For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Luke 14
Pride will never stand in the presence of God because He is God. Though we think ourselves something, His presence will make us immediately and deeply aware of our nothingness. He is God. And we very much are not. Through parable, Jesus told His audience that they would do well to understand this truth now rather than to live in their delusion of pride and find out the hard way later. Turning away from pride and humbling yourself is honorable and leaves room for God to lift you up. Having God strip your pride from you, however, is humiliating. Humility will happen either way. The question is, do we choose to get there with blessing or with shame?
Dan. 11-12
Where do you see the hope of resurrection in these chapters? What is Daniel told to do when he didn’t understand? What do you do when you don’t understand Scripture? God gave Daniel a glimpse of the future, some of which is now our past. I don’t understand it, but then, neither did Daniel. What I see is that there is constant battle, both in the physical and spiritual realms. I see that men are constantly striving for power but are never able to hold onto it. And I see that God promises and end to the madness. Though we can’t make sense of the numbers, the days are indeed numbered. And when that number is up, we will be ushered into either everlasting life or everlasting contempt.
Like Daniel, I would like to know the outcome of all of this. Sadly, I can’t say that I even understand the answer he received. What it sounds like to me, though, is that we don’t need to know. All we need to know is that the end is sealed. God will complete His plan. Until then, “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.” (Dan. 12:10). So my focus doesn’t need to be on understanding the things to come. My focus needs to be on pointing others to righteousness because we know that righteousness will ultimately prevail. And I need to cling to that familiar promise, “Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end” (Dan. 12:12). Because we know, “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 24:13).