Friday, October 28th: Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-25, Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8, Matthew 21:28-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 22:1-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26, Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40, Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34 ~ Conrad

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is: Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-25, Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33, Luke 20:1-8, Matthew 21:28-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 22:1-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26, Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-40, Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34 

"Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor."  Luke 20:20

Jesus was under a tight surveillance, and as Christians, we are too.  The language we use, our attitudes, and the actions we take all need to be in accordance with God.  The teachers of the law would have loved to catch Jesus saying or doing the wrong thing.  In the same way, many non-believers wait for us to fall short of perfection too.

"They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent."   Luke 20:26

Something that I enjoy reading is how Jesus answers the questions he is being asked.  He is able to answer in such as way that it astonishes people and leads them to silence as opposed to ticking them off and then leading them to anger.  Jesus is able to answer people in such as way that they are not only silenced, but His responses cause others to ponder and discuss what He has said.   

"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment."  Matthew 22:37

The reality is, if we truly love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, we would be obeying all the commandments.  It takes all three parts for this to happen.  We can't live for God only using one or two of these aspects; we need to use all three, all the time.  

Three things that I would like to apply to my life:
1.  That I will be able conduct my daily business in a way that is pleasing to God, whether I am being watched or not.  
2.  That I would be able to communicate to non-believers in an effective way.
3.  That I would apply 100% of my heart, soul, and mind to loving God.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20: 41-44, Matthew 23:1-12, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:45-47, Matthew 23:13-36, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4, Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-38