Day 139 Bible Readings – John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

1 Samuel 22: 27-36, 1 Samuel 3 & 4, John 11: 1-44, Psalm 81: 1-7

John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

“So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

In verses 20 through 22 from John 11, Martha the sister of Lazarus who was dead greets Jesus and tells him she knows that Jesus could have healed her brother, and he would not have died. Then Martha tells Jesus that even though her brother died, she still trusted him. Martha’s statement to Jesus shows her faith in him, even though he wasn’t there to heal her brother. I love this demonstration of Martha’s faith. She believed in Christ even though her brother died. I know for myself that my faith reached its lowest point when I was in difficult times, and I felt that Father-God hadn’t answered my prayers about my situation. During these times I was angry at Father-God and swore never to believe in him again. But even in these darkest times. I felt Father-God’s love surround me and I felt that “peace that is beyond understanding” overtake me. And situations that seemed so hopeless in life miraculously worked out or I felt peace about them. And now I believe my faith has progressed to the point where I can say when I am in a difficult season, that Father-God is working this season for my good and he is sovereign in all things. I may not have Martha’s great faith, but I am getting closer to it every year.

Day 138 Bible Readings – John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2: 1-26, John 10: 22-42, Psalm 80: 8-19

John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

In verses 27 through 29 from John 10, Jesus tells the religious leaders why they don’t believe him. The religious leaders did not believe anything Jesus said to them because they didn’t have a relationship with him. The people who believe in Jesus know him and recognize his voice, and they follow him. They know they will have eternal life with him, and that Jesus will take care of them, and no one will be snatched out of his hand. Then Jesus emphasized again that he is the son of God the father, and that they are one. Believers in Jesus are assured that that since his Father-God is greater than all other Gods, no human can remove them from God’s protection. I love this metaphor of Jesus as a shepherd and his believers as sheep. A shepherd has a close relationship with his sheep, and he cares for them. A sheep is protected by the shepherd, as Jesus protects his believers. And since Jesus is the son of God the father, then believers have the protection of God the father as well. Even when we are going through trials, God will also protect us his believers and rescue us from danger.

Day 137 Bible Readings – Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

Ruth 3 & 4, John 9: 35-41, John 10: 1-21 Psalm 80: 1-7

Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

In verses 13 through 15 from Ruth 4, we find out the happy ending to Naomi’s story. When her husband and her sons, Naomi became bitter against God and thought that God had gone against her. But through her daughter-in-law Ruth, God showed his love to Naomi and gave her a grandchild through Ruth. The women who knew Naomi recognized God’s blessing to her and Ruth and said to Naomi that God had restored her life and she would become a nourisher to the son of Ruth. During the time of Naomi and Ruth, children were considered a blessing and a source of security for the future for a person in old age. Ruth’s son Obed would become a descendant of David and Jesus. The story of Naomi shows us that God can renew and restore our life, even when we have given up hope and think that God has abandoned us. Even if our circumstances seem impossible, if we have truth and faith in God, we can trust in God’s timing and provision to always restore us and nourish us.

Day 136 Bible Readings for May 17 – John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

Ruth 1 & 2, John 9: 1-34, Psalm 79

John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

In verses 1 through 3 from John 9, Jesus teaches us a lesson about suffering and physical disabilities. During the time of Jesus, people had a common belief that physical disabilities were a punishment for personal sin or the sins of your ancestors. Jesus told his disciples that not all suffering comes from sin, but God was going to use the circumstances of the blind man’s life for a greater purpose. Jesus was trying to emphasize how powerful God is and that he is sovereign and can bring good out of any difficult situations. Jesus heals the blind man and demonstrates God’s power and compassion.

These verses tell us that when we are facing difficult circumstances in life, even if they are from birth, we need to seek God always. God is sovereign over all things, and can use any situation to show is power, compassion, and mercy to his children. Any difficult we have is an opportunity for God’s work to be revealed to us through our faith in him. We just need to believe in faith that God is all powerful and the divine healer in our lives.