On My Heart 2003 - A Weekly Devotional by Bob Krepps

This Weekly Devotional is a ministry of Bob Krepps and New Mission Systems International.  All of 2003's messages are from the Gospel of Luke.

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December 25, 2003 - In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to his and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, as son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and an earth peace to me on whom His favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2: 1 - 20 (NIV)

This was the most historic birth that has ever taken place.  Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory veiled His eternal majesty and humbled Himself by becoming a baby.  Jesus was born in a stable, in the humblest of circumstances.  His bed was a feeding trough.  Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah had entered the world!  God made His announcement of this amazing event to a group of shepherds, not the rich and powerful or religious.  Shepherds where not known as respectable members of the community.  They had no fixed residence and they had a reputation for loose living and dishonesty.  They were considered so untrustworthy that they were actually forbidden by law to testify in court.  Their occupation also kept them from participation in religious ceremonies.   An angel of the Lord appeared to these lowly shepherds and God's glory shone around them.  They were terrified at this angelic appearance and by the spectacular display of the glory of God (not the angel's glory).  The angel's message was an amazing and a personal one; "a Savior is born to you."  God loves shepherds!  The Messiah would be their Savior!  Then a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with a glorious chorus of praise.  These shepherds would never be the same.   After they saw him, they spread the good news about this child and returned to the fields glorifying and praising God.

The shepherds' testimony was worthless in a court of law, but God valued it.  They heard the good news, came to Christ, believed and then proclaimed with joy all that they had experienced.  Reflect on the fact that God humbled Himself and took on human flesh so that you could experience peace with God.  Jesus Christ is God’s gift to you!  Praise and thank God for all He has done for you.  Then talk about the great things God has done for you.  Proclaim the good news.   God greatly values you and your testimony.

(This Christmas Day devotional is based on a previous On My Heart Devotional Message from the Gospel of Luke.)

December 18, 2003 – Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear Him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Then Jesus told them this parable:  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  The he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.  Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.  Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15: 1 – 10 (NIV)

The religious people of Jesus’ day were criticizing Jesus for hanging out with the wrong crowd.  He socialized with “sinners”!  In response to their criticism Jesus tells three stories to illustrate God’s heart and love for the “lost”.

Too often we act more like the religious leaders of Jesus day than like Jesus.  We isolate ourselves from those who do not think or believe like us.  We avoid non-believers because they have opinions we don’t like, do things we don’t approve of or are not interested in things we are interested in.  We avoid spending time with people we are uncomfortable being with or are hard for us to love.  I need to ask myself the question, do I love people in the way Jesus would want me to love people?  Do I view others as “sinners” and yet do not see the sin of pride and selfishness in my own heart?  We need to love as Jesus loved.  We need to acknowledge that we are also sinners in desperate need of the grace and mercy of God.

If you have ever observed a parent who has lost a child, you know that they go into action.  Nothing stops them until they find their child.  Finding their child becomes the most important goal in their life.  It becomes their only goal until the child is found.  One summer day my heart was captured by a news story.  A family had gone on a short outing and picnic.  Their seven year old son had wondered off - everyone thought he was with someone else.  After a frantic search for the boy, the family knew they needed help.  Soon search and rescue teams and several helicopters joined the search.  Several hundred people dropped what they were doing to search for this little boy.  Why?  Because the stakes were high!  A child cannot survive in the harsh elements of the Arizona desert for very long.  This was a life and death situation!

The stakes are even higher when we are talking about lost people.  All around us, every day, people you and I know are in a desperate situation.  They do not know Jesus Christ.  They need to know the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is a matter of eternal life and death.  I need to "leave the ninety-nine" more often and love people around me.  How about you?

The boy was found the next day after spending a frightening night alone in the desert.  There were tears, joy and celebration when he was found.  Jesus says, "In the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents . . .”  When a lost sinner is redeemed there is a huge party in heaven!

These stories are not about sheep or silver coins; they are about people.  No one would object to looking for lost sheep or coins but when Jesus went searching for lost people they objected.  Are you willing to follow the leadership of Jesus Christ and love the people God has put in your life?  If your only or primary contact is with those who are Christians, will you begin to leave the safety of the ninety-nine?  Ask God to give you His heart for people and the ability to love “lost sheep”.

December 11, 2003 – Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said:  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even is own life – he cannot be my disciple.  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to finish it?  For if he lays a foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’  Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.  Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.  In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.  Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Luke 14:  25 – 35 (NIV)

Jesus was becoming popular; large crowds were traveling following Him wherever He went.  The crowds did not understand what Jesus was about or what it really meant to follow Him.  Many were just there for the excitement.  Jesus was not interested in quickly increasing the numbers of His followers.   He turns to the crowd and says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even is own life – he cannot be my disciple.”  Jesus is not advocating that we hate our family.  What He is saying is that the love and devotion we must have for Him when compared to our love for our family could seem like hate.  Jesus is making it clear that a commitment to Him is not painless.  “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  Discipleship is demanding, and our devotion to Jesus Christ may even end in martyrdom.  Those who follow Him must be prepared for this possibility.

Jesus gives a couple of illustrations to clarify His point.  A person who impulsively starts to build something and then discovers that he doesn’t have enough money to finish would be ridiculed as foolish.  In the same way, Jesus asks us to carefully consider the cost of following Him.  Those who hastily abandon Him when pressure comes are not true followers; they are fools.  Wise national leaders carefully gather intelligence and consider all the risks before going to war.  In the same way when we follow Jesus Christ we are placing our lives into His hands.  “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  He is the trustworthy One who took up His cross and carried it for us.  He is our loving Master Builder; when He begins a good work in our lives He brings it to completion.  He is faithful and does not abandon us.

Have you counted the cost of following Jesus Christ?  Is your commitment to Jesus solid and informed, superficial or non-existent?  Jesus is looking for disciples who have an authentic commitment to Him.  He is worthy of that type of commitment.  Thank Him often for taking up His cross and dying for you.

December 4, 2003 – When one of those at the table heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”  Jesus replied:  “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’  But they all alike began to make excuses.  The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it.  Please excuse me.  Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.  Please excuse me.  Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’  The servant came back and reported this to his master.  Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’  ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’  Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”  Luke 14:  15 – 23 (NIV)

Why would someone make excuses to reject the greatest invitation ever given?  Jesus gives some insight into this question in this parable.  He tells a story about a man who invites a lot of guests to a great banquet.  In an age without clocks, an invitation to a banquet was given ahead of time announcing the event and then when the dinner was ready a second messenger was sent to invite everyone who accepted the first invitation to come.  It was a great insult to reject the second invitation.  The people in Jesus’ story make up some very poor excuses to this second invitation, saying they can not come to this banquet.  One says, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it.’  I am sure he must have looked at the field before he decided to buy it!  Another says, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.’  That’s like saying, ‘I just bought a car or a tractor and I would rather play with my new toy instead of coming to your banquet.’  Didn’t he try them out before he bought them?  Another says he can’t come because he is married.

We all make excuses to avoid doing things we do not want to do.  The excuses we give often hide our real reason; avoiding something we don’t want to do.  In Jesus’ story people reject God’s gracious invitation of the gospel because they do not treasure Him.  Almost everything else is more important.  Jesus Christ is not attractive to them.  The invitation doesn’t seem worth considering.  Other things are more attractive. 

When the servant reports all the excuses back, the master becomes angry and orders, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’  When we see God’s invitation is something we are in desperate need of we take His invitation seriously.  When we clearly see our sin and where it leads then we can see that the gospel is the only answer.  Jesus Christ becomes a necessity.  There is no other alternative.  The amazing feast to which God invites us is now delightfully attractive.

How much do you treasure Jesus Christ?  Do you delight in spending time with Him?  Are you making excuses that keep you from enjoying God’s spiritual feast?  Ask God to give you a deep hunger for Him.  Pray also that God will open the eyes of others (the spiritually blind) so they will see their need to take God’s invitation of the gospel seriously.

November 27, 2003 – When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, He told them this parable:  “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’  Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’  Then you will be honored in there presence of all your fellow guests.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Jesus then said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”  Luke 14: 7 – 14 (NIV)

Jesus went to eat at the house of a prominent religious leader.  He notices how the guests picked where they sat.  A seat next to the host at the host’s right was the highest place of honor; then the seat at the host’s left, and so on.  It would be easy to see where everyone was in the pecking order.  The religious leaders at this dinner were experts in exalting themselves.   Jesus uses this as a teaching opportunity about humility and God’s kingdom.

At first, this might seem like a great strategy to cleverly gain more recognition.  That’s not Jesus point.   Jesus is saying that honor is not to be sought after and grasped.  It is something that is given to us.  If you seek to be exalted, the result will be humiliation and embarrassment.  “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Jesus Christ was One who humbled Himself; we are to follow His example.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition of vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”  Philippians 2:  3 – 8 (NIV)  We are to honor our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who humbled Himself, above everyone.  God promises to exalt His Son and He also promises that we will one day participate in His glorious exaltation.  Let the Host, Jesus Christ, be the One to say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’

Next, Jesus focuses on the purpose of hospitality.  True hospitality is not centered on selfishly advancing our own goals.  It is others centered!  True hospitality is focused on being kind to and blessing others.  That’s that kind of hospitality God blesses and rewards.

Do you seek recognition, status or honor?  Or are you following the humble example of Jesus Christ?  Do you practice ‘others centered hospitality’ or ‘self-centered hospitality’ or no hospitality at all?  Ask God to show you any prideful or selfish attitudes you have that He may want to transform.  Thank Jesus today that He willingly humbled Himself for us.

A Thanksgiving Meditation:

"Praise is rooted in the fact that we are created by God, life is a gift from God, each day is a blessing from God, and the next breath we breathe is in the hand of God."  Dan Puckett

November 20, 2003 – Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem.  Someone asked Him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”  He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’  But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’  But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from me, all you evildoers!’  There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.  Luke 13: 22 – 30 (NIV)

Jesus is asked what seems to be a very simple question, “Are only a few people going to be saved?”  First, Jesus says that the door is narrow and many who think they deserve to be saved will not be saved.  There is urgency to making seeking the kingdom of God the main priority of life.  You cannot postpone getting your relationship with God right.  There is no time for that.  One day the door will be slammed shut; it will be too late.  There will be intense anger and grief when those who expect to be let into God’s kingdom find themselves locked out forever.  That’s the very shocking and strong warning Jesus gives us.

Jesus goes on to say that there will be a lot of surprises as to who will be there and who will have places of honor.  God is a God who is perfect in all His ways.  There are people who are never noticed by anyone, who devoutly love and humbly serve the Lord Jesus, who will be greatly honored at Christ’s banquet table.  There will be others who receive a great deal of recognition and honor now who will barely make it into the kingdom.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last. 

Jesus also says to those listening to Him.  Some of you will who think you are getting in will be left out of God’s kingdom, but there will be people there from every place on earth.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  When answering the question, “Are only a few people going to be saved?” a big part of Jesus’ answer is there will be people from every tribe, tongue and nation in God’s glorious kingdom.  (Even people we might not think deserve to be there.)  There is a narrow door, but, a lot of people from all over the world will be celebrating in God’s kingdom.

The door to heaven is narrow because Jesus Christ Himself is that door.  He said, “I am the door; he who enters through Me will be saved.”  (John 10:9)  Our efforts never get us into the kingdom of God.  Jesus does.  We must humble ourselves, admit our desperate need and come through Him.  We are saved by His grace.  What Jesus is saying is that we should be passionate about seeking Him first and seeking His kingdom.  Make every effort to enter it His way.  Do not delay seeking Him.

Are you seeking God and His kingdom?  Are you striving to enter through the narrow door of Jesus Christ or are you relying on something else to save you?  Thank Him for providing and becoming exactly what we need; a narrow door.

November 13, 2003 – Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like?  What shall it I compare it to?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.  It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”  Again He asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”  Luke 13:  18 – 21 (NIV)

What are a few people compared to the enormous task of taking the good news to the entire world?  Jesus gives insight into God’s kingdom using two examples.  First, He says that God’s kingdom starts small.  But, these small beginning seeds of God’s kingdom eventually grow into large trees.  Don’t be discouraged, the growth potential of small seeds planted to God’s glory is tremendous.  New seeds constantly need to be planted. 

God’s kingdom can also be compared to a small amount of yeast that makes bread rise.  Again, something very small causes significant change.  The flour is greatly transformed because of a tiny amount of yeast.

Our attempts to sow seeds of the gospel may seem feeble and useless.  Our small attempts to spread God’s kingdom may seem like nothing.  We may be tempted not to even start something because we think, “What difference will this make?  This is so little compared to what is really needed.”  Do not be overwhelmed or discouraged.  Do not despise something that starts small.  God is not small or powerless.  God takes the tiny seed that we sow and creates powerful growth and transformation.  We may not even see it at first, but eventually growth takes place.  That is what God’s kingdom is like.  Let Jesus’ words about His kingdom encourage you as you serve Him.

November 6, 2003 – On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.  She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.  When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from infirmity.”  Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.  Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work.  So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”  The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites!  Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to give it water?  The should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”  When He said this, all His opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things He was doing.  Luke 13:  10 – 17 (NIV)

Imagine what it would be life to be in agony for eighteen years, unable to stand straight up at all.  When Jesus sees this woman His heart goes out to her.  He does not wait for her to come up to Him and ask for healing.  Jesus goes out of His way to minister to her.  When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from infirmity.”  Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.  She was free this crippling condition!  God had healed her in an amazing way.

An indignant angry religious leader loudly rebukes Jesus for healing this woman in front of everyone.  “There are six days for work.  So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”  He hated Jesus’ ministry and self righteously attacks Jesus for healing this poor woman on the wrong day.  This was a day God had set aside to benefit human beings.  This religious leader moralistically distorts God’s purpose for the Sabbath in order to attack Jesus.  Jesus rebukes him by reminding him that even animals are untied and cared for on the Sabbath.  Are not people more important than livestock?  Shouldn’t this woman be set free from her suffering on the Sabbath; a day set aside for acts of mercy?  All His opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things He was doing. 

Are you too quick to criticize people who are ministering in a way that doesn’t quite fit your understanding of how ministry should be done?

Like Jesus, we are to notice people and minister to them.  Like Jesus, we will face opposition when we are doing what God has called us to do.  We need to look to Jesus Christ when we face opposition.  He understands and cares.

October 30, 2003 – Then He told this parable:  “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any.  Cut it down!  Why should it use up the soil?’  ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine!  If not, then cut it down.’”  Luke 13:  6 – 9 (NIV)

Jesus tells a short parable about an owner of a vineyard.  He is very upset because a fig tree he planted is not bearing fruit.  He has patiently waited three seasons for fruit.  Now he has had enough!  He decides that this tree is a wasted investment and should be cut down and replaced.  The man hired to care for the tree pleads for one more year.  If the fig tree fails to bear fruit next season after another year of fertilizer, pruning and care then he will cut down. 

What does this story teach us?  God is patient with His people.  But there is a limit to God’s patience.  He expects us to be fruitful.  We are called to bear fruit.  We may need some more “fertilizer” and tender care in order to be productive.  But, Jesus message is clear; if we are not producing spiritual fruit then a change has to be made.

How does your life compare to this fig tree?  How fruitful are you?  If you had just one year to make changes in your life, what would you do?  What fruit do you want to be producing by this time next year?

October 23, 2003 – Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will all perish.  Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”  Luke 13:  1 – 5 (NIV)

This is one of the hard statements of Jesus that I wish He had never said.  I’d rather not write a devotional on these verses, but Jesus says some important things here that we need to consider.  Some people in the crowd ask Jesus about a current event that must have been on everyone’s mind.  The Roman Governor had a reputation for abusing his power.  This time he had not only ruthlessly slaughtered some people but he also mixed their blood with their sacrifices to God.   It was shockingly sacrilegious and a horrible injustice.  How could God allow something like this to happen?  This was the question they wanted Jesus to answer.

It is common, even today, for some people to think that a person’s suffering is directly related to how much they have sinned.  I have actually had well meaning Christians come to me when I was ill to tell me that some sin I committed must have caused my illness.   Otherwise, they reasoned, I would not be sick.  Jesus dismisses that idea immediately.  “Do you think that these were worse sinners because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no!”  Suffering is a reality that exists in a world of sin.  But a person who is sick, in pain or suffering an injustice is not usually suffering because of a particular sin or in proportion to how much they have sinned. 

But Jesus doesn’t stop there.  He shocks us by saying, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”  That is a harsh comment.  They are certainly not words of comfort.  He also mentions another recent event, a tower fell killing a group of innocent bystanders.  Why did those eighteen die?  Were they worse sinners than others who escaped?  No.   Again Jesus says, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”  What is Jesus saying?  The penalty for sinning is death, yet we continue to sin and rebel against a Holy God.  We are under the sentence of death.  It is only because of God’s mercy that anyone is alive.  Yet, we are surprised when we experience suffering.  We take God’s grace and mercy for granted.  Every moment we live and every blessing we enjoy is because God is a patient and merciful God.  We don’t deserve His mercy.  When we see or hear about any disaster, injustice or suffering the question we should ask is this:  Why didn’t it happen to me?  We should be more surprised and amazed by God’s grace.  Jesus lovingly gives this harsh warning because He wants us to wake up to the fact that God’s patience and mercy should lead us to repentance.

Are you taking God’s grace and mercy for granted?  Do you thank God daily for the blessings you enjoy?  Does God’s goodness to you motivate you to turn away from sin and to turn to Jesus Christ for cleansing and forgiveness?

October 16, 2003 – Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or what about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?  Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and you Father knows that you need them.  But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father had been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Luke 12: 22 – 34 (NIV)

Worry and anxiety can be serious problems.  Anxiety can paralyze and even destroy us.  It can erode our faith in the living God.  Jesus is not encouraging laziness or irresponsibility.  That is not faith.  Jesus’ concern is that we keep our focus on the more important things.  Worry distracts our attention from God.  We can begin to think that money can do what God can not do; turning money into an idol.  We look to money, not God to solve our problems.  I sometimes think that if only I had this thing or a certain amount of money my problems would be solved or my future would be secure.

Jesus chooses the raven (not a well thought of bird like a dove) as an example for His disciples to think about.  They considered the raven to be an unclean, ugly, and worthless scavenger.  Yet, God cares for and feeds the ravens.  “And how much more valuable you are than birds!”   Worrying will not add even an hour to your life.  So why worry about food and clothing?  God cares about you and knows what you need.  Let God worry about them.  We are to seek God and His Kingdom above all else.  Why get so preoccupied with lesser things?

We need to develop a deep trust that puts God first.  If we are to be anxious about anything it should be about our own spiritual condition and the spiritual condition of those we love.  Are you walking closely with God?  The Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, wants to give us (His little flock) the riches of His kingdom as an inheritance.  Do not be afraid.   Do not worry.  Trust your heavenly Father to provide what He already knows you need.

October 9, 2003 – Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”  Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”  Then he said to them, “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  And He told them this parable:  “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do?  I have no place to store my crops.’  Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do.  I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night you life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”  Luke 12: 13 – 21 (NIV)

Jesus is exasperated with this man who interrupts him with a selfish concern.  He is preoccupied with a family dispute over money.  Jesus has been teaching vital spiritual truths.  Was this man even listening?  Jesus now uses this as an opportunity to teach the crowd another lesson.

The man in Jesus’ parable is not a fool because he is successful and diligent to plan ahead.  He isn’t a fool because he is rich.  He is a fool because lives his life as if that is all that counts.  He doesn’t think about God.  He has no sense of the value of his soul.  He thinks he knows the future.  He thinks that he has nothing to worry about, but he has never considered the state of his soul.  God calls him a fool.  He has failed to consider eternity.  He has neglected his own soul.  He is not rich toward God.

Are you rich toward God?  Or do you live as if your life consists primarily of your material possessions, earning money or having a good time?  Are you preoccupied with concerns in your life that are keeping you from caring for your own soul?  Would God call you a fool or wise today?  Carefully consider the state of your soul.  Ask God to give you a heart of wisdom.

October 2, 2003 - I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.  But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.  Luke 12: 4 – 9 (NIV)

Jesus is talking to those closest to Him, His friends.  He knows that the pressure of the dangers facing those who follow Him can and will become very intense.  They will even come face to face with death because of their loyalty to Christ.  Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid.”  Ultimate power and authority is in the hands of God.  God alone has power over life and death.  God alone has the authority to cast a soul into hell.  Only He can destroy in the ultimate sense.  He is the only One we are to fear.  God is an awesome God.  We are to worship Him in awe and reverence. 

A healthy fear of God should drive us to embrace the love of God found in Jesus Christ.  Jesus reminds His friends that they are deeply loved and valued by God.  You are so important to God that He knows and takes pleasure in every little detail about you.  “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered.”   God pays attention to us!  You can be confident that He values you greatly.  If you acknowledge Jesus Christ before men then He will be your advocate when you appear before the judgment throne of God.  You will not have to stand alone before God.  “The Son of Man will also acknowledge you before the angels of God.”  You will stand covered by the grace and mercy of Christ with nothing to fear.  All fear of divine judgment is removed by being in Jesus Christ.

Are you afraid to openly acknowledge Jesus Christ?  What are you afraid of?

September 25, 2003 – Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.  Luke 12: 1 – 3 (NIV)

There is somebody watching everything we do.  There is someone who knows everything we think.  There are no private acts with God.  He doesn’t even need hidden cameras.  “There is nothing in all creation hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”  Hebrews 4:13.  Jesus warns that ultimately, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”   There is no real privacy.  God will tear off the masks of hypocrisy and reveal the truth.  Everyone will know.  God loves us too much to allow our secret sin to continue unexposed.

Jesus encouraged us to keep some things private.  His followers are not to make a public show of giving, praying or fasting.  God will see, bless and openly reward these private acts done out of love for Him.  (See Matthew 6: 1 - 18.) 

It is best that we live our lives as if everything we do, say and think is being observed.  God does see everything.  There is a day when God will expose everything; our secret sins and our secret virtues.  That would be terrifying were it not for the fact that we have a loving Savior who promises to cover His people with the righteousness of Christ.  On the day of God’s judgment, everyone who is in Christ will be hidden in Him.

Are you living your life each day with the awareness that God sees and knows all?  Are you ashamed of things you do in private or would they bring you honor if publicly revealed?  Is there anything you are doing in private you would be embarrassed to have exposed?

September 18, 2003 – When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to eat with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.  But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.  Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  You foolish people!  Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?  But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.  Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of you mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.  Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.  Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.”  Luke 11: 37 – 44 (NIV)

Religious leaders of Jesus’ day had added various ritual requirements to the law God had given in Holy Scripture.  One of these additions was the ritual of ceremonial purification and cleansing before eating a meal.  A religious leader (a Pharisee) invited Jesus to dinner.  He was surprised that Jesus did not ceremonially wash before the meal.  Jesus responds to his negative reaction by saying, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  You foolish people!”   They were practicing the ritual, but they were ignoring the truth that this ritual was designed to teach.  Religion is dead when it degenerates into meaningless empty external forms and rituals.  Jesus points out that they are still actually unclean because they fail to cleanse sin from their hearts.  The love of God, justice and mercy which are the very heart of God’s law, cannot be neglected.  That would be foolish.

Jesus goes on to point out that these religious leaders love the recognition and respect they receive.  Their hearts are captured by advancing their status, wanting recognition and a desire look good in front of people.  We are very susceptible to the same temptations if we are not captured with the desire to please Jesus Christ above everyone else.  In the Old Testament law, if you stepped on a grave you were ceremonially unclean.  It was a common practice to whitewash tombs to make them more visible.  But, some tombs would be neglected and would be stepped on by accident.  If you accidentally stepped on one of these graves you would have to go through a purification ceremony.  Jesus is saying that the Pharisees are like unmarked graves.  People are being deceived by their false teaching and hypocrisy.  They are led astray by following their “spiritual” guides.  Spiritual guides who look good on the outside but whose hearts are far from God are very displeasing to God.

Who do you desire to please most?  Jesus Christ, yourself or someone else?  Are you pretending to be someone you are not?  Does what other people see on the outside of your life match the internal reality of your life?  Are there areas of sin in your life that you are not honestly dealing with?  Is there an area of obedience to God that you are neglecting?  You can’t fool God!  God knows everything about us.  This should cause us to flee to the loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  His great mercy leads us to repentance.  God’s Holy Spirit transforms our sinful desires and enables us to love and please Him.

September 11, 2003 – As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation.  It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.  For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.  The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.  The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.  No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.  Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.  But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.  See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.  Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines within you.”  Luke 11: 29 – 36 (NIV)

People were not satisfied with the power that Jesus had already demonstrated in His ministry.  He had healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons but they still insisted on more.  He had given them signs that could have only come from the hand of the living God.  The crowds wanted more.  Now Jesus says that no miraculous sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.  Jonah was rescued by a great fish and delivered from death.  He lived to preach to the people of Nineveh.  Jesus indicates that He will perform an even greater sign than Jonah’s; He will actually rise from the dead.  Jesus’ resurrection will confirm who He is:  the Divine Son of the Living God.  He goes on to say that people from earlier generations will condemn them at the judgment.  One who is far greater than Solomon or Jonah was present and they still refuse to repent and believe.

Jesus came into the world and clearly manifested Himself as the Light of the World.  But, men and women are blinded by sin and close their eyes to the light our glorious Savior.  Lives characterized by the darkness of sin fear the exposure that light brings.  If we acknowledge Christ as Lord, then that means we must humble ourselves and admit our sin and our need for forgiveness.  It means we must repent and trust in Christ alone to forgive our sin and allow God to transform us by His Spirit.  Jesus’ point is that the real reason people will not believe in Him is not that there is not enough evidence (signs) but that people shut their eyes to a world filled with evidence of God’s glory.

How is your spiritual eyesight?  Are you allowing Jesus Christ to shine His light into the dark places of your life?  Are you insisting on “signs” from God before you fully trust Him?  Ask God for healthy spiritual eyes to enable you to see Him more clearly.

September 4, 2003 – Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’  Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me.  The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed.  I can’t get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.  So I say to you:  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  Luke 11:  5 – 13 (NIV)

The disciples had just asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  He first taught them a basic pattern for prayer.  This is the next part of Jesus’ response to His disciples’ request.  Jesus says, suppose that a traveling friend unexpectedly arrives at your door at midnight.  It wouldn’t have been unusual for someone to arrive late at night seeking lodging.  Hospitality was an important part of this society.  The weary traveler is hungry and needs food you do not have.  So you go next door and wake your neighbor in order to borrow the food he needs.  In Jesus’ example, the neighbor will not get up because of their friendship but does eventually give him what he needs because of the man’s boldness and persistence.  Jesus’ point is that we are to pray persistently and specifically.  God is not like this reluctant neighbor.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  “You have not because you ask not.” (James 4: 2)  Are you praying?  Are you praying specifically?  Are you persistent in prayer?  Ask, seek and knock!  This statement from Jesus should motivate and encourage us to pray.  Think about how many of God’s blessings you may have missed out on because you failed to ask for them.

What kind of father would give their hungry child a scorpion if they asked for an egg?  Only a cruel and abusive father would do something like that!  Jesus point is that even sinful people know how to give good things to their children.  God is pure and good.  Our Heavenly Father can not do anything evil.  God knows much better than we do how to give good gifts to His children.  Your loving Heavenly Father invites you to ask, seek and knock in prayer.

What are you asking God for?  Bread?  Success?  Money?  Healing?  The progress of the gospel?  God also invites you to ask Him for His Holy Spirit.  “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

August 28, 2003 – One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”  He said to them, “When you pray, say:  Father, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.  And lead us not into temptation.”  Luke 11: 1 – 4 (NIV)

Jesus’ disciples learned a lot from being with Him day and night for several years.  They observed Him teach, heal, raise the dead and handle all kinds of situations.  Jesus also frequently taught and exhorted His own disciples.  There are a lot of things that the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them.  The disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them to raise the dead, turn water into wine, to walk on water, to cast out demons or heal the sick.  They didn’t ask Him to teach them theology or answers to hard questions they might be asked.  One day, after Jesus had been praying, they did ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”   They did not ask “teach us how to pray” but “teach us to pray.”  They had been with Jesus long enough to know that source of everything that attracted them to Him was the hours He spent alone talking with His Heavenly Father.  They saw a direct connection between Jesus’ intense prayer life and His character, wisdom, and power in ministry.  The disciples want the same kind of intimate relationship with God that Jesus has, so they ask Jesus to teach them to pray.

Jesus teaches His disciples a simple model prayer outline; a pattern for prayer.  Jesus tells them to address God as their Father.  They now have the awesome privilege to come intimately into the presence of the Creator of the universe as an adopted child of the Living God.  They can address Him as Father.  In Jesus’ day this is definitely a radical concept!  Then Jesus gives them several petitions (requests) to consistently bring before God.  First, pray that God’s name will be hallowed (treated as holy and honored).  In other words; pray that God will be treated with respect and reverence.  Second, pray that God’s Kingdom will be clearly manifested (made known or be evident) in the world.  Third, pray God will give us the basic nourishment that we need to live today.  Then Jesus says to confess our sin to God every day whenever you sin, ask for forgiveness and forgive others who sin against you.  It is vital to our relationship with God and with others that we constantly experience God’s mercy and extend His grace to others.  Finally, we are to pray for protection and deliverance from temptation.  Are all these things a part of your daily prayer life?

How would you rate your prayer life?  Is it the secret source of power and strength for your life and ministry?  Or do you still need to learn to pray?  It is not easy to spend time alone with God.  Prayer does not come naturally or happen automatically.  Powerful, effective prayer and intimacy with God requires significant time, effort, discipline and practice.  There are no short cuts to a close relationship with God.  We can know how to pray, talk about praying or even teach about prayer but what really matters is this:  Are we spending time alone with God praying?

August 21, 2003 – As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to Him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10 38 – 42 (NIV)

Martha and Mary opened their home to Jesus and His disciples.  On this occasion, Mary neglected her responsibilities as a hostess to listen to Jesus.  There was a lot of work to do in order to serve their guests properly.  Martha was left to take care of all the preparations herself.  Exasperated, Martha complains to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  Instead of the help she wanted, Martha gets a gentle rebuke from Jesus.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Like Mary, Martha should have dropped everything to listen to Jesus.  His words were words of life.  Jesus was teaching vital truth about the Kingdom of God.  In a few weeks Jesus would no longer be with them.  But His words would remain with them.  Every opportunity to be with Jesus and listen to Him should have been treasured.  Mary was seeking first the Kingdom of God and that would not be taken away from her.  That was more far more important than fixing dinner or taking care of the dishes.  We are not told what Martha did at this point.  Martha deeply loved the Lord, that’s why she was serving Him.  She probably stopped what she was doing and spent next few hours sitting at the feet of Jesus taking in the Words of Life that came from His lips.  Jesus knew that’s what she needed most.

Who are you most like:  Mary or Martha?  (I identify more with Martha!)  Do you regularly take time to sit “at the Lord’s feet”, to listen to His Word?  Is your main priority in life seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness?  How will you practice Mary’s choice this week?

August 14, 2003 – On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.  “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “What is written in the law?” He replied.  “How do you read it?”  He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied.  “Do this and you will live.”  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”  Luke 10:  25 – 37 (NIV)

Jesus’ enemies would often ask Him difficult questions in order to test Him.  They were not honest questions.  They were tying to find fault in something He said.  They wanted to embarrass or entrap Jesus.  On this occasion an expert in biblical law asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  This man is an expert in biblical law, so Jesus refers the question back to him by asking, “What is written in the law?”  This expert is now in the uncomfortable position of being the one questioned.  He gives Jesus a proper textbook answer taken right from the Scriptures (Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 18:18).  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus, the master teacher, tells him that he got the answer right.  Jesus goes on to say, “Do this and you will live.”  It is one thing to give the right answer, but doing it not that simple!  It is impossible!  This man wants to justify himself, in other words, he wants to prove that he is righteous enough to meet God’s standard.  So he asks, “Who is my neighbor?”  Whom must I love?

Jesus response is to tell a story about a traveler who is beaten, robbed, stripped naked and left for dead.  He will probably die if someone doesn’t help him soon.  Two religious workers traveling on the same road actually see this man’s plight but ignore him.  They want to get to their destinations and don’t want to get involved.  But someone does stop, has compassion on this man and lovingly provides the help he needs.  He even uses his own money to pay for the man’s lodging and care while he recovers.  In Jesus’ story it is a Samaritan who ministers to this battered man.  He was a person from a race, people and religious tradition they despised.  The religious tradition of that time was that only your own community members were your neighbors.  Jesus removes the boundaries.  Now all people are included as my neighbors.  In the twist of plot the story takes, those who should have naturally been caring neighbors were not.  Jesus now asks the very uncomfortable expert in biblical law, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  Of course, there is only one right answer, he is the one now trapped by Jesus’ question.  He answers, “The one who had mercy on him.”  Jesus tells him, “Go and do likewise.”

Who is your neighbor?  How do you usually answer that question?  What does it really mean to love God and to love your neighbor?  How will you put this type of love into practice this coming week?  Ask God to transform your heart with His love.

It is simply impossible for me to consistently and fully love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength.  Yet, this is the greatest (most important) commandment God has given us.  It is also impossible to for me to love each human being as much as I love myself.  Yet, that is God’s standard.  It is a standard I can not perfectly meet.  That is why we desperately need Jesus Christ.  It is impossible to be justified before God on our own.  It is only because of Christ’s righteousness and what He has done for us that we can stand justified before a holy God.  Praise God for His incredible mercy and grace!  Rely on His grace alone for your righteousness.

August 7, 2003 – After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go.  He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.  Go! I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.  Luke 10: 1 – 3 (NIV)

Earlier Jesus sent out the twelve disciples on a special ministry assignment (Luke 9).  Now He appoints seventy-two and sends them out to proclaim the coming of God’s Kingdom.  The first thing Jesus tells this group of disciples is “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  God is powerfully at work preparing a ripe harvest.  Jesus instructs those He is sending out to “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”  It is God’s harvest!  He does not tell them to pray for the harvest.  It is plentiful.  He asks them to pray for workers.  They are few.  Pray that God will send more workers into His harvest field.  That is the greatest need!

Jesus also tells His disciples up front that He is sending them out as lambs among wolves.  We follow Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep; the Lamb of God who was slaughtered for the sin of the world.  He suffered for us.  Those who serve Him must also be prepared to suffer for His sake.  There is real risk to going into the harvest field as God’s workers.  There will always be hostility directed at God and His Kingdom.  Those involved on the frontlines of outreach will be targets of animosity.  That’s one reason why the workers are few.  In spite of the danger of strong opposition, our commander, the Lord Jesus Christ, still sends workers into the harvest field.  The need is great.  Courage is required.  There is also great joy, satisfaction and fulfillment in participating in God’s work.

Are you praying that God will send more workers into His harvest field?  Are you willing to be God’s answer to this prayer for more workers?  Are you praying for Christian workers on the frontlines of outreach?  Ask God today to send out more workers into “His harvest field”.  Encourage others to pray.  Pray for God’s protection upon those who have gone out and are serving in our Lord’s harvest fields as lambs among wolves.  “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  Pray!

July 31, 2003 – As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and bird of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”  He said to another man, “Follow me.”  But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”  Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:  57 – 62 (NIV)

There is a cost to following Jesus Christ.  As Jesus headed to fulfill His destiny, He encounters three different people.  The first one says to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  Jesus response is surprising.  Instead of immediately welcoming this potential follower, Jesus warns him to consider the high cost first.  There would be no security.  “Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Jesus asks another to follow Him.  But this person replies, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  This request seems reasonable.  In the first century the duty to bury a parent superseded all other religious requirements.  But, if the father was already dead this man would not have been with Jesus.  He would have been obligated to be at the funeral.  It might have been months or years before his father actually died.  Following Jesus Christ can not wait until a more convenient time.  Several years ago a young man told me that he believed that everything the Bible said about Jesus Christ was true.  Then he said sadly, “But, I can’t become a Christian because I am the oldest son in my family and I have to bury my father.”  His family expected him to perform non-Christian acts of religious worship when his father died.  He could not face disappointing his family.

The last person tells Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”  This might seem like a reasonable request, but Jesus says “No”.  You can not look back.  Your eyes must be fixed on Christ and His Kingdom.

Do you make excuses for not completely following Jesus Christ today?  What are they?  Are your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and His Kingdom?  Ask God to give you the strength to follow Him daily.

July 24, 2003 – As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.  And He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him; but the people did not welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”  But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.  Luke 9:  51 – 56 (NIV)

Have you ever wanted to figuratively “call fire down from heaven to destroy” someone who rejected, hindered or harmed you?  I have to admit that I have.  Jesus is resolutely on His way to fulfill His mission.  He will not hesitate or turn back.  He will not avoid the cross.  The group traveling with Jesus is quite large.  Jesus sends messengers ahead so the village will be ready to offer the customary hospitality to this large group of travelers.  But they discover that they are not welcome.  The people in this village do not want Jesus as a guest.  James and John are infuriated by this insult and by this lack of hospitality.  They are so angry that they are ready to call God’s judgment down upon the town.  Jesus rebukes His disciples.  Jesus’ mission is redemption, not judgment.  James and John are not reflecting the love, patience, mercy and grace of Christ.  Their attitude is the opposite of everything Jesus’ ministry is about.  Jesus’ response is to quietly go on to the next village.  The people in the next town will be blessed by Jesus’ presence.

How do you respond when you are insulted or inconvenienced?  Like the disciples did in these verses or like Jesus?  What attitudes does God want you to develop toward people in situations like this?  Ask God transform your attitudes.  This is something only He has the power to do.  Ask Jesus Christ to fill you with His Spirit and to consistently produce the fruit of His Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) in your life.

July 17, 2003 – And argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.  Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside Him.  Then He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”  “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”  “Don’t stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”  Luke 9:  46 – 50 (NIV)

The disciples of Jesus begin to argue about the pecking order that existed among them.  Which of them would be the greatest?  Jesus’ view of greatness is very different from the disciples’ view of what it means to be great.  To powerfully communicate truth about true greatness to His disciples Jesus takes a child and has the child stand beside Him.  Jesus says that it is the one who takes time for a child who is great.  Even a child, who is not considered great or important, is important and valuable to God!  Jesus goes on to say, “For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”  In God’s eyes, greatness is measured by humble service.  The disciples measured greatness by the same standards that everyone else measured greatness:  status, power, talent, achievement or wealth. 

Someone outside their circle was ministering to people in the name of Jesus and casting out demons.  John was very upset! This man had no right to be ministering to people in Jesus name!  He informs Jesus about it and how they had tried to stop this unauthorized activity.  Jesus instructs His disciples not to stop this man who was extending, not undermining, the ministry of Jesus.

We want to be significant, to do something or be someone truly great.  Take an honest look at yourself.  How do you gauge greatness?  How does your view of greatness compare with God’s?  Do you take time for children or for people others would not value as important?  Do you value the ministry of others (not in your circle) who are extending the Kingdom of God?

July 10, 2003 – The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.  A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.  A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth.  It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.  I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”  “O unbelieving and perverse generation.”  Jesus replied, “How long shall I stay with you and put up with you?  Bring your son here.”  Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion.  But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.  And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.  While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you:  The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”  But they did not understand what this meant.  It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.  Luke 9: 37 – 45 (NIV)

The disciples of Jesus Christ had been given the authority to heal and cast out evil spirits (Luke 9: 1).  But, while Jesus was on the mountain they encountered a problem that they could not handle.  Now as soon as Jesus returned, a desperate father was begging Jesus to heal his only son.  Jesus seems to be impatient with the lack of faith of His disciples when He says, “O unbelieving and perverse generation.  How long shall I stay with you and put up with you?”  Later the disciples ask Jesus why they could not cast out the evil spirit from the boy; He tells them that “this kind can only come out by prayer” (Mark 9:29).  Jesus rebukes the evil spirit and heals the boy.  Everyone present was amazed at the greatness of God.  The crowd is impressed by Jesus amazing power and authority.  But Jesus wants to prepare His disciples for what would soon follow.  He does not want them to be deceived by His popularity.  While everyone is marveling at what He had just done, Jesus tells His disciples to listen carefully to Him.  “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”  The work of redemption would be painful and costly.  But sadly the disciples did not understand what He meant.  They probably did not want to believe what He was trying to tell them.  They were too afraid to even ask Him about it. 

How is your faith?  Is it growing?  What are you trusting God for today?  Are you developing a lifestyle of believing prayer?  Our Lord Jesus Christ wants our faith and our trust in Him to develop and grow.  Faith is always active.  What are some steps of faith that God might be asking you to take?  Ask God to enable you to trust Him today.

July 3, 2003 – About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.  As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.  They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to Him, “Master, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  (He did not know what he was saying.)  While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.”  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.  The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.  Luke 9: 28 – 36 (NIV)

The dazzling brightness of Jesus’ divine glory breaks through on a mountain as He is praying.  Three of His disciples; Peter, John and James witness this amazing event.  Years later Peter refers to this amazing transfiguration of Jesus when he writes:  “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.”  (2 Peter 1: 16 – 18)  In the Old Testament we read that Moses’ face glowed after he met with God, reflecting the glory of God’s presence.  But this was very different.  It was not a reflection of glory.  Jesus is the brightness of divine glory!  His face began to shine like the sun; His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening.  Moses and Elijah then appear in splendor and talk to Jesus about the suffering and death He must soon go through. 

Peter has to say something.  He wants to stay on the mountain and prolong this awesome experience as long as possible.  But this event is intended only as preparation and encouragement for the difficult redemptive work of humiliation, suffering and death that Jesus must fulfill.  They can not stay on the mountain.  Now a cloud of glory envelops them and God the Father speaks saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” 

Are you taking time to listen Jesus Christ?  Are you doing all the talking (and asking) when you pray?  Ask Jesus Christ to speak to you as you pray and read God’s Word.  Spend some time in silence before God.  Do you seek to prolong “mountain top” experiences with God to avoid the hard work of living for Christ in “valley”?  Meditate on the fact that Jesus Christ “is the radiance God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.  After He provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  (Hebrews 1: 3)  There is no one who compares to our glorious Lord!  We should be eager to listen to Him.

June 26, 2003 – Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”  “But what about you?” He asked.  “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”  Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.  And He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”  Then He said to them all:  “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of Him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”  Luke 9:  18 – 26 (NIV)

There are many opinions today about the identity of Jesus.  The same was true in the time in which Jesus lived.  One day when Jesus was with His disciples praying in private, He asks them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”  There was a variety of public opinion; some thought he was John the Baptist, others Elijah and others a great prophet.  The crowds did recognize that Jesus was not an ordinary person.  Then Jesus asks those closest to Him, those who were with Him day and night, “What about you?  Who do you say that I am?”  Peter responds for the group, “The Christ of God.”  Jesus’ closest disciples viewed Him as the unique Messiah, the Anointed One.

Jesus then goes on to clarify what He will have to experience as the Messiah.  He would suffer greatly, be rejected, killed and then rise from the dead.  There could be no redemption from sin without the Son of Man being delivered and offered as a sacrifice.  That’s what it meant to be the Christ of God; the Messiah.  God promises great joy, glory and rewards to His people on the day He comes to consummate His Kingdom.  But, those of us who follow Him cannot just identify with the great triumph of the resurrection and His Kingdom.  We must also be willing to share in the humiliation and suffering that comes from identifying with Jesus Christ.

Who do you say Jesus is?  Where do you stand on that question when your life or your reputation is at stake? How do you answer that question when you might look foolish or be rejected for following Jesus Christ?  “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of Him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”   No one likes to suffer, be rejected, ridiculed or thought of as foolish.  Yet, every believer in Jesus Christ will experience these things at some point if they let their faith in Christ become known and live lives that honor Jesus.  Jesus makes it very clear, if are ashamed of Him then He will be ashamed of us.  There is no need to be ashamed of our wonderful Savior, the Lord Jesus.  He gave His life completely and suffered shame for us.  We can count on the reality of the resurrection, God’s glorious Kingdom and His unfailing promises.  Praise and thank God today for everything Jesus Christ has done for you!

June 19, 2003 – When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.  Then He took them with Him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed Him.  He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.  Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to Him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."  He replied, “You give them something to eat.”  They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish – unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."  (About five thousand men were there.)  But He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”  The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking to heaven, He gave thanks and broke them.  Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  Luke 9: 10 – 17 (NIV)

Jesus’ disciples have just returned from traveling from village to village preaching the gospel and ministering to people.  They report to Jesus and to each other what had happened while they were in the villages.  They are tired and looking forward to getting away for some rest.  But the crowds soon learn their location and find them.   Instead of sending the crowds away or retreating to another place, Jesus welcomes them.   He teaches them about the kingdom of God and heals those who need healing.  Expressing concern for the wellbeing of the crowd in the afternoon heat, the disciples suggest that Jesus send the crowd into the surrounding villages to get needed food and provisions.  Jesus replies with what must have seemed like an absurd statement, “You give them something to eat.”  They didn’t have much food and probably couldn’t even buy enough food to feed such a large a crowd in the small villages that were nearby.  Jesus then tells His disciples to have to have the people sit in groups of about fifty.  The disciples don’t argue with Jesus, they do exactly what Jesus asked them to do.  They have seen Him at work many times by now, they did not know what He is about to do, but they do trust Him.

Jesus gives thanks and blesses the small amount of food they have in the customary manner.  Then He breaks the loaves and fish and gives them to His disciples to give to the people.  Amazingly over five thousand people hungry people eat and are satisfied.  There is more food left over than what they started with!  This is something that only God could do!  What an incredible blessing it must have been for the disciples to have been a part God’s miraculous work that day.

Do you have a growing confidence in the greatness and power of God?  Ask Jesus Christ to develop your trust in Him.  Do have a growing compassion for people?  Ask God to enable you to see people with the same love and compassion that He has for people.  There are times when obeying God means that we will be involved in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of others when we think we need to get away and rest.  Jesus is the one who provides, strengthens, satisfies and sustains us.  Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, Living Water and Our Rest.

June 12, 2003 – Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him.  Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.  As Jesus was in His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.  And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.  She come up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.  “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.  When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are all crowding and pressing against you.”  But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”  Then the woman, see that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet.  In the presence of all the people, she told why she touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.  Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace.”  While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jarius, the synagogue ruler.  “Your daughter is dead,” he said.  “Don’t bother the teacher any more.”  Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”  When He arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.  Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her.  “Stop wailing,” Jesus said.  “She is not dead but asleep.”  They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.  But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”  Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.  The Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.  Luke 8: 40 – 56 (NIV)

Jairus was desperate, his only daughter was dying.  Jairus had a high position of respect and honor in the community.  But this doesn’t matter now; he falls humbly on the ground in front of Jesus and begs Jesus to come to his house.  This is his only hope of saving his twelve year old daughter.  The crowd nearly crushes them as they head toward Jairus’ house. 

Luke now tells us about a woman who was in the crowd.  She has been in constant agony for twelve years suffering from bleeding.  She has gone to many physicians over the years, but nothing they did helped.  Because of her illness she also was ceremonially unclean.  This made her situation unbearable in the society in which she lived.  She desperately fought her way through the crowd so that she could get close enough to Jesus to touch Him.  She thought that she didn’t deserve the direct attention of Jesus, but if she could just touch His garment she would experience healing.  In one touch, her twelve years of suffering ended.  She was instantly healed.  Jesus asks, “Who touched me?”  This woman could no longer go unnoticed.  Jesus Christ stops and gives His complete attention to this humble woman.  He ministers words of peace, comfort and healing to her.  Jesus’ compassion and concern for her is very evident.  Jesus deeply ministered to her soul.&nbs