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

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

Psalm 51: 10-12 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

Luke 6: 21 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

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

Luke 5: 36-38 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

Luke 5: 31-32 (ESV)

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

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