Everyday Wisdom from the Gospels (Ebook Shorts): Devotional Reflections
()
About this ebook
Warren W. Wiersbe
Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as "the pastor’s pastor." He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Read more from Warren W. Wiersbe
The Strategy of Satan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Defining Verse: Find Your Life’s Sentence Through the Lives of 63 Bible Characters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5With the Word: The Chapter-by-Chapter Bible Handbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Rich (Ephesians): Gaining the Things That Money Can't Buy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Complete (Colossians): Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Worshipful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He Is Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Skillful (Proverbs): God's Guidebook to Wise Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Loyal (Matthew): Following the King of Kings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Amazed (Minor Prophets): Restoring an Attitude of Wonder and Worship Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Joyful (Philippians): Even When Things Go Wrong, You Can Have Joy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Basic (Genesis 1-11): Believing the Simple Truth of God's Word Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Mature (James): Growing Up in Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Right (Romans): How to Be Right with God, Yourself, and Others Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Comforted (Isaiah): Feeling Secure in the Arms of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Faithful (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon): It's Always Too Soon to Quit! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Committed (Ruth & Esther): Doing God's Will Whatever the Cost Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wiersbe Bible Study Series: John: Get to Know the Living Savior Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Alive (John 1-12): Get to Know the Living Savior Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Satisfied (Ecclesiastes): Looking for the Answer to the Meaning of Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Wise (1 Corinthians): Discern the Difference Between Man's Knowledge and God's Wisdom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Preaching with a Plan: Sermon Strategies for Growing Mature Believers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Confident (Hebrews): Live by Faith, Not by Sight Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Free (Galatians): Exchange Legalism for True Spirituality Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Proverbs: God's Guidebook to Wise Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Strong (Joshua): Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Be Holy (Leviticus): Becoming "Set Apart" for God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Hopeful (1 Peter): How to Make the Best of Times Out of Your Worst of Times Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Determined (Nehemiah): Standing Firm in the Face of Opposition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Related to Everyday Wisdom from the Gospels (Ebook Shorts)
Related ebooks
Milestones of the Master: Crucial Events in the Life of Jesus and Why They Matter So Much Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5New Testament Words for Today: 100 Devotional Reflections Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Names of Jesus Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Be Loyal (Matthew): Following the King of Kings Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Cross of Jesus: What His Words from Calvary Mean for Us Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When Life Falls Apart Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJesus in the Present Tense: The I AM Statements of Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bible Personalities: A Treasury of Insights for Personal Growth and Ministry Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Prayer, Praise & Promises: A Daily Walk Through the Psalms Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Alert (2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude): Beware of the Religious Impostors Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Delights and Disciplines of Bible Study: A Guidebook for Studying God's Word Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAngry People (Living Lessons From God’s Word): . . . and What We Can Learn from Them Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Psalms: Glorifying God for Who He Is Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Distinct (2 Kings & 2 Chronicles): Standing Firmly Against the World's Tides Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: 1 Kings: Being Good Stewards of God's Gifts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bumps Are What You Climb On: Encouragement for Difficult Days Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Concerned (Minor Prophets): Making a Difference in Your Lifetime Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Mature (James): Growing Up in Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Key Words of the Christian Life: Understanding and Applying Their Meanings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Counted (Numbers): Living a Life That Counts for God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Truth on Its Head: Unusual Wisdom in the Paradoxes of the Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wiersbe Bible Study Series: 2 Peter, 2&3 John, Jude: Beware of the Religious Imposters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Proverbs: God's Guidebook to Wise Living Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Real (1 John): Turning from Hypocrisy to Truth Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Be Strong (Joshua): Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Be Patient (Job): Waiting on God in Difficult Times Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Be Authentic (Genesis 25-50): Exhibiting Real Faith in the Real World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Too Soon to Quit! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Christianity For You
The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Less Fret, More Faith: An 11-Week Action Plan to Overcome Anxiety Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5NIV, Holy Bible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Everyday Wisdom from the Gospels (Ebook Shorts)
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Everyday Wisdom from the Gospels (Ebook Shorts) - Warren W. Wiersbe
Wiersbe
1
And [Joseph] did not know [Mary] till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
MATTHEW 1:25
The Lord is not in a hurry. For centuries, God had led different people in different places to do different things to prepare the way for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, and now he had come. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son
(Gal. 4:4). In Malachi 1:11, God had promised that his name would be great among the nations,
and now the one had arrived who would fulfill that promise (John 17:4). His is the first name and the last name in the New Testament (Matt. 1:1; Rev. 22:21); and between those verses, the name of Jesus is mentioned over nine hundred times. In the first chapter of Matthew, the name Jesus is linked with two other names: Christ and Immanuel. His official name is Christ, which means anointed
and reminds us that Jesus is prophet, priest, and king. In the Hebrew nation, the men in these offices were always anointed with special oil. Immanuel means God with us,
reminding us that Jesus is God and is always present with his people. Jesus is his personal name, and it means Savior.
Let’s think about that name.
Jesus is a divinely appointed name. The angel who visited Mary told her to call her son Jesus (Luke 1:31); and in his dream Joseph saw an angel who gave him the same command (Matt. 1:21), which he obeyed (v. 25). When the baby was circumcised, Jesus was the name given to him (Luke 2:21). The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means the Lord saves.
The phrase He will save His people
in Matthew 1:21 does not refer only to the salvation of Jewish people but to that of all those who put their trust in Jesus.
Jesus is an honorable name. It belonged to Hoshea, one of the twelve spies, but Moses changed it to Joshua (Num. 13:8, 16). During the wilderness march, Joshua had been Moses’s special assistant and the general of the army, but God made him Moses’s successor and he led the nation into the Promised Land. But the name Joshua also belonged to the high priest who served the Jewish remnant that went to the Holy Land after the exile in Babylon (Hag. 1:1). Because of the prominence of these two men, a general and a high priest, many Jewish boys were named Joshua, which in the Greek language is Jesus.
Jesus is an effective name. What good news that Jesus is the Savior of lost sinners! Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved
(Acts 4:12). But there is more. He is the master and friend of saved sinners! His people have the privilege of prayer because of the authority of his name. And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it
(John 14:13–14). In his name we have the authority to proclaim the gospel (Luke 24:47), the opportunity to assemble with other believers and worship (Matt. 18:20), and the privilege to suffer for his name’s sake (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:14).
Jesus is an abused name. People use his name as a swear word or else they use a minced oath,
such as gee
or jeeze.
(Other minced oaths are golly
and gosh
and jiminy crickets.
) But it’s up to us as God’s children to magnify the name of Jesus by our good works, our godly walk, and our gracious speech.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.
Philippians 2:9–10
2
And when [the magi] had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
MATTHEW 2:11
In spite of what we sing during the Christmas season, the oriental magi were not kings but rather interpreters of the stars and of dreams, and we don’t know how many there were. God directed them via the star to the house in Bethlehem where the holy family was living. Consider some of the factors involved in this important event.
Persistence. We don’t know which country they came from, although many students believe it was Persia. Undoubtedly there was a large train of people and animals, enough to stir Jerusalem and frighten King Herod. Travel was slow in those days, and the larger the train, the longer it took to reach the destination. Some students believe they had been traveling for perhaps a year. God’s people today may have instant contact with the Savior at his throne of grace, and we know he is always with us (Matt. 28:18–20; Heb. 13:5). But it takes grace and persistence to live the Christian life. Hebrews 6:12 admonishes us not to become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Guidance. There is no sense traveling if you don’t know where you are going, but the Lord gave them guidance through a special star. Being men who searched the heavens, the magi found the star a perfect guide. But when they reached Jerusalem, the priests gave them directions to Bethlehem from Micah 5:2, and then in Bethlehem the star reappeared and took them right to the correct house. We follow the Lord’s leading a step at a time. God didn’t send the magi a map; he guided them day by day and they arrived at their appointed destination. God can use circumstances, other people, and his Word to point the way he wants us to go, and they will always agree. Beware of ignoring the Bible! If we spend time daily in the Scriptures, God will give us just the promise, warning, or command we need at that time.
Eminence. The magi were important and wealthy men, while most Christians are ordinary people living ordinary lives, but all have the privilege of worshiping Jesus and serving him! God is no respecter of persons and shows no partiality (Acts 10:34–35). We may not have lavish gifts to bring him, but if what we bring him is from our hearts, he will accept it and bless it. Jesus accepted the little boy’s simple lunch (John 6:8–11) as well as Mary’s expensive ointment (12:1–8), and both gifts brought blessing to others. It’s likely that the magi’s gifts gave Joseph the funds he needed for their escape to Egypt and the expenses for their life there.
Reverence. After entering the house, the magi fell down and worshiped Him
(Matt. 2:11). These men were Gentiles and by their actions they demonstrated that the King of the Jews would provide salvation for all the nations of the world (4:15–16; 12:15–21). Our annual celebration of the birth of Christ ought to include thanksgiving for the Gift of God to the whole world. It should be a time for worship and praise, and we should give gifts to Jesus just as the magi did centuries ago.
The magi did not go back to Herod or to the priests, for they had found Jesus and needed nothing or no one else. Don’t go beyond the King! Like the humble shepherds (Luke 2:20), the magi no doubt spread the good word at home that God had sent a Savior, and his name was Jesus. Let’s follow their example.
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
1 Timothy 6:15
3
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
MATTHEW 3:1–2
John the Baptist’s sudden arrival on the scene startled the people and puzzled the Jewish religious leaders (John 1:14–28). If the priests had remembered what the prophets had written, they would have understood who John was and what he had come to do (Isa. 40:3–5; Mal. 3:3; 4:5–6). Jesus said that no man had ever been born who was greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:7–15). Certainly his message was the greatest, for he announced the imminent arrival of the promised Messiah and his kingdom, and he called the people to repent of their sins and welcome their Savior. John is certainly a good example to us of a faithful servant.
John came because he was sent by the Lord. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John
(John 1:6). The word translated sent
gives us our word apostle and means one commissioned by the king and authorized to speak for him.
John’s work was to prepare the people for the ministry of Jesus. The spiritual condition of the Jewish people was at low ebb and John called them to repent of their sins and return to the Lord. Because John was a servant of the Lord, he had no fear of what men might say or do. He lived an austere life in the wilderness and was a man of prayer. He was like Elijah the prophet who bravely confronted King Ahab and the priests of Baal and won the battle (1 Kings 17–18). The only way to have authority and victory is to be sent by God and do the work he assigns to us.
John preached the message God gave him. There are several words in the New Testament for preach, and the one used here means to herald an official message.
Government officials today have numerous ways to communicate with citizens, but in John’s day it was usually the voice of the official herald that gave the message. John was a witness to Jesus the Light (John 1:7–8), because the Jewish people were spiritually blind to the Light of the Lord that was shining. John gave his witness in the wilderness near the Jordan River because the people were wandering in a religious wilderness like the Jews in the Old Testament. But one of the most remarkable things about John the Baptist is that he did no miracles (10:40–42). His work was done through the preaching of the Word, just as ours is done today. Never underestimate the power of the preaching of God’s Word.
John majored on exalting Jesus Christ. He said, He must increase, but I must decrease
(3:30). He glorified Jesus and not himself. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake
(2 Cor. 4:5). Jesus Christ is the living Word (John 1:1–2, 14), and John the Baptist declared that he was only a voice speaking the word (1:19–24). You hear a voice, but you can’t see the sound unless you have special equipment. John was only a burning and shining lamp
(5:35), but Jesus is the Light (1:6–9; 8:12). John announced Jesus as the bridegroom, but John was only the best man at the wedding (3:29). The angel told John’s father that his son would be great (Luke 1:15), but John saw to it that Jesus was always greater.
As we seek to serve the Lord, let’s be sure God has called us and sent us. Let’s declare the message he has given us and be sure we magnify Jesus Christ. Jesus praised John because he wasn’t a vacillating reed in the wind or a wealthy celebrity but a devoted servant of the Lord (Matt. 11:7–15). Can he say that about us?
That in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:18
4
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
MATTHEW 3:17
The Father affirms his love. John the Baptist recognized Jesus when he came to the Jordan River to be baptized. Knowing that Jesus had no sins to confess, John tried to change his mind, but Jesus insisted that they obey the Father’s will. Most New Testament scholars agree that New Testament baptism was by immersion, illustrating death, burial, and resurrection. The word us
in verse 15 does not refer to Jesus and John but to the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who would fulfill all righteousness
in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God. Jesus referred to this baptism
when he said in Luke 12:50, But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!
This was the first of three occasions when the Father affirmed his love to his Son, and all three involved the cross. The second was on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–7) and the third after Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12–32). Whenever we face a Calvary
situation, our Father assures us of his love.
Satan questions the Father’s love. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:1–11). Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, and when Satan saw that Jesus was at his weakest, he attacked him with three powerful offers. First, Satan referred to what the Father had spoken from heaven. If you are the Son of God—and the Father said you are—why are you hungry? If your Father truly loves you, why does he deprive you of food?
(v. 3). In tempting us, one of Satan’s stratagems is to get us to question our heavenly Father’s love. Once he gets us to doubt God’s love, Satan has an easy time destroying our faith, hope, and love.