April Seventeenth
Today’s One Year Bible Reading…
Joshua 15:1-63 * Luke 18:18-43
Psalm 86:1-17 * Proverbs 13:9-10
"As the man came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want Me to do for you?"
Luke 18:40
This blind man in Luke 18 seems to see more clearly in his blindness than I’m able to see on most days with my sight. He was desperate to be touched by Jesus, convinced that His hands were able to heal all that was wrong within him. Reading of this encounter leaves me wondering if I know my true desperation for Jesus. Am I fully convinced that His hands upon me are all I need to enable everything in my life to be made well, whole, new, and complete? Am I so convinced of my need for the power of God within me, that I’m willing to keep crying out, regardless of who is trying to silence me? God is ready with His power to save, but He also desires to teach us persistence in prayer through our needs. We cry out to Him, and He comes back with a question of what we would like to see Him to do on our behalf. We see Judah limit this victory in their own lives today by choosing to settle in apathy rather than continuing to cry out to the God who had already declared His promises of possession over them and their land.
"But the tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites; who lived in the city of Jerusalem. So the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day."
(Joshua 15:63)
What a heartbreaking end to such a beautiful beginning! God had fullness of possession available for them, but they chose to settle in complacency rather than drawing their swords in prayer.
"This was the homeland allocated to the clans of the tribes of Judah."
(Joshua 15:20)
This land already belonged to them, but there was no victory because there was no desperate prayer made to the victorious God. Judah had sought to clear the land in their own strength, and when they were unable to gain the territory, they gave up and were instead ruled by their own fear. Freedom, purity, holiness, and wholeness are ours for the taking, but they will never come into our possession by our own hand. Even as this blind man knew he would remain blind without the touch of Jesus, our lives will remain conquered without the hand of God upon us.
"What is impossible for people is possible with God."
(Luke 18:37)
All the power we need for victory is at our disposal. We see this in the life of Caleb, don’t we? His territory was just as difficult and just as impossible, but Caleb’s eyes were fixed on the mighty hand of God rather than on his own weak arms. Trust placed in God enables us to conquer great walled cities and the giants within. I pray we would spend our days not giving up, giving in, struggling with old sin, old ways, and old habits. But may our days be spent as Caleb, crying out for the conquering strength and ability of God.
"The life of the godly is full of light and joy... Teach me Your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth. Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You."
(Proverbs 13:9, Psalm 86:11)
God desires to fill our lives with His light, joy, and freedom. He longs to teach us His ways, make us to walk in His truth, and fill our hearts with His purity and His honor. All of this comes as we cry out to Him for His touch and His victory. He alone can conquer our impossible territories.
"Jesus said, 'All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you! Instantly the man could see and he followed Jesus, praising God, and all who saw it praised God too."
Luke 18:42-43
What stood out to you from today’s Bible reading?