Evening Scripture

Luke, Chapter 5
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Read the rest of the chapter on BibleStudyTools.com.

Evening Reflection 

Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. These times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often feel far from God. The idea of a good God gets challenged while we encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has said and proven time and again how his heart is with the poor and needy. God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us. He became a man to reach us where we were. 

Here in Luke 5 we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, meeting both spiritual and physical. Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him meet us, invite us into the story. First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he wants to do—love us and join us in our lack to fill it with his light and life, redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own. 

Evening Prayer 

Heavenly Father,
I come to you in my need, not hiding my lack or pretending abilities I don’t have. You see my emptiness, and you draw near with love and power. You’re not distant; you’re Immanuel, God with me. Forgive my sin, restore my heart, and speak life into every broken place. I willingly and desperately invite you into my story, into my weakness, fear, doubts, and all. Fill and revive what I can’t. Heal what I can’t. You alone can bring change, and you are more than enough to transform my life and situation. Teach me to trust your goodness and love today.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Evening Scripture
Luke, Chapter 5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.&nbsp;He saw at the water&rsquo;s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.&nbsp;He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, &ldquo;Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.&rdquo;
Simon answered, &ldquo;Master, we&rsquo;ve worked hard all night and haven&rsquo;t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.&rdquo;
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus&rsquo; knees and said, &ldquo;Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!&rdquo; For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon&rsquo;s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.&rdquo; So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, &ldquo;Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.&rdquo;
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. &ldquo;I am willing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Be clean!&rdquo; And immediately the leprosy left him.
Then Jesus ordered him, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.&rdquo;
Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, &ldquo;Friend, your sins are forgiven.&rdquo; <a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html">Read the rest of the chapter on BibleStudyTools.com.</a>
Evening Reflection&nbsp;
Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. These times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don&rsquo;t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often feel far from God. The idea of a good God gets challenged while we encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has said and proven time and again how his heart is with the poor and needy. God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn&rsquo;t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us. He became a man to reach us where we were.&nbsp;
Here in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html">Luke 5</a>&nbsp;we see how Jesus&rsquo;s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, meeting both spiritual and physical. Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him meet us, invite us into the story. First, we must realize he&rsquo;s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he wants to do&mdash;love us and join us in our lack to fill it with his light and life, redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.&nbsp;
Evening Prayer&nbsp;
Heavenly Father, I come to you in my need, not hiding my lack or pretending abilities I don&rsquo;t have. You see my emptiness, and you draw near with love and power. You&rsquo;re not distant; you&rsquo;re Immanuel, God with me. Forgive my sin, restore my heart, and speak life into every broken place. I willingly and desperately invite you into my story, into my weakness, fear, doubts, and all. Fill and revive what I can&rsquo;t. Heal what I can&rsquo;t. You alone can bring change, and you are more than enough to transform my life and situation. Teach me to trust your goodness and love today. In Jesus&rsquo; name, Amen.
Want More?
If tonight&rsquo;s episode blessed you, be sure to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962">follow the show</a> so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Nightly Scripture — 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture

Letting Jesus Meet Me in My Need (Luke 5)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/4b67b703-ccc8-49be-befc-b45d00f56eea/transcript