Day 141 Bible Readings – John 12: 25 (ESV)

1 Samuel 8 & 9, John 12: 1-26, Psalm 82

John 12: 25 (ESV)

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

In verse 25 from John 12, Jesus said this famous verse to the Greeks who had come to see for Passover in Jerusalem and the crowds. Jesus told them if you love your life, you will lose it because if you cling to your worldly life of pleasure it will lead to spiritual loss. But if prioritize our spiritual life and values over the cultural values of our earthly life, you will gain eternal life with God now and after your death. To follow Jesus you must prioritize your spiritual life and following God’s will over your worldly life. I know that sometimes prioritizing God’s will and laws over our personal desires seem hard, but from personal experience I can assure that doing this brings greater satisfaction. Before I became born again, I pursued so many personal desires which only lead to the feeling of never feeling satisfied. For sure the satisfaction of fulfilling your personal desires does last for a bit, but it doesn’t last. I’ve found that in my life, I have only experienced long lasting peace and satisfaction when I follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Day 140 Bible Readings – 1 Samuel 5: 4-6 (ESV

1 Samuel 5-7, John 11: 45-57, Psalm 81: 8-16

1 Samuel 5: 4-6 (ESV)

“But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.”

In verses 4 through 6 from 1 Samuel 5 we read about the power of the Ark of the Lord or Covenant. When the Philistines took the Ark of the Lord, they brought into the house of their God called Dagon. On the second day when they went into the house of Dagon, the face of Dagon had fallen on the ground and both of its hands were lying cut off on the threshold of the building. Then God afflicted the people of Ashdod with tumors. I love these verses because they show how powerful Father-God is and what he does to the gods of his enemies. If we are afraid of letting go of the false idols in our life, we have evidence in the Bible that no false idol can stand against our Father-God. If Father-God in the Old Testament can take destroy a stone idol, then he can destroy the false idols of our minds. I also love the supernatural nature of Father-God’s power when he afflicted the people of Ashdod with tumors. There are so many other stories of Father-God’s power not only in how he destroys enemies, but also in the supernatural nature of miracles. I have been a witness to these supernatural acts.  I cannot unsee these miracles and they have served to  strengthen my faith in Father-God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 139 Bible Readings – John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

1 Samuel 22: 27-36, 1 Samuel 3 & 4, John 11: 1-44, Psalm 81: 1-7

John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

“So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

In verses 20 through 22 from John 11, Martha the sister of Lazarus who was dead greets Jesus and tells him she knows that Jesus could have healed her brother, and he would not have died. Then Martha tells Jesus that even though her brother died, she still trusted him. Martha’s statement to Jesus shows her faith in him, even though he wasn’t there to heal her brother. I love this demonstration of Martha’s faith. She believed in Christ even though her brother died. I know for myself that my faith reached its lowest point when I was in difficult times, and I felt that Father-God hadn’t answered my prayers about my situation. During these times I was angry at Father-God and swore never to believe in him again. But even in these darkest times. I felt Father-God’s love surround me and I felt that “peace that is beyond understanding” overtake me. And situations that seemed so hopeless in life miraculously worked out or I felt peace about them. And now I believe my faith has progressed to the point where I can say when I am in a difficult season, that Father-God is working this season for my good and he is sovereign in all things. I may not have Martha’s great faith, but I am getting closer to it every year.

Day 138 Bible Readings – John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2: 1-26, John 10: 22-42, Psalm 80: 8-19

John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

In verses 27 through 29 from John 10, Jesus tells the religious leaders why they don’t believe him. The religious leaders did not believe anything Jesus said to them because they didn’t have a relationship with him. The people who believe in Jesus know him and recognize his voice, and they follow him. They know they will have eternal life with him, and that Jesus will take care of them, and no one will be snatched out of his hand. Then Jesus emphasized again that he is the son of God the father, and that they are one. Believers in Jesus are assured that that since his Father-God is greater than all other Gods, no human can remove them from God’s protection. I love this metaphor of Jesus as a shepherd and his believers as sheep. A shepherd has a close relationship with his sheep, and he cares for them. A sheep is protected by the shepherd, as Jesus protects his believers. And since Jesus is the son of God the father, then believers have the protection of God the father as well. Even when we are going through trials, God will also protect us his believers and rescue us from danger.