Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-12:59.

What father among us would give his children a snake or a scorpion when they are asking for a fish or an egg. Even though we can mess things up pretty royally, we’re generally smarter than handing our child a rattlesnake or scorpion. Generally.

However, the great thing is that for God it is not “generally.” It is always. This teaching in Luke 11:11-13 is a powerful statement about God. God gives good gifts. He doesn’t give bad gifts.

Here are the two really important aspects of this that I have to learn.

1) Even when I think the gift is bad, I need to trust God that it is good. That is, some tough things happen in life. Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out how what is going on is really good for me. In fact, I may not be able to figure it out. That is when I simply have to trust God. His gifts are good. Since He’s God, He can see the good from them. Since I’m not God, I can’t always see the good. But His gifts are good.

2) This text says God won’t give me a snake when I ask for a fish and He won’t give me a scorpion when I ask for an egg. Here’s the great thing. Sometimes, due to my own immaturity, I’ve asked for the snake and the scorpion without realizing it. God will give me the fish and the egg anyway. God’s gifts are good.

We can trust God. When things aren’t going our way, that is when we need to simply trust that our refuge really is taking care of us. He really is helping us grow. His way will work best if we just trust it. All I know is this, when I quit trusting God and start trying to fix things on my own, I really mess them up. Today, I’m going to trust that God’s gifts really are good. One day I may see that. Today, I’m just going to walk by faith.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 5:1-15; 2 Peter 1:1-21.

How important is knowing Jesus? 2 Peter 1:2 says, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” How are grace and peace multiplied to me? Not just willy-nilly. If I want grace and peace, I have to know Jesus.

The next verses, 2 Peter 1:3-4, say, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” Look at that. By knowing Jesus, I gain all things that pertain to life and godliness. By knowing Jesus, I receive glory and excellence. By knowing Jesus, I can become a partaker of the divine nature. By knowing Jesus, I can escape teh corruption that is from sinful desire. 

I want all of that. How do I get it? I have to know Jesus. The word translated knowledge in these verses means thorough, precise, and correct knowledge. It is more than simply a knowledge about Jesus. It is actually knowing Jesus, knowing what He thinks, knowing how He acts, knowing what He wants. It is the kind of knowledge we have of close friends.

Do you see what this means? All these blessings don’t come because I got baptized (though I must do that–Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; et al). These blessings come from getting to know Jesus. Sadly, many people get baptized who never get to know Jesus. These blessings don’t come from “going to church” enough (though, I must certainly assemble with the saints–Hebrews 10:25). Sadly, many people “go to church” regularly, but never get to know Jesus. These blessings don’t come from avoiding the “big” sins (though I must certainly resist the devil and turn from sin–1 Peter 5:9). Sadly, many people avoid “big” sins but still don’t get to know Jesus. 

If I really want to overcome sin in my life, if I really want to have God’s blessing, if I really want to partake in the divine nature, I have to get to know Jesus. I only know of one way to do that. Get in His word. Open the pages of scripture and spend time studying them. Should we keep reading the Bible every day because it is today’s “Give Attention to Reading” homework assignment? No. We should do it because this is how we get to know Jesus. This is how we become close to Him. This is how we increase our faith, virtue, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). 

Think about what we noticed yesterday. Doesn’t this tie in. Don’t spend today trying to go to heaven. Spend today striving to get closer to Jesus and get to know Him better. I guarantee you’ll have a better day if you do.

***Question: What do you do to stay close to Jesus?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC