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Jan 08, 2024 06:00am

The Bible Recap: Days 295-301

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(The following are reflections from the writer’s personal journey through The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble – a Bible reading plan to read the Bible chronologically in one year. To learn more about The Bible Recap, visit thebiblerecap.com. Find more posts from this series at lifeword.org/thebiblerecap.)

Day 295: Read Matthew Chapter 18

My Takeaways:

Today was an instructional day! In this day, Jesus schools the disciples on who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. They might have been hoping He would have said their names, but instead, He puts a small child in His lap and shows them: children. And then, He gives a strict word on those who do harm to children—they won’t get away with it in the long run. God sees and God will bring justice.

And that beautiful parable about the lost sheep. He leaves the 99 and goes after that one lost sheep. I have been that sheep many a time in my life and am forever grateful that He sought me and didn’t give up on me in my wandering.

And the parable of the unforgiving servant. Jesus not only commands us to forgive others, from our heart, but we are called to keep forgiving. If God can forgive us for our sins, we can forgive others. However, if we aren’t forgiving, God holds us accountable.

Friends, forgiving others is truly the hardest of all. But, what I have learned over the years is this: we don’t forgive others because they deserve it, we forgive others because God calls us to it.

Day 296: Read John Chapters 7-8

My Takeaways:

Oh, friends, Jesus has His fighting gloves on! He isn’t backing down. He isn’t mincing words. He is announcing who He is: the Messiah.

“Truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

And they go crazy upon this statement and try to kill Him!

Part of me is like the disciples: lie low and keep His underground preaching alive. But, that is not His mission. Every time He heals, preaches, teaches, He exposes Himself to the Pharisees.

And He calls people out for their hypocrisy. He identifies Himself as God’s Son. He challenges Pharisees to cast the first stone at an adulteress if they haven’t sinned. Then, He forgives the adulteress but calls her to stop sinning. He calls the thirsty people to come to Him and He will give them living water. He calls Himself the light of the world and for others to follow the light.

And He promises freedom for the captives. Everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin, but the truth—about Jesus and who He is—will set them free!

They will be free indeed.

Oh friends, Jesus is not backing down. His time is short and things are heating up. These are tumultuous times for Him and the disciples! Can you imagine them watching Him say/preach these things in public thinking, “Jesus, this is going to get you in trouble!”

They didn’t know it, but Jesus was showing them how to live out the Gospel…because they would be doing the same things after He leaves them.

Day 297: Read John Chapters 9-10

My Takeaways:

Years ago, when the Joplin tornado struck, I remember doing my Bible reading with a heavy heart. Amid the destruction and death, I looked to the Bible for encouragement. My reading just happened to land on John 9.

A man is born blind from birth. As Jesus passes by him, His disciples ask Him a question: “Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents?”

And Jesus said neither. He gives an explanation that opened my eyes:

“This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in Him.”

This tragic thing. This sad thing. That destructive thing. That bad thing. These things happen so that God can display His power.

After the tornado, so many stories came out. Stories of miraculous survivals. Stories of angels saving people. Stories of “I should have died but I didn’t.” Stories of people helping people. Stories of kindness and generosity—the human spirit of love was so apparent!

Bad things happen. That’s a fact of life. But, John 9 always gives me comfort for those moments. If we trust the Lord, His power will be displayed in us. Perhaps it’s strength to face something hard. Perhaps it’s power to overcome something. Perhaps it’s just God carrying us through it. Perhaps it’s a downright miracle.

However He chooses to display His power, we can rely upon our Shepherd to lead us. This Bible study has taught us His Word and His voice so that we may follow Him when all the other voices threaten to distract us or cause us to wander.

I love this. He’s a good, good father. And He’s a good, good shepherd. He follows us when we wander, He pursues us when we rebel—He just doesn’t give up on us.

He’s where the power is. He’s where the love is. And He’s where the joy is!

Day 298: Read Luke Chapter 10

My Takeaways:

Oh ladies, I hope today, as you read, you saw yourself as Mary, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, soaking Him in! I have been (and am) Martha many times in my life, but as we do this study together, we are like Mary! We have spent 298 days with the Lord this year! We are in the home stretch of our time together.

Day 299: Read Luke Chapters 12-13

My Takeaways:

This reading was different—no warm and fuzzy feelings today! I felt like there is more of a sense of urgency for Jesus to preach repentance, hypocrisy, and obedience.

And once again, Jesus performs a miracle healing upon a woman and the Pharisees call Him out for working on the Sabbath! Jesus bites back on them and they get humiliated.

Don’t you just hear sadness and pain when Jesus says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I wanted to gather your children together like a hen gathers chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

He talks of fig trees not doing their job—producing fruit. He preaches about the narrow gate and how people will think their righteous acts will save them. He used a metaphor about a thief in the night to show that we must always be ready for God’s return. He speaks of reading signs in the sky for the weather—if we can do that, why can’t we see signs of God’s son?!

He calls for people to fear God, who has the authority to send people to hell but who also knows how many hairs are upon our heads. He calls us to not give way to worry but to seek God and His kingdom. If we seek God with all our hearts, we will find our “treasure”—Him. His presence.

Day 300: Read Luke Chapters 14-15

My Takeaways:

Today was a day of parable teaching!

I wonder…which one resounded with you?

Was it the parable of the large banquet, in which the invited made excuses not to go while those not invited willingly came? (This was definitely a jab at the religious here!)

Was it the parable of the lost sheep, where the Shepherd left the 99 in pursuit of the one sheep who wandered away? (Oh, the compassion of God gets me here!)

Was it the parable of the lost coin, where the woman searched and searched for a lost coin and when she finds it, she celebrates?

Was it the parable of the lost son, where the younger son took his inheritance, wasted it in another land, hit rock bottom, and decided to come back home with a repentant heart? (Again, the compassion of the farther gets me.)

These stories go back to humility, repentance, and the decision to follow Jesus. These stories challenge the Pharisees and challenge us today: following Jesus wasn’t easy—it would be the hardest decision to make. We have to choose love over hate, humility over pride, and repentance over sin. But every time we do choose Jesus, it tenderizes our hearts—it softens them. It keeps them beating for Jesus. It’s our hearts that God is after and He is after a person willing to sacrifice the worldly things to chase the spiritual things. Because, as we will see with our disciples, it makes ALL the difference in their lives. It’s worth it.

Day 301: Read Luke Chapters 16-17

My Takeaways:

We had lots of teaching and parables today, friends! I am breaking down how God was revealed to me through these teachings!

God was revealed in the parable of the dishonest manager when he shows us that when we are unfaithful in a little, we will be unfaithful in much. But, the likewise is also true: if we are faithful in a little, we will be faithful in much. The little things count! God always sees us in day-to-day life. He sees our honesty and integrity in our jobs and in our interactions with others. And, He blesses those who do the right thing!

God was revealed when Jesus told the crowds they cannot be devoted to God and money—it just doesn’t work! We have to choose which one gets our hearts. Once again, He calls out those lurking Pharisees, who were lovers of money and revolting in God’s eyes! (Can you imagine their reactions hearing Jesus say these things?!) The parable of the rich man and Lazarus had to particularly sting for our religious men because the leprous man is blessed in heaven with Abraham’s presence and the rich man burns in Hades.

God is revealed when He shows what happens to people when they take advantage of little children: it would be better if a millstone was around their neck and they were drowned into the deepest sea! God has a heart for children and will punish those who hurt them.

God is revealed when Jesus commands us to forgive others, even up to 77 times if we need to!

God is revealed when the disciples realized that they needed more faith and Jesus tells them even a little bit of faith can do the impossible!

God was revealed in having compassion upon 10 lepers and healing them. Their obedience activated their healing! What a lesson for us! Sadly, only one comes back to glorify God…but this action alone heals his heart and he is saved right there and there. God surely blesses a thankful heart.

God is revealed when Jesus prophesies His coming rejection and death…and that one day, all believers will all be taken to heaven. Though these are things the disciples don’t get now, they will later on. God is planting seeds for after Jesus’ death.

God is revealed much today in the words and actions of Jesus, along with His parables! He calls us to be bold like the disciples and say, “Increase my faith!” He calls us to love God over money and the materialistic things of this age. He calls us to obey Him in the little things and He will bless us!