Day 147 Bible Readings – John 17

1 Samuel 19 & 20, John 17, Psalm 86: 1-10

John 17

After listening to Pastor David Guzik’s sermon on John 17 I decided that instead of highlighting a verse or two from this Bible reading, I would rather have readers of this post listen to Pastor Guzik’s sermon. Pastor Guzik writes that John 17 is the only written record of an extended prayer of Jesus Christ, and that we can learn how to pray in the way that Jesus prayed during the Last Supper. I especially like the part where Pastor Guzik said that we should not look at prayer as a way to get our will done, but that we should also chat with Father-God like he is our best friend.

Here's the link to Pastor Guzik’s sermon: 

If you enjoyed reading this post, find yourself a good Bible-based church where you can hear teaching on the word of God in the Bible so you can develop a more intimate relationship with Father-God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 146 Bible Readings – John 16: 2 (ESV)

1 Samuel 17: 38-58, 1 Samuel 18, John 16, Psalm 85: 8-13

John 16: 2 (ESV)

“They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”

In verse 2 from John 16, Jesus tells his disciples and what will happen to them because they believe in him. Jesus tells them they will put you out of the synagogues, and that they will be persecuted and killed and think they are offering a service to God. Jesus was prophesying what would happen to the early Christians and to the Jewish people who believed in him. But this warning of Jesus not only applies to his early followers, but to all Christians even to this day. Christians today are being persecuted around the world and in the United States of America for their beliefs. On Saturday May 24, a few Seattle churches held a peaceful worship service in a park in downtown Seattle and was attacked by an anti-Christian crowd. The Mayor of Seattle then blamed the Christian worshipers for the violence. Pastor calls for Seattle mayor's apology after Christians attacked at 'don't mess with our kids' event

As a follower of Christ, we need to expect opposition as a normal part of our life, but I think we often forget this warning from Jesus. But we need to remember it because sadly, culture is against people who love and believe in Christ.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this Bible verse, find yourself a Bible-based Christian church who will teach you about Jesus Christ and how to have a relationship with him.

Day 145 Bible Readings for May 26 – 1 Samuel 16: 7 (ESV)

Happy Belated Memorial Day!

1 Samuel 16, 1 Samuel 17: 1-37, John 15, Psalm 85: 1-7

1 Samuel 16: 7 (ESV)

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

When I was reading the Bible readings for this day, verse 7 from 1 Samuel 16 stood out to me. I love how Father-God spoke to Samuel as he was looking at the sons of Jessie the Bethlehemite. Samuel had such an intimate relationship with Father-God that he received instructions in his head as he was looking at each boy. The Lord told Samuel do not judge a person’s leadership potential by their height and stature, in other words, don’t judge a person by their appearance. Because God can see into a man’s heart, we need to always seek the Lord’s guidance when making any decision. As believers of faith in Jesus Christ, we also need to judge people the way Father-God judges someone, which is on their inner character and not on their outward appearance. What this verse also shows is that whomever God chooses may not line up with our own human expectations, so we need to trust in God’s judgement always because he can see more than we can see with our human eyes. This verse also tells us that God can use anyone to do his work, even those feel weak and not strong in statue.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts about the day’s Bible verse(s), do yourself a favor and find a Bible-based church so you can join a community that teaches you how to have a relationship with Father-God, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 144 Bible Readings – John 14: 27 (ESV)

1 Samuel 14: 24-52, 1 Samuel 15, John 14, Psalm 84: 8-12

John 14: 27 (ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

The first sentence of Verse 27 from John 14 is what is said around the world in Christian churches. This verse was part of what Jesus said to his disciples during the Last Supper. The concept of giving someone “peace or Shalom” was common in the culture of the Jewish people during the time of Jesus. But the peace that faith in Jesus promises us is different than what peace means in the culture, which is the absence of conflict and a sense of well-being which is temporary and based on circumstances. Jesus offers his followers the peace that is rooted in a relationship with Father-God and himself and the Holy Spirit. The peace that Jesus gives to us is the promise of salvation and eternal life with Father-God through Christ. The peace of Jesus is unconditional and eternal, so we are not troubled or afraid. If we trust in Christ, we will have the peace that surpasses all understanding which means that we can have peace in our life no matter what is happening. The peace that Jesus promises his followers is a gift and not something that we need to earn because he loves us and will take care of us, now and in time after death. As followers of Jesus, we must also offer peace to those around us like Jesus did.

Day 143 Bible Readings – John 13: 34-35 (ESV)

1 Samuel 12-13, 1 Samuel 14: 1-23, John 13: 18-38, Psalm 84: 1-7

John 13: 34-35 (ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

During the Last Supper Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment which we read in verses 34 and 35 from John 13. Jesus told his disciples that they need to love each other as Jesus loved them. Jesus gave himself as the example for how he wanted his disciples to love each other. Jesus had demonstrated to his disciples his compassion and service and unconditional love for people. Jesus wanted his disciples and his followers to choose to love each other and be unified, and to act in the best interest of each other. Jesus knew that if people of faith acted like this, their actions would serve as a testimony to how the belief in Jesus can transform a person’s life. I love this new commandment that Jesus gave his disciples because he tells people of faith that if we treat fellow believers in the way Jesus treated us, then we will stand out in the world for unity and love towards each other. How we treat each other can become a recruiting tool for non-believers to start to believe in how Jesus can

Day 142 Bible Readings – John 12: 44-46 (ESV)

1 Samuel 10-11, John 12: 27-50, John 13: 1-17, Psalm 83

John 12: 44-46 (ESV)

“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

Verses 44 through 46 from John 12, Jesus again tells the crowd of his unity with God the father. Jesus says if you believe in him, believes in God the Father who sent him. Then Jesus says if you see him, you are seeing God the Father. Whoever believes in Jesus will experience a journey from spiritual darkness into light, because the teachings of Jesus encourage us to live in truth and love in our daily actions and decisions. Jesus tells the crowd that whoever believes in him will not remain in spiritual darkness and ignorance sin, and separation from God. Jesus tells us his mission is to rescue us from darkness. I love that the followers of Jesus during his life were interacting with the physical manifestation of God the Father on earth. I envy the crowds and disciples during the time of Jesus, but I don’t think they really realized they were interacting with God the Father until long after the death and resurrection of Jesus. I think it is so often the case that we as humans do not recognize an experience of God the father in our lives until after the experience. I pray for myself that through my own discernment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that when miracles are happening in my life that I recognize and celebrate them in the moment and not afterwards.

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

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

John 12: 25 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

1 Samuel 5: 4-6 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

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

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

Day 137 Bible Readings – Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

Ruth 3 & 4, John 9: 35-41, John 10: 1-21 Psalm 80: 1-7

Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

In verses 13 through 15 from Ruth 4, we find out the happy ending to Naomi’s story. When her husband and her sons, Naomi became bitter against God and thought that God had gone against her. But through her daughter-in-law Ruth, God showed his love to Naomi and gave her a grandchild through Ruth. The women who knew Naomi recognized God’s blessing to her and Ruth and said to Naomi that God had restored her life and she would become a nourisher to the son of Ruth. During the time of Naomi and Ruth, children were considered a blessing and a source of security for the future for a person in old age. Ruth’s son Obed would become a descendant of David and Jesus. The story of Naomi shows us that God can renew and restore our life, even when we have given up hope and think that God has abandoned us. Even if our circumstances seem impossible, if we have truth and faith in God, we can trust in God’s timing and provision to always restore us and nourish us.

Day 136 Bible Readings for May 17 – John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

Ruth 1 & 2, John 9: 1-34, Psalm 79

John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

In verses 1 through 3 from John 9, Jesus teaches us a lesson about suffering and physical disabilities. During the time of Jesus, people had a common belief that physical disabilities were a punishment for personal sin or the sins of your ancestors. Jesus told his disciples that not all suffering comes from sin, but God was going to use the circumstances of the blind man’s life for a greater purpose. Jesus was trying to emphasize how powerful God is and that he is sovereign and can bring good out of any difficult situations. Jesus heals the blind man and demonstrates God’s power and compassion.

These verses tell us that when we are facing difficult circumstances in life, even if they are from birth, we need to seek God always. God is sovereign over all things, and can use any situation to show is power, compassion, and mercy to his children. Any difficult we have is an opportunity for God’s work to be revealed to us through our faith in him. We just need to believe in faith that God is all powerful and the divine healer in our lives.

Day 135 Bible Readings – John 8: 47 (ESV)

Judges 20 & 21, John 8: 31-59, Psalm 78: 56-72

John 8: 47 (ESV)

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

In verse 47 from John 8, Jesus tells the Pharisees that only those who belong to God will hear and understand his words, because they have a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Biblical scholars call spiritual discernment a gift from God which allows believers to recognize God’s voice. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the reason they do not hear the words of God through Jesus is because they don’t have a relationship with God. Verse 8 must have been so insulting to the Pharisees since they thought they had a relationship with God through being descendants of Abraham and following all the laws set forth in the Torah. When I listen to a live sermon, I do not like to take notes because I feel that I have to listen intently with the head and heart to get the gist of the message. I have to use spiritual discernment when I listen to a sermon. Since the services at my church are streamed live, I sometimes relisten to the sermons that stir me and then take notes so I can reflect further on the message of the sermon. I’ve also had the experience of relistening to sermons I like and getting a very different message from the sermons, and I’ve decided this change means I am deepening my relationship with God and with his word. Verse 8 also explains to me when other people who are not believers do not resonate with a sermon that deeply moved me. And even when I disagree with a sermon, I know I have to use my spiritual discernment to analyze if I am resisting the words of God because of a sin or unbelief that I don’t want to let go.

Day 134 Bible Readings - John 8: 12 meaning

Judges 18 & 19, John 8: 12-30, Psalm 78: 40-55

John 8: 12 (ESV)

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In verse 8 from John 8 Jesus was again teaching in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles (booths) and told the crowd, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus then says if you follow him, you will not walk in darkness but you will have the light of life. The authors of a Bible Study I read wrote that “light” means guidance and truth, but also eternal life. Jesus serves as an external guide, but he is also the source who will sustain a believer in their spiritual life. Jesus’ role in the world is to reveal truth, guide humanity, and dispel spiritual darkness in his followers. Following Jesus means you need to believe in his teachings which will lead to a life that is illuminated by his truth and presence. Jesus teaches us to choose the path of righteousness and truth in life, and when we do that our life will be abundant and eternal. If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to make conscious choices and decisions that reflect your faith and commitment to Christ.  For me, Jesus has always represented the light in the darkness of my life. As long as I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, my life is filled with light and life.

Day 133 Bible Readings – Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

Judges 16 & 17, John 7: 45-53, John 8: 1-11, Psalm 78: 32-39

Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

“But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.”

In verses 36 through 39 from Psalm 78, we read about the compassion of Father-God to his children. In this historical Psalm written by Asaph who as a singer and musician during the reigns of David and Solomon, we read about how the people of Israel still sinned even after God provided them with quails for meat while they were in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Then when God told the people of Israel that they would not enter the promised land they repented, and they praised God with their mouths, but their praises were not sincere. The people praised God, but Asaph writes the people were not steadfast and did not follow God’s laws which was part of the covenantal relationship with him. But because God is compassionate, he did not destroy them and restrained his own anger. Father-God remembered that his children were frail and mortal, and that human life was transient and short like the wind. These verses tell us that our Father-God has infinite patient and compassion for us children, and that he will show us mercy while he waits for our repentance. This doesn’t mean that Father-God will not punish us for our sins, but he will hold back his anger because he desires our repentance above all else.

These verses also show us that we need to mirror God’s compassion and mercy in our relationships with other people. We must always ask Father-God for his discernment and guidance when people sin against us. It doesn’t mean we don’t get angry at other people, but we need to show compassion and forgiveness as God has shown us compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  

Day 132 Bible Readings – John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

Judges 14, Judges 15, John 7:14-44, Psalm 78:17-31

John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

In verses 37 and 38 from John 7, Jesus makes an analogy to himself and water during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles (booths or Sukkot) was celebrated among the people of Israel to remind everyone that God miraculously provided water and food when they made their exodus from Egypt. Jesus says if you are spiritually thirsty, you need to come to him and drink. Jesus says that if you believe in him, he will provide you with rivers of an eternal flow of “living water”. The “living water” is the Holy Spirit which will given to those who believe in him, although it will not be given until he is glorified.

I love these verses because Jesus reminds us that only he can offer us the “living water” or Holy Spirit which we hunger for when we are spiritual thirsty. I was one of those people who explored many different religious and spiritual practices because I had a deep spiritual thirst. Although I was raised as a Christian, I know I need to satisfy for myself if there was something else that was better than Jesus Christ. Other religious and spiritual practices satisfied my hunger for a while but it didn’t last, so I kept searching. After many years of searching, I now know that only the “living water” of Jesus Christ is truly an eternal river that can satisfy my spiritual thirst. But I didn’t come to this conclusion until I was “born again”, and began to truly understand the role of the Holy Spirit in my life. If Christianity is not satisfying your spiritual thirst, find a Christian church that emphasizes the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a deep understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit and the Trinity, you will always be “spiritually thirsty”.

Day 131 Bible Readings – John 6: 63 (ESV)

Judges 12 & 13, John 6: 60-71, John 7: 1-13, Psalm 78: 9-16

John 6: 63 (ESV)

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

In verse 63 from John 6, the disciples were complaining to Jesus that many of the things he was teaching were hard to accept, and Jesus was explaining to them why his teachings were hard to accept.  Jesus tells his disciples that it is the Holy Spirit who gives life, and that the flesh or human efforts cannot grant life. The writers of a Bible Study I read wrote that “flesh” could also mean adherence to law or traditions, and that you need the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit to understand their spiritual significance. In other words, it would be hard to accept the teaching of Jesus without help from the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus tells them that his words and teachings are spirit and life, meaning that they are transformative because they carry information and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words are full of spiritual life and power. This verse teaches how important it is for believers to read out loud and study the word of God, because the words themselves are alive with spiritual power and life. The words of God have the power to transform our lives just to speak them out loud, but we need the help of the Holy Spirit to help discern them. We cannot accept or understand God’s words by using our human faculties alone. I know for myself I have a hard time understanding the teachings of Jesus, but when I pray to the Holy Spirit to help me then a whole world and new level of understanding opens up for me.

Day 130 Bible Readings – John 6: 28-29 (ESV)

Judges 10, Judges 11, John 6:25-59, Psalm 78:1-8

John 6: 28-29 (ESV)

“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

In verses 28 and 29 from John 6 Jesus answer the question from the crowd, who followed him  after the feeding of the 5,000, when they asked him what they must do to do the works of God. Jesus tells them that they need to believe in him whom God sent, which is Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus told them if they want to do the work of God, they need to do anything but first trust him. The Jewish people were used to following the laws of Moses, which were based on performing good works and adhering the laws in the Torah or the first five books Old Testament. Adhering to the laws and doing good works was a pathway to righteousness. The authors of my Bible study wrote that in verse 29, Jesus redefined “work” not as a series of actions but as a single act of faith. Jesus was in essence telling the crowd that salvation is by faith and not be works.

This belief or faith means a personal trust and reliance on Jesus. Jesus shifted the focus of belief from human work and adherence to the law to divine grace and faith to achieve righteousness.  Jesus wants us to have a personal relationship with him, where we trust and believe in his identity and his mission. In shift to divine grace and faith, Jesus made righteousness accessible to all regardless of works, background, and status. Belief in Jesus will transform every area of our life by influencing our decision, our actions, and interactions with other people.

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: