Introduction
Luke 12:22–40: Yesterday’s reading asked about what is truly valuable in life. Continuing the theme, Jesus now instructs his followers not to worry about everyday life. He assures them of the riches that are stored for them in heaven. He exhorts his followers to be watchful so that they will be found faithful when he returns.
Today’s Key Verse: Luke 12:32 GNT
[Jesus said:] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.”
Read
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “And so I tell you not to worry about the food you need to stay alive or about the clothes you need for your body. 23 Life is much more important than food, and the body much more important than clothes. 24 Look at the crows: they don’t plant seeds or gather a harvest; they don’t have storage rooms or barns; God feeds them! You are worth so much more than birds! 25 Can any of you live a bit longer[a] by worrying about it? 26 If you can’t manage even such a small thing, why worry about the other things? 27 Look how the wild flowers grow: they don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers. 28 It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won’t he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have!
29 “So don’t be all upset, always concerned about what you will eat and drink. 30 (For the pagans of this world are always concerned about all these things.) Your Father knows that you need these things. 31 Instead, be concerned with his Kingdom, and he will provide you with these things.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. 33 Sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will never decrease, because no thief can get to them, and no moth can destroy them. 34 For your heart will always be where your riches are.
35 “Be ready for whatever comes, dressed for action and with your lamps lit, 36 like servants who are waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast. When he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him at once. 37 How happy are those servants whose master finds them awake and ready when he returns! I tell you, he will take off his coat, have them sit down, and will wait on them. 38 How happy they are if he finds them ready, even if he should come at midnight or even later! 39 And you can be sure that if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, he would not let the thief break into his house. 40 And you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.”
Reflect
Reread verses 22–31. What are your thoughts about what Jesus says? Are there things in life that you worry about? Are there worries that you can turn over to God? What is your understanding of what it means to be concerned with God’s Kingdom (verse 31)? Reread verses 35–40. Jesus admonishes his followers to “be ready.” How do you interpret what Jesus is saying?
Pray
Lord God, I trust in your daily care. Teach me to seek your Kingdom, knowing of the eternal riches that you have for me in heaven. Amen.
And now, join us in praying for U.S. military families. Lord God, thanks to the loving support from Bible-A-Month Partners, military families are being provided with children’s Bibles and Scripture resources. Military children are now reading their own age-appropriate Bibles, memorizing Scripture, and learning the stories of faith. We thank and praise you, Lord God, that your Word is providing military families facing deployment, relocation, and uncertainty with a source of peace, joy, and spiritual strength. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Luke 13:18–30: Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God in three parables.
