LIGHTEN UP
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me a greater hunger for you and your Word. Give me a heart that desires you above all else.
Read LUKE 11:29-36
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[b] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Footnotes
- Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
- Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12).When Jesus is raised to life again, that will be evidence that all he’s saying is true (v 30). Jesus isn’t about to produce ‘signs’ on demand—after all, he has already done the miracle for the demon-possessed man (v 14), and some people still aren’t getting it (v 16). One day, his resurrection will be enough.
Jesus is challenging his listeners about where they stand in relation to him: are they oriented toward pleasing God or on doing and being evil—focused on themselves (v 34)? That’s the choice everyone has to make in life, and the job of Jesus’ followers is to help them consider Jesus and make the best choice – for him. One way we can help them see the reality and goodness of God is by demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives (Galatians 5:22,23).
Apply
Think about how the Holy Spirit enables you to show each of the fruit, and pray that he will help you do it even better.
Closing prayer
O Lord, my God, thank you for bringing light into my darkness. Help me to shine that light so that others might see you.
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