Day 129 Bible Readings – Psalm 77: 11-12 (ESV)

Judges 9, John 6: 1-24, Psalm 77: 10-20

Psalm 77: 11-12 (ESV)

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”

When I read verses 11 and 12 from Psalm 77, tears came to my eyes. When I read through several Bible studies on this psalm, the Biblical scholars wrote that the message of this psalm is that you shouldn’t brood on your sorrow because it will make you feel broken and disheartened. Instead, you should be determined to remember the miracles of God in your life, think about what happened, and meditate of them. I can feel the anguish in the Psalm prior to these verses, so when the writer of Psalm 77 instead chooses to remember God’s miracles I can also feel how he had to will himself to do it. I know for myself how hard it was to remember how good God has been in my life when I was in the depths of pain and sorrow. But to praise God when you feel broken is the ultimate act of faith because it shows you have total trust that God the father is greater than your feeling of brokenness. That the sorrow and pain you feel is temporary because God is always faithful and will help you find your way to the light once again.

Day 128 Bible Readings – John 5: 45-47

Judges 7:9-25, Judges 8, John 5:30-47, Psalm 76

John 5: 45-47

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

In verses 45 through 47 from John 5, Jesus tells the religious leaders that he will not accuse them to his Father-God because that is not why he was born on earth. Instead, Jesus tells them that it will be Moses who will accuse them. Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament which is known as the Torah to the Sanhedrin. The Torah is the foundation to the Jewish faith and is the authority for how Jewish people live their live since follow the laws set forth in the Torah which is called “Mosiac law”.  Jesus tells them that since they believe Moses, they should believe him because there were prophecies from Moses of Jesus in the Torah. I love how Jesus told the religious leaders that he is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy including the ones made by Moses in the Torah. Jesus then accuses the religious leaders of not believing the writing of Moses, which is harsh because the Torah is the foundation of their faith and their authority in life. The religious leaders were so focused on having a king like David that they couldn’t accept Jesus. They wanted a king who would free them from Roman rule, and not a king who wanted to free them from sin. I can understand why the religious leaders had a such a hard time accepting Jesus. Sometimes you pray for God to do something in your life and when it doesn’t happen the way you want, you get frustrated and lose faith. Perhaps this is what happened to the religious leaders; they lost their faith in prophecies of Moses since they wanted something other than what Jesus was offering them.

Day 127 Bible Readings – John 5: 19 (ESV)

Judges 6, Judges 7:1-8, John 5:16-29, Psalm 76

John 5: 19 (ESV)

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

In verse 19 from John 5, we read about Jesus’ response to the religious leaders who were questioning His authority and actions after he healed the crippled man on the Sabbath. Jesus tried to explain to them his relationship with God the father. Jesus first tells them that he is completely dependent on his father, and that he can nothing on his own. Jesus was totally submitted to his father’s will by choice, and not by force or because he had an inferior nature. He and God the father are fully unified. Secondly, Jesus says that he only does what his father is doing, because of their unity and perfect alignment. This unity also means that Jesus and God the father are equal, and that his works are also the works of God. This verse shows me that we can study how God responds and acts through the actions of Jesus. As Jesus imitates God his father, we can imitate Christ with our actions to align with him and his teachings. Jesus’ submission to God his father is a model for a believer to submit his will to God, and to be obedient to him even if it challenges what is normal in current society and even our personal desires.

Day 126 Bible Readings - John 5: 8-9 (ESV)

Judges 4, Judges 5, John 4:43-54, John 5:1-15, Psalm 75

John 5: 8-9 (ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

In verses 8 and 9 from John 5, we read about the incredible miracle of Jesus healing the man who had been a cripple for 38 years at the pool on the Sabbath. I love the faith of the crippled man when Jesus told him “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” The man was so obedient to Jesus, who was a total stranger to him. Did he feel his legs come to life? Since he had been crippled for over 30 years, how did he even remember what it felt like to have feelings in his legs. The power of Jesus to heal ailments was so all-encompassing the powerful that I’ve always imagined that Jesus healed not only the man’s crippled legs, but also his mind. There must have been so much resistance in the man’s mind since he had been crippled for 38 years, but Jesus healed his mind so he could immediately feel his legs.

The writers of The Chosen series Season 2 Episode 4 did a great job of showing in a creative way the miracle of Jesus healing a man by the pool. The actor who portrayed the man at the pool looked so dirty, ragged, and sad, that it was easy to imagine that he smelled as bad as he looked. His healing by Jesus looked so dramatic so kudos to the writers and actor who portrayed the man at the pool for making this miracle story such a joy to watch.

Enjoy The Chosen series, Season 2 Episode 4. 

Day 125 Bible Readings – John 4: 27-29 (ESV)

Judges 2:6-23, Judges 3, John 4:27-42, Psalm 74:18-23

John 4: 27-29 (ESV)

“Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

I love this scene of the Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. Verses 27 through 29 shows us her reaction to Jesus when she realizes that he is the Christ, the Messiah. I’ve always wondered how she sounded and what her emotion were when she tells the disciples “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” Her reaction to realizing that Jesus is the Christ was to immediately go out and tell everyone. The Chosen series in Season 2 episode does a recreating in a dramatic and creative way the scene between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. There are words from Scripture in the scenes, but the writers of the Chosen series have also added other dialog for context. Seeing the reaction of the Samaritan woman at the well was so endearing. The actress who played the Samaritan women did a great job of showing her reaction to Jesus. It makes me wonder what my reaction would have been had I come across Jesus in person and realized to whom I was speaking.

Enjoy this wonder dramatization of these verses from The Chosen series Season 2 episode 1.

Day 124 Bible Readings – John 4: 16-19 (ESV)

Judges 1, Judges 2:1-5, John 4:1-26, Psalm 74:10-17

John 4: 16-19 (ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”

I’ve read the story of the Jesus meeting the woman at the well in Samaria many times, and verses 16 through 19 stood out to me today. Jesus tells the woman at the well to call your husband, and she tell him she has no husband. Then Christ tells the woman at the well her history of being married and that the man she has now is not her husband. The woman confirms that what Jesus said is true and calls him a prophet. These verses show us that we cannot lie to Jesus or try to hide anything from God. God knows us inside and out because he created us, and even without all of our failings and sins he still loves us. We are all children of God, and our heavenly father loves us, wants to help us, and above all wants to have a relationship with us. And like in any good relationship, you cannot hide things from the one who loves you. I think of all the times I’ve wondered in the past if God really sees me or cares what I am doing. Or how I’ve tried to hide from God all the sins I’ve committed by just not mentioning them. I know that God does see me, that he does care about me, and that I can’t hid anything from him. I know that God knows me better than I know myself, and it is after all these years still so surprising that God sees and knows everything about my life and still totally loves me.

Day 123 Bible Readings – John 3: 34-35 (ESV)

Joshua 23 & 24, John 3:22-36, Psalms 74:1-9

John 3: 34-35 (ESV)

“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.”

In verses 34 and 35 from John 3, John the Baptist tells us we know that Jesus was sent from God because the says the same things as God. Jesus also has the Holy Spirit fully within in because he comes from God. Since Jesus is the son of God, God has given Christ authority over all things. I love these verses from John the Baptist. Jesus was able to perform so many miracles because he had God’s authority. These verses also point to the concept of the Trinity; that God the father, Jesus the son, and Holy Spirit are one being. John the Baptist mentions the Trinity in these verses. But we also know that even though Jesus and God are the same being, Jesus was still subject to his father’s will and divine plan while on earth and that even Jesus did not know fully the plans of God.

Day 122 Bible Readings for May 3 – John 3: 19-21 (ESV)

Joshua 21: 40-45, Joshua 22, John 3: 1-21, Psalm 73: 15-28

John 3: 19-21 (ESV)

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

I love verses 19 through 21 from John 3 and how he compares Jesus to light. John tells us that people love the darkness or sin rather than the light. If you do evil things or sin, you will hate the light and Jesus. On the other hand, the people who love truth and do not love sin will come to the light and Jesus. Anyone who believe in Jesus will love the light and will not do evil things or sin. By comparing Jesus to light, I think John is also telling us that Jesus was crucified because he was exposing the evil deeds of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin wanted to keep sinning and did not want Jesus to keep exposing them. As a follower of Christ, I love thinking of him as the light who is helping me to expose my darkness so I can become more a person of light.

Day 121 Bible Readings – John 2: 23-25 (ESV)

 Joshua 19 & 20, Joshua 21: 1-19, John 2, Psalm 73: 1-14

John 2: 23-25 (ESV)

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

In verses 23 through 25 from John 2, we read that Jesus performed many miracles during the Passover feast in Jerusalem which made many people believe in him. But Jesus did not place much faith in people who only believed in him because they saw him perform miracles. Jesus knows what is in our hearts, but he still loves us anyway. The author of a Bible study I read, wrote that Jesus gives us example in these verses on how to have discernment when it comes to people. We need to cautious about trusting people and trust in God’s wisdom to guide us. I think that Jesus also knew that it would be hard to hold on to a faith that is based on seeing miracles. This kind of belief is thin and superficial. Jesus knew that the real test of faith only comes when we can still believe even when things are not going the way we want them to in life. Do we lose our faith when things don’t go our way? Or do we trust in God to know that everything that happens to us, good and bad, is part of God’s plan or can be used by God to further his divine plan.

Day 120 Bible Readings – John 1: 29 (ESV)

Joshua 17 & 18, John 1: 29-51, Psalm 72

John 1: 29 (ESV)

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In verse 29 from John 1, John the Baptizer saw Jesus and immediately greeted him with his future. Jesus was going to be the lamb that was to be sacrificed so he could take away the sin of the world. It took me a long time to realize that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, and that both and John the Baptizer knew of his destiny. Did the disciples realize the metaphor of Jesus being the sacrificial lamb when they heard John the Baptizer says these words about Jesus? Since it took me a long time to get the connection, I’m sure they had a hard time getting the connection as well. They all thought at the time that Jesus was going to be like David and be another king. Jesus was going to unify all of Isreal to rise up against the Romans and free them from their occupation. But God had a better plan in mind. Jesus came to free us from the our sins, which is much worse than physical occupation.

Day 119 Bible Readings – John 1: 1-5 (ESV)

Joshua 15, Joshua 16, John 1:1-28, Psalm 71:19-24

John 1: 1-5 (ESV)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

I love verses 1 through 5 from John 1. I never really understood these verses until I saw Episode 1 from Season 2 of The Chosen series. The writers of the show came up with a creative and interesting way to show how John might have come up with these verses. The “Word” is Jesus Christ and he was with God because he is part of the Trinity along with the Holy Spirit. Christ was with God when the world was created, and the world was created through Christ and God. Christ  and God are the life and light in men. The light of God and Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness still has not overcome the light of God and Christ.  I’m sure Biblical scholars, pastors, and people who study the Bible have pondered what these verses mean, but I like the meaning that The Chosen series writers came up with in Episode 1 from the 2^nd season of The Chosen series.

Here's a clip showing an interaction between John and Jesus from The Chosen Season 2, Episode 1:

Day 118 Bible Readings for April 29 – Luke 24: 45-47 (ESV)

Joshua 13, Joshua 14, Luke 24:36-53, Psalm 71:9-18

Luke 24: 45-47 (ESV)

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

In verses 45 through 47 from Luke 24, we learn how the minds of the disciples were opened by Christ to understand the scripture. Then he explained to them why he had to suffer and die and rise from the dead. I find these verses so interesting because it makes me wonder what exactly Jesus did to open the minds of the disciples so they could understand the Scriptures. I think it makes sense that Jesus had do something supernatural with his disciples to make them understand what happened when he died. They must have been so freaked out by the crucifixion of their friend and master, which was made worse by the disappearance of the body of Jesus. The disciples were also still hiding from the Romans and the Sanhedrin when Jesus appeared to them.

Perhaps the disciples received what I’ve experienced when I felt an overwhelming sense of peace come over me from praying to God over an intense. I did not receive an understanding of the Scripture, but I did feel an almost “supernatural” sense that everything in my life was going to be okay. The feeling of peace came out of nowhere and it was palpable in my body, heart, and mind. I would like to think that the disciples received a similar sense of peace when they finally understood why Jesus had to die and how his death fulfilled what was written in Scripture, and how Christ died so we can freed from slavery of sin.

Day 117 Bible Readings – Luke 24: 30-31 (ESV)

Joshua 11, Joshua 12, Luke 24:1-35, Psalm 71:1-8

Luke 24: 30-31 (ESV)

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”

In verses 30 and 31 from Luke 24, we read about the two men who had been talking to Jesus while walking on the road to Emmaus. We do not know their names and find out later that they were known to the disciples of Jesus. The two men spoke to Jesus but they did not know they were talking to him, until he broke bread with them. These men were not present at the Last Supper, so they didn’t know the significance of Jesus breaking bread with them. Biblical scholars have speculated why the two men did recognize Jesus until he broke bread with them, and some have written that there must have been something that Jesus did that made them realize who he was. Others have written that Jesus revealed himself to the two men when he broke the bread, and that’s when they recognized him

I love these verses because it shows the supernatural aspect of Christ, and how we may not recognize Jesus as being in our lives until he reveals himself to us. And when the two men realized they were talking to Jesus, he disappeared. That must have been a shock to them to have Jesus suddenly vanish from their sight. These verses for me validate the stories of angel sightings where a mysterious person shows up in people’s lives. This stranger says or does something miraculous and then disappears or is not seen again. Was it Jesus and the people did not recognize him, or was it an angel? I like to think it is Jesus showing up in life of his people, and providing care and miracles for them.

Day 116 Bible Readings – Luke 23: 40-43 (ESV)

Joshua 9:16-27, Joshua 10, Luke 23:26-56, Psalm 70

Luke 23: 40-43 (ESV)

“But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In verses 40 through 43 from Luke 15, we read about the reactions of the man who was was being crucified next to Jesus. An author of a Bible study I read wrote that this is first example of a recorded death-bed conversion. I remember reading and hearing about this man who asked Jesus to remember him while they were both being crucified, and I never thought of it as a death-bed conversion. Even at the end of his life, Jesus was always kind to sinners. Jesus told the man that he would be saved and they would see each other in paradise. In these verses we read that there is always a chance to repent and be saved before you die. God is so merciful and graceful to us that even if we wait to the absolute last minute before we truly repent, we will be with God in paradise when our end comes.

Day 115 Bible Readings for April 26 – Luke 23: 24-25 (ESV)

Joshua 8, Joshua 9: 1-15, Luke 22: 63-71, Luke 23: 1-25, Psalm 69: 29-36

Luke 23: 24-25 (ESV)

“So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”

In verses 24 and 25 from Luke 23, we read that Pilate decided not to go against the will of the crowd and the Sanhedrin and released Barabbas who was a true criminal, and instead crucified Jesus. In one of the Bible studies I read, the author wrote that Barabbas is the only person in the world who can truly say Jesus died for me. Barabbas was a zealot who had incited a rebellion and was also a murderer. Jesus, who was an innocent man, died for the sins and life of Barabbas. The crucifixion of Christ gave us a first example of God’s plan to have Jesus come to earth and live among us and then die for our sins. And Barabbas is the living example of the sacrifice of Christ. I had never thought of Barabbas in this way before; that he was the living example  of why Christ had to die for our sins.

Day 114 Bible Readings – Joshua 5: 13-15 (ESV)

Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6, Joshua 7, Luke 22:39-62, Psalm 69:13-28

Joshua 5: 13-15 (ESV)

“When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

In verses 13 and 14 from Joshua, Joshua met a man with a drawn sword in his hand who told him that he was the commander of the army of the Lord.  The authors of my study Bible noted that this man was a “pre-incarnate” appearance of Jesus Christ. Joshua immediately knew this man was from God, and he immediately started worshipping him and following his commands. I love thinking of Christ as the commander of God’s army, and how he showed himself to Joshua and was immediately recognized as coming from God. These verses tell us that God is always ready to fight for us and will send help to us when needed. Jesus was not only willing to help us fight our battles, but he later was born on earth as a man to help us fight the greatest battle of all – our battle with our sinful nature. Christ died for our sins so we would no longer have to face the punishment of succumbing to sin, and he sent the Holy Spirit to us to help battle our sinful nature in our every day lives.

Day 113 Bible Readings – Joshua 3: 14-17 (ESV)

Joshua 3-4, Joshua 5: 1-12, Luke 22: 1-38, Psalm 69: 1-12

Joshua 3: 14-17 (ESV)

“So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”

In verses 14 through 16 from Joshua 3, we see God give to Joshua another miraculous water passage so people would know that he was with Joshua. God commanded that Joshua lead the people across the river Jordan during Spring when the banks of the river were very high due to all the rains. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Similar to the miracle during the passage through the Red Sea, the people were able to cross the Jordan.

Bible scholars have noted that God not only stopped the river flowing, but he also dried up the riverbed so it was dry when the people crossed. They have also noted that the crossing of the Jordan was a greater leap of faith Joshua and the people of Israel. When Moses led the people across the Red Sea, they were running away from the Egyptians. When Joshua lead his people across the Jordan river, this crossing meant that they were running into danger and not away from danger. Joshua and the people of Israel made the cross with the expectation that they were now going to war with people of Jericho and the whole land of Canaan.

When I read these verses, it made me wonder if I had a similar miracle in my life where God was leading me try something new and not because he was saving me from some calamity or misfortune. It takes a greater trust in God when he wants you to run towards something that may be new and unfamiliar, to leave your comfort and safety to do the fulfill God’s will. My “crossing of the Jordan” miracle happened when the Holy Spirit encouraged me to move to a different state without a job offer on the table. That move was uncomfortable but it lead me to have such a deeper relationship with God.

Day 112 Bible Readings – Luke 21: 25-26 (ESV)

Joshua 1 & 2, Luke 21, Psalm 68: 28-35

Luke 21: 25-26 (ESV)

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

In verses 25 and 26 from Luke 21, Jesus gave his disciples a hint of what would be revealed more in the Book of Revelation. These verses have always made me wonder if Jesus had a vision of the end of the world and when he would return. But it was just a hint because Jesus has always said that even he doesn’t know the will of the father. Did God give Jesus the vision so he could warn the disciples of what to expect when he returned? Did God give John the writer of the Book of Revelation a more complete vision when Jesus would return because too many people were misinterpreting the signs of end of the world?

Throughout my life, I have heard and read of so many people trying to predict the end of the world. So many people want Jesus to come back, and it always bothered me that people wanted to see the world end. But I now have so much compassion for these end-of-the-world types. They truly love Christ and want to see him return in their lifetime. They want to see all the things that John said would come when Jesus returned. It would be such a privilege to be alive to see the return of Jesus, as it was a such privilege to be alive when Jesus was on earth. If you are lucky enough to witness the return of Jesus, it is because God has that plan for your life. So we need to keep listening to the Holy Spirit and trying to discern God’s plan for our lives in the hope that we live to see the return of Christ.

Day 111 Bible Readings – Deuteronomy 34: 10-12 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 33, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 68:21-27

Deuteronomy 34: 10-12 (ESV)

“And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

In verses 10 through 12 from Deuteronomy 34, we see how the people thought about Moses. There was no one after Moses until Christ who knew God face to face. Although there were others who did great things, Moses did so many amazing things to free his people from Egypt. Moses freed his people from the bonds of slavery, and Christ freed people from the bonds of sin. Moses also had such a unique background having been raised by an Egyptian princess and learning to fight as a warrior. Moses had a unique destiny which was so opposite to Christ. Moses was raised by royalty, while Christ was born in a stable and raised by humble and poor people. But even though Moses did so much for his people and for God, God would still not let him into the promised land. It is also recorded that no one even knows where Moses was buried, which I think is such a sad ending for so great a man in God’s plan to free the people of Israel from the bondage of slavey.

Day 110 Bible Readings – Luke 20: 22-25 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 31: 30, Deuteronomy 32, Luke 19: 45-48, Luke 20: 1-26

Luke 20: 22-25 (ESV)

“Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

In verses 22 through 25 from Luke 20, we have the famous verses about the Pharisees trying to entrap Jesus by having him denounce Caesar and Rome. The Pharisees knew that the Jewish people hating paying taxes to the Romans, so they asked Jesus about it. Jesus knew they were trying to entrap him, so he asked them whose likeness was on the coins that people use to pay taxes. They told him that Caesar’s likeness was on the coin, so Jesus told them to give the things to Caesar that belong to Caesar. Jesus knew that we all have the image of God impressed upon them like a coin, so we do not belong to Caesar but to God. The things of the world belong to the world like how money belongs to Caesar. But we belong to God, so we need to give ourselves to God.

I love this answer from Jesus. We are “imago dei”, which in Latin means we are made in the image of God. It has taken me many years to figure out what the phrase “imago dei” meant for my life. Was I really made in the image of God? I couldn’t see God inside of me. It has taken me many years to figure out that my sins have built a wall so I couldn’t see the God inside of me. But not only my sins, but the thousands of things that I had blamed God for in my long life. The Holy Spirit has been asking me for two years to ask God to forgive me for my sins and for the blame I attributed to him. When I was finally able to let go of all the things I blamed God for, I saw the wall between myself and God slowly crumbling and I was finally able to see the image of God inside of me. So I am “imago dei” and I can see and feel it every day. I belong only to God, not to the world and not even to myself.

Day 109 Bible Readings for April 20 (Easter – Resurrection Sunday) – Luke 19: 41-44 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 30: 11-20, Deuteronomy 31: 1-29, Luke 19: 11-44, Psalm 66: 7-14

Luke 19: 41-44 (ESV)

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Verses 41 through 44 from Luke 19 tells us that Jesus wept for Jerusalem after he entered the city on Palm Sunday. Jesus was prophesying about what would eventually happen to Jerusalem 30 years later in 70 AD. I saw The Chosen Series 5 Episode 1 in the theatre and they did a great job of showing Jesus reciting this prophecy and scenes from the destruction of Jerusalem.

In 70 AD, Titus the Roman General attacked Jerusalem. The Roman-Jewish historian named Flavius Josephus wrote that Titus built a wall around the city as described in the prophecy by Jesus. Titus destroyed the city. The Temple was destroyed in a fire and over a million people in Jerusalem died. The Temple to this day has not been rebuilt so the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled and still remains fulfilled. Many Biblical scholars predict that the Temple of Jerusalem will not be rebuilt until we are in the end times as seen in the Book of Revelation, and many consider the rebuilding as a sign of the end times.

Happy Easter! Day 108 Bible Readings for April 19 – Luke 19: 8-10 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 29, Deuteronomy 30: 1-10, Luke 18: 31-43, Luke 19: 1-10, Psalm 68: 1-6

Luke 19: 8-10 (ESV)

“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

In verses 8 through 10 from Luke 19, we read the story about Zacchaeus who was a rich chief tax collector. He knew about Jesus and wanted to see him, but he was small so he climbed up sycamore tree to see him. Jesus stopped where Zacchaeus was in the tree and told he wanted to stay at his house. The crowd who was there complained that Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus told Jesus he had given half his wealth to the poor and he restored fourfold to anyone whom he had defrauded.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just someone who wanted to see Jesus. He knew about his teachings and had put them into action in his own life, so Zacchaeus was already transformed when Jesus spoke directly to him. Jesus told the crowd that Zacchaeus had received salvation by his actions, and he was exactly the type of person that Jesus had come to see and save. Jesus took incarnation on earth to save and seek sinners, and that salvation was open to all if they followed his teachings. I like this story because it shows that were people who had heard about the teachings of Jesus and had followed them without first having seen Jesus or his miracles. The faith of Zacchaeus was so strong that he needed to just hear about the teachings of Christ to believe them, without ever having seen him or experienced a miracle from Jesus in his life.

Day 107 Bible Readings – Luke 18: 14 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 28: 15-68, Luke 18: 1-30, Psalm 67

Luke 18: 14 (ESV)

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

In verse 14 from Luke 18, Jesus tells us the difference between the Pharisee who was praying and the tax collected who was also praying. The Pharisee in his prayer told God he was not a sinner like other meh, and all the things he had done to follow God’s laws. The Pharisee was praising himself to God. The tax collector prayed to God in a different way. The tax collector was humble and would not even lift his yes to God. He told God he was a sinner and asked God to be merciful to him.

One Bible scholar noted that the Pharisee was looking at prayer and his life as a way to be exalted. The tax collector instead came to God in humility because he needed God’s mercy. Jesus tells us that tax collector will receive God’s mercy and will be justified, because he prayed humbly to God for mercy. God will not show mercy to the Pharisee because he prayed to God with pride. God doesn’t need to be reminded of all the things that we do. God wants to know if we acknowledge we are sinners, and if we want his mercy. The Pharisee did not admit to even having a sin, which was a lie. We are all sinners and need to pray to God for his mercy.

Day 106 Bible Readings – Luke 17: 17-19 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 26-27, Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, Luke 17: 11-37, Psalm 66: 13-20

Luke 17: 17-19 (ESV)

“Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

In verses 17 through 19, Jesus asks about the other nine (9) lepers and why only one came back to thank him. The one leper that came back to thank Jesus for healing was a Samaritan and a foreigner. Jesus thanked the leper and told him to go his way because his faith had made him well. The author of a Bible commentary I read noted that the leper who came back to thank Jesus was healing not only of his physical affliction, but Jesus also healed his heart and mind as well.

In the Bible commentaries I read, many authors noted that we must always show gratitude to God for everything in our life and not just for miracles. The leper who returned showed his faith in Jesus by returning to thank him and acknowledging him as the one who healed him. We also read in these verses that the grace of God extends to everyone who calls on him for healing. Christ invites all to experience the mercy and love of God. But when we acknowledge God as the source of our blessings and healing, we show God by our actions that we have a relationship with him. We need to remember to give gratitude to God for all the blessings and the miracles in our life every day, so we can acknowledge and nurture the relationship we have with him.

Day 105 Bible Readings for April 16 – Luke 17: 6 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 23-25, Luke 16: 19-31, Luke 17: 1-10, Psalm 66: 1-12

Luke 17: 6 (ESV)

“And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

In verse 6 from Luke 17, we read about the well-known teachings from Jesus on the mustard seed. Jesus tells us that faith if like a mustard seed meaning it’s not about how much faith you have, because the mustard seed is very small compared to other seeds. Jesus tells us the power of our faith is about the kind of faith one has because even if we had a small amount of strong faith, we will be able to do great things. Then Jesus brings up the image of the mulberry tree. In one Bible study I read, the author noted the roots of the mulberry tree were thought of as very strong, so strong that this tree could stay rooted for over 600 years. If your faith is strong, you could even root up a mulberry tree with its strong roots. The author of this Bible study also noted that the mulberry tree root can also represent a metaphor anything in our life that is deeply rooted like bitterness, unforgiveness, and addictions. Through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, we can rip out by the roots even something as strong addiction.

I used to think that having faith in seeing miracles in my life was all about the amount of faith that I had, and I often didn’t see my prayers being answered because my faith was too small. I’ve now come to realize that it’s not about the amount of faith, but the quality of faith. Is my faith strong and a no-brainer in my life? Or is my faith something I have to will myself to believe in every day by constantly praying? The answer to these questions depends on type of things I pray for in life. In the smaller matters of my life my faith is automatic, and I assume almost all the of the time my prayers will be answered. It’s another story with the bigger matters or things in my life that I pray for every day. But I am blessed as a person of faith to have the help of the Holy Spirit to level up the quality of my faith so I can have the bigger miracles happening my life.

Day 104 Bible Readings for April 15 – Luke 16: 10 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 21-22, Luke 16: 1-18, Psalm 65

Luke 16: 10 (ESV)

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

In verse 10 from Luke 16, Jesus teaches about being faithful and having integrity. Jesus tells us that if you are faithful in small matters, you will be faithful when it comes to bigger matters in life. The reverse is also true in that if you are dishonest in the small matters in life, you will be dishonest with the bigger matters in life. The authors of my Bible study also refer to this verse as emphasizing the principle of stewardship. Being faithful in the small matters in life can be seen as a test of character and integrity. The small matters in life can symbolize money, possessions, and responsibilities. Jesus tells us that God is watching how we handle every task even the smallest of tasks, money, or responsibilities.

I can see how this verse also applies to following God’s laws and the urgings of the Holy Spirit in our life. If we are faithful to follow God’s laws and the urging of the Holy Spirit in the small matters in life, we will be faithful to the bigger asks of God and the Holy Spirit in our life. I know that is how it started for me in my relationship with God. I can see over the years how I have become more faithful to God in the smaller matters in my life, and now I feel I am at the point where God is asking me to more faithful to the bigger matters in my life. But God is also asking me to be more faithful in the areas of my life where I have not been faithful. It’s a hard and slow journey, but with the help of the Holy Spirit I feel that I will become more faithful to God in all areas of my life.

Day 103 Bible Readings – Luke 15: 4 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 19 & 20, Luke 15, Psalm 64

Luke 15: 4 (ESV)

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”

In verse 4 from Luke 15 Jesus talks about the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells us that if a shepherd has a hundred sheep in his care and one gets lost, he will leave the 99 sheep to look for the lost one. Jesus tries to tell us that God loves the people in his care so much that if one person gets lost, he will always look for that one person. I love this parable because if we have faith in God, then we can have assurance that God will never abandon us and will always come looking for us if we get lost. There have been many songs written over the years on the parable of the lost sheep, and I like this current song by Cory Asbury which is called “Reckless Love.”  The chorus of this song goes like this “Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine, I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give Yourself away, Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God” Cory Asbury writes about being the one lost sheep, whom God will find no matter what leaving the other 99 sheep behind.

If you are feeling the blues about your life, listen to this song and know that God will never abandon any of his sheep. He will always come and find that one lost sheep and rejoice when he finds the one who was lost.

Day 102 Bible Readings – Luke 14: 34-35 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 16:21-22, Deuteronomy 17, Deuteronomy 18, Luke 14:15-35, Psalm 63

Luke 14: 34-35 (ESV)

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

I love the metaphor of salt that Jesus uses in verses 34 and 35 from Luke 14 to talk about the Christian life. In my study Bible, the authors point out that salt was a valuable commodity in the time of Jesus. Salt in Biblical times represented purity, preservation, and the covenant God made with his people. Jesus tells us as that as people of faith that we must be like salt, meaning we need to have a positive influence and preserve the effectiveness of the teaching of Jesus in the world. Like salt losing its taste because it has been contaminated with other substances, if followers of Christ become influenced by non-Biblical ideas and teachings, we will also lose purity and our ability to live and spread the teachings of Christ.

These verses tell us that we need to daily maintain our connection to the teachings of Christ and the Bible, by reading the Bible, abiding in God’s presence, and listening to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us we have ears, so we must always be listening to the word of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we don’t do these things, we will be of no use to ourselves or for God’s plan. God will still use us for fulfill his plans for the world because he can use everything for his good, but we will be throwing aways the gifts that God gave us if we do not retain our saltiness which represents the influence of God in our life.

Day 101 Bible Readings – Luke 14: 12-14 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 15, Deuteronomy 16: 1-20, Luke 13: 31-35, Luke 14: 1-14, Psalm 62

Luke 14: 12-14 (ESV)

“He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

I love the message that Jesus gave in verses 12 through 14 from Luke 14. Jesus tells us that we shouldn’t just be friends with people who can do something for us or can repay us. The author of one of my Bible study states that Jesus does not us to limit ourselves to mixing only with people who make us feel easy and comfortable. Jesus invites us to mix with people who are less fortunate than we are and might never be able to repay us for any kindness we do for them. We will be repaid by God when we die.

I served Thanksgiving meals for the homeless one year, and it was an eye-opening experience. Many of the people we served did not smell very good due to lack of bathing and/or from the open sores on their body. It was hard for me not to have feelings of revulsion instead of compassion for these unfortunate folks who lived on the streets. Their smiles of gratitude for having a hot meal made me feel ashamed of my initial reactions to their bodily odors. After about 15 minutes of serving, I didn’t even notice the smells and starting feeling an immense sense of gratitude that the Holy Spirit had inspired me to serve the poor on Thanksgiving. I could see that God was present in all of these people, and I was planting seeds of Christ by my service to these people by just serving them on a hot meal on chilly day.

Day 100 Bible Readings – Psalm 61: 4-5 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 13 & 14, Luke 13: 1-30, Psalm 61

Psalm 61: 4-5 (ESV)

“Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

I like verses 4 and 5 from Psalm 61. In this verses David, the writer of psalm, remembers even in his times of trouble that God had been faithful to him in the past. David asks God to let him dwell in his tabernacle or tent forever, and to let him take refuge under his wings. David remembers that God had heard his prayers in the past and had responded to them. God had even made David a king over the people of Israel. I love how David reminds himself and us of God’s faithfulness to him in our past, and how God has heard our prayers and answered them. Even in times of trouble, we need to remember how God has always been faithful to us so we can give ourselves the assurance that God will not abandon us. We might not always understand God’s plan for our lives, but we need to have faith that God is always working for our good and is caring for us like a good shepherd cares for his sheep.

Day 99 Bible Readings – Luke 12: 51 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 11 & 12, Luke 12: 35-59, Psalm 60: 5-12

Luke 12: 51 (ESV)

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

In verse 51 from Luke 12, Jesus clarifies his mission for his disciples and his followers. Jesus promises peace for us in spiritual way and when we die, but he reminds us that division will come because of his ministry. The authors of my Bible study noted that people will have different reactions to Christ’s teachings; some will accept it and other will reject his teachings. The teachings of Christ force us to confront our sinful nature and the values of the world, which leads to a natural division between those who follow Christ and those who do not. In the early history of the Christian church, followers of Christ were persecuted and killed for their faith. The division between followers of Christ and non-followers eventually subside, but it was never really stamped out. In our current time, that division between followers of Christ and non-followers is once again front and center. While the persecution is most of the time not physical, people who believe in Christ are looked down upon in social media. If you profess your Christian faith on social media, you are ridiculed and can be cancelled. Verse 51 reminds us that Jesus knew this division would happen, and it is a part of God’s plan to strengthen our faith and our belief in Christ.

Day 98 Bible Readings – Luke 12: 29-31 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 9 & 10, Luke 12: 1-34, Psalm 60: 1-4

Luke 12: 29-31 (ESV)

“And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

In verses 29 through 31 from Luke 12, Jesus again reminds us to not seek the things of the world or be worried about them. God knows that these things are needed by everyone on earth. Jesus tells us our priority should always be to seek him first, and have trust that God will provide us with the things we need to live on earth. It is such an act of faith to rely completely on God for our needs especially in these uncertain times when there is so much turmoil in the financial markets. But if we dwell in God’s presence with our prayers and by reading his word every day, we will strengthen our trust in God. Our Bible readings will be a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to his people, and how he has always come through for them. If we dwell in God’s presence daily, we will learn not to worry and to always trust in God’s plan no matter what is happening in our life. We might not always understand God’s plan, but we need to trust that God is always caring like a shepherd cares for his sheep.

Day 97 Bible Readings – Luke 11: 34 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 6-8, Luke 11: 33-54, Psalm 59: 9-17

Luke 11: 34 (ESV)

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.”

In verse 34 from Luke 11, Jesus tells the crowds listening to him that the eye is the lamp of the body. My study Bible had a reference that the eye is the metaphorical lamp of the body, which means the eyes represents perception and understanding. This part of the verse suggests that the way one perceives the world can serve to add light or darkness to your soul. Then Jesus says that a healthy eye means your body is full of light, meaning that your heart and mind are focused on God. Then Jesus says when your eye is bad, it means that you are spiritually blind, or you are selfish and lack compassion. The “bad eye” can also mean you are disconnected from God’s truth and light. I love this interpretation of this verse because it makes sense that if you are disconnected from God, then your perception will be clouded by sin or worldly desires which will result in your body becoming full of darkness. If you are selfish, it means that you won’t love God or your neighbor which Jesus said are the two greatest commandments from God. If we keep our focus our heart and mind focused on God, we will always be full of light and God will be able to guide and correct us when we need it.

Day 96 Bible Readings – Luke 11: 29-30 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 4: 14-49, Deuteronomy 5, Luke 11: 1-32, Psalm 59: 1-8

Luke 11: 29-30 (ESV)

“When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.”

In verses 29 through 30 from Luke 11, Jesus lamented over the crowd asking for a sign. Christ then referenced Jonah and said that Jonah will be the only sign that will be given. Christ tells the crowd “the Son on Man” will be like Jonah, since he became a sign to the people of Nineveh. I wonder if the crowd listening got the reference that Jesus was making. Jonah was swallowed by a big fish for three (3) days and nights, but after he prayed to God, the big fish vomited Jonah out and he survived. Jesus was trying to tell the crowd that he would die and be resurrected after three (3) days and nights like Jonah. Did the disciples get the reference? If they did, I’m not sure they even knew what it meant because they seemed to be having a hard time coming to terms that Jesus was going to die. And I don’t blame the disciples either. They had seen Jesus perform so many miracles, so it didn’t make sense that he would allow himself to die. What I also love about these verses is that they show how Christ knew the Old Testament. Jesus gave out so many hints of what was going to happen to him, but the gospels state that so few people understood what God’s ultimate plan was for his son. They couldn’t conceive that God would make the ultimate sacrifice of his son, the way God had once asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son. These verses also show us why it’s so hard to know the mind of God, but that God’s plan always works out for the best and that we need to trust God even if we might never ever understand his actions.

Day 95 Bible Readings – Luke 10: 40-42 (ESV)

 Deuteronomy 2: 24-37, Deuteronomy 3, Deuteronomy 4: 1-14, Luke 10: 25-42, Psalm 58

 Luke 10: 40-42 (ESV)

“But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I love the story of Mary and Martha which is shown in verses 40 through 42 from Luke 10. At certain times in my life, I was doing a lot of work in the churches I belonged to and I became resentful of the people who didn’t help out in the church. At those times I probably spent more time serving and doing the business of the church, than sitting and strengthening my relationship with Christ. When I look back at those times, I know I would not have been become resentful if I spent more time reading my Bible and spending time with Christ. So I understand Martha’s frustration with her sister Mary, since I felt that same frustration. But I also understand why Jesus said to Martha that Mary was doing the right thing. As people of faith, we must remember to always spend time with Christ to strengthen our relationship with him. Spending time with the Lord is the most important duty we have to God. If we do not do that, then everything else that we do for God will become a duty and not feel good. Our time with God gives meaning to everything we do, and if we forget that then we will become like Martha.

Day 94 Bible Readings – Luke 10: 2-3 (ESV)

Deuteronomy 1, Deuteronomy 2: 1-23, Luke 9: 57-62, Luke 10: 1-24, Psalm 57: 1-11

Luke 10: 2-3 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

In verses 2 and 3 from Luke 10 Jesus tells the people he appointed to spread his teachings, to pray to the lord for help and to be a like a lamb. I love that Christ recommended that when we want talk to someone about our faith, we need to always pray to God and Holy Spirit and for other people to help us reach that person. It may take several people sharing or demonstrating their faith with someone before they can start their faith journey. Christ also recommended and we have the attitude of a lamb, which some Bible commentators have said means that we are meek and trusting of God like a lamb and that we do not try to abuse or manipulate the people with whom we are sharing our faith. I love these recommendations from Christ because it means that we can simply share our faith with people, without needing to have results or ever feel like we are a failure. Leading a person to Christ takes prayer, many people, and a trust in God that we are always doing the right thing, and God will use everything for his plans to achieve the results he wants in that particular person’s life.

Day 93 Bible Readings – Luke 9: 49-50 (ESV)

Numbers 35 & 36, Luke 9: 28-56, Psalm 57: 1-6

Luke 9: 49-50 (ESV)

“John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

I love the answer Christ gave to his disciples John when asked about someone who was casting out demons in his name but was not a disciple of Jesus. Jesus said they shouldn’t have stopped the man because he wasn’t against them. The authors of my study Bible noted that Jesus was reminding John that God has always used unexpected people to fulfill his purposes and his plans. We cannot judge people as bad just because they are not part of our group. This makes me wonder if Jesus had already seen the future and the many denominations that would spring up to spread his teachings. I loved that Jesus spoke of unity among his followers before he died. I see so many denominations fighting with each other, even though they all believe in teachings of Jesus.  At this point in time, I wish the followers of Christ would be more unified since popular culture seems to be so against the message of Christ and his teachings. All followers of Christ have a common enemy in popular culture, and now is the time for unity among the people who believe in Jesus and his message to the world.

Day 92 Bible Readings – Luke 9: 25 (ESV)

Numbers 33 & 34, Luke 9: 10-27, Psalm 56

Luke 9: 25 (ESV)

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Verse 25 from Luke 9 has been the subject of many book and movies since Jesus first uttered these word. Jesus asked what good is having wealth and power in the world, if it mean you will lose yourself and your soul. In my study Bible, the authors wrote that this is the same wisdom set forth in Ecclesiastes which questions the value of earthly wealth and pursuits. Sometimes I think it is the ultimate irony that our world preaches that to go after wealth and power saying that these pursuits will bring us all the happiness in the world. Yet we can read countless stories of people who have done just that and realized they needed more in their lives that their money and power couldn’t buy. Sometimes it’s been health. A person becomes the richest person in the world with lots of power and then they die early. Sometimes it’s been the happiness of a love relationship. There are many stories of people who have enormous wealth and power, and jump from one marriage to another, or who have kids who hate them. Sometimes it’s the feeling of trust. They are other stories of very wealthy powerful people who don’t trust anyone and live in a world of paranoia.

Human beings seem to need more than what the physical world can provide. Our souls seem to need a connection to God. If we deny that connection to pursue other things, our soul suffers. We might not be suffering from the effects of not having enough money and feeling like we have no power, but we will suffer from the emptiness of any connection to God. When the soul suffers inside of us, I think that suffering eventually spreads to the rest of our life. To have faith in Jesus Christ gives our soul a connection to God, and a way to daily feed and satisfy our soul.

Day 91 Bible Readings – Luke 9: 1-2 (ESV)

Numbers 31: 25-54, Numbers 32, Luke 8: 40-56, Luke 9: 1-9, Psalm 55: 12-23

Luke 9: 1-2 (ESV)

“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.”

In verses 1 and 2 from Luke 9, Jesus tells his twelve (12) disciples that he was giving them power and authority to heal people from demon possessions and to cure diseases. Jesus send the disciples out in pairs to different parts of the land of Israel. I’ve always wondered what these healings would look lik,  and the reactions of the disciples when they found they could heal people of disease and banish demons like their master Jesus.

If you’ve been following my Blog, you know I love the series The Chosen. I love how they’ve imagined how Bible scenes would play out in real life. So I was so happy when they showed in Season 3 Episode 4 several scenes of the disciples healing people in pairs. You can see the shocked faces of the disciples when they found out they could heal people, and their happiness as well. I love that Jesus gave his disciples a taste of what their life would be like when he left, and the confidence to know that they could carry on his teachings and his healings.

Enjoy the disciples healing people from The Chosen TV series, Season 3, Episode 4:

Day 90 Bible Readings – Luke 8: 25 (ESV)

Numbers 30, Numbers 31: 1-24, Luke 8: 19-39, Psalm 55: 1-11

Luke 8: 25 (ESV)

“He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

In verse 25 from Luke 8, Jesus scolds his disciples for their lack of faith when they awoke him because they were afraid of the storm. Jesus and his discipled had gotten into a boat with Jesus telling them “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.”  In a Biblical commentary I read on this verse, the author stated that Jesus had promised that they would go across to the other side of the lake. The author noted that Jesus scolded his disciples for their unbelief, when he had promised them that they would go to the other side of the lake. This Biblical author made it clear that the difficult storms in life are not evidence of unbelief; “Unbelief is the rejection of a promise or a command of God relevant to a particular situation.” I think this definition of unbelief makes it clear that having difficult situations come up in in your life doesn’t mean you have an “unbelief”. Having an “unbelief” comes from when you hear the Holy Spirit tell you everything is going to be alright, and you still have doubts that what the Holy Spirit said is true. I find it so easy sometimes to slip into “unbelief”, despite the fact that I have so much evidence in my life that Holy Spirit is always right about everything. I have to keep remembering that it is always my sinful nature that whispers doubts in my mind, like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. That serpent never seems to shut up and I have to ask the Holy Spirit for help every time. I sometimes feel such a sense of shame that my doubts never go away, but that is what having a sinful nature is all about – having a doubt-filled mind. I am so grateful that I have the Holy Spirit to help me quiet the doubts long enough for me to see and experience the daily miracles God gives me in my life.

Day 89 Bible Readings – Luke 8: 18 (ESV)

Numbers 28 & 29, Luke 8: 1-18, Psalm 54

Luke 8: 18 (ESV)

“Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

In verse 18 from Luke 8, Jesus tells his disciples to pay attention to how they hear his teachings. If they take the teachings of Christ into their heart, mind, and soul then more will be given. However, if you don’t pay heed to Christ’s teachings then all that you have will be taken away. Some Biblical scholars suggest that you cannot just passively listen to the teachings of Christ, your actions must also reflect Christ’s teachings. When your actions reflect God’s teachings, then you will more have more hunger for the teachings of Christ and more of God’s blessings will come to you. And if your life doesn’t reflect the teachings of Christ, then even the blessings they think they have from God will be taken away. For me the hardest part is to have my life reflect God’s teachings, especially when it comes to sharing my faith. We live currently in a culture where faith in Christ is looked down upon, and faith is too controversial a subject to be talked about in polite company. I don’t want to be type of Christian who just vomits their faith over everybody because when it’s been done to me I was repulsed even as a Christian. I want to instead rely on the promptings of the Holy Spirit when to share my faith because that means to me, Holy Spirit has created an opportunity for faith sharing to happen. I know that by myself I can do nothing without the Holy Spirit’s help, and this especially applies to sharing my faith with people I don’t know and even family and friends who do not yet know Christ.

Day 88 Bible Readings – Numbers 27: 12-14 (ESV)

Numbers 26 & 27, Luke 7: 36-50, Psalm 53

Numbers 27: 12-14 (ESV)

“The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)”

When I read verses 12 through 14 from Numbers 27, I felt so sad for Moses. God told Moses to go up a mountain to see the Promised Land, and then said to Moses he would die afterwards. God then reminds Moses that he wouldn’t see the Promised Land because Moses failed to uphold God as Holy in the wilderness of Zin. These verses make me wonder what Moses must have thought when he found out about his fate. Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt and then stayed their leader as they wondered through the desert for forty years. The next few verses show that Moses did not question or complain to God about his fate. He did not try to change God’s mid. Whatever Moses felt, he was obedient to God in all things. But as faithful and obedient as Moses was to God, he was not spared punished for his failures. Moses shows us that we need to be obedient to God as well as faithful to him all things.

Day 87 Bible Readings – Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

Numbers 24 & 25, Luke 7: 11-35, Psalm 52

Numbers 24: 17 (ESV)

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

When I first read verse 17 from Numbers 24, I immediately saw these words as a prophecy of the future King David. But then I thought about the “star” reference, and I saw the “star of Bethlehem” that rose when Christ was born. This prophecy from Balaam, who wasn’t even Jewish and whom God spoke to, was for both King David and Christ. Jesus came from the House of David, so this prophecy is also a reference that a messiah would come from the line of David. When I read through the Bible commentaries on this verse, the authors noted that early Christian and Jewish writers understood that verse 17 was a reference to the coming Messiah. I love how God talked and used a pagan seer to speak prophecy about his plans. God uses believers and non-believers as part of his plan. I think as people of faith we tend to think that God has no use for non-believers, but that’s not true. God created everyone, so why wouldn’t he use all of us to fulfill his plan on earth? What this verse tells us is we must never think we are not part of God’s plan. If God can use the pagan prophet Balaam to further his plan, he will surely be able to use someone who has faith in him.

Day 86 Bible Readings – Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

Numbers 22: 21-41, Numbers 23, Luke 6: 37-49, Luke 7: 1-10, Psalm 51: 10-19

Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

When I read verses 10 through 12 from Psalm 51, tears came to my eyes. This Psalm was written by David after Nathan the prophet confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba. David begs God for mercy and in verse 10, he asks God in create a clean heart in him and to not cast him away or take his Holy Spirit from him. David also asks God to restore to him the joy of God’s salvation and to uphold him with a willing spirit. I could feel David’s sincerity when he asked God for forgiveness in these verses. I can see myself reciting these verses and meditating on them when I feel like I have sinned against God. This Psalm has given me a new appreciation for deep David was in his relationship with God, and how even after he committed a sin, he did not feel himself separated from God. When I feel guilty after committing a sin, I am like Adam and Eve and I want to hide from God. I would love to have a deep relationship with God just like David.

Day 85 Bible Readings – Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

Numbers 21, Numbers 22: 1-20, Luke 6: 12-36, Psalm 51: 1-9

Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”

I’ve heard and read the Beatitude given by Christ over the years, but after reading a few Bible commentaries on these verses in Luke 6 I’ve gain a new appreciation for them. In verse 21 from Luke 6, Jesus blessed those who are hungry now and said that they shall be satisfied. Previously I thought that this blessing was solely about food, but one Biblical scholar noted that the hunger referred to people who are hungry for God. Jesus is blessing people who hunger for God like they hunger for food and spend all their time seeking him to satisfy their hunger. Jesus tells them that if they have faith in him, their hunger for God will be satisfied. I love this image of seeking God like a starving seek would seek food. I don’t think I’ve ever searched for God like a starving man searches for food, and I want to experience this kind of hunger for God at least once in my life.

Then Jesus blessed those who weep now since they will one day laugh. I always thought this blessing was for people who are depressed and felt sadness in their life, and when they go to heaven they will laugh with joy. Another Biblical scholar said the weeping is not for sadness, but for people who weep because of the sins they committed in their life. Through their faith in Jesus Christ, the people who weep will laugh with joy when they find out that God has made everything right in their life. This image of laughing with joy when you find that God had made everything right in your life resonated with me, because I have laughed with joy when I realized that God answered one of my prayers.

Day 84 Bible Readings – Luke 5: 36-38 (ESV)

Numbers 19 & 20, Luke 5: 33-39, Luke 6: 1-11, Psalm 50: 16-23

Luke 5: 36-38 (ESV)

“He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.”

In verses 36 through 38 from Luke 5, many Biblical scholars have interpreted these lines to mean that Jesus did not come to begin a reform movement within the Jewish faith. Jesus came to form a new church that brings the Jewish people and the Gentiles together. God will also sometimes use new vessels/people to contain his work. Some Biblical scholars took these verses to also mean that religious establishment at any time can become not pleasing to God, and sometimes resist his work and works in direct opposition to his new teachings. I think we can take metaphor of an old garment or old wineskins and apply it to ourselves as well. We have to look at our thoughts and actions and examine them if they are still pleasing to God, and anything new he is trying to teach us. If it is not, we need to remember what Paul said in Romans about giving up our old selves every morning so we can be born again in Jesus Christ. It might be hard because change is never easy, but if we ask for help from the Holy Spirit then we can be guided to what we need to do give up old selves and be born again anew in Jesus Christ.

Day 83 Bible Readings – Luke 5: 31-32 (ESV)

Numbers 17 & 18, Luke 5: 17-32, Psalm 50: 1-15

Luke 5: 31-32 (ESV)

“And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

In verses 31 and 32 from Luke 5, the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus why he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Christ tells them he came to call the sinners to repent because they are sick with sin. One author of a Bible commentary called Christ a “physician of the soul”. The problem with the Pharisees and scribes is that they did not think they were sinners because they strictly followed the laws, even though Jesus has called them hypocrites. If your life is good and you don’t have any pressing material needs, it can be hard to realize that you need Christ in your life. People who have committed big sins like murder or stealing know they need repentance from God. But a sin is a sin whether you’ve done the deed or just thought of doing the deed. People who tend to be very successful in life don’t think they need God. Their life is great, and they do not need anything. But whether your life is successful or not, you need to ask yourself if you are happy and if you have peace in your life. If your life is not happy and full of miracles and peace, then you need Christ in your life. Only a relationship with God can lead a person to true happiness, miraculous days and nights, and unending peace.

Day 82 Bible Readings – Psalm 49: 10-12 (ESV)

Numbers 16, Luke 4: 38-44, Luke 5: 1-16, Psalm 49

Psalm 49: 10-12 (ESV)

“For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain he is like the beasts that perish.”

In verses 10 through 12 from Psalm 49, the Psalmist tells us everyone dies including those with wealth. Even if the wealthy man owned much land and named the land after him, the final home of the wealthy man is grave. In other words, we cannot take our wealth with us when we die. Nor can our treasures be stores in the next world that we will inhabit when we Die. Despite all a person’s wealth, they will still die like any common animal. These verses applied to people during the time this Psalm was written and can still be applied to our time today. Many people pursue wealth, but in the end none of it matters when we die. If we trust in our wealth or boast of our riches, at the end of our life we will still die like an animal. We should instead trust in God and be proud of spiritual things, so we can live eternally and not go to the Pit.

Day 81 Bible Readings – Luke 4: 33-34 (ESV)

Numbers 14 & 15, Luke 4: 14-37, Psalm 48: 9-14

Luke 4: 33-34 (ESV)

“And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

In verses 33 and 34 from Luke 4, the spirit of the unclean demon recognized Jesus Christ as a holy person and called out to him. I find it so interesting that the unclean demon knew who Christ was and recognized him as a Holy person, and the Pharisees would not believe that Christ was who he said he was. The Bible tells us that detailed reports were given to Pharisees about the miracles that Christ performed, so I am going to assume The Pharisees would have read what the demons said about Christ. The Pharisees had evidence that even the demons knew who Christ was, yet they still refused to recognize Christ as even a Holy person. I was in a class at my church today and we talked about why the Jewish people did not want to believe that Christ was the Messiah. One person suggested that people in Christ’s time thought the Messiah would be someone who would free them from the occupation of the Romans. When they found out Christ came to free them sin instead, they could not accept it. But if you think about it Christ may not have freed the people of Israel from the Romans during his lifetime, but the people who had faith in Jesus Christ would conquer the Romans and religion of Christ would become the official religion of Rome. I think Christ did conquer the Romans, but not till years later. So Christ did what the people of Israel wanted a Messiah to do, just not in the way they wanted.

Day 80 Bible Readings for March 22 – Luke 4: 3-4 (ESV)

Numbers 12 & 13, Luke 3: 23-38, Luke 4: 1-13, Psalm 48: 1-8

Luke 4: 3-4 (ESV)

“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”

In verses 3 and 4 from Luke 4, the Devil tempted Jesus to make stone into bread. Jesus had fasted while he was in the desert and was hungry. Jesus answered the Devil with a verse from the Old Testament, with Deuteronomy 8: 3. Jesus was tempted two (2) more times by the Devil and each time he answered the Devil with two more verses from Deuteronomy. Christ gave us the perfect example of how to battle temptation by knowing the Bible verses by heart and using them when we are facing temptation. The Bible has every answer to any temptation that we face. We might not know them by heart, but we can research which Bible verses to use when we are facing temptation.

Day 79 Bible Readings for March 21 – Luke 3: 4 (ESV)

Numbers 10 & 11, Luke 3: 1-22, Psalm 47

Luke 3: 4 (ESV)

“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

In verse 4 from Luke 3, we read about the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet which was for John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. I think we can ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of any place within our life where there is sin and where we need to repent. Then we can become like John the Baptist in our own life, and pray to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to free us from our sin and help us to repent and live a better life. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to prepare the way of the Lord every day in our heart and in our life, so we can be filled with Christ who is the “bread of life” and “living water”.

Day 78 Bible Readings – Luke 2: 49-50 (ESV)

Numbers 8 & 9, Luke 2: 41-52, Psalm 46

Luke 2: 49-50 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.”

In verses 49 and 50 from Luke 2, we read about Jesus’ answer to his parent when they were looking for him at the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph did not understand their son when he said to them that he must be in his Father’s house. I think it must have been easy for Mary and Joseph to forget that Christ was a special child. They had raised him for many years, and he probably acted like any other child of his age. Since they were good parents, they panicked when they couldn’t find their son and looked everywhere for him except in the Temple. I think it’s interesting that no one in the Temple even wondered where Jesus’ parents were since he was there for three (3) days. These verses also show that Jesus must have realized that he was special, and knew about the special circumstances of his birth. These verses reminded me again that everything in life of Jesus was miraculous, and that from his birth and through his childhood they were signs that he was indeed the son of God.

Day 77 Bible Readings – Luke 2: 35-36 (ESV)

Numbers 7, Luke 2: 21-40, Psalm 45: 10-17

Luke 2: 35-36 (ESV)

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

In verses 35 and 36 from Luke 2, we read about Simeon’s prophecy about Jesus and warning for Mary. Simeon tells Mary and Joseph that their son was destined to cause the rise and fall of many people in Israel, and would be opposed by many. Then Simeon warned Mary that not only would the soul of Jesus be pierced, but that Mary herself would be pierced through her soul as well. But then Simeon said it would all be worth it because her son would reveal the thought of many hearts. When I read this passage, it makes me wonder if Mary fully comprehended what would happen to her infant son when he grew up. Did Mary know at that moment that Christ would one day die. Did she realize that watching her son die would feel like a sword piercing her own heart as Simeon was prophesying.? Or, did she and Joseph smile and then ignore Simeon’s words. Mary and Joseph knew that their son was going to be extraordinary, but I don’t think that they knew how much their infant son would one day change the world by sacrificing himself for the sins of the world.

Day 76 Bible Readings – Numbers 6: 22-26 (ESV)

Numbers 5 & 6, Luke 2: 1-20, Psalm 45: 1-9

Numbers 6: 22-26 (ESV)

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

When I read verses 22 through 26 from Numbers 6, I started thinking of the song “The Blessing” by Elevation Worship. Kari Jobe said the lyrics of the song came from scripture, but they don’t mention the Bible reference. They added so much to these verses that my Bible calls “Aaron’s Blessing”. Aaron spoke the blessing, but the words of the blessing came directly from God. I love that God gave Moses the words to this blessing and that every time I hear and sing this song, I will remember these words came from God.

Enjoy Elevation Worship’s version of Aaron’s Blessing.

Day 75 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 57-79 (ESV)

Numbers 4, Luke 1: 57-80, Psalm 44: 13-26

Luke 1: 57-79 (ESV)

In verses 57 through 79 from Luke 1, we read about the circumcision ceremony of John the Baptist, and how his father Zechariah got his voice back. Zechariah was struck with muteness after he was visited by the Angel Gabriel for doubting his words. Once Zechariah realized he voice had come back, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he started prophesying about his son John and how we would go before the Lord to prepare his way. These verses are dramatized in Episode 1 in the 4^th season of The Chosen Series. I love how the actors they chose to portray Zechariah and Elizabeth look to be the age they are supposed to be in the Bible. Elizabeth looks to be several years beyond her childbearing age, so a pregnancy at her stage in life back then and even now would be considered a miracle. I heard one Biblical scholar say it was fitting that the birth of John the Baptist would be a miracle, since the birth of Jesus would also be another more fantastical miracle.

Enjoy this fictional dramatization showing the early start in the life of John the Baptist.

Day 74 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Numbers 2 & 3, Luke 1: 39-56, Psalm 44: 1-12

Luke 1: 46-55 (ESV)

Verses 46 through 55 from Luke 1 is Mary’s song of praise when she was visiting her cousin Elizabeth. These verses are about Mary and her son Jesus Christ. The writers of The Chosen series produced a Christmas special with Mary asking Mary Magdalene to write these verses down to give to Luke. The story of how these verses came to be in Luke is fictional, but it is such a creative way to represent these verses in a television program. The writers of this scene also managed to have Mary say these verses in their entirety in the scene.

Enjoy this scene depicting Luke 1: 46-55 from The Chosen Christmas Special:

Day 73 Bible Readings for March 15 - Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

Numbers 1, Luke 1: 26-38, Psalm 43

Luke 1: 38 (ESV)

“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”

In verse 38 from Luke 1, we read about Mary’s response to the Angel Gabriel when he told her she would conceive a son. Mary had such incredible faith. She must have known what being pregnant without being married might have meant for her. Mary was still not married to Joseph, and he could break the marriage contract and abandon her because of her pregnancy. If Joseph did abandon Mary, she could receive the death penalty for having a child while she was still betrothed. Despite knowing all the pitfalls of what the pregnancy would cause in her life, Mary agreed and told the Angel Gabriel she was God’s servant and would accept whatever God’s plan was for her life. I don’t know if I would have Mary’s faith if an Angel appeared to me with some crazy plan of God’s for my life. I would like to think I would have said Yes as Mary did, but I don’t think that I would be to predict my actions until I was faced with a similar decision. I do know I would have told the angel, I would do it but only with God’s help. I know I could not do it on my faith alone.

Day 72 Bible Readings – Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

Leviticus 26: 14-46, Leviticus 27: Luke 1: 1-25, Psalm 42: 7-11

Luke 1: 18-20 (ESV)

“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

In verses 18-20, we read about Zechariah’s questions and doubts to the Angel Gabriel and the results of his doubt. Zechariah was a devoted man to God, but when the Angel Gabriel gave him news of the upcoming birth of his son we see his doubts. Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife, was old and for her to birth a son would have been a miracle. Even though Zechariah was a devoted man to God, he couldn’t believe what the Gabriel had told him. Zechariah and his wife had probably spent years praying for a son, so to have a son now in their old age would have been unbelievable. I can understand Zechariah’s doubts because he had probably given up on ever having a son, and to have his prayers answered now must have seemed crazy. Zechariah needed a sign, even though the Angel Gabriel speaking to him was not enough of a sign. I felt bad for Zechariah in these verses because I so understand his doubt. He didn’t want to be disappointed again, even though it was a miracle in and of itself that the Angel Gabriel was speaking to him. The news of his son having such a prominent role in the coming of the Messiah must also have seemed to be unbelievable to Zechariah. Zechariah was punished with muteness for his doubts, but God was still merciful to him because Elizabeth still became pregnant. In these verses we see an example of how even devoted people have doubts about God in their life, and of God’s mercy for these people despite their doubts.

Day 71 Bible Readings – Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

Leviticus 25, Leviticus 26: 1-13, Mark 16, Psalm 42: 1-6

Leviticus 25: 23 (ESV)

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.”

In verse 23 from Leviticus 25, God reminds Moses and the people of Israel that everything belongs to God including the land. God also tells us to remember we are strangers and sojourners on his land. I love this verse because it is a reminder that earth is not our home, and that our true home is in heaven with God. If we are citizens of heaven, then while we are on earth it means we are totally dependent on God because we are sojourners on his land. Being citizens of heaven also means that our life on earth is transient, so our dependence on God for guidance to follow his divine plan becomes even more important. I like the idea of thinking myself a sojourner on God’s land, because then it makes sense that I need to follow God’s rules and plan for myself on his land.

Day 70 Bible Readings – Leviticus 23: 5-6 (ESV)

Leviticus 23 & 24, Mark 15: 33-47, Psalm 41: 7-13

Leviticus 23: 5-6 (ESV)

“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.”

In verses 5 and 6 from Leviticus 23, God tells Moses that the people need to celebrate Passover, which a feast to commemorate God delivering the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. God then tells Moses that they need to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. The Feast of the Unleavened Bread happens the day after Passover, which is to commemorate how quickly the people of Israel had to flee Egypt. Because they had to leave in a hurry there was no time for bread to rise so it could be baked. So the people made bread that was made without rising, which they call unleavened bread.

One of the Biblical commentaries I read noted that Christ was crucified on the day that the people would have celebrated Passover. The last supper took place on the night before the Passover feast. Christ was buried the next day, which is on day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Christ would have also been resurrected during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Christ was the Passover lamb for the people when he was crucified. In 2025 Easter falls on the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and I love how we will be celebrating both feasts that God commanded in Leviticus.