Luke 13:34

March 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34)

Jesus described Jerusalem in a way that may surprise the reader. Typically, people think of Jerusalem as the holy city. After all, the temple was located there. All Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem three times annually. The high priest was there. We have so many reasons to consider Jerusalem as the holy city.

However, Jesus had a different view. He described Jerusalem as a city that refused to hear from God, even going so far as to kill the prophets! Additionally, Jerusalem was a city not willing to come under the care of Jesus. In fact, they will have him killed, too.

I need to make sure I see things clearly, particularly regarding myself and my standing with the Lord.

Just before Jesus wept over Jerusalem, he spoke of the narrowness of the door to the kingdom of God. The people with whom he spoke were put off because he seemed to be suggesting that they were at risk of being locked out. Jesus described their response to being locked out as misguided:

“Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’” (13‬:‭26‬-‭27‬)

This reminds me of the woman with the issue of blood who reached out to touch Jesus and was healed. None of the other people in the crowd were affected by touching Jesus. In this case, these people were not affected by Jesus presence either. Why? Because bumping into Jesus or being in close proximity to Jesus without faith is the same as refusing to be in Jesus’ care.

Father, please help me not refuse Jesus’ care. Help me soberly assess my relationship with Christ and to respond in faith. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jerusalem, Jesus Said, Luke, New Testament

Luke 12:8-9

February 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8-9)

These verses sting a bit because they cause me to remember the times I avoided conversations about Jesus. I don’t think I have ever denied him, as in actually saying, “I’m not a Christian” or “I don’t believe in Jesus.” But I have certainly avoided talking about Jesus in a variety of settings and for a variety of reasons.

I said these verses sting a bit because I feel guilty for the aforementioned avoidance. But the context of these verses escalates the sting. Here, Jesus is preparing his disciples for persecution that may come their way. Here is how Jesus describes the persecution: “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say.” (Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬) There seems to be a serious risk, not just embarrassment.

My avoidances have never been in circumstances of risk of imprisonment, torture, or death. They have occurred when I thought others might think I was weird or dumb.

If Jesus expected his disciples to hold fast in circumstances of persecution – genuine persecution, not just awkward situations – how much more would he expect me to hold fast in my everyday, no-risk life? Yikes!

Verse 12 focuses on the underlying issue: In whom am I trusting in those awkward moments? I’m looking at me. How can I justify my beliefs? How can I explain my beliefs? How can I not look like a nerd? I was focused on myself. Jesus told his disciples to look to the Holy Spirit: “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (12‬:‭12‬)

Father, please help me take my eyes off myself and look to you. Please forgive me for all the times I passively denied you. Please fill my heart with courage and steadfastness. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jesus Said, Life in Christ, Luke, New Testament

Luke 10:18-20

February 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

The first thing I see here is a claim to be God. How so? When Jesus says he saw Satan fall, he is claiming to have been in existence before Genesis 1:1.* Using similar language in John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”), John describes Jesus as having existed “in the beginning” just like God did in Genesis 1:1.

After that declaration, Jesus assured the disciples that he had authority over the power of Satan and that he had given that authority to them.

This gift of power over the enemy seems significant and something to rejoice over. However, Jesus was concerned that they might focus on that gift (or power). Thus, he warned them not to rejoice in that authority/power. Rather, they should rejoice in the most fundamental thing, which is that their names are written in heaven. That “free gift” (Rom 6:23) is the foundation for every good thing that Christ gives his children. It seems that Jesus wants them to focus on the most basic thing.

This is a good reminder to me to keep things simple. I’m reminded of the Lord’s warning in Jeremiah 9:23-24:

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

If I focus on the Lord and his kindness to write my name in heaven, there is less opportunity for me to focus on myself.

Father, help me to cast my eyes and heart upon you today, and thus think less about myself and more about you today. Amen.

*Note: This assumes that Satan fell before the history recorded in the Bible. For my point, though, it matters not if Satan fell before creation or only before the fall (Gen 3). If Jesus saw it happen, he was there.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, humility, Jesus Said, Luke, New Testament

Luke 9:23-25

February 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?’” (Luke 9:23-25)

These verses demonstrate the upside-down nature of following Jesus. Jesus opens with the conjunction if, showing the conditional nature of what he is about to say. 

IF you want to follow me, THEN you must deny yourself. That’s a demanding condition because I don’t like to deny myself. I like what I like, and I want what I want. BUT Jesus says I have to deny myself to follow him. He is not just another add-on in my life. 

Next, he says, if I focus on my own life, I will lose it. That is so counterintuitive! Saving my life will cause me to lose it? But by surrendering my life, I will actually gain life? I think what he means here is if we forget about ourselves and pursue him, we will find true life because he is LIFE (Jn 14:6). 

He continues with a question: What have you gained if by focusing on yourself, you gain the whole world? The point? Whatever it is, it is a loss compared to what you will gain IF you follow me.

This requires faith. When I pursue the world, I can see the results in wealth and power. When I pursue Jesus, my soul grows, and my reward in glory grows. If I deny myself, the outcome is joy. If I focus on this world, the outcome will be miserable in comparison. 

Father, please help me to deny myself and follow Jesus with abandon. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, Jesus Said, Luke, New Testament

Micah 5:2

January 23, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).

That’s the best news in the book! From Bethlehem near Jerusalem, and from the tribe of Judah, will come a ruler in Israel! He shall come forth from eternity, from the ancient days. 

This description should draw our attention to Daniel’s use of similar language. Particularly, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬)

The Ancient of Days is a reference to God (Father). So, God sent one – like a son of man – who had been given an eternal kingdom. 

Combining Micah and Daniel, we should be on the lookout for this special one to come forth at Bethlehem near Jerusalem. Since we didn’t see that occur in the OT, we should look in the NT to see if it happened there. 

John 1:1 might be helpful because John mentions one who was in the beginning. His name is Jesus. But while John connects Jesus to eternity, John doesn’t tell us where this eternal one – Jesus – came into flesh. We need to keep looking. 

Luke 1:31-33 is helpful as it records the angel Gabriel’s words to a virgin named Mary. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬-‭33‬).

Note what Gabriel says about this child: 

1) He will be called the Son of the Most High, which is a reference to Daniel’s Ancient of Days (also mentioned in Micah). 

2) He will receive the throne of David. This reflects the eternal kingdom language of Daniel. However, was David’s throne eternal? According to 2 Samuel 7:16, yes! “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭16‬)

All of that is great, but Micah says this special one will come forth from Bethlehem! If we keep reading Luke, we find the Bethlehem we are looking for.

“This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth” (Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭6‬).

Wow! Micah 5:2 connects directly to Luke 2, but gets there by way of 2 Samuel 7 and Daniel 7.

Father, please help my heart to hunger for your word. Help me to mine for the treasure that lies within. Amen. 

Filed Under: 2 Samuel, Christmas, Daniel, devotional thoughts, Gospels, Life of Christ, Micah, Nativity, New Testament, Old Testament
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