November 2-8, 2025

Heart Preparation
Many of the stories that we read in the Gospels can seem repetitive to us, or just potentially seem like stories we are familiar with. If you grew up in church, you have probably heard of the miracles of Jesus, as well as many of His parables. Therefore, we can grow almost numb to what we are really reading. This week, as you open up God’s Word, pray for Him to give you fresh eyes to what you are reading. When you read about the miracles of Jesus, think of what it would have been like to witness those firsthand. He simply speaks or touches, and the person is healed. When you read about His teachings, think of what it would have been like when hearing what He has to say in a culture that was extremely rules driven. Take what Jesus is saying and look at it as if He were also speaking to you. We often like to see Him make Pharisees mad, because they represent the abuse of religion that seems prevalent today, but don’t miss the potential we all have in us to be just like the Pharisees, hypocrites who hear what God says and think it needs to apply to everyone else. Each day, pray the prayer of Paul over the Ephesians, that you may have the eyes of your hearts enlightened….

Reading Plan

• Sunday, November 2 — Luke 18:15–19:48
• Monday, November 3 — Mark 11, John 12
• Tuesday, November 4 — Matt 22, Mark 12
• Wednesday, November 5 — Matt 23, Luke 20–21
• Thursday, November 6 — Mark 13
• Friday, November 7 — Matt 24
• Saturday, November 8 — Matt 25

​What to Expect
This week’s readings consist of the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. You will get one more account of the Triumphal entry, where they proclaim Him to be the coming Messiah. But in just a few days, the rulers will crucify Him. In His final week before His crucifixion, you are going to see the rhetoric of the Pharisees and religious rulers increase, and the tensions between Jesus and the rulers grows as He calls them out for their hypocrisy, for their misuse of the Temple, and for their lack of care for what truly matters, the hearts of the people.

What to Look For
As mentioned already, the tension between the religious leaders and Jesus is growing. Take note of how Jesus treats those He encounters. The heart of the Gospel is coming for the broken. That’s how Jesus started His ministry, in Mark 2:17, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Pharisee’s thought that they were righteous, and Jesus showed them that they were unrighteous. The sinners and tax collectors knew that they were looked down upon, and Jesus gave them grace, compassion, and love.

Personal Insight
The statement above has really hit me. So often, I can see those Pharisee tendencies in my life. I can see times where I allow pride to sneak in and therefore I believe that I am deserving of God’s grace. I feel that I am righteous by my own efforts. I feel like when Jesus said that He came to save sinners and not the righteous, the Pharisee’s potentially thought they didn’t need His saving. They missed the point. There is no one who does righteous. There is no one who is righteous by our own standard. That’s the beauty of the Gospel. It’s not based on our works, but on His perfect work. The Gospel is that Jesus, God in nature, took on flesh and became like us, so that we all, from the lowest level (sinners and tax collectors of Jesus’ day), to the highest (Pharisees), all have a level playing field. On the days that I feel that I am rocking it, I am still saved by grace through faith in Christ. On the days that I feel like I am failing miserably at everything I do, I am still saved by grace through faith in Christ. For our sake He made Him who knew no sin to become sin, so that in Him WE might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you! It is because of Your great love that I am able to pray this prayer to a God who hears me. Even in my darkest moments, Your love comes running after me. You give me grace. Even when I am arrogant in my own works, You are patient with me and gently lead me back to You. Thank you for never giving up on me! May I walk with a heart of humility, seeing the mission of Your Son as the driving force in my life, that He came to seek and save the lost. Thank you for saving a lost like me, and adopting me into your eternal home.

This week’s devotion was prepared by Andy Peterman.

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