESS.”  Jesus takes his crowd that day and us back to the Tenth Commandment of the Ten Commandments as it states “You shall not COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not COVET your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor ANYTHING that is your neighbor’s.”  Exodus 20:17  

    Of all the Commandments the tenth is the most personal and secretive as it is broken with an attitude.  The attitude of coveting then will lead to actions.  Now, if I am coveting, you do not see it.  If you are coveting, I do not see it.  It is an inside sin.  The sinful attitude comes as one is never satisfied with what one presently has, and they have a driving desire to get more and more so that they can be at least equal to if not better than their neighbor.  There is never ENOUGH for them.  There is no CONTENTMENT with a COVETING person. The coveting person makes gold their god!  

    With the double WARNING of guarding against COVETING, Jesus now teaches a lesson that flies in the face of what we have been taught and conditioned to think about money, things, and possessions.  The WHY of why we should not covet (ARE YOU LISTENING) IS “your life does not consist in the abundance of things you possess.”    

    YOUR LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS YOU POSSESS! 

    With one sentence Jesus CONFRONTS and DEBUNKS the thinking that fuels COVETING.  Your self-worth is not tied to your worth!  Your worth does not determine your self-worth!

    How do you now apply JESUS’ TEACHING from Luke 12:15 to your THINKING?  For me, it was hearing the quote “THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS”  that helped me go against the world’s thinking.

    Our verse to DATE the Word on December 15 (12/15) is Luke 12:15. It says, “And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life DOES NOT consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.”

    Are you GUARDING your heart against being GREEDY? Are you CONTENT or does your heart COVET more and MORE and MORE?
    How does the quote THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS help you apply the teaching that Jesus has given?

    Continue Strong content and satisfied with Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17

    “But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” – Luke 11:17
     
    DIVISION = DESOLATION

    Whether it is a family or an organization or a team or a church, etc. UNITY is essential for success. I believe it was from Dr. John Maxwell that I first heard the concept, “WORKING TOGETHER PRECEDES WINNING TOGETHER.”  For years it has been said TEAM stands for TOGETHER EACH ACCOMPLISHES MORE.  The military tells us there has to be UNITY IN THE UNIT!

    From the teaching of Jesus in Luke 11:17, we must learn and understand the DANGER OF DIVISION and DIVISIVENESS for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.   

    Without going into a full discipleship lesson on unity it is worth considering one of the root causes of division which is PRIDE.   Notice a few verses:
    Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    Proverbs 13:10  By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
    As I deal with conflicts I ask the question, “Who is displaying pride?”   Who wants to have it THEIR WAY?  You probably can think of a time that someone brought division to a team because of THEIR pride.  And you probably can think of a time that YOU brought division to a team because of YOUR pride.  

    In working to bring about unity there are a couple of quotes I like to use.  Dr. Maxwell taught the 101% rule saying find the 1% you do agree on and give that 100%.  I am not sure if he got this from studying Philippians 4:2.  In Philippians 4:2 Paul implored “Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”   The 1% was they were both IN THE LORD so they now needed to give 100% to both being in the Lord.  

    Friends, we are ALL different and we have differences and we have differences of opinions.  What we must guard against is allowing those differences to divide us to the point we destroy each other.  Growing in maturity means learning to disagree agreeably.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17.  It says, “But He (JESUS)  knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”

    Know the DANGER OF DIVISION for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.

    Continue Strong seeking unity in whatever unit you are in!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!!

    BTW – Jesus prayed that Christians would be unified in John 17 praying 3 different times for us to be one.   He only prayed once to raised Lazarus from the dead.   Seems it was easier for Jesus to raise the dead than for us to be unified. 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 3 (11/3) is Luke 11:3

    “Give us day by day our daily bread.” – Luke 11:3
    The PRAYER FOR BASIC PROVISIONS

    Luke 11:3 is part of what we call the Lord’s Prayer but is really the “Disciple’s Prayer” as the prayer that Jesus taught was for the disciples!  You may recall that in Luke 11:1 that as He was praying ONE of His DISCIPLES asked that He teach them to pray!  What followed are some of the best instructions a person can ever learn when it comes to PRAYER!   I suspect many of you can quote by memory but just in case this is what Jesus taught:

    2  So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven.
    3  Give us day by day our daily bread.
    4  And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

    When Jesus taught in Matthew 6 He had as the conclusion “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

    Our verse to date on November 3 (11/3) is considered the hinge verse of the “Lord’s Prayer” as it moves us from a time of adoration to God to now a time of asking for our needs.  In verse 2 you find the word “YOUR” 3 times.  In that verse, we adore and praise God.   There is a spirit of submission as we want His kingdom and His will accomplished.  

    Having focused on the adoration of the Father and the agenda of heaven Jesus teaches to ASK for the things needed on EARTH, things the HEAVENLY FATHER provides.  The things we most need are the provision of daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and protection.  

    I would like for us to consider that in asking for day by day our daily bread Jesus is instructing us to ask for the MOST BASIC of needs.  We need food and water to live.  While we might consider this too small for our Father in heaven, I like to say that while there is NOTHING TOO BIG TO ASK of GOD, there is nothing TOO SMALL to ask of GOD!   After all, He takes care of a sparrow, and He keeps count of the hairs on your head.   YOU must know He is interested in every detail of your life, down to the smallest detail.  It is not petty to ask Him to provide the most basic of needs for your life.  He is expecting you to ASK!

    I also want you to consider that the prayer request here is a prayer of FAITH.  He did not tell us to ask the Heavenly Father for a year’s supply of food.  He teaches us to be DAILY RELIANT on Him. Asking day by day for daily bread brings the immediate reminder that you will be needing to ask DAY by DAY for forgiveness; guidance; and PROTECTION!  

    I also find that as I pray for God to provide for my basic needs I am more grateful of His work in my life.  Asking God to give prompts a spirit of thanksgiving.   The prayer request allows me to reflect on yesterday’s blessings and acknowledge my gratitude for His gracious provisions! 

    In closing, I would like to share one of the greatest “TIPS” I have received for developing a strong walk with the Lord.  Dr. Elmer Towns challenges us to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” as the first thing we did upon waking up.  He taught us to let our first thoughts be of adoration to God and then asking Him to give us what we needed for the day!  This tip has served me well and I believe it will serve you well! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 3 (11/3) is Luke 11:3. It says, “Give us day by day our daily bread.”

    Continue Strong asking your Heavenly Father for daily needs!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2

    “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – Luke 10:2
    PRAYING FOR MORE LABORERS

    The Lord gives us a prayer request as the ANSWER to an ASSESSMENT He has made.  From Luke 10:2 we find He assessed two things about the POPULATION of people. His first assessment is there is a GREAT NUMBER – the harvest is great. 

    Is the population great? Oct. 2, 2023 the world’s population is nearly 8 Billion. In 1860 it was 1 billion. When I was born in 1960 it was 3 billion. If I live to 77, 2037 it is projected to be at 9 billion. WOW.  9 BILLION.  The harvest is TRULY GREAT!! 

    His second assessment is the LABORERS are FEW. Those who are to be reaching the lost are few. This is heartbreaking. 

    More people with less soul winners. Friends, we have a problem. 

    So Jesus provides the ANSWER to the dismal assessment. The answer is to PRAY!!! We are to PRAY for laborers!!  WE ARE TO PRAY FOR LABORERS.  

    Let me be direct with a question regarding your prayer list.  If I were to look at your prayer list will I find this prayer request that Jesus asked you to pray on it?  Would I find that you daily are praying for God to raise up laborers to go into the field? 

    There is no question the harvest is great as we have nearly 8 billion people to reach! There is no doubt the laborers are fewer.  The ANSWER starts with PRAYING to the Lord for laborers!! (And be ready because you might be the answer to your own prayer!!)

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 2 (10/2) is Luke 10:2.  It says, “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

    We are to be praying for laborers ON the field and praying for more laborers to GO to the field. 

    Continue Strong PRAYING for laborers for the great harvest.
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 23 (9/23) is Luke 9:23

    “Then He (JESUS) said to them all,  “If anyone desires to come after Me,
    let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23
    DYING DAILY to SELF to be Fully DEVOTED to YOUR SAVIOR

    Luke 9:23 is one of the top verses in the Bible as we consider the expectations that Jesus has for His followers.  Many churches, as well as many Christians, will have a mission statement that says they want to be a “fully devoted followers of Christ.” That type of mission statement is born out of Luke 9:23 and can only be fulfilled by practicing what Jesus called for in Luke 9:23.

    Let us look closer at the thought of being a “fully devoted follower of Christ” with Luke 9:23 as the guiding verse. Living out Luke 9:23 means one must not and cannot be about themselves. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU IF YOU ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS! If there is the desire to FOLLOW Jesus, one must DENY themselves.  One cannot be self-centered as one is to be totally surrendered.  Jesus said one is to take up his/her cross, which is symbolic of you being dead.  To take up a cross means one had no rights.

    If your desire is to be a fully devoted follower then you are going to need to surrender fully of self and clearly decide that whatever Jesus says is to be obeyed. Wherever Jesus says to go is obeyed. The focus of life has moved from WHAT YOU WANT to WHAT JESUS WANTS.  You fall in line as a FOLLOWER.  You can only be a FOLLOWER if you have surrendered to the leading of the LEADER!

    Now let’s be honest with ourselves. Luke 9:23 may just be the most challenging verse to live out. We do want OUR desires fulfilled and OUR dreams accomplished. To be a fully devoted follower is so challenging that Jesus specifically states it is to be done DAILY.  Every day we are to DIE to ourselves in order to live for Christ. It is a daily prayer of not my will be done but His will be done!

    As you ponder Luke 9:23, which says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me,” pause to ponder the difference between one who is committed to Christ and one who is surrendered to Christ.  What is the difference between being committed and being surrendered? 

    I would also challenge you to connect Luke 9:23 to Romans 12:1, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

    DATE the Word on September 23 (9/23) with Luke 9:23.  It says,  “Then He (Jesus) said to them all,  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

    Have you decided to FOLLOW JESUS?  Have you SURRENDERED ALL to JESUS?

    Continue Strong dying daily to self in order to be fully devoted to our Savior!
    And remember to DATE the WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 25 (8/25) is Luke 8:25

    “But He said to them, (in astonishment) “Where is your faith?” And they were 
    afraid, and marveled, saying to one another (in amazement), “Who can this be?
    For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” – Luke 8:25
    A Storm Becomes A School Room

    The sudden storm on the sea during a boat ride brought about astonishment and amazement that was felt by both Jesus and His disciples. Jesus was astonished at how afraid the disciples were and the disciples were amazed at how awesome Jesus was! 

    We need to know that STORMS are like Schoolrooms for God to show us just how powerful, and AWESOME He is. The disciples’ class started with them AFRAID of a STORM and they finished class AMAZED at the SAVIOR!

    Maybe we should say that again as you may need to read that again. 
    The disciples’ class started with them AFRAID of the STORM and finished AMAZED at the SAVIOR!  

    A storm will reveal how insecure we really are. The disciples (many of them skilled fishermen) are scared to death as this sudden storm hits.  “MASTER! MASTER! WE ARE PERISHING is what they SCREAMED in Luke 8:24.”  Their screaming wakes Jesus up (He must have been SOUND asleep for one would think the storm would have awakened Him) and what happens next is just absolutely amazing.  Picture it! JESUS turns to the storm and REBUKES the storm.  The word REBUKE has the idea of demanding one honor the authority.  And quicker than the storm had suddenly come up the storm CEASED and all was CALM. 

    With the outside storm dealt with Jesus deals with another storm for there is now the storm on the inside of His disciples.  The master discipler will turn this storm into a schoolroom. His disciples are going to learn something.  To help them LEARN He asked a penetrating question “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?:  

    Now they are afraid again for the question revealed LOTS of FEAR and LITTLE FAITH!  

    With Jesus ASTONISHED at their lack of faith, the disciples will now take inventory of the events and they find themselves asking among themselves in AMAZEMENT “Who can this be?”  This storm has brought about a new understanding of just WHO JESUS IS and just how POWERFUL Jesus is.  It would be a lesson that would help them later as they faced other storms.   

    Are you in a storm?  Are you in a vicious, raging, fierce, and ferocious storm?  What is this storm revealing about you?  Is it showing you have LOTS of FEARS and LITTLE FAITH?  What is it showing to you about Jesus?   

    In your school room of a storm may you find yourself LEARNING more ABOUT Jesus and becoming more AMAZED at Jesus. May your storm move your story from LOTS of FEARS and little faith to LOTS OF FAITH and little fear!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 25 (8/25) is Luke 8:25. It says, “But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” 

    A quick note – Please remember that your storms become stories that become opportunities to share the Savior!

    Continue AMAZED at Jesus!  
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!
    NOTE – Date the Word is offering a trip to Israel this January, January 15-24, 2024 and you can experience a boat ride on the sea of Galilee (can’t guarantee a storm) where this story will be taught.  check out our flyer at www.datetheword.com for more information.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 30 (7/30) is Luke 7:30

    “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves,
    not having been baptized by him.” – Luke 7:30
    They “REJECTED THE WILL OF GOD.” 

    I am thinking that those who read this devotional would never want the words you “REJECTED THE WILL OF GOD” spoken about you. I would certainly hope not. I know I do not.  What a terrible description to have spoken about you.  

    As believers, our desire should be to know and obey the will of God.   We are taught by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:2 “that we no longer should live the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”  The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:17 to “not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  To the Colossians, Paul wrote that he was praying for them “that they may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

    My discipler, Bill Crawford, told me as I began my Christian journey that the best place in life was to be right smack in the middle of God’s will.  He said I was to find God’s will for my life and do God’s will.

    Where does KNOWING and DOING the will of God presently fit into your life? 
    Is there first and foremost a desire to KNOW His will? 
    Is there secondly a desire to DO His will? 
    Thirdly, are you presently DOING His will? 

    In wrapping up this devotional please pause to consider a different description of one’s life and actions. As opposed to Luke 7:30 where the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God consider Acts 13:36 where we read about King David.  Acts 13:36 says, “For after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors….” 

    The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God.  King David did the will of God.  

    May Acts 13:36 be spoken at your funeral that you did the will of God during your time on this earth!  May it never be said of us that you REJECTED the will of God!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 30 (7/30) is Luke 7:30. It says, “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”

    Continue Strong KNOWING and DOING God’s Will,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 19 (7/19) is Luke 7:19

    “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, asking,
    “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” – Luke 7:19
    Difficulties Raise Doubts

    The very best of the followers of Jesus can go through incredibly difficult times and as those difficulties mount so do the possibilities of doubt mounting.  John the Baptist was one of the very best.  He was the forerunner to the Messiah and in John 1:29 he made the announcement of announcements when he “saw Jesus coming toward him,” he boldly and clearly PROCLAIMED “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  

    However, as John did his assigned ministry, he found himself in jail with a pending execution soon to come because he had made it clear to King Herod that “It was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife.” The woman was named Herodias. Herodias was furious that the prophet of God had pointed out their sin and she wanted John the Baptist executed. YIKES!!!

    Sitting in jail John the Baptist begins to have doubts.  He begins to have doubts about Jesus and whether Jesus was really who he had proclaimed Jesus to be.  He calls his disciples to go and ask Jesus “Are You the Coming One or (fastening your seatbelts) OR do we look for another?”   DOUBLE YIKES!!!!  The difficulty that John found himself in raised a huge doubt about WHO JESUS WAS.  John the Baptist is doubting.  He is unsure.  One of the best now has on his resume that he DOUBTED. 

    I will go one more step.  That he QUESTIONED what he believed.

    Have you ever doubted since you got saved?  Have you ever doubted that God has your best interest in mind?  Have you questioned what you believe?

    Have you ever talked with someone who is in the dungeon of doubt?  

    I am thinking the answer to both my above questions is yes.  I can tell you that my answer to both is yes.  

    To DATE Luke 7:19 is to know that John the Baptist was honest with his thoughts, and his doubts.  In the dungeon of doubt, he sent word to JESUS.  Don’t miss that.  Please don’t miss this.  He sent word to Jesus that he was having doubts. 

    To DATE Luke 7:19 is to also know how Jesus responded. 
    Notice Luke 7:20-23 “When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23  “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

    How did Jesus respond?  With a scathing rebuke? No  With profound disappointment?  No.  He answered John’s doubts with Scripture.  Don’t miss this!  I say He answered with Scripture because what Jesus told John’s disciples to tell John was that the prophesied ministry of the Messiah was being fulfilled.  In other words, He answered John’s question with YES, I am the coming one and NO, you do not need to look for another one.

    Difficulties have the very real potential to raise DOUBT.  You may have them.  Family and friends and those in your fellowship may have them.  When you or they have them remember John the Baptist. And remember how he took his doubts to Jesus and remember how Jesus responded by pointing John to the Scriptures.   Why the Scriptures?  Because faith quenches doubts! Remember Romans 10:17.  It says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 19 (7/19) is Luke 7:19 and it says, “And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, asking, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

    Be honest as doubt mounts.  Bring the questions to Jesus.  

    Continue Strong taking all doubts to Jesus,
    And remember to DATE the Word 

    BTW – Drown your doubts by soaking yourself in the Scriptures.