Pray Without Ceasing
Daily Scripture readings for December, set #17:
- 2 Chronicles, chapters 10-12
- Psalm 142
- Luke 11:1-13
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Rehoboam’s heart against the people of Israel and his lack of wisdom in rejecting their plea for relaxed work loads from him, where did that come from? “So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word” (2Chron 10:15). What about the split in Israel? The revolt of Jeroboam and all the tribes against Judah, where did that come from? “Thus says the Lord, you shall not go up or fight against your relatives. Return every man to his home, for this thing is from me” (2Chron 11:4).
“With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead to the Lord for mercy” (Ps 142:1). I often thank the Lord for his mercy. Sometimes I plead to the Lord for mercy or forgiveness regarding a specific situation in my life. But I NEVER do it with my actual voice. It’s always simply in my mind as I pray silently. Clearly the point of this verse is that David’s cry to God is a literal speaking/crying, with his VOICE.
“And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened to you” (Lk 11:9). How should we understand Jesus’ teaching on prayer and coming to God with requests? Will God give us whatever we ask? Is it just that simple? My summary of today’s Luke 11 reading would be this: Praying is not simply about asking God for what you want. But know that he loves you and he wants to hear your requests, and know whatever he gives you, it will be good.
What is our destiny as believers, as followers of Christ? “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1Thess 5:9-10). That, my friends, is what I call Good News.
Daily Scripture readings for December, set #18:
- 2 Chronicles, chapters 13-16
- Psalm 143
- Luke 11:14-28
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
“O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed” (2Chron 13:12). Clearly the context of this verse pertains to actual warfare, but it makes me think of Jonah. Resisting the Lord, whether in battle or in one’s own soul, will always be found to be ultimately unsuccessful.
“Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you” (Ps 143:2). My own paraphrase: “Lord, please don’t act based on what I deserve, for I’m aware of the fact that nobody deserves anything from you except judgment.”
Verses 24-28 of Luke 11 are very unsettling to me. The idea that a demon can be removed from a person is great, but verse 28 doesn’t sound too hopeful: “And the last state of that person will be worst than the first.” What is Jesus’ intending communicate with this teaching? What is the application here for a Christian?
1 Thessalonians 5:17. A very short and to the point verse, and one that I imagine NO ONE fully obeys. “Pray without ceasing.”
