Luke 9:7-9 The King is Confused.
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: August 10, 2018 Luke 9:7-9
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
(Understanding the Text) John had to have told Herod about Jesus during his time of imprisonment. John would not have kept quiet. I think this demonstrates the illogic of Herod and how rumors change stories around. People were telling stories about Jesus. They were trying to fit Jesus into the categories that they were familiar with. Herod knew that John was dead, but a slight fear stayed in his heart when he heard people repeating that Jesus was John come back to life.
(Revelation of God) Herod tried to see Jesus, but did not succeed until the day of Jesus’ trial. Was Jesus avoiding Herod, or did Herod just use the wrong means to try to see Jesus? Herod would have tried to send messengers or soldiers to bring Jesus to him rather than going out to see Jesus as a supplicant. Herod’s pride would not allow him to appear to be lower than a poor rabbi from Nazareth, and Jesus would not have left His ministry to go visit a king who was irrelevant to His mission. Herod had already received one of the greatest representatives that Jesus had to give, and Herod had rejected him. Jesus would not have spent time trying to reach Herod when it would take away from reaching those who actually needed Him. It would have been different if Herod had not hardened his heart.
(Understanding the Text) Why does Luke include this information? I think because he had a source inside Herod’s household who told him what was happening: Joanna, “and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:3). “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,” (Luke 24:10). Since Joanna shows up in several places in Luke’s gospel, I think she was the source of Luke’s information about what was going on in Herod’s life.
Why does God include this? Is it to give historical context? Was it to show how God relates to rulers and powerful people? I’m not sure.
(Application) My application to myself is that spiritual matters do not take place in a vacuum. My spiritual life is between me and God, but it has applications to other people. Spiritual messages go to leaders and common people alike. When those messages are rejected, the people may get confused or wonder about their past actions, but unless they repent, there will be no change in who they are. Unless we humble ourselves and come to Jesus directly, we will not receive a blessing. It does no good to question ourselves and speculate with others if we never come to Jesus with our doubts. It does no good to seek God on our own terms. We need to seek God on His terms, not because He is too lofty and proud but because of our own prideful human natures. We cannot find God unless we look in a way that we can actually see Him. Otherwise, our own limitations will block our sight. Humility is necessary not for God’s sake, but because it is the only way we ourselves can form a connection to God. Herod’s pride and self always broke whatever tentative connection that God was able to form with him.
(Prayer) I want to humble so that I can have a clearer knowledge of You. Help me to repent of my sinfulness and accept the lessons that You are teaching me with humility. Do not let my pride and arrogance separate me from You ever.