For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Luke 15
In the story of the prodigal son, which character do you most relate to? Why? Jesus’ message with these three parables goes beyond that He came to save the lost. In the parable of the lost sheep He says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7). But here’s the thing – there is no such person. And that was the point. The religious leaders thought themselves righteous because they were the ‘keepers’ of God’s law. They were set apart as holy and they somehow thought that was enough.
Likewise, in the parable of the prodigal son, the older brother is not simply upset because his father killed the fatted calf for his wayward brother but never did for him. The older son said to his father, “’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.’” (Luke 15:29a). Many translations say “serving” but I think “slaving” better makes the point. The older son had direct access to his father. You could say he was set apart as ‘holy’. But he lacked love. Essentially, he was serving his father’s commands – the law – instead of loving his father. The younger son, in contrast, knew that he did not even deserve to be in his father’s presence. How grateful and full of love he must have been to be received back as a son!
Jesus did indeed come to save the lost. But that means ALL of us. There is not one of us who does not need repentance; who does not need to humbly return to our father or to be carried back to the fold. Doing all the right things without that genuine love that comes through our acknowledgement of our great need and God’s greater mercy simply doesn’t cut it.
Gen. 28-29
What is God teaching Jacob and how does it reflect his past decisions? Can anybody say, “drank way too much!”?? How on earth does a man sleep with a woman and not realize that she ISN”T the love of his life for whom he has been slaving for the past seven years?!? I’m thinking that feast Laban threw must have been a doozie. At least we can see that Jacob’s deceptive traits really did run in the family. His mom and his uncle both seem to have had a healthy dose of it themselves. In any case, Jacob clearly received a dose of his own medicine. I can only think it was all part of the process to teach Jacob to trust in God.
Ps. 7
How does David picture God? Compare and contrast this with your picture of God? God is sovereign and His judgments are right. David was confident of his own innocence in whatever this matter was because he constantly examined himself and humbled himself before God. And David trusted his sovereign God to protect him and to deal with his enemies. May I, like David, always take refuge in the Most High God, remembering that He is “the righteous God who probes minds and hearts.” (Ps. 7:9b).