Day 554 - Luke 19:45 - 21:38 & Proverbs 27

 Julie

The foretelling that Jesus is doing seems to be something that will affect us and not something of that time. I might be wrong, but I feel like he is telling us about the return that we will experience and what we will experience prior to his return.

God will provide and we will have enough. We should be humble and not boast. 

Michelle

I think you are right.   It does not seem to be for that time but for the far future.  In this telling it seems he is giving signs of the return, but in previous readings he said we would not know it's coming.  So I am a bit confused here.

Some of this proverb was not in my understanding.  I had a hard time.  But I did understand the parts regarding what you wrote, that God will provide and we will have enough.  

Day 553 - Luke 18:31 - 19:44 & Proverbs 26

 Julie

Some of these parables and stories are the same as previous, but the one about Zaccheus stands out today. I remember the song from when we were kids and I have been wondering up to this point why we hadn't read about him yet. I guess the others didn't see him as important. However, he repents and Jesus forgives him for the wrongs that he has done.

More words of wisdom. I feel like at this point we are just getting different sayings for some of the same things. It feels a bit repetitive. 

Michelle

Jesus predicts his death a third time.  A blind man receives his sight due to his faith.  I don't recall anyone else talking about Zacchaeus either.  And I hadn't thought about that song in a very long time.  It seems you are right, he was not seen as important but is forgiven by Jesus.  The ten minas one sounds like others we have read about being a good steward, but this one ends terribly by the king wanting to kill people.  I don't recall that in previous versions.  

It is a bit repetitive.  This one seems to be talking alot about giving things to fools.  

Day 552 - Luke 17:11 - 18:30 & Proverbs 25

 Julie

I feel like these stories are repeated not only from the previous books but here in Luke. Am I imagining that he has already told these once? Or am I losing track of where I read them? Riches will not pave the way to heaven. I think that is one of the big things that comes out of this.

Solomon seem to have a lot of words of wisdom here. Be kind, don't take more than you need and be humble.

Michelle

Some of these seem like repeats.  But some I do not recall reading.  I think you are right about riches not paving the way to heaven.  The beginning says, continue to forgive those who wrong you, as many times as they ask for it, because God forgives us over and over.  The section that stands out to me most, for some reason, is the coming of the Kingdom of God.  It talks about the days of Noah, how people were going about their lives and were wiped out by the flood.  Then about Lot and how they were doing the same and then Lot left Sodom and fire rained down and destroyed them all.  So really this makes me think we won't actually know if or when that will happen again.  God said he wouldn't use flood to rid the earth of evil, but that doesn't mean something else won't happen instead.  If we all keep going against his word, then it could happen to us, even now, or in the future.  We just don't know.  I guess the point of this is to give your life to God.  I think that's the same thing Jesus was trying to get across to those that he asked to follow him.  Give up everything and follow me, he told them.  It is like a metaphor to what God is asking us all to do.  Give your life to God.

There is alot in this proverb.  If you remove bad things, good things will prosper.  Be humble and kind.  Do not betray a confidence.  Do not take more than you need or be gluttonous.  Be kind to your enemies.  Have self-control.

Day 551 - Luke 16-17:10 & Proverbs 24:23-34

 Julie

We should not love money more than God and if someone is in need we should help them and not ignore or walk past them. We should be careful of the temptation of sin and not fall into the trap of sin, but if we do we should repent and ask for forgiveness. If someone sins against us and repents we should forgive them. 

Do not pass judgement on others and do not say bad things about your neighbor if they are not true.

Michelle

Ok, I don't understand a couple of these ones.  The shrewd manager confuses me.  I understood the one about adultery.  The rich man, that one kind of makes sense.  I think it's saying that Jesus told him it doesn't matter who tells his brothers, they won't listen or believe anyway.  I only partially understood the last one about having faith like a mustard seed.  But the rest is beyond me.

These are definitely about judging others and wrongly testifying against your neighbor and being vengeful.  

Day 550 - Luke 14-15 & Proverbs 24:1-22

 Julie

There are quite a few parables here and a lot of them are repeats from the previous books. I think that this is the first time we hear about the wedding feast and the great banquet. Those did confuse me a little, but what really stood out today was the cost of discipleship. I know that it has also been mentioned previously, but the way Luke talks about it makes it sound negative. He mentions that Jesus says you must hate your family, maybe at the time hate was not such a strong word, but I think that this could easily be misconstrued if you don't realize that Jesus is asking them to love him more than anyone else. 

Do not fall into the trap of evil and evil doers. Do not believe their words. 

Michelle

It does seem that some are repeats.  I do not recall the first few though.  But you are right about how being a disciple will cost you.  Really the first few parables are disturbing when you initially read them.  I am certain they are just metaphors, but that's not necessarily how it reads.  

I think you summed it up here.  It does say to stay away from those doing evil and not to listen to them.  It also seems like it's talking about having the strength to do the right thing.  

Day 549 - Luke 13:10-35 & Proverbs 23

 Julie

Jesus seems to get questioned a lot about doing things on the Sabbath that are being done to help others. It's amazing how misconstrued things had gotten by then. It's as if they just wanted you to sit around and not even breathe...that may be a little dramatic but that is how it seems that they acted.

The one thing that stood out today was verse 14. "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die." We have lost this over time and you can see it in how people act.

Michelle

That is interesting.  In my version, it says that they were humiliated because he was calling them out for what sounds like laziness or uncaring behaviors.  The story about the narrow door is a little confusing and I don't quite understand it.  Maybe about belief and that is the narrow door or road less traveled.  

Be careful not to be gluttonous.  Do not seek riches, they are fleeting.  Some of these I am not getting today.  Discipline your children.  Do not envy sinners.  Listen to your father and do not despise your mother.  Give your heart to God.  Do not succumb to drunken behaviors.  

Day 548 - Luke 12 - 13:9 & Proverbs 22:17-29

 Julie

Do Not Be Anxious!...Jesus tells us to not fear. This is definitely one of the hardest things to do. He tells us to let go and trust that God will provide all that we need when we need it. He tells us not to covet material things and money but to let it all go and see the goodness of God come into our lives. When this is forced upon you it very convicting. I was forced to let go and trust and to be very honest when I lost my job I wasn't sure what was going to happen and how we were going to make ends meet, but I did let go and I did not worry...by that time I'd had to let so many things go and let God deal with them that I was just adding one more thing. You know...God did provide the entire time. We were able to take care of everything that we needed to, we always had enough money to pay what we needed to. It was amazing how there were so many unexpected things that happened that helped us to be able to do what we needed to do. When we were moving and we needed help there was just all of a sudden people there to help. God has shown me in the last year that if we listen and ask and trust he will help us through. I have experienced the awesomeness of God.

Listen to wise words; put your trust in the Lord; do not rob the poor (as is being done now); do not become angry like those around us. 

Michelle

Wow, what a testimony!  Reading your entry has made me realize, I have not let it all go.  I have been thinking about the fact that this job has been what I prayed about for a very long time and when I let it go, God provided, but I don't think I have done the same in other areas of my life.  Just reading your entry has me thinking that I need to look at this in all areas and start that prayer process to help me let it all go and allow God to work things in my life. 

 There is alot to unpack in this reading as well.  The beginning warns to be afraid of the one who can send you to hell, I am taking this to mean fear God as has been spoken in the past.  We should not worry, but instead give all our concerns to God.  We should ready ourselves for God.  The part about not peace but division confused me a little and how we should not be interpreting the times.  Or maybe that we are not interpreting correctly.  The end is about how we should repent or we will perish.

Pay attention and listen to the wise.  Do not exploit the poor.  Stay away from easily angered people, as their temperament can rub off on you.  Be careful with your money and pledging for debts.  The other 2 sayings I don't understand completely.