MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/29/2026
9:42 AM
My
Worship Time Focus:
“The
Illustration”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Luke
7:32
Message of the verses: “They are like children who sit in the
market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for
you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’”
John MacArthur explains “Though a
scene such as the Lord described, children at play, is a familiar one
throughout human history, this is the only reference in the Bible to children
playing a game. Unlike modern cities,
towns and villages in first-century Palestine had no designated parks or
playgrounds. Most of them, however, had
an agora, a large open area near the middle of the town used as a market
place. It was also the place for
public gatherings and became a convenient playground for children. Jesus pictures a time when the agora
was not being used as a market place and children were playing in it.
“When they play, children frequently
imitate adult behaviors. Apparently
children in Jesus’ day often played two games that reflected the most
significant events in Jewish social life: weddings and funerals. Historically, weddings and funerals have
marked life’s happiest and saddest occasions.
Weddings in Israel were ornate, elaborate affairs, often lasting for a
week and involving processions through the streets as well as feasting (cf.
Matt. 25:1-12; John 2:1-10).”
(cf. Matt. 25:1-12; John 2:1-10)
“1 ¶ "the kingdom of heaven will be like ten
virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were
wise. 3 For when the foolish took their
lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but
the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the
bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7
Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us
some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there
will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for
yourselves.’ 10 And while they were
going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to
the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to
you, I do not know you.’”
“1 ¶ On the third day there was a wedding at Cana
in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with
his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out,
the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this
have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever
he tells you.” 6 Now there were six
stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding
twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said
to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the
brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw
some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water
now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who
had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the
good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you
have kept the good wine until now.”
“Funerals
featured elements of public mourning and public procession to the burial, along
with fasting (Luke 7:11-16), so children would have been familiar with both.”
(Luke 7:11-16)
“11 ¶ Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain,
and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town,
behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother,
and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion
on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14
Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And
he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15
And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his
mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and
they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has
visited his people!”
“In Jesus’ story, some children had
been trying to organize a game. They sat
in the market place and called to some of the other children who had
refused to play, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance.’ This suggests that these children had
attempted to involve the others in a game of make-believe wedding, since music
and dancing were integral parts of a wedding celebration. But those invited would not join in the game;
they were stubborn, indifferent, and surly.
Refusing to be happy and participate in the dancing and singing, they
preferred instead to pout and sulk.
“The first group of children then
tried to involve the others in a mock funeral.
But they refused to play that game either. Prompting the children who
invited them to complain, ‘We sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ Their frustration is understandable,
since no matter what game they designed, the others would not play. The nature of the game was not the issue,
since the peevish brats would not play either the happy or the sad game. They serve as an apt illustration of the
people of that generation—ill-tempered malcontents.”
Spiritual meaning for my life
today: I am thinking about the fall
of mankind seen in the third chapter of Genesis, and it was because of that
fall that there are stories like this one that are not only found in the pages
of Scripture but also in stories around the world. Sin is the thing that has affected each and
every one of us, and will continue until Christ calls His Church home to be
with Him, for then those who go to be with the Lord will be sinless ready to
serve Him throughout the Millennial Kingdom and beyond.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust
the Lord to show me exactly what He desires for me to do after the passing of
my wife one month ago today. I need His
direction!
8/29/2026
10:13 AM
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