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.