DAY 26
Pastor Kevin McManus
Scripture
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. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 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. 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.” - Luke 11:29-32
In today’s passage, the crowds press into Jesus, asking for a miraculous sign that He is the Messiah. They wanted a sign, but they didn’t want to obey. Jesus answers that He will only give them the sign of Jonah, yet they had no idea what a sign that would be! The best miracle of all—the most astonishing feat anyone has ever accomplished—is that He rose from the dead after three days in the tomb!
Sometimes we also wait for a sign from God before acting on His nudge. Sometimes we want an answer to prayer before we obey a simple command. Choose instead to trust Him even if He never answers that prayer! Choosing to submit in obedience to His lordship, regardless of the outcome, is a beautiful act of obedience!
Question: When was the last time you shared with someone about how the power of the resurrection of Jesus changed your life and how it can also change their life forever? Do you put Jesus first in everything, or do you hold out for a change in our culture, climate, or government?
Family Chat: Have you ever told anyone about your relationship with Jesus? Maybe someone in your life needs to hear about how much you love Jesus.
Prayer Starter: “Jesus, thank you for showing me where I have let my relationship with You become commonplace. I am sorry, and I choose to renew my covenant with You, to serve You and You alone, and to demonstrate my covenant relationship with You through serving the needs of others today, not thinking about myself and my own needs over the needs of others.”
Take Action: Because Jesus is God's anointed Messiah, let Him have a greater claim on your obedience and your life today. Partner with someone—whether a member of your small group or your accountability partner—and pray a prayer of repentance together, focusing first on what the Lord is showing you that you need to repent from, regardless of the seriousness of the offense, and then repent on behalf of your community, your culture, and your nation.
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