Key Thought

Today's Prayer

O LORD, God Almighty, the Sovereign God of Israel, thank you for giving me victory through Jesus over Satan, sin, and death. I praise you for your grace that has saved me. I praise you for your Spirit that indwells in me and gives me power. I praise you for the coming glorious return in which I will share. To you belongs all glory and honor, now and forevermore, in the name of your Son, Jesus, Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and taught the people. The people there were amazed at Jesus' teaching. Jesus did not teach like their teachers of the law. Jesus taught like a person that had authority (power). While Jesus was in the synagogue, a man was there that had an evil spirit {from the devil} inside him. The man shouted, "Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God's Holy One!" Jesus said strongly, "Be quiet! Come out of the man!" The evil spirit made the man shake. Then the spirit made a loud noise and came out of the man. The people were amazed. They asked each other, "What is happening here? This man is teaching something new. And he teaches with authority (power)! He even gives commands to evil spirits, and the spirits obey him." So the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the area of Galilee.

Related Scripture Readings

Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.

Jesus was not able to do many miracles in that town. The only miracles he did were to heal some sick people by putting his hands on them. Jesus was very surprised because those people did not have faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught. Jesus called the twelve followers together. Jesus sent them out in groups of two. Jesus gave them power over evil spirits. This is what Jesus told his followers: "Take nothing for your trip. Take only a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets.

Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under Christ's control. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. Death's power to hurt is sin. And the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don't let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.