Day 20: You Still Lack One Thing

Luke 18, 19, 20

We all still lack one thing.  Trust.  As members of this fleeting and temporary world, it’s almost natural to not trust.  So many have been hurt that they’re natural response is that they are protecting those that they love.

Trust is what we all lack.  Trust in the persistent, trust in the unknown, trust in Him. Trust leads to faith.

¹Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

⁸I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

I try to answer that question.  As I develop a more personal relationship with Christ, I see how far I’ve fallen.  As doubt and denial rack my mind, I find comfort in the words that I’ve been reading on the daily.  I am reminded of what I need to do to redeem myself.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:14

Then the verse that eased those feelings of angst away:

²⁷Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

As I continue to read, I’m faced with more reasons as to why I am determined to know more about my Heavenly Father.

¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10

Have faith because of this promise.

Dear Lord, As I spend more time in your word, I realize that all of our feelings of angst and worry are driven by us and us alone.  I realize what I lack – allow me to truly repent and completely understand what it means to be a child of God. Thank you for allowing me to trust in you. Amen

Day 19: Repent for Forgiveness

Day 19: Luke 15, 16, 17

The past three chapters focused on a similar topic of repentance & forgiveness.  We, as His children, are asked to repent for our sins and for our forgiveness.  Through the act of repentance, we get to practice the act of forgiveness.  They go hand in hand and by reading Luke 15, 16 and 17, you’ll understand why.  As you read the following excerpts on what Jesus says about repentance, reflect on your own actions.

⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7

²¹“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ Luke 15:21

“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4

¹⁰So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ” Luke 17:10

Humility – it’s what we need.  It’s what takes us off of our “high horse” to realize that anything we collect in this world will not translate over to our final place in Heaven next to our Father.  This world is where you get to practice humility, forgiveness and repentance.  Have we not all had reasons to repent and be forgiven?  As you wish for forgiveness, wonder if there is a forgiveness to be bestowed to those around you.

Father, it is hard to forgive because of the hurt.  But please, open our eyes and soften our hardened hearts, so that we can truly humble ourselves to understand what forgiveness is.  If we can ask you for forgiveness, who are we to deny that to our fellow brothers and sisters.  I pray that any ill wills squatting in our hearts will diminish into nothing – truly. Let us practice the forgiveness that you shine on us daily.  I thank you for allowing me to trust in You and to develop as a true disciple in Your word. Amen

Day 18: Do Not Worry

Day 18 – Luke 12, 13, 14

How many times have you worried about your means and your provisions? I know that I have.  We do things as a response to “I need to put food on the table, I need…I need…I need.”

We read, throughout the length of the Bible, to not worry – yet we do.  I just read an extremely powerful passage that eased my soul.

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:22-34

I pray every day to ease the worry my human soul bears.  I take comfort in the promise that God has made in that if I seek His kingdom, that all of these will be given to me.  I’ve slowly been rebuilding my faith and trying to humble myself to His teachings.

Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you find mercy on me.  I ask that as I delve further into your teachings, that I may truly take light of the promises written.  Allow me to read your words and understand what it is that you are asking of me.  Let me live and breathe your teachings so that I may one day be your light. Amen

Day 17: To Be A Lamp of the Body

Day 17: Luke 9, 10, 11

At the end of Luke, chapter 11, it describes an incident between Jesus and the Pharisees/teachers of the Law. Reading the actions of those that “follow the law” but their hardened hearts – remind me of the times today.  I too struggle with having 1 foot in the world and 1 foot in the Christian world.

³⁹Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹But give what is inside the dish ^[a] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

⁴²“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

⁴³“Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

⁴⁴“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.”

⁴⁵One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

⁴⁶Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

⁴⁷“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. ⁴⁸So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

⁵²“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:39-52

I remember the passage previous to this: ³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” Luke 11:34-36

Dear Lord,

Help me to be a lamp of the body.  Help me to understand the errors of those who don’t live by the word.  Impossible on my own, but fully trusting in your compassion – let me see the errors of my ways.  Allow me to trust in you, Lord. Amen

Look At All the Lonely People

Loneliness is something all people feel some of the time, and some people feel all of the time.  Even some prominent Bible characters wrestled with that awful dilemma of feeling cut off and isolated.

King David:

¹¹ Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I am a dread to my friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.

¹² I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery. (Psalm 31:11-12)

Job:

¹³ “He has alienated my brothers from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.

¹⁴ My kinsmen have gone away;
my friends have forgotten me. (Job 19:13-14)

The apostle Paul:

¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.  (2 Timothy 4:16)

It isn’t just homeless people or society’s outcasts who feel the sting of loneliness.  We live in a world filled with lonely people.  if you’re lonely, pray for insight when reading His word, to fill the loneliness with life, to use you to bring comfort to others .

Meditate on Genesis 2:18

Day 16: To Have Faith in His Word

Day 16: Luke 6, 7, 8

Reading Luke is like reading the inner personal struggles that many face – especially myself.  Many say that they can’t relate to the Bible because it’s such an old book.  If you take the time to actually read what it is saying – you’ll be surprised to find quite the opposite.

²⁷“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27 – 31

As I continue to read, I notice that it re-iterates God’s instructions.

⁴⁵The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

I struggle everyday with leading a more spiritual relationship with Him and it comforts me.  I reminds me of the frail human form that I am and that it is with God’s unconditional love for me that has forgiven me of my sins.

Day 15: Wise Words

Day 15: Luke 3, 4, 5

I realize more and more, how much I can learn from just reading His word everyday.  His words are so comforting to read – it reminds me that my faith waivers.

⁸Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:8-9

These verses remind me what is truly at stake.

When I doubt my salvation and consider myself to be so unworthy, I hope to recall how Jesus responded to the Pharisees and the teachers on those considered as such.

³¹Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³²I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32

Dear Heavenly Father: I ask that as I continue to develop this relationship with you, that my heart will be protected from all things that may attack me.  Please help me to come to you in all things of my life, the good and the bad. Please help me to trust. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 14: Giving What You Don’t Have – Do Not Be Anxious

Day 14: Mark 14, 15, 16; Luke 1, 2

We’ve all gone through those moments – strapped for cash, bills to pay.  It sometimes leads to not having anything to give for offering.  However, this is the wrong way to go about giving freely to Christ.  A very poignant verse that rang true while reading this morning was when Jesus was anointed in Bethany.  It was not about frugality, waste or efficiency.  It was about someone doing what she could – no matter the cost, to serve her Lord.

Mark 14:6-8 (New International Version)

⁶“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.

Yet Christ was victim to anxiety as well.  However, He lifted those anxieties and worries to His Father and left with the most powerful statement.  ³⁶“Abba,^[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Mark 14:36

Mark 14:34-36 (New International Version)

³⁴“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” ³⁵Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶“Abba,^[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Father, I seek your forgiveness and compassion.  As I strive to lead a more personal relationship with you.  I fall, I become anxious and I look to earthly matters to console such sorrow.  I pray that as I develop this relationship, that I may truly be able to freely say those words that Christ said in Gethsamane.

Day 13: Do Not Doubt Your Heart, Pray with Conviction

Day 13: Mark 11, 12, 13

Doubt.  We all have it.  Yet, Christ gave us the instruction to not doubt and to have faith and pray for that.

Mark 11:23-26 (New International Version)

²³“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”^[a]

It’s so amazingly powerful to read these chapters every morning and gain new perspective.  I’ve been guilty of not truly believing in what I ask for in prayer.

Dear Father, help my heart to soften – to truly grasp what it means to truly have faith.  I ask that I can have full trust in what I ask for, for you have stated that if I believe that I have received it, it will be [mine].  Thank you for sending your son as the ultimate sacrifice – to watch over us and comfort us.

Day 12: Selflessness

Day 12: Mark 8, 9, 10

The most powerful thing I read was Jesus’ explanation to his disciples regarding selflessness.

⁴³Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

It was not about glory or fame – it is to serve and to sacrifice.

I’ve been praying for a deeper love for a personal selfless spirit.  I shall take these verses and remember that I must be slave of all first before wanting to be first.