What does "today and tomorrow I will drive out demons" teach about persistence? Context of Luke 13:32 “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’” (Luke 13:32) • Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill Him. • Rather than retreat, Jesus states His plan to continue ministry on a clear timetable. • “Today and tomorrow” points to steady, deliberate action; “on the third day” signals completion according to divine schedule. Persistent Mission Despite Threats • Herod’s threat is real, yet Jesus refuses to alter course. • Persistence is not reckless bravado; it is confidence that the Father’s plan cannot be thwarted (cf. John 10:18). • Jesus balances urgency (“today”) with endurance (“tomorrow”), showing persistence is both immediate and sustained. What “Today and Tomorrow” Communicates • Ongoing commitment—He will not stop after a single effort. • Predictable faithfulness—any observer could chart His steady progress. • Measured pace—persistence is purposeful, not frantic. • Certainty of completion—“on the third day I will reach My goal” anchors present effort to future fulfillment. Lessons for Our Own Persistence • Face opposition without surrender. Perseverance is proven in adversity, not ease (James 1:2–4). • Serve in the present while planning for tomorrow. Faithfulness is daily, yet vision is long-range. • Trust God’s timetable. Finishing well matters as much as starting strongly (2 Timothy 4:7). • Link persistence to Kingdom purpose. Driving out demons was not random activity; it directly opposed satanic strongholds (1 John 3:8). Supporting Scriptures • Galatians 6:9 — “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” • Hebrews 12:2–3 — “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus… who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” • Philippians 3:14 — “I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” • Romans 12:11 — “Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Takeaway Principles • Persistence is faith in motion—acting today, planning for tomorrow, confident of God’s finished work. • Obstacles test, but never negate, a God-given mission. • Steady obedience outlasts opposition and fulfills divine purpose. |
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