Day 148 Bible Readings - John 18: 8-9 (ESV)

1 Samuel 21-23, John 18: 1-24, Psalm 81: 1-7

John 18: 8-9 (ESV)

“Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Verses 8 through 9 from John 18 shows how much care Jesus had for his disciples. Christ didn’t fight his arrest. If Jesus did fight his arrest, harm would have come to his disciples which was unacceptable to him because he promised God that would take care of the people who come to believe in him. One Bible commentary noted that Jesus at this point self-sacrificed himself to the guards. Christ willingly surrendered himself to the guards and asked that no harm come to his followers.

These verses remind that Jesus will always protest those whom he loves. If Jesus was willing to protect his disciples, we can be assured that Jesus will protect us as his followers. Jesus gave up his life and took on the sins of the world. He became the sacrificial lamb so we would be free of sin.

Day 147 Bible Reading - John 17: 20-24 (ESV)

1 Samuel 19 & 20, John 17, Psalm 80: 8-19

John 17: 20-24 (ESV)

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Verses 20 through 24 from John 17 are part of Jesus’ prayers before his arrest. Jesus prayed for himself, his disciples, and in in these verses he prayed for his future followers who believe in him through the words of the disciples. In other words, future follower of Christ which is us. I love that Jesus was able to see the future even as he was facing what would be an incredible painful part of his life in his crucifixion. He loved us so much even though he would never meet us. Christ asked for the same blessing for us that he asked for the followers that he did know for three years.

Sometimes when I watch “The Chosen” tv series, I am in awe of the disciples who knew Christ, spoke to him, laughed with him, and cried with him. I wonder if they knew at the time how lucky they were to have known Christ, and what would become of the teachings of Christ. I wonder if they could see into the future and see that over a billion people in 2024 or 1/7^th of the world’s population would be followers of Christ. I think Jesus knew and prayed for his future followers in this prayer.

Day 146 Bible Reading - John 16: 33 (ESV)

1 Samuel 17: 38-58, 1 Samuel 18, John 16, Psalm 30: 1-7

John 16: 33 (ESV)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Verse 33 from John 16 shows Jesus telling his disciples that they can find peace in him, and that in the world they will have tribulation. Jesus promises us peace if we believe in him, but he never promised that our life would be without problems. I know that as a follower of Christ, I often like to think that the Holy Spirit guides me so I don’t have problems. I do think that is true, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have problems. But from what I’ve seen of problems and how I have handled them, I know that God will always use my problems to strengthen my faith in him.

The last line of Verse 33 is where Jesus says that we if look at him, we can be inspired by how he overcame sin by dying on the cross. So even if we do have problems, we must believe that Christ will help us to solve our problems and bring us closer to him. God has a plan for our lives, for good times and bad times. If we believe this, then we will have peace no matter what is happening in our lives. This peace is the freedom that a belief in Christ brings to his followers.

Day 145 Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 16: 7(ESV)

1 Samuel 16, 1 Samuel 17: 1-37, John 15, Psalm 79

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.”

Verse 7 from 1 Samuel 16 stood out to me today. I love that God told Samuel what he looks for in people and that he doesn’t see what people see. People look at a person’s outward appearance to judge what is in their heart and the kind of person they are inside. One bible commentary I read said the outward appearance of a person is an idolatry that is widely practiced.

God is different. God can look into the secrets of a person’s heart. When we are unsure about someone, we must pray to God to give us advice on whether to let this person into our lives because God can see into their heart. I also like that it doesn’t matter to God what you look like or what you appear to be on the outside. God only sees what is in our heart and will choose someone who has a heart for God. God will use those who love him and obey him in their heart. So anyone can be chosen by God as long as their heart is for God.