Lenten Readings: Luke 21

Lenten Readings: The two-year Bible reading plan puts the Gospel accounts of Luke and John right between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Whether you're doing the reading plan or not, you can follow along on the blog and read daily meditations based on the accounts of Jesus, whose life and death we remember and cherish during this season of Lent. Check back every day starting on February 14 and until Easter Saturday.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018
READ Luke 21
MEDITATE on Luke 21:34, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap." Jesus' words here are stern and strong. What distracts you away from our relationship with Jesus?

REFLECT
What is the Christian life supposed to look like? Go to church (some weeks), half-heartedly listen to a sermon, sing some songs, see some folks, and then get on with your week? Jesus' words come like a defibrillator, shocking our hearts back to life. Don't get sidetracked! Don't get so caught up with the pleasures or pursuits of this world that you forget that Jesus is coming back?

There was a song I heard in college titled "I'm going to live like heaven is a real place." To live like heaven is real means that we want that future reality more than we want the present status. We live for heaven. It's like sparingly nibbling on a mildly interesting appetizer because we're really waiting for the entree we've heard so much about and sampled before.

So what does this actually look like? I think of each day as a running conversation with God. Pray all day long. Ask God what He thinks about your boss, or your workload, or how you're supposed to plan your day. Ask God to bless the person driving in front of you. Complain to God if you want, but also be ready to listen for God to convict you of sin. Give Him your cares and wrestle over tough decisions in His presence, not just your friends'. And thank God everyday that there's something to look forward to.

Purify your life because God's in it. Walk with Him anticipating more. Read the Bible, sing, and pray. Enjoy God as you glorify Him.

PRAY

Pray for a fuller relationship with God. Thank God for His invitation to you to walk with Him!