The One Year New Testament
July 14
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Luke 20:27-40
Luke 20:27-40
27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.
Reflection
Although the death and resurrection of Jesus have not yet occurred, here we have a foretaste of what will take place. Those who respond to the gospel will someday enjoy an invincible resurrected life, resistant to death and decay (Luke 20:36). Believers who have already died are now alive with God in his presence, just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (vv. 37–38; 1 Cor. 15:20–26). Contrary to the Sadducees, who denied any resurrection from the dead, Jesus teaches here that the blessings of the gospel extend far beyond this short life in our fallen world.
Believers will one day be raised to life —not to a ghost-like existence but to an embodied, physical eternity. It is a restoration of the life given to Adam and Eve in Eden, only this time sin will not be possible. All this is achieved through the resurrection of Christ (Luke 24:1–12), who is the “firstfruits” of a coming resurrection harvest (1 Cor. 15:20–22). In other words, the resurrection of Jesus was just the first of many resurrections that will occur when he returns. We are destined for a renewed, immortal life in a physical body on a new earth (Rev. 21:1–2).
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Reflection
As they awaited the return of Christ, some of the professing believers at Thessalonica had fallen into the sin of laziness and were not willing to work (2 Thess. 3:6). Paul urges them not to be idle but to imitate him and his companions, who worked day and night when they ministered among the Thessalonians (vv. 7–9). Laziness is a serious matter; it affects not only the idle person himself but also his family and community. Most importantly, laziness dishonors the body of Christ and the name of Christ before the eyes of the watching world. Paul thus admonishes the Thessalonians to give brotherly warning to anyone who does not heed his words (vv. 14–15).
Psalm 16:9-10
Psalm 16:9-10
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
Thoughts For Prayer
Christ’s resurrection ensures the resurrection of all those who are in him. Ask God to help you maintain perspective as you face the frailty of your current physical body. Our hope does not come from our health, but from the promise of the resurrected future that is ours in Jesus Christ.
Missions Prayer Requests More
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July 14, 2025
Supported Workers: Mark & Patti Bean
Countries: Peru, United States of America
Pray for the many language groups in the world who are still waiting for their own copy of the New Testament. There are many more waiting for the Old Testament. Pray for Quechua-speaking pastors and those in their congregations to take time to practice reading God's Word. God's Spirit will meet them in his Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and instruct them. Pray for perseverance in reading and progress in fluency.
Finland (Europe). Population: 5,623,330 Believers: 12.1%. Humanism, secularism, and materialism have strangleholds on most Finns. While the majority look favorably upon the church’s social work, only 8% of Finns attend any kind of religious service monthly or more. Interest in spiritual things offers some hope, but Islam and fringe religious movements are currently the fastest growing. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough that will cause people to seek the Lord.
From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org
The One Year New Testament Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, used by Permission. NIV Bible copyright International Bible Society.