Today's reading: Luke 23
I'm always struck by the plaintive cry of the thief, "remember": "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (v. 42). Such is the goodness and lovingkindness of our Lord that He forgets our sins and remembers our souls unto salvation. Blessed are you, dear Jesus!
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 22:35-71 (note that it's the second half of the chapter)
The Word "kiss" grabs me today. How could Judas do it? As Michael Card sings in his song "Why": "Why did it have to be a friend / Who chose to betray the Lord? / Why did he use a kiss to show them? / That's not what a kiss is for." It's a troubling detail, that sends me to my knees in repentant faith, praying I never betray my Lord with a kiss.ย
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 22:1-34 (note that it's only the first half of the chapter)
The Word of Christ that gets my attention today is verse 29: "I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom." The verb "assign" in Greek means literally "to make covenant." As God made covenant with Noah, Abraham, and David of old, now He does so with you and me in Christ. But in this case, it's a one-sided promise: His kingdom is for us!ย
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 21
The Word of Christ that brings me comfort today is "raise your heads" (v. 28). Jesus has just outlined the (frankly frightening) signs accompanying His coming, but then He reassures us: "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Come, Lord Jesus!
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 20
My Word of Christ today comes from v. 38: "all live to Him." He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And this also makes me think of Acts 17:28: "In Him we live and move and have our being." Whether people recognize it our not, God is not only the source of life, but the ground of life: all live to Him, through Him, and in Him alone.ย
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 19
Happy Thanksgiving! With Matthew's version of the parable of the talents still ringing in my ears from Sunday, I'm struck today by one difference in the version we have in Luke: the good servant is commended for being faithful in a very little (v. 17). Very little! How kind is our LordโHe takes our humblest offerings and makes so much of them. Thanks be to God!
What's your Word?
Today's reading: Luke 18
One Word of Christ that grabs me here is infants (v. 15). The Greek word brephe means literally nursing babies (it's even used of John when he is in his mother's womb, Luke 1:41); these very littlest ones are loved by the Lord, and He desires to gather them into His family. It's a joyous reminder that His kingdom truly belongs to "the least of these"!
What's your Word?