Day 135 Bible Readings – John 8: 47 (ESV)

Judges 20 & 21, John 8: 31-59, Psalm 78: 56-72

John 8: 47 (ESV)

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

In verse 47 from John 8, Jesus tells the Pharisees that only those who belong to God will hear and understand his words, because they have a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Biblical scholars call spiritual discernment a gift from God which allows believers to recognize God’s voice. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the reason they do not hear the words of God through Jesus is because they don’t have a relationship with God. Verse 8 must have been so insulting to the Pharisees since they thought they had a relationship with God through being descendants of Abraham and following all the laws set forth in the Torah. When I listen to a live sermon, I do not like to take notes because I feel that I have to listen intently with the head and heart to get the gist of the message. I have to use spiritual discernment when I listen to a sermon. Since the services at my church are streamed live, I sometimes relisten to the sermons that stir me and then take notes so I can reflect further on the message of the sermon. I’ve also had the experience of relistening to sermons I like and getting a very different message from the sermons, and I’ve decided this change means I am deepening my relationship with God and with his word. Verse 8 also explains to me when other people who are not believers do not resonate with a sermon that deeply moved me. And even when I disagree with a sermon, I know I have to use my spiritual discernment to analyze if I am resisting the words of God because of a sin or unbelief that I don’t want to let go.

Day 134 Bible Readings - John 8: 12 meaning

Judges 18 & 19, John 8: 12-30, Psalm 78: 40-55

John 8: 12 (ESV)

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In verse 8 from John 8 Jesus was again teaching in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles (booths) and told the crowd, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus then says if you follow him, you will not walk in darkness but you will have the light of life. The authors of a Bible Study I read wrote that “light” means guidance and truth, but also eternal life. Jesus serves as an external guide, but he is also the source who will sustain a believer in their spiritual life. Jesus’ role in the world is to reveal truth, guide humanity, and dispel spiritual darkness in his followers. Following Jesus means you need to believe in his teachings which will lead to a life that is illuminated by his truth and presence. Jesus teaches us to choose the path of righteousness and truth in life, and when we do that our life will be abundant and eternal. If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to make conscious choices and decisions that reflect your faith and commitment to Christ.  For me, Jesus has always represented the light in the darkness of my life. As long as I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, my life is filled with light and life.

Day 133 Bible Readings – Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

Judges 16 & 17, John 7: 45-53, John 8: 1-11, Psalm 78: 32-39

Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

“But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.”

In verses 36 through 39 from Psalm 78, we read about the compassion of Father-God to his children. In this historical Psalm written by Asaph who as a singer and musician during the reigns of David and Solomon, we read about how the people of Israel still sinned even after God provided them with quails for meat while they were in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Then when God told the people of Israel that they would not enter the promised land they repented, and they praised God with their mouths, but their praises were not sincere. The people praised God, but Asaph writes the people were not steadfast and did not follow God’s laws which was part of the covenantal relationship with him. But because God is compassionate, he did not destroy them and restrained his own anger. Father-God remembered that his children were frail and mortal, and that human life was transient and short like the wind. These verses tell us that our Father-God has infinite patient and compassion for us children, and that he will show us mercy while he waits for our repentance. This doesn’t mean that Father-God will not punish us for our sins, but he will hold back his anger because he desires our repentance above all else.

These verses also show us that we need to mirror God’s compassion and mercy in our relationships with other people. We must always ask Father-God for his discernment and guidance when people sin against us. It doesn’t mean we don’t get angry at other people, but we need to show compassion and forgiveness as God has shown us compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  

Day 132 Bible Readings – John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

Judges 14, Judges 15, John 7:14-44, Psalm 78:17-31

John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

In verses 37 and 38 from John 7, Jesus makes an analogy to himself and water during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles (booths or Sukkot) was celebrated among the people of Israel to remind everyone that God miraculously provided water and food when they made their exodus from Egypt. Jesus says if you are spiritually thirsty, you need to come to him and drink. Jesus says that if you believe in him, he will provide you with rivers of an eternal flow of “living water”. The “living water” is the Holy Spirit which will given to those who believe in him, although it will not be given until he is glorified.

I love these verses because Jesus reminds us that only he can offer us the “living water” or Holy Spirit which we hunger for when we are spiritual thirsty. I was one of those people who explored many different religious and spiritual practices because I had a deep spiritual thirst. Although I was raised as a Christian, I know I need to satisfy for myself if there was something else that was better than Jesus Christ. Other religious and spiritual practices satisfied my hunger for a while but it didn’t last, so I kept searching. After many years of searching, I now know that only the “living water” of Jesus Christ is truly an eternal river that can satisfy my spiritual thirst. But I didn’t come to this conclusion until I was “born again”, and began to truly understand the role of the Holy Spirit in my life. If Christianity is not satisfying your spiritual thirst, find a Christian church that emphasizes the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a deep understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit and the Trinity, you will always be “spiritually thirsty”.