Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, give courage to all of your servants world-wide who are facing hardship, difficulty, and possibly even death for their faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

One time on a Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through some grain fields. His followers picked the grain, rubbed it in their hands, and ate it. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that? It is against the law {of Moses} to do that on the Sabbath day." Jesus answered, "You have read about what David did when he and the people with him were hungry. David went into God's house. David took the bread that was offered to God and ate it. And David gave some of the bread to the people with him. This was against the law {of Moses}. The law says that only the priests can eat that bread." Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Son of Man is Lord (Master) over the Sabbath day." On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue. Jesus taught the people. A man with a crippled right hand was there. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely. They were waiting to see if he would heal on the Sabbath day. They wanted to see Jesus do something wrong so that they could accuse him. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the crippled hand, "Get up and stand before these people." The man got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which thing is right to do on the Sabbath day: to do good, or to do evil? Is it right to save a life or to destroy one?" Jesus looked around at all of them. Jesus said to the man, "Let me see your hand." The man put his hand out. His hand was healed. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law became very, very angry. They talked to each other about what they could do to Jesus.

Related Scripture Readings

We know that in everything God works for the good of those people that love him. These are the people God called (chose), because that was his plan. God knew those people before he made the world. And God decided that those people would be like his Son (Jesus). Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. God planned for those people to be like his Son. And he called (chose) those people. God called those people and made them right with him. And God gave his glory to those people that he made right.

But you know all about me. You know what I teach and the way I live. You know my goal in life. You know my faith, my patience, and my love. You know that I never stop trying. You know about my persecutions (troubles) and my sufferings. You know all the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You know the persecutions I suffered in those places. But the Lord saved me from all those troubles. Every person who wants to live the way God wants, in Christ Jesus, will be persecuted. People who are evil and cheat other people will become worse and worse. They will fool other people, but they will also be fooling themselves. But you should continue following the teachings you learned. You know that those teachings are true. You know you can trust the people who taught you those things.

If we are God's children, then we will get the blessings God has for his people. We will get these things from God. God will give us all that he has given Christ. But we must suffer like Christ suffered. Then we will be able to share his glory. We have sufferings now. But the sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be given to us.