Luke 19:47-48 – Every day [Jesus] was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. (NIV)

Sometimes, I wish that I had a time machine and could go back to the days when Jesus was teaching in the Jerusalem temple. His lessons and stories must have been captivating. His understanding of the mysteries of God and what life is all about must have been profound. I know that the gospels contain much of what He preached and taught, but I get the feeling that we have only the tip of the iceberg of His ministry. There must have been other parables and perspectives that were never written down. Perhaps, when we all get to be with Him in heaven, Jesus will tell and teach us things that we have never known.

For me, the purpose of church is to keep repeating the lessons and stories of the Bible, as well as those of Christ's ministry, to every generation that comes along. Even though the Scriptures are thousands of years old, they still contain relevant truths, wisdom, and guidance that we all need for our everyday lives. We all go through good times and bad moments; we all can feel lonely and powerless in different situations. Christ's stories and His teachings can penetrate the pain that we feel, recognize the uncertainties that we experience, and augment the hopes that we harbour in our hearts. If we make the time to hear and re-hear, or read and re-read those lessons and parables from Jesus, we will build up a spiritual storehouse of godly guidance and divine wisdom which we can readily use no matter what we face or are confronted with.

So, today, take the time to read and ponder a gospel passage, and this weekend, set aside enough time to worship God at a church in order to glorify Jesus and receive an effective blessing from His Word.

Points to ponder: What are my favourite stories of Jesus? How have they helped me in my daily life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we often thank You for being our Saviour, but we are also grateful that You are our teacher and guide. Allow us to seek Your presence this day and to look to Your words to help us on our way. In Your holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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About the author:

John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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