Words of Hope Daily Devotional
Biblical not Textual
Read: Luke 24:13-35
Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (v. 27)
A pastor in a rural village in India took the Word of God very seriously and happened to read Leviticus 12:6 on the day his grandson was born. He bought a lamb and pigeon and made a sin offering for his grandson. The news spread among the congregation, and the leaders called for a meeting. The controversy was not about the interpretation of the text but about how they could now cover all the missing sin offerings for other children in the church—a dramatic misunderstanding of the Bible!
The Old Testament has many laws that believers in Jesus today do not and should not follow. If we read individual verses without considering their context within the whole Bible, we’ll fail to interpret them correctly. The Bible is a revelation of a history of redemption—it’s the story of God and his people, featuring his great work to redeem and save his people, culminating in Jesus Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Reading one part without understanding the whole story will naturally lead to bad teaching (2 Cor. 4:2, 2 Peter 3:16).
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus himself opens the eyes of two travelers on the road to Emmaus. Everything in Scripture had been leading to Jesus. Before we jump to conclusions about the Bible, it’s good to pause and check our ideas against the testimony of all of Scripture.
As you pray, ask God to help you understand the whole counsel of God and become more like Jesus.
About the Author
Words of Hope’s South Asia Ministry field leader is based in India and works with more than 70 team members sharing the hope of the gospel in more than 20 languages. Because of security concerns, we have chosen not to share his name.
The Feast of Heaven and Earth
Read: Matthew 22:1-14 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast. (v. 2) Several New Testament passages make little sense until we understand what Jesus means by “heaven.” If we think heaven is
Heaven Is at Hand
Read: Matthew 4:12-17; 11:1-6 Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (4:17) One of my earliest memories was opening my first Christmas gifts. My parents gathered my older sister and me in front
The Heavens Were Opened
Read: Ezekiel 1:1-9; 25-28 The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (v. 1) Once when I was young, my parents announced that we were going to Baskin Robbins. I’d never heard of it, and I was distrustful
Woe is Me
Read: Isaiah 6:1-10 Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips. (v. 5) When I was growing up, my family attended an annual Christmas St. Nicholas party with a group of friends. It
At the Lord’s Table
Read: Exodus 24:9-18 They beheld God, and ate and drank. (v. 11) I tend to be restless in worship. My mind wanders. I check my watch. After an hour, I look for the exit. But I once attended a revival
Separated from Heaven
Read: Genesis 3:8-24 The LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden. (v. 23) A common disciplinary technique used by parents and teachers is the “time-out,” in which a disobedient child is temporarily separated from the rest of