2/10 Quiet Time (Luke 11:29-36 ESV)

29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Jesus says a generation that asks for signs is an evil generation. The generation is evil because no matter how many times Jesus reveals Himself, the people cannot recognize Him (or maybe they just can't acknowledge Him). Even when He has been performing great miracles, the people have an ideal type of Messiah they've been waiting for.

 

Jesus criticizes the Israelites by comparing them to the Gentiles (the queen of the South and the men of Nineveh). The Israelites cannot focus on the spiritual things, but rather only on the things they can see - the material things. We see the same phenomenon today! So many people - even Christians - fixate only on the things they can see and aren't interested at all on the spiritual matters or Jesus' heart.

 

Lord, please help my spirit to be pure and clean. Help me to have healthy eyes so that I can recognize You when You work. Help me to rely on the Bible only and not situations or signs. I'm not spiritual enough to feel Your presence all the time, but I do love You enough to crave heaven and I'm happy enough to be thankful of the life You've given me. Help me to remain this way, no matter what happens.