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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

Solomon urges his son to pursue the wisdom of the Lord.

BibleGateway: Proverbs 2 ESV Text: Proverbs 2 Proverbs 2 (Listen) The Value of Wisdom 2:1   My son, if you receive my words    and treasure up my commandments with you,2   making your ear attentive to wisdom    and inclining your heart to understanding;3   yes, if you call out for insight    and raise your voice for understanding,4   if you seek it like silver    and search for… Solomon urges his son to pursue the wisdom of the Lord.

Self-righteousness is the antithesis of the Christian faith. This Pharisee singled himself out as better than all others on the basis of his religiosity. The publican recognized his sinfulness, and sought God’s mercy. Jesus says that the sinful publican was justified (declared righteous in God’s sight), and the Pharisee was not. We are to be humble, recognizing the truth about ourselves.

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BibleGateway: Luke 18:9-17 ESV Text: Luke 18:9-17 KJV Text: Luke 18:9-17 The section starts at about 0:50 and ends at about 2:15      9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that… Self-righteousness is the antithesis of the Christian faith. This Pharisee singled himself out as better than all others on the basis of his religiosity. The publican recognized his sinfulness, and sought God’s mercy. Jesus says that the sinful publican was justified (declared righteous in God’s sight), and the Pharisee was not. We are to be humble, recognizing the truth about ourselves.

The judge, who cared not at all about God or the opinions of man, nonetheless finally granted this widow’s request merely because of her persistence. If even a bad man will yield to such persistence, how much more so will our gracious God be prevailed upon by our persistent prayer! Do not fail to continue in prayer, even when the answer seems not to be forthcoming.

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BibleGateway: Luke 18:1-8 ESV Text: Luke 18:1-8 KJV Text: Luke 18:1-8 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 0:59      1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men… The judge, who cared not at all about God or the opinions of man, nonetheless finally granted this widow’s request merely because of her persistence. If even a bad man will yield to such persistence, how much more so will our gracious God be prevailed upon by our persistent prayer! Do not fail to continue in prayer, even when the answer seems not to be forthcoming.

The blessings of Christianity are so abundant and constant that we tend to take them for granted and fail to be properly thankful to God for His unmerited benevolence. The ten lepers must certainly have been astounded by their healing, yet only one came back and thanked Jesus. Let us think daily on our blessings, and be like the one rather than the nine.

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BibleGateway: Luke 17:11-19 ESV Text: Luke 17:11-19 KJV Text: Luke 17:11-19 The section starts at about 1:26 and ends at about 2:30      11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he… The blessings of Christianity are so abundant and constant that we tend to take them for granted and fail to be properly thankful to God for His unmerited benevolence. The ten lepers must certainly have been astounded by their healing, yet only one came back and thanked Jesus. Let us think daily on our blessings, and be like the one rather than the nine.

Pietists and legalists are proud of their rectitude and adherence to moral codes, as though that’s praiseworthy. That’s like someone who wishes to be praised because he found a lost wallet with much cash and returned it to its owner. That’s not praiseworthy; a failure to do that would be theft. So also, our Christian sanctification is merely our duty which, as unprofitable servants, we fulfill only imperfectly.

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BibleGateway: Luke 17:1-10 ESV Text: Luke 17:1-10 KJV Text: Luke 17:1-10 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:35      1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences… Pietists and legalists are proud of their rectitude and adherence to moral codes, as though that’s praiseworthy. That’s like someone who wishes to be praised because he found a lost wallet with much cash and returned it to its owner. That’s not praiseworthy; a failure to do that would be theft. So also, our Christian sanctification is merely our duty which, as unprofitable servants, we fulfill only imperfectly.

Wherein lies our hope? The hearts of unbelievers can be set only on the things of this world. The “rich man” of this parable is merely one example. His wealth is not the problem; his unbelief is. He is contrasted with the beggar Lazarus (whose name is a rendition of a Hebrew name meaning “God is my help”). Is our focus on worldly matters, or on God?

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BibleGateway: Luke 16:19-31 ESV Text: Luke 16:19-31 KJV Text: Luke 16:19-31 The section starts at about 2:36 and ends at about 4:28      19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and… Wherein lies our hope? The hearts of unbelievers can be set only on the things of this world. The “rich man” of this parable is merely one example. His wealth is not the problem; his unbelief is. He is contrasted with the beggar Lazarus (whose name is a rendition of a Hebrew name meaning “God is my help”). Is our focus on worldly matters, or on God?

Does God commend dishonest dealing? Certainly not. Note that the commendation of the unjust servant comes from his master, not our Lord. Our Lord’s exhortation begins in v. 9. It is not the steward’s dishonesty that God commends, but rather only the man’s prudence as an example for us to follow. As Christians, we too often fail to be “wise as serpents,” as Jesus exhorts us in Matthew 10:16.

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BibleGateway: Luke 16:1-13 ESV Text: Luke 16:1-13 KJV Text: Luke 16:1-13 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:6      1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich… Does God commend dishonest dealing? Certainly not. Note that the commendation of the unjust servant comes from his master, not our Lord. Our Lord’s exhortation begins in v. 9. It is not the steward’s dishonesty that God commends, but rather only the man’s prudence as an example for us to follow. As Christians, we too often fail to be “wise as serpents,” as Jesus exhorts us in Matthew 10:16.

Have you ever acted as though your own ideas about how to achieve happiness were better than God’s plans for you? The father in this parable represents God, and the younger son represents those who choose to go their own way. The father allowed his younger son to discover the folly of his own ideas, and to return, chastised, to his household. How blessed we are that for Jesus’ sake, we are received back.

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BibleGateway: Luke 15:11-32 ESV Text: Luke 15:11-32 KJV Text: Luke 15:11-32 The section starts at about 1:10 and ends at about 4:4      11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the… Have you ever acted as though your own ideas about how to achieve happiness were better than God’s plans for you? The father in this parable represents God, and the younger son represents those who choose to go their own way. The father allowed his younger son to discover the folly of his own ideas, and to return, chastised, to his household. How blessed we are that for Jesus’ sake, we are received back.

Was there anything in the lost sheep or the lost piece of money that made them of greater worth than the other ninety-nine sheep or the other nine coins? No. What differentiated them was that they were lost. The Pharisees and scribes complained that Jesus ate with sinners, so He told these parables to illustrate the seeking love of God. We were lost. Jesus sought us out and saved us.

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BibleGateway: Luke 15:1-10 ESV Text: Luke 15:1-10 KJV Text: Luke 15:1-10 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:19      1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to… Was there anything in the lost sheep or the lost piece of money that made them of greater worth than the other ninety-nine sheep or the other nine coins? No. What differentiated them was that they were lost. The Pharisees and scribes complained that Jesus ate with sinners, so He told these parables to illustrate the seeking love of God. We were lost. Jesus sought us out and saved us.

The first use of the Law is to show us our sins and sinful nature so that we are not deceived by the lie that we can earn salvation. It is only through Christ’s perfect life and vicarious death that our sins have been blotted out. The benefit of what Jesus has done for all mankind is received only through faith, not works.

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BibleGateway: Romans 3:19-28 ESV Text: Romans 3:19-28 KJV Text: Romans 3:19-28 The section starts at about 1:46 and ends at about 3:15      19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith… The first use of the Law is to show us our sins and sinful nature so that we are not deceived by the lie that we can earn salvation. It is only through Christ’s perfect life and vicarious death that our sins have been blotted out. The benefit of what Jesus has done for all mankind is received only through faith, not works.

“Stand fast” in unchanging truth. God’s enemies present compelling and eloquent assertions and reasoning designed to create widespread falling away from genuine Christian faith. Who is in danger of falling away? Those who “did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Continually study the saving Word of God, through which the Holy Spirit will sustain and strengthen your faith.

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BibleGateway: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 ESV Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 KJV Text: 2Thessalonians 2:1-17 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:28      1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our… “Stand fast” in unchanging truth. God’s enemies present compelling and eloquent assertions and reasoning designed to create widespread falling away from genuine Christian faith. Who is in danger of falling away? Those who “did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Continually study the saving Word of God, through which the Holy Spirit will sustain and strengthen your faith.