October 31, 2006 - John 4.31-54
While this was happening, Jesus’ disciples were saying to him, "Teacher, please eat something." But Jesus told them, "I have food that you don’t know anything about." His disciples started asking each other, "Has someone brought him something to eat?"
34 Jesus said: My food is to do what God wants! He is the one who sent me, and I must finish the work that he gave me to do. 35 You may say that there are still four months until harvest time. But I tell you to look, and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready to harvest.
36 Even now the harvest workers are receiving their reward by gathering a harvest that brings eternal life. Then everyone who planted the seed and everyone who harvests the crop will celebrate together. 37 So the saying proves true, "Some plant the seed, and others harvest the crop." 38 I am sending you to harvest crops in fields where others have done all the hard work.
39 A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, "This man told me everything I have ever done."
40 They came and asked him to stay in their town, and he stayed on for two days. 41 Many more Samaritans put their faith in Jesus because of what they heard him say. 42 They told the woman, "We no longer have faith in Jesus just because of what you told us. We have heard him ourselves, and we are certain that he is the Savior of the world!"
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
43-44 Jesus had said, "Prophets are honored everywhere, except in their own country." Then two days later he left 45 and went to Galilee. The people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything he had done.
46 While Jesus was in Galilee, he returned to the village of Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was an official in Capernaum whose son was sick. 47 And when the man heard that Jesus had come from Judea, he went and begged him to keep his son from dying.
48 Jesus told the official, "You won’t have faith unless you see miracles and wonders!" 49 The man replied, "Lord, please come before my son dies!" 50 Jesus then said, "Your son will live. Go on home to him." The man believed Jesus and started back home. 51 Some of the official’s servants met him along the road and told him, "Your son is better!" 52 He asked them when the boy got better, and they answered, "The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock." 53 The boy’s father realized that at one o’clock the day before, Jesus had told him, "Your son will live!" So the man and everyone in his family put their faith in Jesus. 54 This was the second miracle that Jesus worked after he left Judea and went to Galilee.

I like the line - The man believed Jesus and started back home.    ¶ 8:26 AM

 

October 17, 2006 - 1 Timothy 3

Church Officials
It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach.
They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.
Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?
They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil. Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.
Church Officers
Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. And they must have a clear conscience and hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith. They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.
Women must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do.
Church officers must be faithful in marriage. They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home. Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Our Religion
I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, so that if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human.
The Spirit proved that he pleased God, and he was seen by angels.
Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory.    ¶ 7:48 AM

 
Year of the Bible for October 10, 2006


October 10, 2006 - Hebrews 13.1-14


After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so that his blood would make people holy. That's why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace. On this earth we don't have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.    ¶ 8:47 AM