Luke – Page 9 – Crews N Away

September 11, 2026

HE WILL SEE THAT THEY GET JUSTICE – WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH? / LUKE 18:8

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 18:8

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

He Will See That They Get Justice: The Power of Persistent Faith

In a world that often feels fractured, hostile, and deeply unjust, it is easy for the human heart to grow weary. We look around and see suffering, wickedness, and distress, and we cry out, “How long, Lord?” It is in these precise moments of cosmic exhaustion that Jesus throws us a lifeline through His word, reminding us of a profound truth: God is not unwilling to answer our prayers. Instead, He uses our seasons of waiting to teach us how to depend on Him completely and how to take an active role in His divine plans.

When we spend intentional time with God in prayer, something supernatural happens. We don’t just pass along a wishlist; we get to know His heart. Our lives, our motives, and our deepest desires begin to align perfectly with His eternal purposes. This alignment will be our greatest anchor in the difficult days ahead.

The Promise of Ultimate Justice

Jesus gave us a beautiful promise in Luke 18:7, assuring us that God will bring justice to His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night. He will not keep putting them off. When Christ returns, He will put a definitive end to the distress and suffering His people have witnessed and endured.

Scripture paints a magnificent picture of this coming rescue:

The Gathering: Christ will take His people to be with Him, fulfilling His promise to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3). His faithful followers will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The Judgment: God will administer His perfect justice and judgment on the wicked, bringing an end to the reign of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, 9).
The Reign: Ultimately, Christ will return to earth with His saints to reign with flawless, unblemished justice (Revelation 19-20).

The return of Jesus Christ is not a passive wish; it is the only real, tangible hope for His people and for this world.

Will He Find Faith on the Earth?

As Jesus concludes His teachings on the persistent widow, He leaves us with a piercing question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

Notice how Jesus directly links faith with continued, pursuing prayer. Coming to God repeatedly with our burdens does not look like a lack of faith to Him—it is the ultimate expression of it. Persistent prayer proves that we have truly released the issue into His hands. It acknowledges that our concerns belong to Him and Him alone. When we leave our burdens at the altar of prayer, anxiety and worry lose their grip because our dependency is anchored in Christ.

Jesus’ question serves as a sobering warning for the end times. As the day of His return draws near, evil will increase, and many within the church may stop depending on Christ, forsaking their faith under the weight of a hostile culture (Matthew 24:11-13; 1 Timothy 4:1).

Therefore, every believer must look inward and ask:

Am I actively demonstrating my faith through continued prayer about everything?
Am I praying for God’s justice to prevail and for His purposes to be fully accomplished, both now and forever?

If we find our prayer lives lacking, we must honestly evaluate whether we are truly living for and eagerly anticipating His triumphant return. Let us be a people who watch, pray, and remain deeply rooted in faith until the final curtain falls and His glory is revealed.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You acknowledging that You are a God of perfect justice, righteousness, and mercy. Forgive us for the times we have allowed the wickedness and distress of this world to make us weary or doubtful of Your goodness. Teach us to depend on You more deeply every single day. Align our hearts, our thoughts, and our desires with Your eternal purposes so that we may participate actively in Your divine plans.

Lord, build within us a spirit of persistent, unwavering prayer. May we be counted among those who cry out to You day and night, anchoring our souls in the blessed hope of Your return. Protect our hearts from the deception and coldness of this age. When Jesus returns, may He find us standing firm, actively living for You, and walking in radical faith. We look forward to the day when You will wipe away every tear and establish Your perfect justice on the earth forever.

In the mighty and holy name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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Bible Study Tools I Use

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 11, 2026

CHOSEN ONES WHO CRY OUT … DAY AND NIGHT / LUKE 18:7

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 18:7

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Chosen Ones Who Cry Out Day and Night

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares a parable that cuts straight to the heart of our spiritual endurance. He speaks of a persistent widow who refuses to give up until she receives justice from an unjust judge. If someone who is entirely ungodly will eventually respond to a person who continues to plead with them, how much more will our Heavenly Father respond to His devoted followers?

As God’s chosen ones, we are called to a lifestyle of persistent, unwavering prayer. We live in a world fractured by brokenness, where the deceptive power of Satan and an evil world system often seem to dominate the headlines. In the midst of this darkness, it is easy to grow weary or feel as though our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. But Jesus assures us that our cries are heard. He is looking for a people who will continually pray for His divine purposes to prevail on earth, pushing back the darkness and eagerly anticipating the day when Christ will return to destroy the enemy’s power once and for all.

Until that glorious return, Christ invites us to actively participate in His sovereign plans through the power of prayer. Prayer is not a passive exercise; it is our primary weapon and our highest privilege. God is neither deaf to our pleas nor indifferent to our suffering. He is entirely ready and willing to respond to the prayers of His people, executing His plans in His perfect time and in His perfect way.

When we refuse to stay silent, when we demonstrate our absolute trust in Him through persistent prayer, a shift happens in the spiritual realm. Our persistence is the evidence of our faith. As Jesus reminds us in Luke 18:8, when God’s people stand firm and continue to knock, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. Do not give up, do not lose heart, and do not stop crying out. Your prayers are moving the hand of God.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, Almighty God, we come before You today acknowledging that You are a just, loving, and faithful Father. Forgive us for the times we have grown weary or allowed doubt to silence our prayers. Teach us what it truly means to be Your chosen ones who cry out to You day and night.

Lord, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our inner being with holy persistence. We pray for Your perfect purposes to prevail on this earth. We stand against the evil systems of this world and the power of the enemy, and we eagerly look forward to the glorious return of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Give us the faith of the persistent widow—a faith that refuses to back down, a faith that trusts Your timing, and a faith that knows delay is never a denial. We rest in the promise that You will bring about justice for Your chosen ones. We commit our hearts, our requests, and our lives into Your hands, trusting that You are working all things together for our good and Your ultimate glory. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
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www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

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September 11, 2026

THEY SHOULD ALWAYS PRAY / LUKE 18:1

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

The Power of Persistence: Why We Must Always Pray

We have all been there. You have been praying about a situation for weeks, months, or maybe even years, and the silence from heaven feels heavy. It is in those quiet, exhausting seasons that the temptation to give up knocks loudest on our doors.

But Jesus knew this exact human struggle would come. In Luke 18:1, He gives His followers a vital command paired with a beautiful promise: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Jesus is deeply concerned that we learn to be consistent and diligent in prayer. Why? Because a steadfast prayer life is how we align ourselves with God to fully accomplish His plans and purposes for our lives.

Understanding the Heart of the Parable

To illustrate this, Jesus tells the story of a persistent widow and an unjust judge. When reading parables, it is important to remember they are meant to teach a specific core lesson—not every single element represents a direct spiritual counterpart.

In this story, the unjust judge is obviously not a representation of God. We do not have to beg a reluctant, cruel deity for justice. Instead, Jesus is using a powerful contrast to make a point about faith. If a corrupt human judge will eventually grant justice simply because of a widow’s persistence, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father eagerly answer His chosen ones who cry out to Him?

From this teaching, we can draw four transformative truths for our daily prayer walk:

Prayer is our continuous lifeline: It is our primary means of communicating our hearts to God. We are called to keep praying about all things until Jesus returns. Scripture echoes this across the New Testament, urging us to be constant in prayer, keeping alert with all perseverance (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer is our shield against injustice: In this broken life, we will face unfairness and hardship. Our main adversary is Satan, who prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). Consistent prayer protects us from the evil one and shields our hearts from bitterness when life is unfair.
Prayer aligns our will with God’s justice: When we pray, we should cry out against sin and injustice, asking God to demonstrate His perfect timing and righteousness. However, true prayer is a two-way street. Our requests must always be accompanied by a willingness to listen for God’s direction and a heart ready to obey whatever He tells us to do.
Prayer is the ultimate sign of faith: True, steadfast prayer shows our absolute trust in God. Jesus ends the parable with a piercing question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Persistent prayer is how we answer that question with a resounding yes.

Resisting the Urge to Quit

As we draw closer to the final days before Christ’s return, the spiritual battle will only intensify. Scripture warns us that the schemes of the enemy, the distractions of this world, and the temporary pleasures of life will cause many to abandon their spiritual discipline (Luke 8:14; Matthew 13:22).

When life gets busy or answers are delayed, it is easy to let our prayer lives slide. But the faithful people of God must resist the urge to quit. Do not let the noise of the world drown out your conversation with the Creator. Keep knocking. Keep asking. Keep seeking. God is listening, and He is faithful.

A Closing Prayer for Perseverance

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being a loving, just, and attentive Father who hears every cry of our hearts. Forgive us for the moments we have grown weary, doubted Your timing, or given up on prayer altogether. Today, we ask that You renew our spirits and pour out a fresh spirit of perseverance upon us.

When the world feels overwhelming and answers seem delayed, remind us of the truth of Luke 18:1. Help us to resist the distractions of this life and the schemes of the enemy that tell us our prayers do not matter. We choose to anchor our faith in Your perfect character. Give us the strength to pray always, to listen closely for Your voice, and to walk forward in obedience. May You find us faithful and persistent until the day You return.

In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.

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Bible Study Tools I Use

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Map Pencils
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Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

A DEAD BODY … THE VULTURES / LUKE 17:37

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:37

And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

The Inescapable Signal: Understanding the Vultures of Luke 17:37

It is one of the most jarring images in the entire New Testament.

Jesus is wrapping up a deep, urgent teaching about the end times. He warns that His return will be swift, sudden, and entirely unexpected—comparable to the days of Noah and Lot, when people were eating, drinking, buying, and selling right up until the moment judgment fell.

Bewildered by the gravity of His words, the disciples ask a simple question: “Where, Lord?”

Jesus does not give them a set of coordinates. Instead, He replies with a striking proverb: “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

While this language feels harsh to modern ears, it delivers a profound truth about the certainty, visibility, and spiritual reality of divine judgment.

1. Judgment is Self-Authenticating and Visible

When the disciples ask “where,” they are looking for a secret location or a hidden sign. Jesus uses the imagery of vultures circling in the sky to show that His return and subsequent judgment will be impossible to miss.

You do not need an map to know where a carcass lies in the desert; you simply look up and see the gathering birds. In the same way, the final judgment will not creep in under cover of obscurity. As Jesus noted earlier in the passage, it will be as undeniable as lightning flashing across the sky.

2. Decay Attracts Consequences

Vultures do not gather where there is life; they are naturally drawn to death and corruption. By using this metaphor, Jesus exposes the state of a world alienated from God.

The “dead body” represents spiritual death—a state of unrepentant sin and rebellion against the Life-Giver. As noted by commentators on the text, judgment is not random. It is a proportionate response that inevitably settles wherever spiritual rot has been welcomed and allowed to rule. Just as physical decay triggers the arrival of scavengers, spiritual decay calls forth divine justice.

3. The Danger of Ordinary, Prayerless Living

The deepest warning of Luke 17 is how easily spiritual death masks itself as normal life. The people in the days of Noah weren’t destroyed because they were eating and drinking; they were destroyed because they were doing those things without regard for God.

It is entirely possible to build a career, plan vacations, post updates, and manage a home while being completely dead inside. The ultimate danger is living an ordinary life without repentance.

Choosing Life Today

Luke 17:37 acts as a severe mercy. It reminds us that while the world may look alive and thriving on the outside, God sees the heart. If we are rooted only in the things of this world, we are clinging to what is passing away.

But we do not have to remain in spiritual death. Through Jesus Christ, we are offered vibrant, eternal life. We are called to wake up, shake off the slumber of careless living, and live each day with our eyes fixed on eternity.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Your Word shakes us out of our complacency and forces us to look at the reality of our hearts. Lord, forgive us for the times we have drifted into careless, ordinary living, completely blind to our need for You. Forgive us for tolerating spiritual decay in our thoughts, our habits, and our homes.

We ask that You breathe new life into us today. Break our affection for things that are dead and dying, and replace it with a hunger for Your Kingdom. Give us the wisdom to stay spiritually alert and the urgency to share Your grace with a world that is hurting. May our lives be found alive, ready, and rejoicing on the day Jesus returns.

In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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Bible Study Tools I Use

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www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE! / LUKE 17:32

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:32

Remember Lot’s wife.

The Danger of a Divided Heart: Remembering Lot’s Wife

In Luke 17:32, Jesus delivers one of the shortest yet most urgent warnings in the entire Bible: “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Out of all the figures in the Old Testament, Jesus singles her out as a perpetual monument for believers. To understand why, we have to look back at her final moments in Genesis 19. As fire and sulfur rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah, God’s angels explicitly commanded Lot and his family: “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you”.

Yet, Genesis 19:26 records her tragic error: “But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

More Than a Glance: A Heart in Sodom

Her backward glance was not a moment of casual curiosity. It was a look of deep longing, reluctance, and affection for a worldly culture. While her feet were physically moving toward safety, her heart was still anchored in Sodom.

As the author of Hebrews reminds us, the heroes of faith look forward to a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). In contrast, Lot’s wife placed her deepest desires on an earthly society. She grew overly attached to the comfort, social status, and material possessions of a corrupt world, choosing to value temporary things over eternal rescue.

Jesus uses this narrative in the Gospel of Luke to warn us about the days preceding His return. In a world consumed with ordinary, temporary pursuits—eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building—it is easy to let our roots grow too deep into the soil of this temporary life.

Questions for Self-Reflection

Every believer must regularly evaluate the alignment of their heart:

Where is my focus? Is my daily attention consumed by temporary earthly anxieties and successes, or am I actively investing in eternal things?
Where are my affections? Is my heart more attached to the comforts of this world than to Jesus and the hope of His return?
Am I shrinking back? Am I hesitating to abandon old, sinful habits and lifestyles that God has clearly told me to leave behind?

Jesus famously declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). We cannot walk forward into the fullness of God’s future while constantly yearning for the very things He rescued us from.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today humbled by the solemn warning to remember Lot’s wife. Lord, search our hearts and expose any areas where our affections are divided. Forgive us for the times we have clung to temporary comforts, material possessions, or past habits instead of reaching fully for You.

We ask for the grace to loosen our grip on this passing world. Deliver us from spiritual complacency and a divided mind. Anchor our souls in the hope of Your eternal kingdom, and let our hearts burn with anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ. Give us the courage to move forward boldly in faith, never looking back, and fully trusting in Your path of salvation.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

ON THAT DAY / LUKE 17:31

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:31

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

On That Day: Living Unattached in a Distracted World

We live in a culture obsessed with gathering, securing, and organizing “stuff.” We invest immense energy into packing our homes with comforts, building our careers, and securing our earthly futures. But in Luke 17:31, Jesus delivers a jarring wake-up call that completely shifts our perspective on what truly matters:

“On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.” (Luke 17:31)

When Jesus speaks of “on that day,” He is referring to the sudden, unmistakable revelation of the Son of Man (Luke 17:30). He draws a vivid picture of immediacy. In ancient Israel, flat housetop roofs were common places for relaxation or prayer, accessible by an outside staircase. Jesus warns that when the moment of His return arrives, there will be no time to run inside to pack a bag. There will be no time for the farmer to return to the edge of the field to grab a forgotten cloak.

He summarizes the danger a few verses later with a sobering, three-word sermon: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).

The Danger of the Backward Glance

What was the sin of Lot’s wife? It wasn’t just that her physical neck turned toward the burning city of Sodom; it was that her heart was anchored there. She was clinging to the life, comforts, and possessions she was leaving behind.

Jesus uses this imagery to expose our deepest spiritual vulnerabilities:

The Trap of Materialism: Are the things we own actually owning us? If our first instinct in a moment of divine crisis is to rescue our earthly goods, our priorities are dangerously misplaced.
The Illusion of Security: We often try to make our lives secure by gathering temporal things, but true security is found exclusively in Christ.
Delayed Obedience: When God moves, or when Christ returns, the call requires immediate, unhesitating response. Looking back signals a divided heart.

Living “On That Day” Today

Living in light of “that day” doesn’t mean we abandon our daily responsibilities or stop caring for our families. It means we change our grip on the world. We transition from holding things tightly to holding them loosely.

If Christ were to return today, would you be ready to step forward into His presence without a single glance backward? Let us strive to live with undivided hearts, fully invested in eternity, so that we are filled with excitement—rather than hesitation—when He appears.

Closing Prayer

Father, God Almighty,

Give me an undivided heart and an undiluted passion to live so that I am entirely ready for Jesus’ return (Heartlight Devotional). I know that the day will come unexpectedly and quickly. Lord, break the power of materialism and temporal worry in my life. Deliver me from the temptation to look back or to cling desperately to the comforts of this passing world.

I don’t want to anchor my soul to things that will ultimately pass away. Instead, help me to live each morning in expectation of Your unimaginable glory. May my hands be open, my heart unattached to earthly goods, and my eyes fixed solely on Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

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Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

THE DAYS OF NOAH / LUKE 17:26

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:26

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Waking Up in the Days of Noah: A Wake-Up Call from Luke 17:26

We live in a world that loves to stay busy. We rush from morning meetings to grocery runs, plan vacations, scroll through social media, and schedule our lives months in advance. On the surface, there is nothing inherently wrong with these things. But scripture gives us a sobering warning about what happens when the rhythm of ordinary life completely blinds us to eternal reality.

In Luke 17:26, Jesus delivers a haunting parallel for the end times: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man”.

When we think of the days of Noah, our minds often jump to extreme, widespread wickedness. But when Jesus expands on this context in the very next verse, He doesn’t immediately list high-profile sins. Instead, He highlights something far more subtle: “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all”.

What makes the “Days of Noah” so dangerous isn’t just the overt corruption—it is the catastrophic distraction of normal life.

The Danger of the “Normal”

In Noah’s time, life looked completely regular right up until the clouds opened. People weren’t bracing for judgment; they were planning their next meals and attending weddings. They scoffed at Noah’s massive ark-building project because they had never seen a flood, choosing the comfort of the status quo over the warning of God.

They were so consumed by the temporal that they were utterly blind to the spiritual.

Jesus warns us that His return will mirror this exact atmosphere. The danger for many modern believers isn’t that we will actively choose wickedness, but that we will let the routine of buying, selling, planting, and building lull us into a spiritual slumber. We become so anchored to this earth that we forget we are just passing through.

Building an Ark of Faith

Noah stood out in his generation not because he was flawless, but because he believed God and acted on it. His faith wasn’t passive; it took the shape of an ark. Day after day, under a clear sky, he pounded nails into wood, choosing obedience over fitting in.

Today, Jesus is the Ark of our salvation. Entering into a relationship with Him is our only refuge. But building our lives around Him requires daily intentionality. It means:

Shaking off spiritual apathy and staying alert.
Living with an eternal perspective, holding the things of this world loosely.
Sharing the gospel with our families and neighbors, just as Noah’s faith served as a witness to those around him.

When the Son of Man is revealed, ordinary routines will be interrupted in the blink of an eye. The question we must ask ourselves today is simple: Are we too busy living for this world to be ready for the next?

Let us choose to live with our eyes on eternity, fully awake and eagerly waiting.

A Closing Prayer for Readiness

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for the times we allow the busyness of this life to crowd You out. It is so easy to get caught up in eating, drinking, working, and planning for the future that we forget our true home is in heaven.

Wake us up from our spiritual slumber. Give us the faith of Noah—a faith that obeys even when the world calls us foolish. Guard our hearts against the distractions of this age, and help us to anchor our souls firmly in Jesus, our true Ark of safety.

Fill us with a holy urgency to share Your love and truth with those around us. May our lives be a reflection of Your grace, so that when Your Son returns, we will welcome Him with joy rather than fear.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU / LUKE 17:20-21

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:20-21

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: ²¹Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Kingdom Within: Finding God’s True Power in a Distracted World

We live in a world obsessed with the visible. We measure success by numbers, influence by political power, and progress by what we can see, touch, and control. In the midst of this constant noise, it is easy to find ourselves looking for God in the exact same way—searching for grand, external signs that He is at work.

But in Luke 17:20-21, Jesus completely flips this earthly perspective upside down. When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He gave a revolutionary answer:

“The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst [or within you].”

According to Jesus, the present nature of God’s kingdom is spiritual, not material or political. It does not come with an earthly crown, a military conquest, or political domination. Instead, it begins as a quiet, radical revolution of the human heart.

Missing the Move of God

Many people miss God’s purposes for their lives because they are looking in the wrong direction. They wait for circumstances to change, for a new leader to rise, or for an external breakthrough, all while ignoring the internal transformation God wants to do right now.

Jesus makes it clear that the kingdom of God does not come with “careful observation.” You cannot gain a place in it by your own good efforts, and you cannot force it into existence through earthly power. Becoming a part of God’s kingdom requires a completely changed heart and mind—a supernatural shift that only God can produce as we yield our lives entirely to Him.

Power Unleashed from the Inside Out

When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, the kingdom begins to develop within us. As it grows, it changes our very character. We stop reflecting the chaos of the world and start reflecting Christ. As Paul writes in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

This is where true spiritual authority comes from. Through the power of the Spirit, we demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom not by conquering kings and nations, but by conquering the forces of sin, sickness, and brokenness in our daily lives. It is a victory won through love, humility, prayer, and faith.

The Ultimate Triumph

While the kingdom is actively at work within us today, this is not the end of the story. Right now, the kingdom is a spiritual reality growing in the hearts of believers. But a day is coming when the invisible will become visible.

When Jesus comes to earth the second time, God’s glory will be revealed for all to see. His kingdom will triumph over earthly rulers, nations, and all evil. The quiet revolution that started within us will culminate in a cosmic victory, where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

Until that day, let us stop searching for God’s kingdom in the passing structures of this world. Let us open our hearts, invite His Spirit to rule over our desires, and live out the beautiful, quiet power of the kingdom within.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful truth that Your kingdom does not depend on the power, politics, or praise of this world. Forgive us for the times we have consumed ourselves with external signs while neglecting the state of our own hearts. We recognize that we cannot enter or build Your kingdom through our own striving or good deeds.

We yield our lives to You today. We ask that You change us from the inside out. Renew our minds, transform our hearts, and cultivate within us a Christlike character marked by Your righteousness, peace, and joy. Fill us with the power of Your Holy Spirit so that we may overcome sin and bring Your healing love to a hurting world. We anchor our hope in the promise of Your return, when Your glory will fully manifest and all evil will be overcome. Until that day, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, right here within us.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

THANKED HIM / LUKE 17:16

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:16

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

The Power of a Grateful Heart: Lessons from Luke 17:16

In the routine of our daily lives, it is easy to get caught up in asking God for what we need while forgetting to thank Him for what He has already done. We often approach Him with a list of requests, but how often do we approach Him simply to offer our praise?

The Gospel of Luke presents a powerful story that challenges our heart posture toward God. In Luke 17, ten lepers cry out to Jesus from a distance, desperate for healing. Moved by compassion, Jesus instructs them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they obey and walk away, a miracle happens: they are completely cleansed of their disease.

Yet, what happens next reveals a profound truth about human nature. Out of the ten who were healed, only one turned back. Luke 17:16 tells us that this man fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks—and he was a Samaritan.

Choosing to Turn Back

All ten men received the physical miracle of healing, but only one returned to acknowledge the Source. The Samaritan man didn’t just celebrate his newfound freedom; he prioritized the Giver over the gift. He was so overwhelmed by gratitude that he threw himself at the feet of Jesus in public worship.

Having received God’s love, grace, salvation, and all His spiritual benefits, we must never forget to thank Him. What He has done for us should cause us continually to approach Him with grateful hearts. The Samaritan’s response reminds us that true faith is always marked by gratitude. When we realize the depth of what we have been saved from, thankfulness becomes our natural response.

Living a Life of Continuous Praise

Gratitude is more than a polite gesture; it is an act of spiritual alignment. It shifts our eyes away from our problems and fixes them securely on the goodness of God. Scripture reminds us in 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” In the same way, we give thanks because He first poured out His grace upon us.

When we develop a habit of turning back to thank Him, we find that our perspective changes. We stop taking His daily mercies for granted. The breath in our lungs, the peace in our hearts, and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ are all overwhelming reasons to live in a state of constant thanksgiving. Let us not be like the nine who walked away to enjoy their blessings without a word to the One who gave them. Instead, let us choose the path of the one who returned to fall at His feet.

A Closing Prayer for a Thankful Heart

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the endless blessings, love, and grace You pour into our lives every single day. Forgive us for the times we take Your goodness for granted, or when we are quick to ask for help but slow to offer our praise.

We thank You for the ultimate gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and for the spiritual benefits that sustain us. Help us to cultivate a heart like the Samaritan leper—a heart that pauses, turns back, and falls at Your feet in profound gratitude. May our lives be a continuous offering of thanks to You, reflecting the love You first showed us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace

September 10, 2026

FAITH / LUKE 17:6

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Luke 17:6

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

The Power of the Smallest Seed: Understanding Faith in Luke 17:6

We often fall into the trap of thinking that we need massive, unshakeable, mountain-moving confidence before God can use us or answer our prayers. We look at our doubts, our anxieties, and our fragile moments, and we assume our faith is simply too small to make a difference.

In the Gospel of Luke, the apostles felt exactly the same way. Looking at the immense calling before them—specifically the difficult standard of radical, repeated forgiveness that Jesus had just commanded—they cried out, “Increase our faith!”

Jesus’ response in Luke 17:6 flips our understanding of spiritual strength completely upside down: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

It’s Not the Size of Your Faith, But the Size of Your God

Jesus does not answer the disciples by giving them a multi-step program to build giant faith. Instead, He redirects their attention to the mustard seed—one of the smallest seeds known to the ancient world.

The brilliance of this metaphor is that a mustard seed does not rely on its own mass to grow or accomplish something great. Its power lies entirely in its nature and the ground it is planted in. When Jesus speaks of a faith the size of a mustard seed uprooting a deeply entrenched mulberry tree, He is teaching us that the effectiveness of our faith does not depend on the quantity of our confidence, but on the object of our trust.

A tiny amount of genuine faith placed in an infinite, all-powerful God can accomplish what is humanly impossible. When we stop staring at the smallness of our own belief and start staring at the greatness of our God, everything changes.

Moving from Intellect to Action

Luke’s Gospel consistently reminds us that true faith is not just an intellectual concept or a vague feeling; it is active. Having mustard-seed faith means taking that tiny spark of trust and choosing to step out in obedience anyway.

It means that even when your heart feels heavy and your certainty feels small, you still choose to pray. You still choose to forgive. You still choose to step into the calling God has placed before you, trusting that His grace is entirely sufficient to fill the gaps. You don’t need a mountain of faith to move a mountain; you just need a tiny seed of faith in a Mountain-Moving God.

A Closing Prayer for Faith

Heavenly Father,

We come to You today acknowledging that there are moments when our confidence falters and our spirits feel overwhelmed by the challenges before us. Forgive us for the times we have looked at our own limitations instead of Your limitless power.

We thank You for the grace found in Luke 17:6. Thank You for reminding us that You do not require us to be perfect or entirely free of doubt before You can work through us. Today, we bring You whatever faith we have—even if it feels as small and fragile as a mustard seed.

We plant our small trust firmly in Your character, Your promises, and Your unchanging faithfulness. Uproot the bitterness, fear, and hesitation from our hearts, and cast them away. Give us the courage to take faithful steps of obedience today, knowing that Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace