Daily Reading: Luke 17
Scripture Focus: Remember Lot's wife. (Luke 17.32)
Devotional Thought: In speaking of his return, Jesus told his disciple to “Remember Lot’s wife!” Why do we need to remember her?
Lot’s story is told in Genesis 19. He and his daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fleeing to the hills. Lot’s wife, however, did not make it all the way. She had been warned not to look back, but she did - and became a pillar of salt. We need to remember her so that we don’t make the same mistake. What do we need to remember about Lot’s wife?
· She lingered behind. Lot's wife was behind Lot. In our spiritual journeys, we do not want to fall behind Jesus. As he leads us to safety, the attractions of the world and the distractions of life can cause us to fall behind and lose sight of him. What pulls you away from Christ?
· She looked back. Hers was not a fearful glance over her shoulder to see how close danger was. Instead, she looked longingly for the ease, for the comforts, for the pleasures of Sodom. In her heart, she didn’t really believe the warning and didn’t really want to leave. Jesus tells us that when we once begin to follow him, putting our hands ‘to the plow’ we are not to look back. We must be all in… all the time!
· She lost her way. Lot’s wife became a ‘pillar of salt.’ The destruction was not intended for her, but she got swept away with the unrighteous residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. Her husband was bereft and her daughters were orphaned. Sin’s attraction leads to sin’s destruction, not only for us, but for those we love.
Remember Lot’s wife!
Prayer: Father in heaven, you have made a way of escape for me through Jesus Christ, your Son. Help me to keep up with Jesus, to keep my eyes on Jesus, and to keep on the way of safety. There's too much at stake to miss it. In Jesus' name, amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 141.1-10
1 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.
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