“As He said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But He said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!’ When the crowds were increasing, He began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.'” Luke 11:27-29
Devotional Thought For The Day
Two temptations are referenced in these short verses. The first is to look at Jesus in a mundane and ordinary manner and to elevate those around Him – His earthly family. This rather strange comment about the womb that bore Jesus and the breasts that nursed Him almost predicts what so many Christians have done with Mary the mother of Jesus – focusing on her, blessing her, putting faith in her, and considering her to be more important than Jesus. The second temptation is to “seek for a sign,” that is, to desire and to be infatuated with empirical and experiential “proofs” and “demonstrations.” Ironically, the only “sign” provided for mankind as to Who Jesus is and the truth of His Word is that of Jonah – Christ’s own resurrection [see Matt. 12:40]. Back then, as it is today, there are many who reject this sign – some denying it altogether and others considering it of little importance. Then, rather than focusing on Christ’s resurrection and His Word, many instead are preoccupied and enraptured by empirical “spiritual” experiences – like speaking in tongues or miraculous healings or supposed “new revelations.” Lord, have mercy!
In contrast to all other considerations, Jesus pronounces those blessed who “hear the Word of God and keep it.” Now this sounds terribly boring and tedious – reading the Bible, listening to sermons, attending Bible studies. And it also sounds way too difficult and radical – to actually “keep” the Word of God by first believing it and accepting it as God’s Word, the very truth, and then trying to conform our lives – our thinking, our speaking, and our behavior – to God’s Word. No, it would be easier to focus on human things – like Mary or the disciples, and to think of Christ as only a mere human being; or it would be easier to just sit around waiting for the “Spirit” to move us, to speak to us directly and inwardly, to “prove” what we should think and do. Both of these approaches to God, however, open windows of vulnerability to the devil’s influence and provide us with abundant flexibility to incorporate our own sinful and perverse desires and ambitions into our “spirituality” and “religiosity” – and to plummet our souls into darkness and ignorance of God, which is much more fulfilling to our sinful nature. And all the while we can remain utterly convinced of how pious and holy we are – oblivious as to the judgment of God’s Word upon us. Jesus, however, insists upon directing us to the Word of God – Holy Scripture, and indicates that this is the path to true blessedness. Do you think that perhaps He knows best, and that it would be best for us take His advice?
It is His Word that keeps us properly repentant, so that we do not arrogantly trust in our own goodness but rather repudiate our own merits and abilities and turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. And it is God’s Word alone which clearly, forcefully, and emphatically assures us of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. God’s Word points us to Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection as the proof of God’s gift of salvation and eternal life to all who believe. And as we are moved by God’s love to grow in our love for one another, it is only God’s written Word that corrects and properly shapes our consciences, so that we are not deceived by the devil or our own sinful flesh into justifying our wicked desires, but are moved and guided to true and genuine love, that which conforms to His Word. All of this is the true blessedness referred to by Jesus – afforded to those who hear and keep His Word, God’s Word, Holy Scripture.
May the Lord Jesus, through His Word, God’s Word, grant us wisdom and blessedness to understand these things, and to keep His Word, to hear it and to allow it full influence and control in our lives.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thanks and praise be to You for providing us with warning and true and loving direction and instruction as to where we will always be blessed. Grant us grace to be attentive to Your Word, to grow to love Your Word, to devote ourselves to learning Your Word, and to grow in our desire to live fully in accord with Your Word. Protect us from all other temptations that would lead us into error and destruction, that we be preserved safe in true faith until You bring us into Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.