Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional, posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as we continue our Luke: Exploring Who Jesus Is series.
Please note this week, due to our week of prayer, I've been posting every weekday. Next week we return to new episodes each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
From Luke 18:40-42, let’s reflect on how Jesus wants to lead others to praise God, and this is often achieved by what He’s doing in and through us.
You can listen to this devotional below (It’s available on YouTube and many other platforms)
‘Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.’ (Luke 18:40-42)
Today, we reflect on how fresh vision leads others to praise God, inspired by the gospel of Luke. We’ve been examining the account of the blind man who receives vision, his persistence in prayer, and the lessons we can learn from this, particularly the theme of fresh vision.
1. Fresh vision from Jesus
We began this week by reflecting on how fresh vision comes from Jesus. In Luke 18:31, Jesus takes his disciples aside to teach them, a lesson he wants to impart to us as well. Are we allowing Jesus to take us aside and teach us?
2. Fresh vision of the Gospel
Next, we saw how Jesus wants to impart to us a fresh vision of the gospel. Jesus often refreshes us with the gospel during church meetings, Communion, the songs we sing… He explains to his disciples how the Son of Man is going to Jerusalem in Luke 18:31-33. We need Jesus, by the Spirit, to give us a fresh vision of the gospel, as seen with those on the road to Emmaus who are taken from a place of doubt to burning faith.
3. Fresh vision from the Holy Spirit
We then explored fresh vision from the Holy Spirit. The disciples did not understand, but the blind man’s eyes were opened. This serves as an object lesson, showing us how Jesus, by the Spirit, can give us spiritual understanding to open our blind eyes, our spiritual eyes. Are we regularly asking the Spirit to teach and fill us?
4. Fresh vision of Prayer
Finally, we reflected on how fresh vision from Jesus leads us to prayer. The blind man’s persistence is like that of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). If we truly know our needs and the needs of others, and if we know who Jesus is, by giving time for Him to take us aside to teach us, we personally, and as a church, will be led to fervent, faithful prayer.
5. Fresh vision leads others to praise God
This account ends with others praising God. Through us, Jesus wants to continue this revelatory ministry. Just imagine the impact if we let Jesus take us aside, feed us, teach us, inspire us, and fill us. We will be effective in reaching our communities for Jesus. They will see His work in our lives, His miracles through us, the love of God demonstrated by us, and His wisdom in our lives. This will lead to many, as in our text, coming to praise God. So may Jesus give you a fresh vision of Himself and a fresh vision of prayer, so that you can give new vision to those who are currently blind and outside of the faith.
Things to go away and pray for or reflect on:
As we finish, let's reflect on a few questions in response to this final devotional of this week.
Am I praying for myself, and am I praying for my church to be filled with the Spirit so as to have the power to share the gospel message?
Am I living a life of love and wisdom that brings glory to Jesus, to those around me?
Community Group Notes
Due to our week of prayer, there is no group study this week. We would love you to come along to as many of our prayer meetings as you can. If you want details of the Zoom link, please contact the church office or, if you are signed up, look at Church News in your emails.
Theme of the Week
Our week of prayer will follow the theme of our Luke series. Inspired by Luke 18:31-43, we’ll focus on “fresh vision from God that leads our community to praise Him.”
Each day, during our morning and evening Zoom gatherings, as well as our in-person meeting on Wednesday, we’ll explore these themes:
Monday: Luke 18:31-33. Fresh vision from Jesus.
Tuesday: Luke 18:31-33. Fresh vision of the gospel.
Wednesday: Luke 18:34. Fresh vision from the Spirit.
Thursday: Luke 18:35-39. Fresh vision results from and leads to prayer.
Friday: Luke 18:4—42. Fresh vision leads others to praise God.
Sunday: General prayer inspired by our week of praying together.
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