Friday, July 24, 2026
Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 17-21 | Luke 18
One of the most striking things about Luke 11 is that Jesus never separates intimacy with God from influence on others.
The chapter begins with the disciples asking, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). It ends with Jesus confronting religious leaders who knew the Scriptures but failed to lead people toward God.
Between those two moments is a powerful reminder: the closer we grow to Jesus, the more our lives should help others find him too.
Jesus teaches his followers to pray with confidence and persistence, trusting that God is a loving Father who gives good gifts to his children. He then warns against spiritual blindness and religion that focuses on appearances while neglecting the heart.
The contrast is clear. One group knows God personally and reflects his character. The other knows religion but misses the relationship.
I remember a season when I was trying hard to fix someone else's situation. I prayed, offered advice, checked in often, and carried a burden for them. Yet nothing seemed to change. During one prayer time, I sensed God gently reminding me that my job was not to rescue people. My job was to bring people to Jesus. Only he could heal the wounds I could not reach and transform their heart from the inside out.
That realization changed the way I approached relationships. Instead of feeling responsible for changing people, I became responsible for pointing them to the One who could.
Luke 11:33
"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house."
Jesus did not save us simply to enjoy his light. He saved us to share it. A life transformed by Christ becomes a lamp that helps others find their way to him.
We are called to help others see Jesus and experience his love through their interactions with us. We are his hands and feet. Let’s be open to serve, willing to walk beside others, and faithful to guide them one step at a time along the lighted path. The world does not need more religious performance; it needs people whose lives reflect the presence of God.
Today, ask yourself not only, “Am I following Jesus?” but also, “Who am I helping find him?”
Questions:
Who has God placed in your life right now that needs encouragement, hope, or an invitation to know Jesus?
Are you relying more on your own efforts to help others, or are you faithfully pointing them to Christ?
Next Steps:
Identify one person who may be far from God. Pray for them by name today, then take one intentional step toward them. This might be a text message, phone call, coffee invitation, or simple act of kindness that reflects the love of Jesus. Then stand back and watch God work.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for inviting me into a personal relationship with you. Teach me to pray with persistence, trust, and faith. Help me remember that I am not responsible for changing people. That is your job. Show me how to love others well and point them toward Jesus in both my words and actions. Open my eyes to the people around me who need hope, encouragement, and truth. Let my life reflect your goodness so clearly that others are drawn closer to you. Give me courage to share my faith, wisdom to know when to speak, and compassion to love people where they are. Use me today to help someone take one step closer to Jesus. Amen.
Written by Monique Myers, a regular contributor to the Daily.