​Day 204, July 23, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 9, Luke 11
 
“They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.” 1 Chronicles 9:1
 
Not much has changed in the hearts and actions of the Israelites in the time of Jesus compared to previous generations. Some of the leadership in Jesus’ time looks at his miracles, specifically his driving out demons, and they question how it is done. Their presumption is that Jesus drives them out by way of Beelzebub. Jesus rebukes them, in perfect Jesus fashion, “If I drive them out by Beelzebub, how are you all doing it?”
 
At the beginning of our reading in Luke, we get Jesus’ teaching on prayer. The Lord’s prayer instructs us to forgive and seek the Lord each day. Later he challenges people in their lack of faithfulness and calls everyone to hear and obey the Word of the Lord.
 
Jesus looks out and sees people still taken captive by way of unfaithfulness. People are still turning from the Lord, unrepentant in their ways. They are hypocrites.
 
Jesus brings it down to prayer and obedience. Trusting each day to the Lord, learning from him, and walking with him.
 
Thankfully, we have forgiveness in Christ, and there is a way forward for us in the Kingdom of God.
 
Lord, teach us to pray and walk with you.
 
Jordan 

​Day 203, July 22, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 8, Luke 10
 
I recently preached on Luke 10 and I would like to revisit a couple of the points that I made for those sermons.
 
The first is the proximity of the Samaritan. It was the religious elite who passed by on the other side of the road, distancing themselves from the one who was harmed. It was the unexpected Samaritan who drew near to the broken and hurting and was a neighbor.
 
This story was a role reversal and a strange story to the original hearers. Samaritans weren’t  expected to draw near to a Jew, but that is what seemingly happens. The perceived enemy is a friend.
 
In addition to this story, we also have in Luke 10, the story of Mary and Martha. Martha is upset because Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, while Martha prepared the meal in the kitchen.
 
One chose the social pattern of the day, in the kitchen. The other, chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him.
 
Mary chose the better path at the feet of Jesus, learning from him.
 
One of the great aspects of Luke’s Gospel is the gift it gives us to see the Kingdom in its multifaceted lens.  In Luke 4, it’s the jubilee, a proclamation of hope to the poor. Throughout the book, Jesus is proclaiming the Kingdom of God and declaring it as the purpose of his arrival. People are being healed and drawing near to the King and his Kingdom.
 
Luke wants his readers to know that Jesus is ushering in the reign of God, He is King, and the Kingdom is here.
 
It’s turning the social constructs on their heads. Those who are admired for their religiosity – well – they are traveling on the other side of the road. But there is one who has come to the poor, the ostracized, and they have a place, nearest to Jesus. In the story of Mary and artha, Mary blows up social constructs and as a woman, has a place at the foot of her Rabbi to learn from him. Unheard of in that time.
 
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, I’ve heard the question asked, who is most like Christ?
 
And I think our default answer is to say the Samaritan.  But that doesn’t make much sense.
 
Jesus is not the religious guy drawing away. And he isn’t the Samaritan who acted graciously towards the beaten man. 
 
Jesus is the beaten man. And the religious folk won’t care at all about his condition.
 
Here it is – Jesus is the beaten man, on the way to the cross. But he will be sought, lifted up, cared for unexpectedly.
 
Something to think about, the next time you read the text.
 
For now, know that Jesus is proclaiming a kingdom, and you have a place in it as a child of God.
Draw near to God, you have a place with him.

​Day 202 – July 21, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 7, Luke 9
 
In Luke 9, Jesus feeds 5,000+ people with a little bread and fish. This incredible miracle is followed by an a conversation with the disciples about Jesus’ identity. “Who do people say I am?” Jesus asks this question after a time in prayer. 
The answers start rolling in. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still other prophets, who have come back to life.”
“What about you?” Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” 
Peter answers, “God’s Messiah.”
Peter obviously answers correctly. In each instance of this in other gospels, Jesus accompanies Peter’s response with the impending suffering and death of the Son of Man. The disciples continuously wrestle with the idea of the function and role of the Messiah. The furthest idea from their minds is that the Messiah would come and die. The common 1st century understanding of the Messiah was that he would come and conquer, not come and die. We have the rest of the story, and we have the perspective to look back on this text and know that Jesus did both. He came and announced the kingdom, died and conquered. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah who proclaimed and inaugurated a greater kingdom, an eternal one that is greater than death.
It is interesting looking back at the answers that were given about the identity of Jesus. Some say Elijah, John the Baptist, or another prophet, and Luke then offers up the story of Jesus' Transfiguration. Two great prophets appear, Elijah and Moses. One of those questions is, “How did the disciples know who they were?” They couldn’t have possibly had a picture of them on their iPhone, right? Well Jesus probably communicated with them who it was later. That’s the only explanation, right? 
Anyways, it furthers the point. Elijah and Moses, two of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel, they are approving of Jesus. He is the Messiah. He is truly the one who is coming into the world to redeem it and he is calling us to follow him, take up our crosses.
 
Follow the Messiah into the kingdom of God. Give your life to him today!
 
Jordan 

Day 201 – July 20, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 6, Luke 8
The wind and the waves obey him.
The demons listen to him.
Jairus believes and his daughter is healed.
Jesus’ family consists of those who listen and obey the will of God.
Luke 8 calls us to listen and obey the Word of God. The Parable of the Seeds is the reminder and encouragement we need today. We are called to continue pressing forward in our reading of God’s Word and trusting in the message of the Kingdom of God. It is not simply the reading of it but listening and obeying it. Pray that the seed of God’s Word would find a rich soil that bears a great fruit!
 
Blessings,

Jordan

Day 200 – July 19, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 5, Luke 7

​In our Chronicles reading, we are reminded of the plight of the Israelites. They continually had difficulty with the surrounding nations. They fell into temptation and they turned their hearts from the Lord. God, repeatedly instructed them to be cautious and wise against the surrounding nations. 
Jesus though, spends time with sinners, even helps a Roman Centurion.
There is no question why the Pharisees are perplexed by Christ. He is caring for the enemy! 
Jesus is blessed by a woman who has many sins. She wipes his feet with her tears. The Pharisees look onward and say, “If you knew who was doing this, you wouldn’t be anywhere near her!” 
But he is, and he teaches the powerful point of “Those who are forgiven little love little, and those who were forgiven a great debt are filled with exceeding joy and love!” 

There is an important Kingdom of God plot point happening in the heart of our reading. John is wondering if Jesus really is the one th4ey’ve been waiting for. It’s nearing the end of his life, and perhaps he just wants a bit of an affirmation of the ministry and life of Jesus.

Jesus says, tell him, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: the Blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
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The Good News is making its way, the Messiah has come, the Kingdom is here! It is a message of comfort to John the Baptist, he essentially says, “John, you were right!”
Jordan

​Day 199 – July 18, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 4, Luke 6

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9–10)
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I was 16 when the book “The Prayer of Jabez” took the evangelical world by storm. I thought, why not pray this prayer? Seems legit? 
You likely did the same. When we read the book and pray the prayer to expect God to increase our territory, what are we asking for? Perhaps its wealth, or control, and in large part, protection from harm.
When we read that prayer alongside the sermon on the plain in Luke, we get maybe a different prayer. 
“Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
“Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry…”
“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.”
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
 
Is it just me or is Jesus the opposite of the prayer of Jabez?
 
“Love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”
“Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.”
Jesus is the anti-Jabez. It’s not about the increase of territory, or the protection from harm. Rather, Jesus is teaching us to love our enemies, pray for our persecutors, and bless everyone. Bless the poor, the sick, the hurting. Increase the territory of our enemies!
Jesus is up to something. He is teaching us that what really matters is what comes from our hearts.
Out of the overflow of our heart, our mouth speaks.
Out of the overflow of your heart, what are you praying?
Jordan

​Day 198 – July 17, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 3, Luke 5
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It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus’ mission continues. As he presses forward in the proclamation of the kingdom, he also teaches and welcomes those who sinned into his inner circle. He ministers to the sick, and he forgives them of their sins. This Good News is beginning to take shape, the Kingdom of God is breaking into the world. It’s not really all that they expected, it is a physical and spiritual transformation. And it is going to unexpected places, like the home of a sinner or a tax collector.
God is beginning something new!

God bless

Jordan

​Day 197 – July 16, 2021

Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 2, Luke 4

David will soon take center stage in the account of Israel’s history in Chronicles. For now, we get the family tree of David, among many others.

Luke’s Gospel message is beginning to take off. Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, and begins his earthly ministry of announcing the kingdom of God. He goes into the temple and announces the year of jubilee and the good news for the poor and slave!
He takes on demons, casts them out and delivers the message of the Good News.
 
This is why he came, to announce the Kingdom of God. “I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” – Luke 4:43
 
When you consider the Good News, does it contain the message Jesus as the Son of God announcing the Kingdom of God?

I have Good News still, Jesus is King, and his Kingdom has come, repent and believe! 
​
Jordan

​Day 196 – July 15, 2021
Scriptures: Luke 3, 1 Chronicles 1
Watch Bible Project on 1 Chronicles


As we have gone through this Bible reading plan, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the intentionality of it. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to us that the Bible weaves together a story and has many connections. But today’s reading once again shows me the method used to piece together the reading was done with a clear intent to help us see thematic connections between various books of the Bible.

Chronicles tells the message of the story of Israel. The opening chapters begin with a genealogy that begins with Adam and works its way through many of the names we’ve already encountered in our Bible reading. Folks like Abraham, Enoch, and so many more.
In the Gospel of Luke, John preaches about one who is coming who is greater than him. Obviously, he is pointing towards Jesus. And Luke sets the stage using genealogy as well. He takes the line of Jesus, past David, all the way back to Adam as well, beyond Adam to “The Son of God.” That’s significant.

God is doing something in Jesus, the Son of God. Luke wants his readers to know, Jesus is Lord and King, the Messiah who came and inaugurated the Kingdom of God. That is something only the Son of God can do.

This Jesus, Son of God, has royalty in his blood and will inaugurate the Kingdom.
Chronicles points to the hope of this Day. Luke will tell us all about it!
​
Jordan

​Day 195 – July 14, 2021
Scriptures: Psalms 89, Luke 2

How long Lord, will you hide yourself forever? Psalm 89:46

​“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.” Luke 2:36–39
 
Anna and Simeon represent for Luke the Israelites desire and anticipation for a Savior. Anna and Simeon voice the concern of Psalm 89. How Long do we have to wait? When will God send his deliverer and set the world right?
And finally, in Jesus, their anticipation, their hope is fulfilled. They now see the glory of God, themselves. Their hope is here.
The Savior and Salvation that was anticipated in Psalm 89, a King in the line of David, one who would set the world right. Well he’s here. Jesus Christ is Born. Today, in the town of David, a Savior is born.
Have a Merry Christmas in July!