TALMUDIM

Today’s Reading: Luke 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

The hills above the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, near Capernaum. It’s possible that Jesus walked this very hill to find His place of all-night prayer (Luke 6:12).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Luke 6:12-13

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles…

The word in the Hebrew language for disciple is “talmudim.” In Israel, even the little child who started school a few days ago is a “talmudim,” a student, a learner. We are Jesus’ students. What can we learn from today’s reading? (1) Is it possible that the religious leaders would rather have left the man in his crippled state? Before we condemn these guardians of religious rules and regulations, let’s be sure we cannot find ourselves in their midst. How often have we prevented the moving of the Holy Spirit because what was happening did not fit into our existing structures? On the Sabbath day, Jesus healed a man and allowed His disciples to harvest some grain. We must not allow a religious spirit to trump the freedom of the Holy Spirit to do all He desires to do. (2) After rejecting the rules of the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus gives His rules. These are the really difficult rules. These rules can never be obeyed apart from the Holy Spirit in us and upon us. You may want to read these again…verses 27 to 38. Can we keep these commandments on our own? Think about it. Be a “talmudim.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, for over three years You had “talmudim,” students under Your teaching. I am Your kindergarten pupil. Teach me today and empower me by Your Spirit to obey Your instructions. I ask these mercies in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m painfully challenged by Jesus’ teaching and also His example. Before calling His apostles from among His disciples, He spent a night in prayer to God. How often I could’ve avoided poor decisions if I had spent more time in prayer. I’ve tried to take myself by the scruff of my neck and force myself to spend nights of prayer. Most times I have fallen asleep on my knees, but there were times when God the Holy Spirit moved so powerfully that I could not sleep if I tried. One was when President Jimmy Carter was at Camp David with President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Begin of Israel. I can’t explain that night except for the empowering of the Holy Spirit on me to pray. Another time was when a precious baby was not expected to live the night. On both occasions God answered prayer with a “Yes.” Others were praying also, I’m sure, but I was part of a victory as a result of strong and prolonged prayer.

Yours for being students of the Teacher of teachers,

David