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.