What Jesus Did! 'Fury, Disinterest, Rationalization, or Obedience?' — Luke 11:53-54

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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As Jesus was leaving [after his accusations against the religious leaders], the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.
— Luke 11:53-54 NLT

Key Thought

We can have any one of at least four different reactions to Jesus' demands in our lives:
  1. We can respond to his convicting truths with harsh anger and fury, even becoming aggressive toward his disciples.
  2. we can ignore Jesus' words and treat them as irrelevant,
  3. we can rationalize away those demands so that we can play like we are Jesus-followers without really being disciples, or
  4. we can obey, and show by our lives that we truly believe he is Lord.
What do you do with Jesus' words?

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to speak and reveal your truth. Keep my heart open to that truth so that it will flourish and bring changes to my life as I obey the Lord Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Matthew 7:21-23
  • Mark 3:32-35
  • John 7:18

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 11:53-54 NLT — They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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