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.