Applying the Bible

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[Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree to see what he could see…did you just sing those sentences in your head? If you grew up in the church, you likely grew up singing the Zacchaeus song in Sunday school, and most of the time we focus on Zacchaeus in this section of Scripture, but today we’re going to focus on the crowd.

Since Zacchaeus was a tax collector, the crowd did not like him. Jews in those days considered other Jews who worked for Rome as tax collectors to be traitors and all around awful human beings. But what’s interesting is how they responded to Jesus telling Zacchaeus that He must stay at his house and seeing Zacchaeus come down and receive Jesus joyfully – they all grumbled.

Jesus only did what He heard from the Father, so we know that it was the Father’s will that Jesus go to Jericho and have a divinely appointed engagement with Zacchaeus. And did no one at all wonder at the fact that Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name as He called him to come down from that tree? Jesus had literally called him by name and invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house and the people grumbled over it because of their view of Zacchaeus as a sinner.

Who is a SinnerJesus very well knew this man was a sinner. As the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost, it was people like Zacchaeus whom He was seeking. So why didn’t the crowd see it this way?

The people failed to see two very important things: one, they failed to see how Jesus viewed Zacchaeus – a man who was lost that He was seeking to save; and two, they also failed to see how Jesus viewed them – people who were also lost, therefore sinners, of whom He came to seek and save.

If they hadn’t failed to see themselves as sinners, they may not have failed to see how Jesus saw Zacchaeus and may have even rejoiced that Jesus had called him and come into his home to bring salvation there. But what about in today’s world where Jesus isn’t here in person? As ambassadors for Christ, we should have a heart for people the way God does. But if we fail to see ourselves in the proper light, we’ll fail to see others the way God sees them.

They All GrumbledEven with failing to see how Jesus viewed Zacchaeus and how Jesus viewed them, why would they grumble at what Jesus did? They were all there to see Jesus and it was only Zacchaeus whom Jesus called out to in that moment. It would seem as though the real reason for grumbling wasn’t all based on the fact that Zacchaeus was a sinner, but the fact that they weren’t called upon to host Jesus that day.

Jealousy, or at its foundation – covetousness, can cause a lot of grumbling in a heart who isn’t happy with where its at, because it causes a person to look outward for the inward satisfaction. Jealousy or covetousness can poison the well of contentedness with desire or longing for what other people have, even to the point of justifying to ourselves that the other person is somehow a worse sinner than we are. But that isn’t what Jesus desires for us.

And as Zacchaeus heard theses grumblings of the crowd, he turns to Jesus with his changed heart and explains that he is going to give away goods to the poor and restore whatever he’s defrauded with interest. It makes me wonder if the crowd heard this and continued in their grumbling, maybe even doubting Zacchaeus’ motives or thinking he was just trying to justify himself as a sinner. And it didn’t actually matter what the crowd thought or grumbled about, because Jesus knew the truth.

The ResponsesJesus responded, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus addressed the grumbling and the very hearts of the crowd in His response. It was up to the individuals in the crowd and how they decided to respond to Him. And we don’t know how the people responded to Jesus because Scripture doesn’t tell us, but we are all responsible for how WE respond to Jesus.

How do you respond when others get opportunities you may want? And how do you respond to Jesus when what you think or feel conflicts with what He says?

Jealousy and grumbling are easy, natural even because we’re all sinners, but that’s not what we’re called to do. Can you be happy for people as you see God working in their life and using them for His glory? Will you put aside jealousy and grumbling that come up in you to push past it and look at things from God’s perspective?

I ask all these questions because, well, I can’t know what’s in your heart…but you and God do. Only you two can get down to the nitty gritty and root out any jealousy and grumbling that arises in you. But if we cling to our perspective of self-justification, the “but they’re a sinner” outlook, then we’ll never move on to the real work of our own sin that Jesus wants to address.

I’ll leave you with these verses from James: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:8-10)

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As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (Luke 18:35-43)

In a quick overview of some interesting aspects to this story, notice this:

The blind man acknowledged Jesus as Messiah in calling him “Son of David”
The blind man cried out for mercy regardless of others trying to silence him
The blind man’s persistence of crying out got Jesus’ attention
The blind man’s faith in Jesus’ ability to heal his sight was implied as he asked for permission in saying “Lord, let me recover my sight.”
The blind man’s faith made him well
Upon the blind man’s healing, he followed Jesus and glorified God
The very people who were initially rebuking the blind man and trying to silence him, praised God as a result of his faith in Jesus

How We Approach JesusDo we cry out to Jesus, our Messiah, with a fully abandoned surrender like this blind man had? Do other’s opinions and actions affect our approach to Jesus, or do we carry on in persistence knowing who we are calling out to?

This goes beyond ailments and healings. What about when we’re in public eating at a restaurant, do we quietly, quickly, and almost ashamedly pray for our food or are we unapologetic in taking the time to thank God for the food He’s blessed us with, no matter who may be watching or saying something against us?

The way the blind man approached Jesus showed his heart posture towards God. In the same way, how we approach God will show our heart posture and help us identify if there are some heart issues we need to address.

When the blind man answered Jesus’ question of what he wanted Jesus to do for him, it was both with boldness and reverence. He was bold enough to say, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” But it also showed a reverence in implying that he knew Jesus could but was asking His permission. If he would have stated it in another way, such as “Lord, recover my sight” or “Lord, can you heal my eye sight?”, that would have been either lacking in reverence or confidence in Jesus’ ability and the man’s initial address of calling Jesus the Son of David would have been undermined as well.

If we truly believe that Jesus is God, our Messiah who has reconciled us to God, then we will approach Him in faith with a bold and confident reverence of Who He is. And if we’re not, we need to check our hearts on what the issue is.

Our Faith’s EffectThe blind man’s faith pushed him to continue pursuing Jesus even when all those around him were trying to silence him. How do we respond when others around us try to silence our faith? If the blind man hadn’t had the faith to continue despite the actions of others, he wouldn’t have had a personal encounter with Jesus and he wouldn’t have been healed in that moment.

Now, this isn’t saying that if we have enough faith, all our ailments will be healed, but we can’t deny nor dismiss that in many miracles, faith is mentioned as an aspect of it. And our faith plays a part in more than just healing, it also can impact those around us.

When we are willing to walk by faith even if that means being seen as a fool in the eyes of the world in order to live in a way that is pleasing to God, we are following Jesus and glorifying God. And in our walking by faith and following Jesus, our example of faith and the things that God does in and through us, it just may silence those who oppose us and help bring them to a place of praising God in witnessing His work; just as it did in this situation… And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Let’s take time to be mindful of how we’re approaching Jesus and resolve to live out our faith in full surrender of God, regardless of how anyone may react to our pursuit of Him.

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And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. (Luke 18:31-34)

Jesus prophetically spoke of the future He would face in fulfilling His mission as He brought up what the prophets had wrote about Him hundreds of years prior. There are over 300 prophesies about Messiah in Scripture, and 33 prophesies were fulfilled on the day of Jesus’ death alone. Of the few prophesies He mentioned to His disciples in these verses, these were prophesied by king David and Isaiah:

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5)
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Psalm 49:15)

Yet we read that when the disciples heard Jesus, they didn’t understand any of it. My initial thought is, “How unfortunate that they didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them”, but it’s really not unfortunate, because it was divine. It was hidden from them, and they were kept from grasping any of it for a purpose. What Jesus told them wasn’t for them in that specific moment, it was meant to be recalled later and recorded for future followers of Jesus, like you and me.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I am a naturally curious person, and I like to understand the why in things:Why is the sky blue? Why does hair grow at different rates? Why did my [friend/coworker/family member] react to a situation a certain way? Why did God allow bad things to happen to me? Why hasn’t God healed my health issues?

The list of why questions could go on and on, and while some why questions can be answered or found out, some are hidden from our understanding. But does the why actually matter? Do we have to understand everything? Well, no.

Because if we’re walking by faith, pressing on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, and simply doing what we’re called to as a servant and follower of Jesus, then the why doesn’t actually matter. What matters is that God knows all the answers to those questions, and because if we love God and are called according to His purpose, He is working all things for our spiritual good; even to the point of using evil for good.

If our sights get stuck on the why, then we miss the best part of the circumstance – that we’re not alone, forsaken, nor abandoned because God is with us, continuing to author each one of our stories in which He will one day bring to completion.

We may not always understand what God is saying to us at every moment He speaks or what He allows to happen in our life, but if we continue to press into Him, if those things do come into clarity the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance the things He has said to us, just as Jesus promised when He said, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:25-27)

I encourage you to set your sights above life’s circumstances and firmly fixed on Jesus, not getting hung up if you don’t initially understand what God is speaking or what is happening in your life but continuing to follow Him as you trust His plan for your life. Life is definitely hard; but God is good, and so are His plans for you, so let not your heart be troubled!

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And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:18-30)

First off, we have to take note of something really awesome…Jesus accepted the title of Good Teacher. We know from what Paul wrote to the Romans that no one is righteous nor does good, and Jesus clearly stated that, No one is good except God alone. Jesus didn’t rebuke Him though, just clarified the truth about who He is. While also fully human, Jesus is God.

The CommandmentsJesus listed 5 of the 10 commandments. But what do we notice about which commandments He listed? The ones He listed are commandments that people tend to feel justified in themselves based on outward observation of them – not murdering, committing adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, and honoring parents.

But as we know from Jesus’ teaching on the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, simply lusting after someone in your heart is committing adultery and being angry with someone is likened to murder. This ruler claimed to have kept all those 5 commandments Jesus had listed from his youth which showed that he had already skipped right over the heart check.

The LackA couple short sentences later, Jesus made the heart issue glaringly obvious to the ruler: “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The young man had come to the conclusion that he had somehow arrived and was like the male version of Mary Poppins – practically perfect in every way – but Jesus wasn’t concerned with how the man acted outwardly since youth, He was concerned with this man’s heart and what he was lacking.

Telling the man to sell everything and give it to the poor wasn’t Jesus being an activist or hating on rich people; it was pointing out commandments that the man hadn’t been following because he had made his riches and material things his god and they were idols to him. The whole law was summed up in two commandments to love God and love others. To obey Jesus’ command would have been a hurdle that once the man was over, he could have moved past worshipping material things and onto truly worshipping God as he went and followed Jesus, leaving everything else behind and counting it all as loss in pursuit of God.

Our Heart CheckWe don’t know what ever happened to this man because the last thing we read about him is that he went away sad because he was very rich. All we know was that in that moment of time, he heard from Jesus directly and because his wealth had such a stronghold on him, he grieved over that being the path to inherit eternal life instead of being grieved with the godly sorrow that leads to repentance.

Let me ask you this: Does money or riches have a hold in your life? Does the thought of giving up anything in your life make you sad?

This is a good heart check moment, and these are really good questions to regularly check in on and take some time to self-reflect on where our hearts are currently. If we’re not willing to give up quite literally anything and everything in following God, then we have a heart issue to deal with.

I’ll leave you with the words of Jesus here because it’s encouraging to both one who is doing well on this heart issue as well as to the one who is struggling with it. If you’re doing well in this area – be encouraged by the Lord’s pleasure and promise. If you’re struggling in this area – be encouraged and stirred to a change of heart with the promise the Lord has given to those who are willing to give up everything for His sake:

And [Jesus] said to them “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17)

The first thing we see in this section is that people were bringing their infants to Jesus. This was a tradition of the time, in which people would bring their babies to be blessed by an esteemed Rabbi. Jesus wasn’t claiming the title of Rabbi and certainly wasn’t following the manner of many Rabbi of that day, yet His authority in teaching and love for the people caused them to highly esteem Him. It is amazing that people were bringing their children to Jesus at such a young age, and what a beautiful example to parents to also bring their children to Jesus starting at a young age.

Two RebukesThere are two rebukes here, but only one we should heed.

The first rebuke was done by the disciples directed at the parents bringing their children to Jesus. The disciples seemed to get too focused on the overall work of ministry that they were blinded to the specific purpose of it – the people. They ended up rebuking the very people whom Jesus wanted to minister to.

How often we might get so busy with aspects in ministry that WE deem the most important that we miss ministering to the people whom JESUS wants to reach; and even possibly miss out on blessings God desires to bestow.

The second rebuke was done by Jesus directed at the disciples. Notice though that Jesus didn’t start yelling a rebuke at them; He called them to Himself and gently rebuked them and taught them. What a beautiful learning moment there. Right in the midst of the crowd of people bringing their children, Jesus sees the disciples doing the wrong thing and He ushers them over to correct them in the moment. But here’s the thing…what if the disciples wouldn’t have been listening for Jesus’ voice? They would have missed that rebuke and continued doing the wrong thing. We must be listening throughout our day for the voice of God guiding and directing us or we very well might negatively impact the lives of other people and misrepresent the heart of God.

Do Not Hinder ThemJesus made it very clear that he wanted the children to come to Him and didn’t want anyone hindering them. This rings true of all His children, big and small.

We should never be hindering anyone from coming to Jesus in any way. Yes, there may be instances such as church events in which we have made a plan of how things will run, but if those plans ever hinder people from coming to Jesus, they’re not only ineffective plans but they’re actively going against what Jesus has said here. Not only should we never block anyone from Jesus, but we should also actively be helping provide a way.

Like A ChildJesus ended with saying, Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. This is a very important truth here!

When we think about children, they are so quick to receive from Jesus and they don’t try to bolster themselves as worthy of it (like we saw of the Pharisee in the parable from last week) and kids don’t try to act like they don’t need God’s blessing. Children simply come to Him and receive what He gives, and that is the example Jesus is telling us to follow.

I like the way C. Marvin Pate put it when he said, “Not only did Jesus welcome these little human beings as members of the kingdom of God; He also extolled them as model citizens of the same, because of their capacity to trust and love.”

As we seek to enable a way for others to come to Jesus, let’s also be mindful of our own approach to ensure we’re receiving the kingdom of God like a child ourselves.

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He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Jesus ends the parable with this lesson – everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. However, we can’t overlook whom He was telling this to – some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.

What Not to DoIn this example of the Pharisee, it’s not hard to see the pride he exudes, and most people would say it’s off putting. We all know someone who thinks too highly of themselves, and in their pride and self-righteousness they treat others badly. The thing is, we’re all susceptible to treating others poorly because of our pride, even if it’s less blatant than this example of the Pharisee. As human beings still stuck with a sin nature, we’re all prone to selfishness, self-righteousness, and pride. We should approach life with this remembrance so that we don’t become blinded by it.

It shouldn’t take committing super obvious sins to humbly come before God and acknowledge that we’re sinners. Even after we have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation, we should regularly be repenting of our sin and seeking the merciful forgiveness of our incredibly loving and kind God; both coming humbly before Him and leaving humbled by His mercy yet exalted by His grace.

The heart of the matter is that those who are prideful trust in themselves for righteousness, and it will keep them from coming humbly and honestly before God. This is an issue for non-believers as well as for the followers of Jesus alike. Justification comes through faith in Jesus for salvation, which takes humility to repent and receive forgiveness and salvation. But also, for the follower of Jesus, remember what James said… But [God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:6-10)

The Focus of PrayerThere was a vast difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee focused his prayer on himself and what he considered to be good things, listing off all that he has done or not done as proof of what he believed about himself and thanked God for it. Except, God had nothing to do with the Pharisee’s self-righteousness, and as James 4 mentioned, God was opposed to him in his pride. But the tax collector focused his prayer on God, trusting Him to be merciful as he plead for His mercy.

How we direct our prayers can itself be a heart check:

Do you make your prayers about yourself, or do you focus your prayers on God?
Is it more about bolstering yourself or pushing your will onto God, or about being humbled before God and aligning your heart with His will?
Do you put others down when you include them in your prayers?

These are hard questions, and they might even cause a defensiveness in us, but they are important ones to ask ourselves because they can help us as we seek to humble ourselves before God and be more like Jesus…if we’re honest before God and with ourselves. And this truly is an issue of trust, just as the audience Jesus was addressing. Those who trust in themselves aren’t just dealing with an issue of pride, but also an issue of trusting God. By trusting in themselves, they’re in essence stating they don’t fully trust God. The tax collector knew that he didn’t deserve what he was asking God for as he acknowledged being a sinner, yet he trusted that God was merciful like He says He is as he prayed for mercy. He entrusted his entire life to a merciful God instead of trying to prove that he was somehow worthy in and of himself, like the Pharisee did.

So, what’s our takeaway, our application from this? I’ll leave you with what the prophet Micah told the people after the indictment of the Lord: “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

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And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

In this parable, it’s actually really cool that we’re told the purpose up front – to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Jesus isn’t in the business of tearing us down and making us weary. In this life, weariness tends to find its place because sin and the effects of sin tear us down again and again, but the same God who has overcome the world (John 16:33) and said, “Come to me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) is the same God who is giving us this parable to encourage us to always pray and not lose heart.

In a nutshell, we read that God is a righteous judge and if an unrighteous judge will grant justice by being bothered, how much more will our righteous judge give justice because of hearing His children’s cry day and night? God is not bothered or annoyed by our constant prayers and cries to Him, He is our Father who loves us. Just as a parent who hears their child crying doesn’t simply feed them or change their diaper because they’re annoying them, but because they love their child and want to tend to them.

And yet underlying the encouragement to always pray and not lose heart is the foundation of faith.

Will He Find Faith?This section ends with a question – Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

Jesus on numerous occasions mentioned people’s faith such as when He said:

“Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25a)
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31b)
“If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:6)
_“Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Matthew 8:10)

And we’re told in Hebrews that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen and that without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:1,6)

It takes faith to continue to ask in prayer even after seemingly getting refused a response. Right before asking if the Son of Man will find faith, Jesus said God would give justice to those who cry to Him day and night speedily. It doesn’t always feel speedily on our timeline. Of course, in light of eternity, it’s but a split second; but it takes faith to believe God will do what He says and to continue to trust and to continue to cry out to Him continually until we see it come to fruition.

Our FaithOur faith, that confidence and assurance that we have in God and His promises, is of great value. That’s why we go through trials, because it tests the genuineness of our faith and refines us through it. And Peter told us that our genuine faith is more precious to God than gold - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

It’s no wonder then why Jesus admonishes us to always pray and not lose heart – those are practical ways to keep our faith as we walk through the hardships of life. Jesus is coming back soon and we want Him to find us, as His servants, faithful upon His return. If you’ve been praying and crying out to the Lord and seemingly nothing is happening – Don’t lose heart; keep the faith and persevere in praying always. I’ll leave you with these verses from Hebrews:

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:35-39)

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I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Luke 17:34-37)

Jesus had already spoken of His second coming as Messiah in which He told us not to follow the world when they say, “Look, there!” or “Look, here!” But there’s yet another event that will happen before that Day of the Lord and that’s what is often referred to as the rapture.

The Word RaptureInterestingly enough, the word “rapture” never appears in the Bible, but similarly to how the word “trinity” doesn’t appear in the Bible either, the written context is in the Bible.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, it says, “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

It’s that phrase “caught up” that describes the event of the rapture. The Greek word, harpazo, means to snatch or take away; and in the Latin translation, the verb rapturo is where we, as English speakers, got the word “rapture”.

Paul mentioned in the letter to the Thessalonians that what he was telling them was a word from the Lord. Jesus, here in the Luke account, already shared about the event of the rapture briefly, and Paul was simply expounding on it as he was directed to by the Lord. The heart behind it is the same with Jesus as with Paul – so that we wouldn’t be ignorant about it, just as Paul had mentioned a couple verses earlier in that chapter, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers…” (1 Thessalonians 4:13a)

One Taken, The Other LeftNow, by the meaning of the word for “caught up” is a snatching, it’s obvious that the event of the rapture will be a super quick one; but Jesus gave us even more insight and details with His examples.

Jesus said that in that night, one would be taken out of the bed and the other left. Yet at the same time, two women will be grinding and one taken and the other left. Women would not be grinding their wheat, olives, etc. in the night, because that is a daytime job. So, it is implied that the example of the women is working during the day and the example of the couple in bed is at night. With these specific examples that Jesus gave us, it gives us specific insight to the fact that the rapture is going to be a worldwide event that takes place quickly.

Where, Lord?Now, nothing like the rapture has ever happened before, and the disciples heard what Jesus said and wanted more information about it. That is totally understandable, wanting to understand an event that to our human minds seems impossible. It’s such a large-scale event, to happen worldwide, and a super quick one at that – it seems logical that His disciples wanted to have as good a grasp on it as they could.

But Jesus didn’t tell answer them exactly the way they were probably wanting, He instead used a poetic, almost proverb type response when He said, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Jesus wasn’t trying to give them a non-answer, but He did often speak in parables and such and this is similar in that regard. Jesus is basically saying that when the time comes when judgement is ripe, that is where judgement will happen, and we’ll see the signs.

David Guzik, a pastor and Bible commentator, said it well - “We may say this with some confidence: The Bible describes certain political, economic, spiritual, social, and military characteristics regarding what the world will be like before His return. It is fair to say that the conditions exist today, and the stage is set.”

We live in the end times. We see the signs. Jesus is coming soon!

How To RespondJust in looking at these few verses, there doesn’t appear to be a clear way that we’re supposed to respond to this…so we need to look back and forward a little for our application.

The last verse before this, Jesus prefaced His words here with, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” And as we move next week into Luke 18, the first verse says, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

Jesus bookended these verses on the rapture with a clear message – Love God even over your own life, pray without ceasing, and don’t lose heart. This life is hard, and the enemy is using the world in his efforts to distract us from setting our minds on the things above.

And yet, we aren’t told to do anything on our own. Remember these things…

We love because God first loved us.
We can pray without ceasing because Christ tore the veil and the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us.
We can choose to not lose heart because we know what Jesus has already accomplished.

As we wait for that glorious day to arrive, when those of us followers of Jesus who remain alive here will be caught up with our Savior; I’ll leave you with this encouragement and comfort from our Redeemer Himself from John 16:33 - “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

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On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (Luke 17:31-33)

As we move forward to these verses, remember that the context Jesus was talking about is the end times, and He had told us the days would come when we desire to see Him come back and that false Messiahs would rise up but that we shouldn’t go out or follow them. With that in mind, Jesus is admonishing us to not cling to the things of this world, but to cling tightly to Him alone.

Goods in the HouseJesus is about to mention the rapture (which we’ll dig into next week), and He’s prefacing it with a heart check.

We should not be concerning ourselves with the goods in the house and be focused on them as if we could even bring them with us in the end. Sure, we have houses, we have goods and things that we use to survive and maintain life while we’re here on earth, but those things are of no value to us in the end and will ultimately be left behind.

Our heart shouldn’t be concerned with what will be left behind in our house, but instead remembering and looking forward to where our home truly is in heaven.

Lot’s WifeIt’s interesting that Jesus references an event all the way back in Genesis when talking about the end times, and that one little three worded sentence, Remember Lot’s wife, is a strong warning for us.

That word for “remember” means to be mindful of, to hold in your memory, to rehearse – and used in this context, it basically means to regularly be mindful of in order to learn a lesson from it.

In the account of Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, we read about Lot and his family being saved by angels right before it was destroyed. And the angels warned them not to look back or stop when they said “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” (Genesis 19:17)

Now this warning of not looking back or stopping was both a practical and spiritual one for them, because they needed to quickly get out and away so they didn’t get physically swept away in the destruction; but to look back and stop would also be a heart issue of longing for those days lived in those cities of sin. And yet, despite the warnings, we read that “Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)

Lot’s wife wanted to preserve and longed for the life she had lived in that sinful city, despite being told not to, that the judgment of it was being preserved into a pillar of salt. Lot’s wife stopped and looked back at what she was told to turn away from and it destroyed her. But it wouldn’t have just happen all of a sudden, she was likely lingering in her mind and heart, longing to look and turn back, and what she set her mind on is what she did.

To Preserve or LoseIn light of all this – not loving things more than God and the fact that what Lot’s wife set her mind on is what she did – it brings to mind what Paul said in Colossians 3:2-4, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” If we are earthly minded, we are going to be more about the things of this world than the things above it. But if we are setting our minds on the things that are above, then we have Jesus as our focus and we truly have, regardless of what we lose in this world. And we have that as a guarantee because Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

This all comes down to our identity – are we of the world or in Christ? There is a stark contrast between one who is in love with the world and tries to preserve their identity in it, versus one who is in love with Jesus and is willing to lose their life to maintain their identity in Him and keep it.

Christ is everything! Therefore, may we heed the warning and remember Lot’s wife; always being willing to lose anything, to gain everything in Christ.

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And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:22-30)

In the days of Jesus, the hope of the Messiah’s coming was strong. However, last week we saw that the teachers of the day were setting the expectation of Messiah based on misinterpretation of Scripture and their own desires for a political leader to rise up and free them from the rule of Rome. We know that Jesus truly is Messiah and He did come and fulfill hundreds of prophecies concerning the long-awaited Messiah. But the Jewish people largely did not accept Him as Messiah. However, this passage doesn’t only concern His first coming as the suffering servant that He is, but also refers to His second coming as well. That is important to note because it doesn’t only relate to the Jewish people, but to everyone.

Charles Feinberg, a Jewish man born in 1909 and who came to faith in Christ at the age of 21 and began teaching at Biola University in 1948, said that since Jesus’ time, there have been 64 different individuals who have claimed to be the Messiah. And considering Charles died in 1995, there are likely way more than that by now.

David M. Levy, the former director of International Ministries for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, noted that, “Modern Judaism (Reform) has reinterpreted the messianic hope. Instead of a “personal Messiah”, [they believe] there will come a messianic age which is brought about through the humanist progression of world leaders negotiating for peace.”

Isn’t that interesting, especially in light of the days to come that read about in Revelation. Jesus warned his disciples then and warns us now because He knew other false Messiah’s would rise up, and He knew the tendency of the people to recreate and interpret Scripture to fit their own idea of how things should go. How gracious of Jesus to give us this warning and help us be mindful to keep our eyes on Him and Him alone!

As It Was in the Days of NoahWe have an account of the days of Noah and Sodom, which Jesus references here, preserved in the pages of our Bible. If we look back at what the days were like back then, we see this:

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:9-12)
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. (Genesis 20:1-7)

In our current days, is it really any different than those days? In fact, I’d say we’re probably worse. The very things that God has spoken against are the very things our culture tends to elevate as good. Paul warned about this in his day as well when he wrote to Timothy saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Applying the Lesson to OurselvesSo where does that leave us as followers of Jesus in this current era? What can we take away from this? The church in Thessalonica had concerns about the end times, the rapture, and second coming of Jesus too because false teachers had been saying that the second coming had already happened. But Paul wrote this to them:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Jesus warned us, Paul reiterated, and we encourage one another with the truth that while we don’t know the day or hour Jesus is coming, we do know that He’s coming for us and He’s coming soon. So, don’t focus on the world or the world’s claims about Jesus’ return, that will only lead you astray. Instead focus your attention on the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, not worrying about when Jesus comes back, but walking in the good works God has prepared for you with the knowledge that Jesus is coming back soon and desires to find that you have been a good and faithful servant.

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Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21)

Here we see that the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the coming of the kingdom of God. They expected a grand, visible display that matched their misinterpretation of Scripture. They had envisioned a temporal kingdom with political power, not realizing that the true kingdom was spiritual and already among them. And when Jesus said that the kingdom of God is in the midst of you, He wasn’t talking about in a some kind of mystical way or New Age way, but was saying it was indeed a spiritual matter, not a physical one.

Started Off WrongNow, the approach that the Pharisees were taking all started with a misinterpretation of Scripture and basing their perspective on that wrong interpretation of Scripture that had been born out of their fleshly desire to see Rome’s rule over them be broken. And in the Greek, that word for “observed” when Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed”, is better translated as hostile examination. The Pharisees’ demand for a visible sign revealed that they weren’t actually searching for truth, but instead once again showing hostility toward Jesus and His message.

But remember back when Jesus first started His ministry, He came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). The Pharisees heard that message, but it was pride that led them to reject the call to repentance and ultimately, because they had convinced themselves that the kingdom of God was going to be a temporal one, they blinded themselves to see the reality that it was a spiritual kingdom. And worst yet, they failed to see that the kingdom of God was in their midst as Jesus, the King of kings Himself, was standing right in front of them.

Matthew Henry, a late 17th Century bible commentator, said this, “It is the folly of many curious enquirers concerning the times to come that they look for that before them which is already among them.”

Our Own WalkSimilarly, in our own Christian walk, we might miss what God intends to reveal because we’re entrenched in our own expectations or interpretations. This isn’t speaking of salvation, but in our walk with God. But if we do this, we might miss out on what God is trying to show us, simply because we’re so caught up and focused on our own interpretation or desire of how things “should” be. But if we are so busy creating our own vision or goal of what we desire something to be, then how can we expect to see what God has already planned and desires it to be?

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14-15, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” But here’s the kicker – we can’t effectively look at two goals at the same time and if we try, neither get accomplished. That’s truly a recipe for frustration because you won’t be able to be successful in your own desires nor God’s, and while being successful in your own desires isn’t truly fulfilling apart from being faithful in God, being ineffective in both flesh and spirit will undoubtedly be used by the enemy against you.

If we are going to truly look forward and press on toward that upward call of God, then we can’t busy ourselves with making goals based on our own fleshly desires, otherwise it only serves to distract and possibly derail us.

The lesson as current followers of Jesus that we can learn from the Pharisees interaction with Jesus in these verses is this: We must seek to align ourselves with and focus on God’s vision rather than our own, remembering that the true kingdom of God is not found in our personal ambitions, but in recognizing and following the King of kings who is already present with us.

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On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

This scene is quite interesting because it shows us a great miracle that Jesus performed for ten men all at once, but also shows us the way most believing people respond, the way we should actually respond, and the way Jesus views it all.

Before we take a closer look at the general response to the healing, let’s first take notice of the fact that these ten men were in essence outcasts between two cities, standing at a distance from Jesus as He was passing along. The ailment of leprosy made them outcasts, and yet because of their ailment we see both Samaritans and Jews together. That was not a thing in those days because Jews and Samaritans despised each other. The cool thing is, these men were basically bonded together over their misery but together they all came to Jesus; yet they didn’t come to Jesus as Samaritans and Jews, they simply came to Jesus as men in need of healing.

The General ResponseWe saw that these ten men came to Jesus for healing saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” And instead of Jesus touching them to heal them like He had done with others, He simply said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” AND AS THEY WENT they were cleansed. This took obedience on the part of the ten men to do what Jesus said simply because He said to do it and without any indication that they would be healed on the way. They had come to Jesus claiming Him as master, and it was going to take obedience to prove they actually meant what they claimed.

Now, generally speaking, a Christian is going to obey what the Lord tells them to do. Of course, that’s not always the case, but we have that general understanding that if we are going to claim to be His servants and call Him Master, then we must be obedient to whatever He says. But in practice, that can be much easier said than done. We are called to walk by faith and quite literally, they had to physically walk to the priest by faith with the intention of showing themselves cleansed BEFORE they could see that they were cleansed.

Similarly, we are called to put on Christ and to walk in Him even though we still might feel like our old selves. Those men didn’t feel cleansed, but Jesus said to do it, so they went to do it – they trusted His words, acknowledging Him in their obedience over their own understanding, and Jesus directed their path to healing. They literally lived out Proverbs 3, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

And yet, there’s an even better way when we don’t just stop at obedience.

The Way We Should RespondWe read even further that one of them, when he saw he was healed, returned to Jesus, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks.

When we look at this situation as a whole, we see that all ten of the lepers were willing to obey the religious ceremonial requirements but only one was stirred with a heart of thanksgiving that brought him to worship at the feet of God.

And yet that one man’s response is the way we too should respond to Jesus. Obedience is a must, but how sweet that offering of thanksgiving and praise is to God. And when we examine even further, we see that Jesus desires us to have that kind of response and the text even tells us what He feels about those who don’t respond that way.

Jesus’ PerspectiveLet’s look again at Jesus’ response to this - Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Jesus missed the nine that didn’t come and He asks about them. Jesus wants us to come and expects that we will come with thankful hearts, having that attitude of gratitude before Him. And why wouldn’t we? Well, that gets deeper into yet another heart check area, doesn’t it?

If God does anything for us, no matter how big or small, shouldn’t we have a grateful heart of praise that we bring to Him? In our heads we know we should return to Him with thanksgiving and praise, and God does so much for us, so why don’t we do that every time?

I’m going to be really transparent here – for myself, I would say that if I’m not taking the time to sit still before God regularly, then my mind can easily get bogged down with doing things that I don’t stop long enough to have an attitude of gratitude. Or other times I may just have a selfish perspective, being so focused on how God’s work in my life affected me, that I don’t take the time to turn my eyes back to Him and offer thanksgiving for it. But I can’t actually answer that question for you personally. Maybe you can relate and maybe you can’t, but God can reveal why you don’t always return to thank Him – you just need to ask Him and then sit and wait for Him to tell you.

Made WellAnd here’s the thing, if we stop at obedience and don’t turn back to God in thanksgiving and praise, we effectively miss out on a blessing. God doesn’t need our praise, but our hearts do well to praise God because we were made to worship Him.

The very last thing that Jesus said to the one man who turned back to Him in praise was, your faith has made you well. On first reading of this, we assume that being made well is only referring to the physical healing of the man, but that word for being made well is to heal and make whole. All those ten men were healed, but it appears that only that one who returned to Jesus was made whole.

Jesus was speaking to the heart of the man. That man had been healed outwardly along the way as he exercised his faith in obedience, but it was in that man’s returning to Jesus to fall at His feet and worship in thanksgiving and praise, he was made inwardly whole.

Our physical healing in this life isn’t a guarantee that Jesus ever offered us, BUT making us whole and restoring our soul in Him is something He offers to us on this side of eternity. Being made whole inwardly happens when you come to Him again and again to receive rest, casting your cares on Him and making your requests known to God with thanksgiving; being still and knowing God, and waiting on Him as He renews your strength.

Jesus tells us all these promises and how to receive them, so the only question remains – will you come to God and take Him up on His promises, receiving them with thanksgiving and praise the way you were made to?

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“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)

Before we jump into these few verses, we need to look back to the beginning of the chapter to remember who Jesus was talking to here. In Luke 17:1, it says, “And he said to his disciples” so Jesus is talking not to the masses, but his disciples. Today, these are people who are saved and are servants of the Lord.

The Hard Work at HandJesus is talking to His disciples; these are the people who are serving with Him in the hard stuff day in and day out. These are the people who hare hard at work at the plow, who work through the blood, sweat, and tears for their master; and these are those tending the sheep, having a tender heart and care for them while baking under the hot sun each day.

And yet the master doesn’t call in the servant each day to stop working and recline at table with him; not because He hates His servants or doesn’t want them to rest, but because there’s still work to do.

Sometimes our hearts can get discouraged, especially if we had been plowing and then something happens where we can’t for a season. But there’s still work to do, and you are just as valuable whether you’re plowing, tending sheep, preparing supper, etc – because it’s a matter of your heart that what you’re doing is in service to your Master. There’s always something we can do to serve God, and there’s always some way we can do it.

If we take the context of what Jesus had told His disciples in the preceding verses, there is still the work of forgiving people and works of faith to be done. And you may even be physically disabled, but there is always ways for you to serve the Lord. I had a season of being completely physically disabled when I couldn’t walk, talk, and the whole right side of my body was paralyzed, but I was still able to pray in my heart even when my mouth couldn’t talk. I could still offer a one-armed hug to comfort others. And God was still pleased to allow me to serve in those ways.

Charles Spurgeon worded it very well when he said, “If you cannot go out ploughing, you shall go down into the kitchen, and do some cooking; and if you cannot feed the cattle, you shall bring up a dish of food for your Master. This is a change of work for you; but you are to keep on as long as you live.” (Spurgeon)

The Reality of Our PlaceJesus is talking to his disciples who are already serving, He’s not trying to tell them they need to serve, because they already are. Jesus’ goal here is teaching His disciples the proper perspective and attitude in serving. Pride so often becomes intertwined in how we think and it becomes a filter in which we view everything, whether we realize it or not. And Jesus doesn’t want us to have that filter of pride, He desires humble servants, especially in light of the fact that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6) The thing is, pride will have an affect on not only our perspective but on how effective our work is.

Unfortunately, there are many Christians who have an attitude of wanting to be seen as a type of “super Christian” and have a bolstered image before man, not stopping to really understand and acknowledge that the pride of that desire only serves as a broken and marred image before God. The reality of it though, is that we only think we’re better than other people and deserve praise when we look to man instead of Jesus. When we look to Jesus, we are faced with the full reality that He is everything and apart from Him, we are nothing. It’s in that reality of our place that we gain the correct perspective that God wants us to have.

The Attitude of Our HeartsGod desires us to have an attitude of gratitude and a proper perspective that His pleasure comes before our own, and that we serve for His sake and not our own. Sure, we may want to serve in certain areas, but do we take the time to ask God where He wants us serving at any given time or are we serving for our own pleasure, our own desires, and our own goals?

Having a correct perspective and attitude comes from a place of truly understanding the reality of our place – our Master has done far greater things for us than we could ever do for Him. When we let our heads and our hearts align in understanding what the Father did for us in Jesus, our gratitude will overflow into an immense desire to serve Him and not serving for compliments, praise, or our own desires, but out of joy that we have the privilege of being allowed to serve Him at all.

We aren’t meant to be looking for compliments, thanks, or praise for our works here and now anyway. There will come a time when the work is done and we are called to enter into the joy of our master when we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23) But that time is still yet to come.

While we serve here, looking for compliments, thanks, praise, and self-fulfillment will only serve to distract us and bolster our pride – instead let’s look only to Jesus, with hearts full of gratitude, and tune our ears into the Spirit to hear what God wants us serving in for this current season of our lives.

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The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:5-6)

Have you ever heard someone say something like, “All it takes a mustard seed of faith”? This is where that is coming from, BUT the meaning gets lost in well-meaning statements like that.

Mustard Seed FaithWhen we think of a mustard seed, it’s really tiny – approximately 1mm in length. And Jesus said that if we had faith like a grain of mustard seed we could uproot trees with our words and plant it in the sea and it would obey us. Now most people take the view that all it takes is a small amount of faith – even as small as a mustard seed, BUT here’s where the issue comes in – we don’t even have that tiny amount of faith.

Jesus often said, “O you of little faith” because it’s true of us as mankind. Jesus wasn’t trying to give us a pep talk that we just need to muster up a small seed size of faith; He’s explaining that we don’t have as much faith as we might think we do.

It can be easy to get sucked into thinking we’re more than we are. I’m sure when the disciples said, “Increase our faith!” they didn’t realize just how much of an increase they really needed. But by Jesus mentioning the amount of faith being likened to a mustard seed and the impact of that faith, it helps to visually put into perspective that we have even less faith than that, while simultaneously encouraging us to have more faith.

It Would ObeyNone of us have had this amount of faith – not enough to fill a grain of mustard seed, but fortunately we have a great example of someone who did. Take a look back in Luke 8 when Jesus calmed the storm:

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)

Jesus had enough faith to command the storm to cease and the winds and waters obeyed. And the very next question Jesus asked His disciples was, “Where is your faith?”

Now, let’s be super clear here; having faith isn’t about being able to control nature – winds, waters, trees, and seas – but if we all had even the tiniest amount of faith like a grain of mustard seed, oh how different our lives would be! How free we would be to serve the Lord without hindrance of doubt and fear if we had faith like that. So why don’t we?

Increase Our FaithOur hearts desire should be like that of the apostles as they said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” But before we get to a place of wanting our faith increased, we must come to the realization that we are lacking faith. That’s a place that drives us to go to God with our lack, ask for help, and receive from His abundance.

This takes a humble heart. A heart that acknowledges that our faith is smaller than even a tiny little mustard seed. A heart that’s desperate to have faith that could move mountains that would bring God glory through our obedience.

Let’s take a heart check moment here – do you acknowledge your lack of faith?

Take time to sit before the Lord with this acknowledgement and wait on Him. Renew your strength in waiting on Him. And as He increases your faith, rise up with wings like eagles and soar in your walk with Him as He guides you through every step of your life. And may we never stop saying to our Lord, “Increase our faith!”

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And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:1-4)

These four little verses are packed full! So, let’s break it down, shall we?

Woe to the OneJesus starts this off by making it perfectly clear that temptations to sin are inevitable. Even in the Garden of Eden before sin was ever committed, temptation preempted the sin. How much more will there be temptations in the fallen and sinful world we live in. BUT Jesus immediately follows it with woe to the one through whom they come!

That word “woe” is primarily an exclamation of grief and carries a proclamation of divine penalty. That little three letter word should stop everyone in their tracks and cause an ear to be tuned in to heed the warning.

This is not the only time we see this woe pronounced either. There was a string of woes directed at the scribes and Pharisees by Jesus in Matthew 23. And when speaking of Judas Iscariot during His last Passover meal before going to the cross, Jesus said, “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24)

The key to understanding who this woe applies to is in understanding what the temptations to sin are.

Temptations to SinIn the Greek, this phrase “temptations to sin” is one word, skandalon, and it means a trap or a stumbling block. In the instance of a trap, it refers to a bent stick that is used to trigger a trap, in the instance of a stumbling block it refers to something that is put in the way in order to cause someone to stumble and fall, such as a rock.

The word skandalon is also translated as “causes of sin” when Jesus said, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42)

That brings us right back to what Jesus further said in His woe by whom the stumbling comes through - It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea. Being purposeful in leading others astray and into sin is a serious matter to God. A person who leads others into sin is following the footsteps of satan. And God is saying that a horrible death of a millstone hung around their neck and cast into the ocean to die from asphyxiation as water slowly fills their lungs is better than the judgement they will get from doing so.

Pay Attention to YourselfNow as we read this, there are any number of people that may come to your mind who fit the profile of stumbler, yet the very next sentence Jesus says is Pay attention to yourselves!

This is a warning to us – both to the fact that temptations to sin will come as well as against being a person who stumbles others.

As children of God, we should never desire to nor actually purposefully stumble our siblings in Christ, nor lead other people astray from coming to Christ. And per usual, the way of keeping ourselves from becoming evil doers who seek to stumble people is by abiding in God:

“…but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” (1 John 2:5-6,10)

Rebuking Your Brother/SisterThis last little section of verses here goes into rebuking other siblings in Christ who sins and forgiving them.

Now rebuke is a strong word and it can often take on a meaning of its own if we’re not careful. In this context, the word rebuke literally means to charge someone with wrong IN ORDER to restrain them. Restrain them from what? From the sin they’re engaged in, and ultimately the consequences of said sin. Rebuking is always supposed to be done with love as the motive and for the purpose of separating the brother/sister from the sin in order that they would repent and be restored.

But if we in any way are mixing our flesh into rebuking anyone, that’s going to produce the wrong kind of grief. Paul laid it out clearly to the Corinthian church when he said, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

We must be on guard and pay attention to ourselves, lest we rebuke our brother/sister in our flesh and then cause them to stumble.

Forgiving Your Brother/SisterNow, on the other side of repentance is forgiveness. This is the natural, godly flow. We should see this in our own lives: we sin, God convicts and rebukes us, we repent, He forgives us – or at least that’s the intended flow.

We do need to be careful not to conflate these two things though – stumbling blocker and sin againster. The word for sin in “he should cause one of these little ones to sin” is different than the word for sin used in all the references to a brother sinning. The word for sin when referencing a little one being caused to sin is skandalizō and the root word is skandalon. But the word for sin when referencing a brother is hamartanō, which is to miss the mark – what we mostly think of when sin is referenced since we miss the mark of perfection, of which Jesus is the standard.

So yes, we are called to forgive all who sin against us, whether they do it on purpose or not, but in this context, Jesus is saying that when our brothers or sisters in Christ miss the mark and sin against us, we are to forgive them.

And the seven times phrasing isn’t saying you should keep count and only up to seven times should you forgive them. To do that wouldn’t be loving since 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus wasn’t trying to narrow our understanding of forgiveness by giving us a number, He was broadening it. Seven is a number of completion, and Jesus is indicating that again and again, we should be forgiving one another.

When we think of how many times we sin against Jesus, whether we know it or not, is He not faithful to forgive us again and again? Likewise, if we’re going to love one another as Christ loves us, just as Jesus commanded us to, then that includes forgiving one another.

As followers of Jesus, let’s pay attention to ourselves and not stumble anyone, and be quick to forgive our siblings in Christ again and again, just like Jesus does for us.

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“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)

As this chapter moves along, we shift from direct conversation with the Pharisees to Jesus telling a story about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. Now this section of Scripture is interesting because there’s some question as to whether it’s a real story or a parable that Jesus is telling. Let’s go ahead and dive into that real quick before we dig into the meat of it.

Real Story or Parable?If we look at this compared to other parables that Jesus told, often times we’d see a precursor given, such as in Luke 14:7 where it says, “Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them…” and in Luke 15:2-3, where it says, “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable…” Yet in this section of Scripture there is no precursory context given.

In the parables that were clearly called out as parables, no names were used; in this section of Scripture, we are given the name of the poor man, Lazarus and Abraham is named.

We are also given context that this place where the rich man ends up is a place of anguish, torment, and flames. In Matthew 13:49-50, after Jesus told the Parable of the Net, He adds, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And again, in Mark 9:43-48 in reference to temptations to sin, Jesus said, “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” These other times when Jesus references hell, it’s literal.

In many examples throughout the gospel, Jesus would tell a parable and then give some kind of statement of truth or that would provide a bit of understanding afterwards. As He is talking to the Pharisees and has given them many parables in short succession, I believe this story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true story and not a parable. Could I be wrong? Of course! But does that change the truth of the context, not at all! With that, I tell you this simply because I am going to approach this from a true story standpoint.

What You Live ForThis story continues in the line of thought that those who choose to embrace the life of the world now, will end up in anguish on the other side of eternity. Now that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy life and eat nice food or whatnot, but that’s not what this rich man was doing. The word in the Greek for clothed in indicates an investment into the clothing, and the purple and fine linen indicate an extravagance of attire that went far beyond just clothes to cover nakedness. And the phrase “feasted sumptuously” literally means to rejoice in lavishness. In essence, the wording here tells us that the rich man was not simply enjoying the life he had been blessed with, the earthly pleasures were what he lived for.

That’s a stark contrast to the way Lazarus lived. And it’s not about the amount of money they each had. We don’t need to be dirt poor and have dogs lick our wounds to end up in heaven. It is implied that Lazarus had a faith in God because when he died, it says he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side, which is often what has been referred to as Abraham’s Bossom – being a place of rest for those who had faith counted as righteousness before Jesus died, descended to get them, and brought to them to heaven, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:8 where it says, Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

Ultimately, the rich man chose to live for the temporal, BUT WE must choose to live for the eternal.

Right Now Counts ForeverEveryone will realize the error of their ways, either now in which they repent and spend eternal life in heaven, or once they die but it will be too late, and they will spend eternity in hell.

I’ve heard many say that God would have to be a mean God to send people to hell, but that’s the thing – He doesn’t! Jesus made this very clear in the conversation He had with Nicodemus in John 3. Right after John 3:16, the verse which outlines salvation, He followed it with, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:17-19) God doesn’t wish anyone to perish, He wants them to come to repentance!

The Mystery RevealedGod wants everyone to be saved through Jesus so much so that He sent messages through His prophets and the Law and Jesus fulfilled them. The problem has never been with God, but the lack of acceptance by people of the words He gave through the Law and the Prophets. Jesus even told the Pharisees that plainly when He said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40)

So, in this story when the rich man wants Abraham to send Lazarus back to preach repentance to his family, Abraham tells him ‘They have Moses [the Law] and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ Notice that the same message that Abraham told him is the same message today – one can be told the truth of the gospel, but they have to hear it for themselves and obey by repenting. If someone does not believe and receive salvation through what God has given, the mystery of Christ revealed, then nothing will ever convince them. Even Jesus being raised from the dead hasn’t persuaded people, so if they choose to reject not even the greatest of miracles, then they will unfortunately reap the consequences of their rejection.

Our ResponseAs followers of Jesus, how do we respond to a story like this? First of all, it should result in praising and thanking God for saving us from the condemnation we deserve! Second, we got a glimpse into the spiritual world and an event in which a condemned man realized in his torment that he wished he could have even a moment of his anguish quenched and wished he could warn others who weren’t dead yet.

Now unlike the rich man in hell, we know this truth now and we’re still here on this side of eternity – so WE CAN warn others who aren’t dead yet. And we should. We have the Law and the Prophets and the whole New Testament that brings the whole mystery of Christ together to understand how they spoke of Jesus.

Let’s remember this each and every day so that when the opportunities arise to share our faith and the good news of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, we don’t shy away for whatever reason. May we see not only the outside of people but be willing to sacrifice our social comfort for the well-being of their eternal souls; being good ambassadors for Christ as we allow God to make His appeal of reconciliation through us to a lost and dying world.

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The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. (Luke 16:14-18)

Since these last verses on divorce and adultery tends to get sectioned off as its own little segment by those who broke down the section titles in the Bible, I’ve included the previous verses for context. But just like we saw last week where Jesus seemingly took a turn into another topic, He’s actually still on the topic of the heart here. He’s just using another example to His initial point that they were justifying themselves before men, but that God knows the heart.

Before we jump in here to this, I know divorce can be a touchy topic, especially in our culture where the divorce rate is almost half of all marriages. As we look at what Scripture says on this, it isn’t to point fingers at you or anyone else, this is simply the section of Scripture we happen to be in and we’re looking to grow in the Lord and understand His word.

Everyone Who DivorcesJesus makes a clear claim that everyone who divorces and marries another is committing adultery. As we look at this, we have to take this in context to the rest of Scripture, because far too often it’s verses like these that get used as weapons and chains of captivity and that is not the heart of God here. God never intends for His word to be weaponized to keep people captive in abusive relationships.

We get more insight into what Jesus said on divorce in Matthew 19 where it says, And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:3-9)

Paul also spoke to divorce details in 1 Corinthians 7, with the instruction that divorce shouldn’t happen, but that if a believer has an unbelieving spouse who will not stay married to them, let it be so and let the unbelieving spouse leave.

What we need to remember here is that in the whole context of all these verses is the same thing – these are issues of the heart.

Remember in Matthew 5 where Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) As we look at what Jesus has said about adultery and divorce, we need to remember the true issue of the heart here because that’s where the Pharisees were going wrong, was justifying sins of the heart with a perspective of having purity of the body.

Divorce ExemptionsIn the days of Moses and beyond, divorce became an option that was deemed acceptable as long as proper protocols were followed, such as a certificate of divorce. Yet God doesn’t want what He joined together to be separated by man.

Now in light of the verses in Matthew 5 that talks about anyone who looks at someone with lust commits adultery, there honestly aren’t many marriages in which a spouse hasn’t committed adultery then because lusting in the heart is such an unseen thing. The ultimate ideal would be repentance and reconciliation, whether committed with only the heart or also with the body. But if sexual sins are committed, these are where the exemptions come into play.

It is gracious of God though, to expressly word exemptions such as sexual immorality or an unbelieving spouse leaving. Otherwise, there would be people who stay in abusive relationships with their spouse habitually cheating or watching pornography or in sexual abuse or the like, and that’s not the purpose of God saying He doesn’t want divorce.

In an ideal world, people would get married, have a perfectly blessed marriage, never battle with sexual sins, and be married till death parts them. But we don’t live in a perfect world and God, in His knowledge and grace and mercy and love, fully understanding the mental, physical, and emotional limits of our humanness when a spouse commits these sins against us, gives a way out in those extreme circumstances.

The Heart of the MatterThe main reason the topic of divorce and adultery came up as an example was because the Pharisees had been justifying sins and exalting among men what is an abomination in the sight of God. They took things like marriage, given in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time, and they perverted it. They allowed divorce for little to no real reason at all and then justified themselves before men, when all along God saw their hearts were hard.

When it comes down to it, the whole purpose of bringing up divorce was to point out the wrongful exaltation of sin and justification of it. Whether you’re single, married, or divorced, – the underlying lesson remains true and can be applied across the board and is the lesson Jesus is teaching here in these verses; don’t exalt and justify among men what is sinful in the sight of God.

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The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. (Luke 16:14-17)

Jesus had just told quite a few parables about the kingdom of God, God’s heart and perspective, that we can go astray and how much joy it brings God when we repent, and that we cannot serve God and money – really hitting home that the issues of sin are a heart issue, not a ‘how good you can act outwardly’ issue. And even after all that, it says that the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus.

Hearts MotivationThe text gives us context here as to why the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus and it was because they were lovers of money. They had just been told by Jesus that they cannot serve God and money and since they were lovers of money, it apparently hit close to home and they didn’t like it, so they ridiculed Him in response.

That word “ridiculed” in the Greek means to scoff, deride, or turn up the nose at. This wouldn’t be the last time they do this to Jesus either. The next and only other time this Greek word is used is in Luke 23:25 during Jesus’ crucifixion where it says, And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

Unfortunately, the ridicule or scoffing over the truth that one cannot serve God and money would continue to drive the scoffing at the cross as Truth Himself looked back at them as He died to offer them redemption of their souls.

Hearts RevealedIt’s pretty cool to notice here that Jesus didn’t react with an outburst of upset when they ridiculed Him, He responded again with truth that got to the heart of the matter – their hearts.

Jesus, who we know doesn’t look at the outward appearance but looks at the heart, told them a few poignant truths about themselves: They were justifying themselves before men, God knows their hearts, and what was exalted before men is an abomination before God. These were undoubtedly hard things to hear, but Jesus told them for their benefit because He loved them.

Yet, the specific things that Jesus pointed out were bound to cause one of two responses – either, pushing away due to a prideful heart or drawing near due to a humble and repentant heart. And these are the responses we get to choose from when faced with things Jesus tells us too - push God away or draw near to Him.

The Law RevealedAs Jesus mentions the Law and Prophets, it would seem that He moved into a whole new topic but in actuality, He’s still on the same topic. All of this is in context to the heart and the fact that in our flesh we seek to justify ourselves before men, but that God knows our hearts.

Jesus mentioned the Law and Prophets right before mentioning that the good news of the kingdom of God had been preached. The Pharisees didn’t exactly put this together, not realizing that the Law and Prophets all spoke of Him, but this is what Jesus is telling them. And He adds that everyone forces his way into it – this is speaking of the misunderstanding of the Law and Prophets and thinking that outward observance of the Law would save them.

As the people read/heard the Law and Prophets, they had a desire for their Messiah to come set them free physically from their captivity under the Romans, not really understanding that He would come to set them free spiritually from their sin under death. When Jesus came and John the Baptist had made straight His paths, they both preached repentance and that the kingdom of God had come. But the people tried to force their misaligned perspectives into the mix and even used that as a reason to justify to themselves and others that Jesus wasn’t their long-awaited Messiah, as they continued to try to force their way into it.

Yet, Jesus was reaffirming that He would indeed fulfill the Law when He said that it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. Jesus knew His calling and mission, and nothing was going to deter Him from it.

Our ResponseRemember those two responses that were mentioned when Jesus points out specific heart issues? We read that the Pharisees pushed away, staying prideful and justifying themselves before men, but it doesn’t have to be that way for us. We can learn from their mistakes and when God puts these hard truths in front of us to face, we can draw near to Him with a humble and repentant heart, ready for Him to cut that out of our hearts and mold and shape us more into His image.

For the Pharisees, there were the things of their day that was exalted among men that was an abomination in the sight of God. But what about in our current day? These are issues like the sanctity of life and marriage – that abortion is murdering a child and that marriage between anyone other than one man and one woman is perversion of the institution of marriage that God designed. These are issues like exalting loving self, money, and attention of others – all of which are selfish endeavors that lead to emptiness and lead us astray from the relationship God desires to have with us.

The list of things that are exalted among man and are wrong before God is honestly too long to list here, because we live in very evil days. We live in a sinful world which has had thousands of years to pervert the perfectness that God created everything in. BUT if we are making it a habit to sit still in the presence of God and know Him, then we will make it a habit to be holy as He is holy, and not exalting worldly ideals which are an abomination in His sight.

So then, the question becomes – in our hearts, do we WANT to justify ourselves before men and exalt those types of things before men or not?

It is often times much easier to live that way because it puts us in the driver’s seat of life, which our pride loves, and prevents any conflict with those in the world if we just go with the flow, even if it’s an abomination in God’s sight. But we all know that’s not right because the Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:8), but we have to stand up for and act on what we know is right and not just know it in our head and keep it to ourself.

If God is convicting your heart on something – maybe you’ve been justifying yourself, keeping quiet on things that aren’t right in God’s sight or maybe even going along with them, or possibly like the Pharisees you’ve been serving money. I’m not here judging or condemning you, but I whole-heartedly encourage you to take some time to ask God to search you and reveal anything that’s not been pleasing to Him. And if He brings anything to your attention, then resolve to stop, repent, and look up to serve God and do what is pleasing in His sight.

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Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:13-14)

In our walk with Jesus, we come to know and understand a profound truth – our freedom in Him is both a gift and in part a battle we continue to fight for. When we first encounter His grace and receive salvation in Him, we are liberated from the bondage of sin and death. It’s a moment of joy and relief as we realize that through Christ’s sacrifice, we are indeed set free.

Yet, as we walk by faith, we soon learn that our freedom is not passive – it’s free, it just costs the rest of our lives. Just as a nation must defend its freedom against external threats, we too must fight the demonic threats and temptations that come against us. The apostle Paul clearly describes this struggle: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other” (Galatians 5:17). Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces that seek to ensnare and destroy us.

Jesus has already won the ultimate victory over sin and death through His death and resurrection. His triumph on the cross secured our freedom once and for all. But the battles we face daily remind us that we live in a fallen, sinful world where temptation and trials are a daily thing.

In these moments of struggle, we are called to remember the truth that sets us free – Jesus Christ. He is not only our Savior but also our source of strength and victory. Through Him, we find the ability to resist temptation, the wisdom to discern right from wrong, and the grace to forgive others and to seek forgiveness when we all fall short.

The freedom we have in Jesus is not just a one-time event but a continuous journey of transformation and renewal. It requires discipline, prayer, and a deepening relationship with God. As we immerse ourselves in His Word and surrender our lives to His will, we experience the freedom found in the truth of His word.

Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Let us hold on tight to this promise, knowing that in Christ, we have the strength to overcome every single obstacle we face AND the assurance of eternal life in Him.

As we celebrate our nation’s freedom, let us never forget the freedom we have in Jesus. It is a precious gift that empowers us to live boldly, love deeply, and serve faithfully. May we continue to fight the good fight and run our race well, knowing that our ultimate victory is assured through Jesus who loves us and gave up His life for us.

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[Jesus] also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:10-13)

The few verses above are the end to the section on the Parable of the Dishonest Manager, or rather the takeaway of the parable. The parable is about a rich man who had a manager that was wasting his possessions, so he called him to confront him and fire him. Being the dishonest manager that he was, and it notedly said he felt he was not strong enough to dig and ashamed to beg, he hatched a plan to short his now previous master of the debts owed to him by others.

The Dishonest ManagerThe only thing the dishonest manager was commended for was his shrewdness. How sad that the only thing commendable about this man were his sharp-witted ways when it was used to prove his character and integrity was severely lacking. Being shrewd, or clever and sharp-witted may be deemed a good thing in the world’s eyes, but when it’s used for evil it’s certainly not a good thing at all in the eyes of God. Take a look what God not only says about a false balance (or in essence, shorting what is due like what this dishonest manager did), but also look at the contrast to those who are upright before the Lord versus the prideful and crooked:

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death
(Proverbs 11:1-4)

Jesus’ Conclusion:Now we can come up with our own conclusions and opinions about the dishonest manager, but really the only conclusion that matters is God’s in this and He laid it out pretty clearly here for us.

There are two aspects to this:

You should be a faithful steward with what you’ve been entrusted with by God.
If you can’t be honest and faithful in handling a little, you won’t be any better with a lot.

When it comes down to it, our level of faithfulness is not dependent on how much or little we have to be faithful in. So, the hard truth is, if you’ve been waiting for God to bring something bigger and better along for you to jump in head first in serving, all while pretty much phoning in the smaller stuff He’s already entrusted to you – it’s not a problem with how much or little, it’s a faithfulness problem. Now that’s not to say you can’t grow in this area, because you can. But again, having these heart check moments is so vital to our understanding of ourselves and where our hearts are at so that we don’t get on auto pilot in the wrong direction.

The reason Jesus mentions this goes beyond the physical here and is very much so spiritual when He said, “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” The truth is that we as followers of Jesus have works that God prepared for us to walk in, Ephesians 2:10 tells us that clearly, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” But if we’re not being faithful to walk in them like we should, how can expect God to entrust more to us?

Choose Only OneAt the very foundation of this all is the source of whom or what we serve. The dishonest manager was working in such a way that would enable him to have money even though he got fired for mismanaging his master’s wealth. The driving motive was centered around money because that was the dishonest manager’s god. But Jesus drew a solid line in the sand and on one side is God and on the other side is money/wealth/possessions. You cannot serve both God and money; you must choose only one.

Jesus didn’t even leave it at telling us we can’t serve both, He went further to provide the rationale – because we’ll either love one and hate the other or be devoted to one and despise the other.

Could you imagine hating and despising God? The whole purpose of life would become meaningless in that case.

It is clear here, that there is only one choice that doesn’t lead to destruction. Mark 8:36-37 says, For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Well we already read in Proverbs 11 that riches do not profit in the day of wrath, so that answers Mark, that it doesn’t profit anyone anything to gain the world and the riches of it and no one can give anything in return for their soul – only the blood of Jesus Christ has the power to redeem our souls and that’s not bought with money, it’s given freely and received through faith.

Serve God, Serve FaithfullyAll in all, this parable warns us and encourages us. It’s a warning to not fall into the trap of serving money and to serve faithfully even in the smallest of things. And it’s also an encouragement that if we’re serving God and God alone, being faithful in the small, that we very well may be entrusted with more.

Does that mean everyone who is faithful in a little is guaranteed to be entrusted with more? No, but as we’ve seen throughout our study of the Bible, God is most interested in our hearts. It’s much better to be counted faithful even if we are only ever entrusted with little, than to be counted among the dishonest and faithless and even what we do have being taken.

My encouragement to you today is, no matter how much ministry work and service you’ve been entrusted with, serve God faithfully in it today, tomorrow, and the rest of the days you have here on earth.

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“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:25-32)

The parable of the prodigal son continues and now we get to see the older son’s perspective. Now the older son’s perspective seems understandable from a human only perspective, but that is the point; we shouldn’t be looking at things from a human only perspective, we should be looking at things from God’s perspective.

The Older Son’s AngerThe older son was in the field as his younger brother came home. This was undoubtedly because he was serving in the field, and as he approached home, he heard music and dancing and obviously there was some kind of celebration going on. Totally understandable to wonder what’s happening but he ended up angry at the reason.

The older son heard the words of the servant, but did he truly hear the heart of his father in what the servant relayed? By what we read, it seems that he didn’t. Instead of hearing the father’s heart that his younger brother has been found and everyone was celebrating that he was now home, the older son heard it through a jealous and selfish lens – that his reckless, disobedient brother was getting rewarded after blowing his half of their dad’s money. His thoughts were instantly on himself. In that moment of selfishness, he felt it unfair that he never got even so much as a young goat to celebrate with his friends, but his dad just killed the fattened calf for his dumb little brother who had messed up. The older son missed the big picture and the purpose of the celebration altogether.

James tells us for good reason to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

The Father’s EntreatIn the older son’s anger, he refused to even go inside where the celebration was happening, yet his father came and met him where he was at and entreated him. How often do we get angry over something and decide to self-isolate and stew in our anger? It doesn’t ever help, yet in our flesh that’s a go to. However, our heavenly Father also meets us where we’re at, even in our anger, and entreats us to come into his home and see things from His perspective, in which our anger would fade away in as we align ourselves with God.

And even when the older son snaps back with his argument of fairness, the father spoke kindly to him, reminding him that he is always with him and shares in what he has always. Then his father spoke words to right that wrong perspective – the right perspective being that the celebration going on in the father’s house was indeed fitting because the big picture was that his brother was alive and found. The focus was on celebrating where his brother was at currently, not condemning where he had blown it previously.

Notice that even in the older son’s anger, he tried to diminished his relationship when talking to his father when he said, “But when that son of yours came…” He didn’t say his brother, he put space between him, which would make it easier to stay angry. It’s much easier to try to justify our sin when we rationalize things, stay in our very narrowly selfish perspective, and create space and divide between us and other people we’re angry at. But is that what God does? No, God does quite the opposite - while we were sinners, Christ came as one of us and dwelt among us and died for us. Instead of creating a divide, He bridged the gap between us that our sin had created.

How We RespondThe question we need to ask ourselves here is, do we respond like the older brother or like the father?

Of course, our initial reaction is going to be to say we respond like the father, but it’s worth taking the time to really think about this and be honest with ourselves because this type of thinking goes beyond this application and into other areas of our life. Are we joyful over things that the Father is joyful over? Or do others bring him joy while we scoff and get angry at what we deem unfair to us?

Because if we can’t be joyful over the smaller things that bring God joy in other people’s lives, then the ultimate joy of the much larger thing of a person repenting isn’t going to be any easier for us to share in the celebration of. When the older brother should have been joyful over his younger brother’s return, he was jealous of the celebration. The older son didn’t even stop long enough to realize that his father was already joyful in his obedience and being with him day in and day out. What a shame it would be to miss out on the joy our Father has in us if we’re blinded by our anger and jealousy of His joy in one of our siblings in Christ’s lives.

Our heavenly Father wants to rejoice and celebrate WITH us over the good things in life. Even if that happens to be in the life of someone we have been hurt by, feel wronged by, or feel doesn’t deserve God’s warm welcome and celebration. Let’s take our cues from our Father and rejoice WITH Him and the angels.

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And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:11-24)

This parable of prodigal son, which is fully covered in verses 11-32, but we’re going to focus on the first portion of the verses and break this into two weeks. The father in this parable is our Heavenly Father, and we are the children. We tend to fall into one of these two categories – obedient and working according to the will of the Father or prideful and stumbling, having to hit rock bottom where our pride is shattered before returning to the Father.

The Prodigal SonWe don’t see the word “prodigal” in the actual parable, it’s how the header of that section is labeled, and it isn’t necessarily a word most people use in everyday conversation, but the word means spending money or resources freely and recklessly or wastefully extravagant.

Since this son asked for his father to give him his inheritance before he was technically entitled to it (because that would have been upon his father’s death), he seemingly already had this sort of prodigal mindset. He wanted his portion of the wealth to go spend it and he did so not many days after receiving his portion of the inheritance.

But because he took it and squandered it, he was left with nothing while his brother was still at home. Notice the big difference there – the son at home was daily in the presence of his father, both serving his father and enjoying all that his father had. But the prodigal son took what he had, wasted it away, and was now left with nothing. The world he had lived prodigally in took everything from him and gave him nothing in return, not even pig food when he was starving.

Yet, in his lowest point, being a Jewish man sitting among unclean pigs and couldn’t even eat pig food, looks up again to remember his father’s goodness to his servants and longs to go home and serve.

The Father’s ResponseThe prodigal son had already practiced his speech of acknowledging his wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness as he had repented and turned from the world back to his father’s house. AND YET his father ran and embraced him as he welcomed his son home! He clothed him in the best robe, put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet and had a wonderful meal prepared to celebrate and share a meal together once again.

Jesus tied this parable with the last two as He includes “he was lost, and is found”, and the immense joy the father had as he celebrated the return of his lost child.

It may look like the father didn’t acknowledge his son’s confession since he went straight into telling his servants to bring the best robe, a ring, shoes, and killing the fattened calf. But the father was not only acknowledging the confession of his son, he was showing his son that he was not going to dwell on the mistakes the son had made, but instead rejoice in the fact that he was back home.

This is much like our heavenly Father – when we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness, clothing us in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. He remembers our sins no more. And that word remember means to take action on something. So, to remember our sins no more means God is not going to take action in accordance to our sins. We have that safety and security in Him. He doesn’t drag out our past and go through it with a fine-toothed comb, He clothes us in Christ’s righteousness and wants to commune with us.

God’s mercy and grace are richly deep and it all comes from who He is – God is love.

Our ResponseCan you relate to the prodigal son? Do you have regrets for the sins you’ve committed? Do you feel like God should only treat you as a servant and not a child of His?

This prodigal son is pretty relatable, isn’t he? But how wonderful that the parable didn’t end with his prepared speech and a walk home! We get to see our Father’s heart through the heart of the prodigal son’s father.

If you’ve spent time in the world and you’ve squandered away the good things you’ve received from your Father and are empty and broken now – it’s not too late. There is no better time than now to go back to the Father and confess, knowing He will welcome you back with open arms and celebrate that you’re home.

And maybe you could relate to the prodigal son but you’re already back home – that’s amazing! Or maybe you can’t relate to that prodigal living because you were raised in the church and started your relationship with Jesus early so you have been serving and enjoying the benefits of your Father’s house all this time – that’s honestly even better! We all have a testimony and it doesn’t have to be one filled with huge regrets to be a powerful one.

And regardless, we can all see the Father’s response to repentance and rejoice with him, whether we’re on the receiving end of the celebration or not. Every single person who repents is worth rejoicing over. When you hear of someone who was dead and lost being found and now alive, join the Father and angels in heaven, and rejoice in celebration!

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“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)

Jesus is on a roll with this as He continues on from the parable of a man who left the ninety-nine sheep to go after the one lost sheep and just rolls right into His next example of this concept – a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searched until she found it and then called her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. With the ultimate point being made again that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Everyone is PreciousNotice this theme, that only one was lost, yet it was counted as precious and important enough to search for. The shepherd has lost one of the hundred and it was worth his time and effort to find it because it was precious to him. This woman lost one of ten coins and it was worth searching diligently for.

Every single person is worth an immense value to God. So much so that He deemed them worthy to die for.

This parable not only demonstrates the value people have to God, but the joy He has when they are no longer lost. There is a joy in repentance because repentance is a reconciliation between God and man, the reconciliation God paid the ultimate price of Jesus’ blood to redeem.

We might be tempted to look at lost people by the dirt they’ve accumulated on them by sin, but their value never changes in God’s eyes. Jesus died for all of us while we were yet sinners – the sin that Jesus took on and became on the cross in order to redeem us wasn’t a hinderance to His love and sacrifice. Just because not everyone will accept Jesus as their salvation, doesn’t mean their value is any less in God’s eyes – He still paid the price for their salvation whether they accept it or not.

Lighting the LampIn the first parable with the shepherd, it gave a clear picture of Jesus as our Good Shepherd, going out to seek the lost sheep. However, in this parable of the woman, it gives a clear picture of the church. The Church is likened to the Bride of Christ, and we are commissioned as members of His Church, to go make disciples.

The Holy Spirit is also likened to oil in the Bible, being the oil in our lamps that lights the way for us, as the Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. Notice in this parable that the woman lights a lamp as the first act in searching for the lost coin. God’s word is essential in being the first action of the Church in searching for the lost. We can’t be lights of the world if we don’t first spend time in God’s word, individually and corporately together as a church body.

Sweeping the HouseAnd after the woman lit a lamp, she swept the house. This, metaphorically, is effective in both our personal lives and in the ministry of reconciliation. We need to sweep the house of our hearts often. There can be dust bunnies hiding in places of our hearts that need to be cleaned out and make finding a lost coin much easier.

Practically, if you had dropped a coin and it fell under a dresser, then when you shine a light, the dust is going to make it harder for you to see the coin because the dust may block some of the light from hitting the coin. In the same way, dust in our own spiritual lives can hinder the light as we search for the lost.

Joy in HeavenThis phrase that Jesus keeps using, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents, has more meaning than our current culture understands on the surface reading of this. According to William Barclay, a Scottish minister in the early 1900’s, the religious rulers during that time, of which Jesus was primarily speaking to during this, had a saying, “There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.”

How vastly different Jesus’ words and the perspective of God is here! The Pharisees in essence had made sound bites glorifying destruction of sinners and attaching a false perspective that it was joyous to God. Yet Jesus is telling them that the truth of the matter is – it’s the exact opposite. There isn’t joy in heaven over the destruction of sinners, that actually hurts the heart of God; the truth is, there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

We must be careful as followers of Jesus to not have hearts like the Pharisees over the lost and sinners. We must remember from where we once came – we were lost, we are sinners, and just because we have accepted salvation and are saved by grace through faith in Jesus doesn’t make us perfect people who can now judge the lost. Being saved makes us people with a testimony who can be very effective in reaching the lost because we were once there too. We have experienced the change of Jesus in our lives and can help others by bringing that good news of salvation to them and walking alongside them in discipleship. So that what was once lost can be found.

And we should join with the angels of God in heaven in rejoicing over even one sinner who repents. That is a glorious thing when the reward Jesus died to pay for grows larger as His kingdom grows with each sinner who repents!

Will you take time to be in the word, being the light Jesus told us to be, and sweep your house, and be the hands and feet of Jesus in diligently seeking that which is lost? Diligently seeking the lost does take time, it does take energy, but I can 100% guarantee you that it is well worth your time and energy and is more important than anything else you could do with your time.

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Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:1-7)

In our culture, it may be hard to understand this parable because not many of us understand having sheep. Most of us likely think of sheep as the dumb animals that literally need a shepherd to care for them or they’ll die. But here we’re given context to the owner of the sheep’s perspective. If one sheep is lost, they leave the ninety-nine and go after the one lost sheep, rejoicing when it’s found.

It’s very interesting here because Jesus is telling this parable to Pharisees and scribes, none of which would lower themselves to the status of shepherd, which was a rather low society job and a social outcast. Yet He is telling them a parable specifically with the shepherd’s perspective. It was going to require the Pharisees and scribes to humble their perspective to understand God’s perspective, that of a Good Shepherd.

The Lost SheepWe already know God likens us to sheep. We may be smarter than animals, but in light of God, we’re dumb like sheep. We get into all sorts of trouble and we NEED our Shepherd to guide us, lead us beside still waters, restore our soul, anoint our heads with oil, and literally step by step take care of us through life. We are completely dependent on Him for eternal life and should be completely dependent on Him for all our needs on this side of eternity too.

We all go astray at times, but God is faithful to go after us when we do.

Notice that when the sheep is found, it is laid on the shoulders of the shepherd, as the shepherd rejoices. There are times of going astray and it takes its toll on us. God doesn’t just find us and poke and prod us with the shepherd staff, He picks us up and carries us home. We are close to Him, hearing His voice once again, and being carried to a place of safety.

The Joy of RepentanceAnd look at that heavenly scene Jesus describes – that there is joy in heaven when a sinner repents!

Jesus makes a clear point here, but it can be easily looked over. He says there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Now this requires realizing that there will only be one righteous human being in heaven who never needed to repent, and that person is Jesus Christ. We know that all have sinned and fallen short and all need to repent in order to receive salvation in Jesus and stand righteous before God. So, then what is Jesus saying here?

Jesus is emphasizing the point that repentance is highly important and joy inducing, even among the angels in heaven.

Repentance is required to enter heaven; therefore it is important and therefore it induces joy because that means that Jesus gets one more person whom He died to redeem. Jesus gets more of the reward He died to pay for and that is a joyous thing! The prideful Pharisees and scribes who thought of themselves as righteous before God in and of themselves were faced with this truth – that even if they were able to be completely righteous by themselves, God’s joy and delight is in the sinner’s repentance.

Jesus spent time telling the Pharisees and scribes again and again that they weren’t all that and a bag of chips to help them see and understand their need for salvation in Him, to understand what their Law had been saying all along. Repentance was always part of what God was saying to them through the Law and Prophets, but they refused to acknowledge it. They instead sought to create their own self-righteousness that would never truly be righteous before God at all.

And on the other hand, the tax collectors and sinners who had drawn near to hear heard the good news of repentance. They would have already felt like the lost black sheep of Israel, but the good news that God had come to seek and save the lost was stirring hearts to repentance.

Where Are You?Where are you at in the fold of God today? Are you part of the herd, eating up the Word of God with your fellow sheep, listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd? Or have you wandered off alone – maybe you haven’t even taken the time to look up and realize that you’re lost?

Take a personal pause today and look up – if you see your Shepherd and you’re among the sheepfold being guided by the Shepherd, keep going in that right direction. If you realize you’re alone and lost, call out to the Shepherd now and know that He will find you and carry you back home. Your wool might be a bit overgrown over your eyes and you may be a bit parched and thin depending on how long you’ve been away, but your Good Shepherd will cut away the wool that’s been blinding your sight and get you settled back in with your fellow sheep. Eat up the Word of God and let your Good Shepherd restore your soul.

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“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:34-35)

Jesus warned about the consequences of not continuing in a distinctive lifestyle of following Him, which He likened to salt that lost its flavor. This analogy illustrates a really important concept of maintaining ourselves in Christ in order to be useful in the mission of Christ.

Salt Is DistinctSalt is distinct – it adds flavor, it preserves, and it purifies. BUT, if it loses its saltiness, it is ineffective and therefore useless.

You know how you can cook up some food and it just tastes bleh, but when you add salt, it’s a night and day difference in the flavor? We are called as followers of Jesus to be distinct, to stand out from the world; we are to be the salt that brings that night and day difference to a world that’s spiritually devoid of the flavor of Christ.

Salt has a unique effect, simultaneously causing a wonderful flavor while creating a desire for water. If we are being salt, we will be a wonderful flavor to a bland world in need of Jesus and they will in turn desire the water of the Word to quench the thirst we’ve helped create as salt.

Salt Must Be PureIf we allow the saltiness of our faith to be corrupted or transformed into something else altogether, we lose our distinctiveness as salt – we lose our distinctiveness as followers of Jesus.

All of our actions, our character, our integrity, all that we say and do, should all reflect Jesus. If we start mixing in the world’s values like a spice mixture with our salt, then we’re no longer distinctive because we’d be something else entirely, having been conformed by the world instead of transformed by the renewing of our minds. That in turn results in losing effectiveness in sharing the message of the gospel.

Quick example - If you had a sore throat, we’d all agree that gargling salt water is a great method of helping your throat heal. But what if you replaced that salt with taco seasoning, would you still want to gargle with that? That sounds crazy, right? Taco seasoning has salt mixed with a lot of other seasonings and it would not be effective in treating a sore throat like pure salt water does. In the same way, if you’re mixing with the world, it’s like offering a throat gargle as taco seasoning and it’s useless to the one with a sore throat.

But Jesus took this even further because He said that if salt has lost its saltiness, it’s of no use and is thrown away. A flavorless salt is completely worthless because it doesn’t serve any purpose at all whatsoever. If one loses their essence of Christ-likeness in the way that salt loses its flavor, they’re not of any use in advancing the kingdom of God.

Maintaining SaltinessIf we want to remain useful and spiritually flavorful, we have to preserve the flavor of our faith by growing in our relationship with Jesus. This goes back to the words Jesus spoke from last week’s devotional – deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. This is an abiding relationship full of prayer, His word, and living a sanctified life obedient to Christ. This is living set apart, being distinctive in our faith, and being the genuine salt to a world so desperately in need of the flavor of Jesus.

In light of this, let’s maintain our saltiness by being in the word, in prayer, and obedient to God so that we will be useful in bringing taste, preservation, and purity to a world in need of Jesus, impacting lives and glorifying God through our distinctive Christ-likeness that makes others thirst for the Living Water!

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Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-33)

As believers walking in our faith, we are called to love God above all else. This is literally the essence of the first commandment, to put God above everything in our life. But following Jesus is not without its hardships. It demands a radical devotion to Christ that surpasses even our deepest earthly relationships. As disciples of Christ, we are called to bear our cross and follow Him wholeheartedly.

The CostJesus Himself spoke very clearly about the cost of discipleship. He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26). These words may initially sound harsh, but it speaks to the depth of our commitment to Him.

Being a disciple of Jesus means prioritizing our relationship with Him over every other relationship, even our closest family and friends. It doesn’t mean we don’t have love for our family; instead, it redefines it in light of our love for Christ. Jesus must occupy the throne of our hearts, with no rivals for that seat.

Choosing to follow Jesus demands a willingness to let go of anything that might hinder our devotion to Him. This could mean letting go of certain goals in life, worldly possessions, or even our own human comforts. It’s about surrendering all that we are and all that we have at the feet of our Savior, Jesus.

The PathFollowing Jesus isn’t an easy path, but it is the best path and only path that leads to eternal life. It may lead us down places we never thought we’d go, and it may take sacrifices that are extremely difficult in being obedient to God.

Yet, through it all, there is a deep joy in walking in His footsteps and being refined through what we face, knowing it’s producing good things in us. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25).

And we can know and take comfort that our Good Shepherd is leading us down paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. And even when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we don’t have to fear because He is with us! (Psalm 23)

Your IdentityTo be a disciple of Jesus is to identify with Him completely. It’s about taking up our cross daily and following Him, regardless of the cost.

There is no identifying with Him in the resurrection without identifying with Him in the cross. When Jesus was on earth, He followed the Father’s will perfectly even when it led Him to the cross to pay Himself as the sacrifice for us. To identify with Christ is to wholly embrace His teachings, His example, and His mission as our own.

Paul reminded the Romans about this identity when he said, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:3-5)

Our identity in Him isn’t just here on earth, it’s in heaven before our heavenly Father, in which we’ll one day live forever with Him if we choose to follow Him now!

The FinishAnother important note here in Jesus’ examples of building a tower and going to war, is that the end result is the most important. There are many people who started their walks with Jesus coming out of some really bad things – drugs, alcohol, violence, sexual immorality, the list could go on and on. But in Christ, His sacrifice covers all of it. How awful it would be to start following Jesus after hearing the good news of the gospel and then fall away and not reach the end with Him!

In walking in our identity in Christ and pushing on in Him even when it’s hard so that we make it to the finish line well, we should do as Paul did when he said, “I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Philippians 3:13-15)

So, let’s listen and obey the call of our Lord and Savior – love Him above all else, in carefully counting the cost of discipleship, follow Him wholeheartedly, and find our true identity and our ultimate purpose in nothing but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” (Luke 14:21-24)

If you recall from last week’s devotional, Jesus is at a Pharisee’s dinner party that He was invited to and having spoken about hard topics, like pride and partiality, He is now telling a parable of a man who gave a great banquet and the people who had been invited are all making excuses to not come. So now we pick up with the rest of it where the servant tells the master the bad news and the master has the servant bring in all the outcasts he can find to fill his house for this great banquet.

Bringing in GuestsThe master had the servant bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. The poor, crippled, blind, and lame – this is us! Yes, this has an overarching truth that the Jews would reject salvation through Jesus at first and that the invitation would be opened to the Gentiles, but as a whole, we are all the poor, crippled, blind, and lame because our sin has made us this way.

In Revelation, we see how the Laodiceans thought of themselves and how God saw their state. “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:17-18) and Jesus also said in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

We may not be literally poor, crippled, blind, and lame, but in and of ourselves we certainly are spiritually in that state and if we realize that, we’ll go to God and inherit the kingdom of heaven.

There’s another side to this too, because these people would need to be helped into the banquet hall. Three out of the four listed here are ailments that would disable the people from coming in alone, and even if they could get there themselves, they’d need to be led by the servant to know the way, of which they had never been before. And the servant did just that to fulfill what the master had commanded.

The servant also reported there was still room. He wasn’t satisfied with the number of people now attending as guests because he knew his master’s desire was to fill his house and his master’s desire became his desire.

Compel PeopleThe servant was instructed by his master to compel people to come in, but why not just ask them to come? Here’s the thing, if someone randomly showed up at your house and said, “The President of the United States is inviting you to a banquet”, would you believe them and follow them to Washington, DC?

That sounds crazy, right? In the same way, so many people don’t believe the call to salvation is for them at first BECAUSE they are outcasts in light of God. They don’t believe they deserve it, and they’re right they don’t but the invitation to come is in spite of us and in light of God’s work on our behalf. And God strongly desires for all to come to repentance and be saved so He instructs His servants to compel people to come.

2 Corinthians 5 gives very clear insight into this very thing: For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again… Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation… Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 18, 20)

It is important to note here that compel isn’t saying force someone. There are several uses of this word in the Greek, and this has a connotation to entreat. In other words, strongly urge or implore with great earnest. Sadly, some have misused Scriptures like these to justify the wrongdoing of coercing conversion, such as in the Inquisition, but that was never what Jesus taught nor commanded and it is a disgraceful thing that shouldn’t be. Christ never forced Himself on us, it was His love that compelled us, and we too should compel with love as we share the good news of the gospel.

Both Guest and ServantWe glean from both guest and servant in this. We are poor, crippled, blind, and lame spiritually and need a servant of the master to tell us the call to come, know the way to get there, and be helped along the way. And we are the servant because once we are part of the kingdom of God, we serve as a servant bringing in the other poor, crippled, blind, and lame people who have yet to come in. This in a nutshell is discipleship.

We come to Christ by hearing about His gospel message through one of His servants. We grow as His servants come alongside us and disciple us by walking with us, helping guide the way, and by holding us accountable. And then we in turn end up doing the same for others. This process of discipleship is how God designed it to be.

But in order to be a faithful servant of God, truly an ambassador for Him, we must have our desire aligned with His. This is easier to do in word, but not necessarily easy to do in action. Of course, as followers of Jesus we want our desire to be aligned with His, but actually doing it requires a close abiding relationship with Him. One in which we not only listen, but listen and obey. Will you do this today? Share your faith with someone and lovingly compel them by earnestly telling them the good news of the gospel.

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When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ (Luke 14:15-20)

Just to keep things in context here, we’re still in at the party – Jesus is a guest at a dinner party with the guest list primarily being Pharisees and lawyers. Jesus has been speaking to some pretty hard topics like pride and partiality and now someone at the table seemingly decides to break the huge amount of awkwardness in the room by saying, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

The InvitationWhat the man said isn’t wrong, he’s looking forward to the great feast in heaven with our Messiah one day, just as it says in Revelation 19:9, And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” BUT Jesus answers him with a parable that will challenge whether he is ready to completely accept the invitation to that eventual feast.

The truth is that every single person is invited to come into the kingdom of God, but not every single person will accept that invitation and come when God calls.

When Jesus died on that cross and rose again all those thousands of years ago, His blood paid the price for every single person to be redeemed. Sin affected all of humanity through one man, Adam, and redemption comes through one man, Jesus. The invitation of salvation is freely given, but unless it’s received and accepted by the invitee, they don’t become a guest of the party in the house of the master.

Some Added ContextA side note here that gives great insight not only to the culture and context, but also to how it relates to salvation, is that back in that day when someone threw a great banquet they would send out invitations with an approximate time frame of the party date. It took time to plan and put together such a banquet so the guests would accept or decline the invitation and then wait for the master’s servant to tell them it was time for the party to start and then they’d go attend. It was considered extremely rude to accept an invitation and then not show up at the event.

In a similar way, the invitation of salvation is given in sharing the gospel with someone. One either accepts or rejects the initial invitation, but just because someone accepts it right away doesn’t mean they are attending the banquet. We see this concept in places like earlier in Luke 8 when Jesus told the Parable of the Sower and how seed falls on different grounds and it’s only the good soil in which that seed will actually grow and produce fruit – of which James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26); as well as in places like Matthew 7:21 where it says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

The ExcusesWe see three men giving three excuses here. Keep in mind, these are men who have already accepted the invitation to the banquet who are now being told to come because the banquet is ready and are making excuses not to come.

Two of them are along the same lines – materialistic reasons, and the other makes his wife the excuse. But all in all, all their excuses come down to not actually wanting to come. In the first two excuses they both say they have bought things and are needing to go see and examine the things they’ve bought. Anyone who has made any big purchase in life (of which a field and five oxen were in those days – in our day is equivalent to a house or car), you know how crazy it sounds to buy first and then examine after. And the last man got married and could have brought his wife with him but decided to use her as an excuse not to come instead. These poor excuses make it obvious that they accepted the invitation at first, maybe even feeling excited for the banquet, but once the call to come join the banquet came, they did not want to go.

In Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower to His disciples, the explanation of the seed that fell on rocky soil goes hand and hand with the people who were invited to the banquet in this parable. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Luke 8:14)

Invitee or Guest?As we saw when we studied the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8 awhile back, we need to examine our hearts. These were men who had accepted the invitation already – so in our understanding, these would be people who called themselves Christians. But as we saw how it took growth and fruit to evidence that the heart had good soil, here too it requires actions in line with accepting the invitation to actually be a guest.

It’s one thing to accept the invitation, it’s another to be a guest at God’s table.

In Revelation 3:15-20 says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Keep in mind that these words spoken in Revelation were from God to the church in Laodicea. These were people who were part of that church and called themselves Christians and yet were not walking with the Lord and were being told to repent and let God in, who was standing at the door knocking. It is true that once you are truly saved and are a follower of Jesus, no one can snatch you out of God’s hand, but that’s not in question here – the question here is have you only accepted the invitation or are you a guest?

That coming in and eating with us and us with Him is an abiding relationship with Jesus that comes after accepting the invitation to salvation. It’s when the relationship has gone past the invitation to true intimate fellowship with God at the banquet in your heart, allowing Holy Spirit to come in and do the work of sanctification in you in which you will grow and produce the fruit of good works in your life.

A Heart CheckTake your time to honestly answers these questions:

How do you view spending time reading the Bible, praying, and fellowshipping – do you have a genuine desire for the things of the Lord or are those things boring and you’d rather be watching TV, on social media, or doing something else?
Do you look forward to studying God’s word and fellowshipping with the body on Sundays and midweek services/home groups or do you have other things that pre-occupy your mind and desires?
Do you continually make excuses to yourself or others why you don’t read your bible, pray, go to church, study the bible with other believers, and fellowship with other believers?
Do you look forward to Christ’s appearing or don’t really mind if His coming is delayed a bit longer?
Can you and others see growth in your spiritual life and are you producing fruit in line with the Spirit or are you undistinguishable from people who aren’t saved?

These are all questions that can help you do a personal heart check. These are honestly questions we should examine in ourselves regularly because even if we are without a doubt saved, these can help us to see when and where we might be lacking or possibly growing complacent in. As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling before our God Who is holy, we want to always be walking in the right direction.

How do you respond to God’s call? You very well may have heard and accepted the invitation to salvation, but today, if you don’t know that you’re a guest, one who is dining with God in an abiding relationship – today is the day to examine that so that you can know that you know that you aren’t just invited, but that you’re a guest!

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[Jesus] said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14)

This turned out to be quite the dinner party in which Jesus has kindly confronted a lot of heart issues. In the previous sections, Jesus had addressed some heart issues of those invited to the party. In this section, Jesus ended up directing His words to the man who had invited Him, but His words are for more than just that one man at that one specific time.

When You GiveIt was expected that people would host dinners or banquets and host people. In the Jewish culture, this was a regular thing. In our culture now, it’s kind of a thing, right? But let’s be honest, even without COVID restrictions, people don’t seem to get together at one another’s houses like they used to.

Having dinner with others is an intimate setting where conversation is had, where food and stories are shared, and where relationships can grow deeper among friends, at least when done among true friends. We saw this practice in the early church and it’s great.

So why does Jesus say not to invite your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors? And does this mean you should never invite them over? Nope, not at all. Once again, Jesus is speaking to a heart issue here, not a practical one.

Repaid by OthersWhen Jesus said not to invite friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors, it came with a caveat – lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.

This does not mean you shouldn’t share meals with friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors; this means you shouldn’t invite those people and host them with the expectation of being invited in return. If an invitation to dinner has any motive beyond blessing them with a meal and enjoying a time of fellowship with them, then it’s a wrong motive.

We see evidence of this in situations such as politics or business. One party invites another over for dinner, may even lavish the guests with some gifts – all with the goal of getting something in return. This is the type of heart issue Jesus is addressing. If you’re giving anything with an expectation of selfishly getting something in return, then you’re not truly giving.

Repaid by GodJesus gave instruction on how not to invite or give, then He contrasted it by giving instruction on how to invite and give.

Jesus said to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind – BECAUSE they cannot repay you. Jesus really goaded the Pharisees and lawyers here who tended to view everything from how it appeared on the outside and directed them to look inward at their motives by giving an outward example.

But at the root of that motive to get something in return is pride. Who are we to expect anything?

And yet Jesus tells us that by inviting the poor, crippled, lame, and blind we’ll be blessed and repaid at the resurrection of the just. Some might wonder, isn’t that getting repaid too? What’s the difference in the two scenarios when both get repaid?

The difference is in the heart and how people are viewed. In the first situation, the host invites with an expectation to get repaid by those invited. The first type of host views people as a means to an end. In the second situation, the host invites knowing their guests cannot repay them. The second type of host views people as worth something simply because they’re people created in the image of God. And yet God in His goodness says He will repay them in heaven.

Remember when Jesus told us in Matthew 6, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”? If our hearts keep eternity in mind, we’ll be doing things down here on earth simply because it’s the right thing to do. In the first scenario, the host acted out of expectation of the desired outcome – being repaid. In the second scenario, the host acted out of love for the people, knowing they could not repay. And the reward in both scenarios is vastly different. The first one is fleeting, only to be had here on earth. But the second one is eternal and will not be destroyed by moth and rust or stolen by thieves.

Compare and ContrastThink of this - when the devil invites people to his proverbial parties, he fully has the expectation that his tempting will yield an outcome of them sinning. It is the devil’s goal to draw people away from God and his efforts are repaid in the souls he ensnares in sin.

When God invites people to take the gift of salvation in Him in which we abide in Him and He in us, He fully knew we could never repay Him. And yet, we are the eternal reward He died to pay for.

As we invite our friends and family over for dinner and when we give to others, may our hearts be aligned with the heart of Christ, in giving from a true, generous heart, seeing people for the worth and value in who they are and not for what whatever they can give in return.

In doing so, we will reap the eternal rewards in heaven in which we can then lay down at the feet of our Savior in worship of Him, who gave Himself up for us and invited into the kingdom of God when we couldn’t repay Him.

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Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

Jesus is on a role here at this dinner party, wouldn’t you agree? He has just asked some heart challenging questions on selfish judgements when He healed a man who had dropsy and now He’s challenging their pride as He teaches them how they should act instead of how they were currently acting.

He Noticed How They ChoseThe guests at this dinner party, which we saw from last week’s section was made up of at least Pharisees and lawyers, had chosen places of honor for themselves. In ancient Jewish culture, the places nearest the head of the table where the host sat were considered the places of honor. This is similar in current American culture, at least among politicians or corporate heads. If there’s an event, say a campaign fundraiser for example, the people of importance are the ones seated with the politician at the head table.

However, when you think of those types of situations in modern culture, people often seek to gain power or influence with or through said politician. So in those instances, they seek a place of honor for themselves for selfish reasons and it’s because of their pride that they feel entitled to it.

We all as human beings are capable of such pride and selfishness and in fact, it is more natural to us because of our sin nature. But we must fight our sinful flesh desires and strengthen our spirits in which we put on humility just as Jesus our Savior did.

When You are InvitedAs Jesus tells this parable, He gives instructions to not honor yourself in your seat choice, but to place yourself in the lowest seat and let the host honor you. This may seem like just a rational idea or even a dummies guide to humility, but Paul also touched on this when he told the churches in Philippi to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) as well as to the church in Rome to “not to think of [yourself] more highly than [you] ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

One could simply follow what Jesus said on the outside and look humble, but in reality this is a matter that starts in the heart.

Exalted and HumbledJames gave clear insight to this when he said, “But [God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:6-8,10)

The outside manifestation of this looks like exaltation of the humble and humbling of the self-exalted; however, the inside reality is that the humble who are being exalted have submitted themselves to God, resisted the devil, drawn near to God, cleansed their hands, and purified their hearts, humbling themselves before the Lord in which they receive grace from God.

A common Proverb, in which the context aligns with what Jesus and James said is, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) Whatever we do starts in the heart. Whatever we have our hearts set on we put thought into. Whatever we put thought into we give time and effort to act on. The reality is, our actions all start from what is in our hearts. If our hearts are prideful, we’ll act in pride. If our hearts are humble, we’ll act in humility.

Purifying the HeartLet me ask you a question and it may cause your inner defenses to come up, but remember, it’s just you and the Lord who know the answer, so you can answer honestly and let the Lord reveal and deal whatever may need to be…

Do you tend to put yourself first and choose the best for yourself or do you prefer others over yourself?

I’m sure we’d all love to quickly answer that we never put ourselves first and we prefer others and yield the best to others all the time, right? But even at our best, we don’t actually do that every. single. time. But how often we do or don’t can be a good heart check indicator, much like a check engine light on the car dashboard.

We should desire to be humble because our Lord and Savior Jesus is humble, and He is our example to follow as we walk with Him. Yet, how cool is it that we get to know the bad consequences of being prideful and the good consequences of being humble up front? Now with that knowledge comes an even further need to not seek to be humble for consequence’s sake, otherwise that’s simply pride in a humble costume. Again, it starts in the heart and the outer actions are the fruit.

How can we then effectively be truly humble? Well, if humility comes from a pure heart, then we need to first address having a pure heart. In the simplest of terms, Psalm 119 gives us a very clear answer of which I’ll leave you with this week:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
(Psalm 119:9-16)

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One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things. (Luke 14:1-6)

This section has three interesting tid-bits that we’ll dive into. One being that Jesus chose to dine at a Pharisee’s house, two is that He healed someone in the Pharisee’s home, and three is that He asked questions of the Pharisees and lawyers present.

1) Dining With PhariseesFirst thing we notice is that Jesus was dining at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees among a party of lawyers and other Pharisees. We know Jesus dined with blatant sinners, but here we have a ruler of the Pharisees, which up to this point we have mainly seen Pharisees opposing Jesus, not inviting Him over for dinner at their house. This is noteworthy though because it proves that Jesus didn’t just give up on people who initially opposed Him. Jesus gave opportunities for people to have softer hearts and ears to hear and came to the invitation of that Pharisee.

2) Healing The ManBefore we dig into this one, dropsy isn’t likely something many people have heard of, and it’s only mentioned this one time in the New Testament. That’s because it is an old term for swelling due to water retention. Nowadays, the medical term for it is edema, and while it isn’t a disease in and of itself, it’s a symptom of a serious underlying issue in the body. We don’t know exactly what this man was suffering from, but swelling was a major symptom of it.

What’s really interesting is that this man ends up in the Pharisees house where Jesus was. We don’t have any other information about how he got there, maybe he was a servant in the household, or maybe he just walked in from the street when he saw Jesus sitting there so he came for healing? We really don’t know, but we know he was there before Jesus in that moment. And we know that the Pharisees and lawyers were watching Jesus carefully on that Sabbath day, and yet Jesus would heal the man regardless of the circumstances.

3) Asking the PhariseesFrom an outside perspective, it would appear Jesus was kind of a in a tough situation. He was a guest in a ruler’s house on the Sabbath where they were already watching Him carefully, and a man in need of healing is now standing before Him. Notice though that Jesus didn’t take a break from His mission. The Father told Jesus to heal this man, and in His wisdom, He also took it as an opportunity to gently teach the Pharisees and lawyers.

This was a gracious thing to do because the tendency of the Pharisees and lawyers up to this point is to get all judgmental, throw a hissy fit over something that’s not actually wrong in God’s eyes, and then their wall of anger would blind them to godly explanations and teachings. Jesus frontloaded His actions here as He asked them a question to get their minds in the right perspective to what they would soon witness – a healing on the Sabbath.

Even after Jesus healed the man and sent him away, He followed up with another question that would help them check their own hearts on the matter. They were silent to both questions as they likely pondered it in their own thoughts and possibly later discussed amongst themselves when Jesus was no longer around.

Jesus could have preached a sermon on the Sabbath and quoted the Law and Prophets and pretty much rebuked the Pharisees and lawyers, putting them in their place, but He didn’t. He chose to engage in communication with the goal of invoking self-reflection and a deeper dive into what Scriptures truly say on that topic. For those who were seeking truth and whose hearts were open to what Jesus asked, they very well may have been changed that night and they may have even later gone back to the scrolls seeking to understand Jesus’ perspective on the Sabbath, which so widely varied from their own traditional views of it.

Being Like JesusIf we want to be like Jesus, we can’t show partiality one way or another. We can’t pick and choose who to minister to and who to be an example to based on whether they are nice to us or jive with our personality or have opposed us. Now there is of course times to use wisdom in which we may not accept an invitation to something, but if our motivation for not accepting isn’t right before the Lord, then we’re wrong.

There’s also the aspect of listening to the calling of the Father regardless of the circumstances around us. Jesus was faced with a crazy situation on the Sabbath and surrounded by Pharisees and lawyers who were watching carefully, yet before Him was a man in need whom the Father wanted Him to heal. Jesus was not distracted by the stress of the circumstances or events; He was tuned in and ready to do what He heard from the Father.

When we, as followers of Jesus, interact with people in this world, they too watch us carefully to see how we’ll respond to things. To be like Jesus and respond like Him, we must spend time with Him and abide in Him so that when those times come, we can choose to love like Him, speak like Him, and act like Him. If we’re doing that, I am confident that we will be able to follow in His footsteps of loving even the harshest of people, do great works that He tells us to do, and speak the wise words that the Spirit will give us in the moments we need them.

On the flip side of this, we can’t ignore that there may be things that we have taken a hard stance on that’s not a doctrinal stance but a preferential one. I couldn’t tell you in this devotional what that might be in your life, but the Spirit of God sure can. I encourage you to sit and listen and let Him ask you those questions that invoke a self-reflection and then dig deeper into Scripture as you seek to align yourself fully with the truth of God’s perspective.

I’ll leave you with a song to accompany this week’s devotional. If you’ve followed these devotionals and my music, you’ve likely heard this song before. Since God created us as social and emotional beings, I like to take opportunities where music fits well with what we’re studying in God’s word. So here is my song, While I Wait Here.

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At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:31-35)

Not all Pharisees hated Jesus. Obviously, there were some such as Nicodemus, and even within the Sanhedrin with people like Joseph of Arimathea, who later helped bury Jesus. Here we see that some Pharisees who were upright came to warn Jesus and sought to protect Him. But Jesus’ answer is rather interesting.

Tell That FoxJesus referred to Herod as a fox. Now this may seem like a major slight in which we’d wonder, how can Jesus do that while not sinning. William Barclay, a 20th century theologian, explained this well when he said, “To the Jew the fox was a symbol of three things. First it was regarded as the slyest of animals. Second, it was regarded as the most destructive of animals. Third, it was the symbol of a worthless and insignificant man.” (Barclay)

So yes, this address of calling Herod a fox is brutal, but it’s honest and making the people aware that Herod was sly, destructive, and insignificant. However, to call someone insignificant seems again, not like a God thing, right? But what Jesus was stating is that even in all of Herod’s power and desire to kill Jesus, Herod was completely insignificant when it came to Jesus fulfilling His ministry and mission of the cross, which would happen according to the Father’s timing.

This becomes clearer in the rest of what Jesus said – that He casts out demons, cures people, and that in the third day will finish His course. Jesus came to do the work of the Father and He was not only doing it, but nothing Herod could have done could have thwarted it; therefore Herod was insignificant.

Jerusalem’s ProphetsJesus gets a bit ironic here as He says, “for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem”. We see in the very next sentence that Jerusalem is “the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” Here Jesus is using irony to emphasize the point. The point isn’t that Jerusalem is just awful because it has killed their prophets though. The point is in Jesus’ next sentence, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Under the WingJesus is heartbroken at their unwillingness to let God be the good Father He is over them and the protection and comfort He would have provided them the way a hen gathers her brood under her wings. The prophets sent to them spoke the very words of God and instead of heeding their words, they stoned them. That was a direct reflection of their heart, not towards the prophets themselves, but it was a reflection of their hearts towards God.

The way Jesus states “How often would I have gathered your children” is indicative that God desired to protect and comfort His people often even though the people weren’t responsive to allow it.

Adam Clarke, an 18th century pastor and bible scholar, gave great insight to this as well when he said, “When the hen sees a beast of prey coming, she makes a noise to assemble her chickens, that she may cover them with her wings from the danger. The Roman eagle is about to fall upon the Jewish state — nothing can prevent this but their conversion to God through Christ — Jesus cries throughout the land, publishing the gospel of reconciliation — they would not assemble, and the Roman eagle came and destroyed them.” (Clarke)

You Will Not See MeThe last thing Jesus said in this section is “Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Now this is two-fold because He indeed came back to Jerusalem after this where we read about the triumphal entry in Luke 19:

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-38)

That would be seeing Him with their physical eyes. With any spiritual eyes, they would not see Him until the prophecy of the end times comes to fulfillment where they will look upon Him and acknowledge Him as Messiah, which they didn’t do when He first came.

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great…(Zechariah 12:10-11a)
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

It’s important to realize that Jesus prefaced this with “your house is forsaken” and fully understand what He is saying here. There are false theologies that go around that Israel has been replaced because Jesus said things like “your house is forsaken” to them, but that’s not what He is saying here. That word for forsake means to let go, let be, to give up a thing. Jesus is saying that He tried to call them to Himself, and they weren’t willing to gather, so He is letting them be and therefore their house is empty without Him. Jesus is not abandoning Israel; He is simply leaving them to what they want in that moment but the time will come when they look upon Him whom they pierced and weep over not acknowledging Him sooner.

A Christ Follower’s ApplicationWith all this being directed at Israel, what can we as followers of Jesus take away from this? We can glean several things –

No matter how powerful, nothing can thwart the sovereignty of God
Our sins are great, and yet God is willing to reconcile us to Himself and cover us with His wing
We need to have ears to hear when God calls us and be willing to respond to Him
Although we may be struck down at times, God never actually leaves or forsakes us; He always has good plans for us

Be encouraged today by God’s immense love for you and at the same time be challenged to tune into the voice of God more deeply, responding in obedience and worship to a great and mighty God who will never leave or forsake you!

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He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:22-30)

Having recognized what Jesus meant as He compared the kingdom of God to a mustard tree and leavened bread, the asked if those who are saved would be few. And Jesus in His typical fashion on not being direct, but speaking in ways that required ears to hear what the Spirit was saying through Him, told everyone to strive to enter through the narrow door. He made it perfectly clear that some would desire to enter heaven, but not all would be able to. And He explained the hard truth, that some will hear God say to them in the end, “I do not know where you come from…Depart from me, all you workers of evil!”

The Narrow DoorThis concept of the narrow door is further understood in places like Mathew 7:13-14 where Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Also in John 10:7,9 when Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep… If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” And it’s made perfectly clear when Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The kingdom of God, while on earth will be corrupted as it flaunts its mustard tree size and rises from the leaven within, but the true kingdom of God as it will be complete in heaven is exclusive to those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf, being justified and accepted as perfect in Christ before God the Father.

There is no alternative way to God and an eternal residence in heaven with Him. If one does not want to be with God in heaven, they won’t be forced. Their free will can be exercised to choose to deny salvation, but then they will be turned away in the end and be in a place described by Jesus as a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus describes the people who will be in the kingdom of God in heaven – among them are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets. What did these all have in common? Faith in the promises of God. Although they didn’t live to see the earthly coming of Jesus as Messiah, they trusted what God said about His plan of salvation and although they died on earth, they live forever with God in heaven because of their faith.

And we, having come on the earthly timeline after Jesus, have this in common with them – our faith that God’s promise of old, which came to fruition in Jesus’ work on the cross and through His resurrection, is what allows us to enter through that narrow door. We’ve all been given a measure of faith, it all just depends on where we place it. Placing it in Christ Jesus leads to eternal life forever with God, but placing it in anything else leads to a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth being eternally separated from God.

Lord Open to UsFollowing what Jesus said in last week’s devotional, the kingdom of God which on earth grows unnaturally large and houses birds of the air has corruption. There will not only be those who flat out did not follow Jesus but some will have been deceived into thinking they were good with God but weren’t.

Unfortunately, there are false doctrines that have crept in and teach things like God’s love only and don’t want to teach things like repentance and sanctification because it doesn’t “feel” good. The Word of God is living and active and able to sanctify us, carving out our old sin nature and making us complete into the image of Jesus. This is part of God’s design with our salvation and it’s good. So if a church is shying away from teaching the whole bible and skips over the harder topics because it doesn’t fall in line with what they’re describing as God’s love (aka tolerance and acceptance with a distain for repentance and obedience), then with confidence I can tell you that there are people in that church who are deceived.

They go throughout their lives living however they see fit, attending church on Sundays thinking they’re good to go with the Big Man Upstairs as they get their feel good message about how God loves them, and when the end comes, they’ll be confused as to why they’re not actually all good with God – and it’s because they never actually placed their faith in Jesus. They seek to enter through that wide open door of convenience instead of the narrow door in which Jesus admonished to enter through.

Saved or Not Saved?How can we know who’s even saved or not then? The Bible is clear that our salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It’s God’s gift that we accept through faith. Once we’re in Christ, we cannot be snatched out of His hand. The real question is – are you in His hand?

I would hate to tell someone that God loves them (which is 100% true) and they accept Jesus, but then fail to tell them that salvation is only the beginning of their relationship with God in which He desires to change us and bring us into obedience to Him. That would be unloving because they would think they have received salvation and me not knowing the soil of their heart, they could be deceived if that seed isn’t watered and grows – which is the whole concept of discipleship. It is being God’s hands to help tend to the seedling and help equip them to be in the water of the word of God and grow.

Do you remember growing up as a child and getting growing pains in your legs? Dude, those hurt so bad! But it also meant our bodies were growing the way they should into mature adulthood. Much like that, our walks with God can be downright painful sometimes, but if we keep on the straight and narrow pathway following Jesus, we will indeed grow to be mature in Him and enter through the narrow door into the eternal kingdom of God in the end.

I want to encourage you, if you’re a follower of Jesus and have accepted Him as salvation, not to live in fear of hearing, “I do not know where you come from…Depart from me, all you workers of evil!”, but instead be intentional of abiding in Jesus, following Him daily, and live for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus with eagerness to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

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He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” (Luke 13:18-21)

I’ve often heard this section taught that the kingdom of God starts small and then grows to become huge as if that’s the epitome of success in God’s kingdom, and is often accompanied with examples of megachurches. However, when we look at Jesus’ examples given, that’s not what Jesus said.

Indeed, the kingdom of God will have a lot of people, as we can see in Revelation when multitudes of every tribe, tongue, and nation are there. But Jesus is not describing what His kingdom is like in heaven, He’s describing what it’s like on earth.

Mustard TreesHave you ever seen a mustard seed or what it grows into? The seed is pretty tiny and when grown it’s a plant, not a tree.

Having a seed that is supposed to grow into a plant, grow into a tree instead isn’t natural. When God made plants and trees in the beginning of time, He made them according to their kind for their seeds to be within them so they would produce according to their own kind. But is it possible for a mustard plant to grow into a tree? Not unless man somehow genetically modified it to grow larger than the original design.

And this is the point, it was not God’s perfect design for His kingdom, which would later function on earth under His Church made up of smaller congregations, to be these giant mega trees. Yet with man’s ambitions and intervention, that’s what Jesus said it was like, much like the Tower of Babel we read about in Genesis.

Birds of the AirMoving onto these birds of the air that make their nests in the branches of this mustard tree. Birds of the air in scripture is often symbolic of evil and workers of satan. There is a distinction, it’s not all birds mentioned in the bible, but in contexts like these or in the Parable of the Sower when the birds snatched the seeds that fell on the side of the path.

So having birds of the air come and make nests in the branches, is similar to wolves in sheep’s clothing. The birds of the air aren’t part of the plant, the way followers of Jesus are likened to branches abiding in the vine, the birds are using the plant for their own purposes. Their sin and corruption hide in the shadow of the church.

Leaven in BreadThen Jesus moves on to another example, now using leavened bread. Have you ever baked bread? Leaven makes the bread rise. Without leaven, the bread would bake flat, not fluffy. But the thing is that leaven is used in the bible when speaking of sin and corruption.

Jesus even warned His disciples in Luke 12:1 to “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy”. A little sin gets in and before you know it, your ways are full of it.

Also take notice that the woman “hid” the leaven in the flour. If you’ve ever baked bread from scratch or maybe watched a cooking show or YouTube video about it, the leaven is a completely indistinguishable from the flour when you mix it in. They’re practically the same color and they are similar texture. The only way you’d know if there is leaven in the flour is to see if it rises or not.

So, in explaining it in the kingdom of God is to say that currently the church is intermingled with leaven. Sin of which causes a rise in the size and corruption of the church but not in a good way in light of the rest of scripture.

There’s also the added context that God told the people of Israel to bake unleavened bread during the Passover. When they were enslaved in Egypt and God was about to free them, they were to kill a lamb, spread its blood on their door post, eat of it with unleavened bread, and the angel of death would Passover their house when it came time for the last plague of Egypt to come.

Egypt was symbolic of being enslaved to sin. The lamb, in which the blood covered them so the angel of death would Passover them, was symbolic of Jesus’ future sacrifice as our perfect Lamb. And the unleavened bread, as we later saw instituted by Jesus in communion before He died, was symbolic of Jesus’ completely without sin, whose body was broken for us.

It’s A WarningWhy would Jesus describe the kingdom of God in this way then? In short, it’s a warning to us. There will be aspects in various churches that are unnatural to the way God intended it because of man’s ambitions, and if we didn’t know we couldn’t guard ourselves against it.

Now I’m not trying to make this an attack or judgment against megachurches, but I am saying that if you’re part of one, beware and heed Jesus’ warning. When we see early on in the book of Acts, the number of people being saved grew very quickly on the day of Pentecost and onward BUT we also see that they were gathering in their homes together, doing life together, and dedicating time to studying the word of God together, praying together, sharing meals together, and fellowshipping together often. The early church did life together the way Jesus modeled with His disciples and the way He intended His church to be.

It can be very easy in a large church to go to a service once a week and be rather anonymous the rest of the time, but that’s not how God designed His church. It can also be much easier in a large church for sin to abound and to have a lack of discipleship, simply because of the size, but that’s not how God designed His church.

And while I would never tell someone what church they can or can’t go to, I will definitely encourage everyone to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, being in your Bible regularly, testing the spirits, and living in accordance to what God designed and desires for you. Man’s ways may seem grand, as they can be larger than life and deceitfully exciting sometimes, but God’s ways are always better, and God always has your good in mind.

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Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (Luke 13:10-17)

It’s always amazing to see the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Jesus time, especially because we have the words of Jesus to align our perspective with God’s. But that’s in hindsight. We would all love to think that we would never act the way the pharisees had, but we, like them, are human beings affected by a sin nature. There is definitely a difference we can notice in ourselves from before we surrender our lives to Christ, trusting in Him as Lord and Savior, but we can’t pretend that we are no longer in a struggle against our flesh nature, or we might succumb to it once again. We can also relate to this woman, even if not in disability, certainly in needing Jesus.

Disabling DecadesThis woman was disabled for eighteen years! In America, and most other places around the world, that is the age of which we consider someone an adult. So in the time it takes for a child to enter the world and grow to full adulthood, was the length of time this woman had been afflicted with the disabling spirit. She would have been permanently hunched over, unable to make clear eye contact with people, and clearly not a concern to the pharisees who would have undoubtedly seen her come and go in the synagogue. Yet on that day, a Sabbath day, as Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, she happened to be there.

This woman never asked for the healing, but Jesus saw her condition of her not being able to straighten herself and He called her to Himself and healed her. This is much like our salvation – we can’t straighten our own ways out because we’re dead in our sins, but God sought us relentlessly, sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin in order to redeem and reconcile us to Himself, and by His stripes we are healed. It took a personal calling and touch from Jesus to our hearts, much like took Him calling her, laying His hands on her, and her immediately being healed.

Hypocritical HeartsAs this woman had been healed, she glorified God. Yet the very next sentence is about an indignant synagogue ruler because she had been healed on the Sabbath. It would appear that the ruler couldn’t see past the nose on his own face because he didn’t even stop to rejoice in the miraculous healing that had just taken place or that the healing resulted not only in a life altering easement of her disability but in the glory of God.

But why was he so indignant? Unfortunately, it was based in the false belief surrounding what keeping the Sabbath day holy meant in the Law. God had designed the Sabbath day, starting at the very beginning of creation, to be a day of rest. This was an opportunity to rest from the hard work of life. God didn’t need the Sabbath when He rested on the seventh day of creation, but He implemented it and led by example. It was meant to be a gift for mankind, not to be a burden to mankind.

Much like sin does, it perverts and manipulates holiness, the traditions of men surrounding the Sabbath had done just that. Their rules made Sabbath what God never intended it to be. They put a huge burden on the people in how they were to keep Sabbath. The whole point was to destress and rest, but their rules in how to properly keep Sabbath became a huge stressor.

Yet so often the rulers would create loopholes to the rules in order to carry out necessary tasks, such as feeding and watering their animals. It is interesting that Jesus used that as an example as He pointed out their hypocrisy too. Because to untie a donkey would be to loosen the bonds it was being held by while it was dark and nighttime. In the morning, it would be untied and led by the owner to where there was water. In a similar way, Jesus unties our bonds and leads us out of darkness into light to drink freely from Him, the Living Water.

Shame or SympathyThe ruler of the synagogue is the only one recorded speaking here, but Jesus’ response was to more than one person. He said, “You hypocrites” (plural) as He then specifically pointed out the hypocrisy. It wasn’t one person being a hypocrite, this was directed at all the rulers since by and large they were all of the same mind on this.

Jesus was blunt and honest in His rebuke of their hypocrisy and the rulers were put to shame. The apostle Peter later wrote, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:15) Jesus was doing the will of His father when He healed this woman, and the foolish rulers were put to shame for their hypocrisy.

When we have a need, we want it attended to, right? How often do we see others in need and what percentage of the time do we help? Are there ever times when you purposely just look the other way or try to justify why you shouldn’t help?

It can be hard to have sympathy and compassion for people sometimes, enough to be moved to act with love. But that’s exactly what Jesus did.

If we want to be like Jesus and not like the synagogue rulers, then we need to be aware of our tendency to be hypocrites and spend time with Jesus. Have you ever heard the phrase “You are who you hang out with”? While it’s usually a warning about who you spend time with, the saying proves true with Jesus. The more you spend time with Jesus, the more you’ll become like Him. As you walk with Jesus, those hypocritical tendencies of your flesh will be carved away and the Spirit at work in you will produce good works that will silence the ignorance of even the most foolish people.

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And [Jesus] told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Jesus had just finished clearing up that “karma” isn’t a thing, but that those who don’t repent will perish. This continues that thought train with this parable. The man and the vinedresser are God. This may seem a little odd, but remember that the Godhead is Father, Son, and Spirit so a conversation between them is normal. We see this throughout the Bible, from the very beginning when God says, “Let Us make man in our image” or in places like Isaiah when God says, “Who will go for Us, whom shall we send?”

God Seeks FruitIn this parable, the man came seeking fruit from the fig tree planted in his vineyard. God does all the work of salvation for us and in addition to the justification He provides through Jesus, He does a lifelong work of sanctification in us in which He expects fruit to be produced.

What fruit is He seeking? There are verses that give us insight into that, such as Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Notice this though - The fruit of the Spirit is singularly love. Our English translators didn’t get that grammar wrong when they translated it to “the fruit of the Spirit is” because in the Greek it is indeed a singular verb. Otherwise, it would have been translated “the fruits of the Spirit are”. Yes, there are other attributes that are manifest in that fruit of the Spirit, which are listed in this verse, but the fruit that those attributes are produced from is the singular fruit of love. And remember, God is love (1 John 4:8). Therefore, a true believer who has God the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them will produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is love.

Another form of fruit is found in good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So while our works have nothing to do with us receiving salvation, it is evidence of our salvation in which we were created in Christ Jesus for. Our fruit is the evidence that our root is firmly grounded in Christ Jesus and God seeks out our fruit.

God is PatientWhen the man says, “‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none” we can see the vast patience He has for us. He doesn’t wait a week after we have made an acknowledgement of accepting Christ and then expect juicy fruit to pop up instantly. He gives time for His Spirit to work in our hearts and do the necessary heart work of cutting away the things of our old self and nurturing the new creation we are in Him.

We often can get impatient with ourselves and others as we watch life unfold, but God is patient for a reason. 2 Peter 3 gives us insight into this where it says, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:3-4,9)

It’s because of God’s will of not wanting anyone to perish but that all would repent and turn to be reconciled to Him that He is patient. God is just and the day of judgment will come eventually, but He is also patient, which is an attribute that we see listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. It’s God’s great love for us that yields His patience toward us.

God Provides Growth OpportunitiesNotice the response the vinedresser gives here – “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.” God doesn’t just seek out fruit from us, He is willing and active in helping us grow in order for us to produce fruit. Any good gardener will tell you that manure is an excellent way to help plants grow.

In all reality, manure is poop and being surrounded by it stinks really bad sometimes. God may put someone in a season of digging around them and adding a manure treatment for their good, but the reality of living in a season surrounded by crap is hard. But much like James tells us, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:3-4). The reality is, the fruit that can be produced from a tree that has gone through a season of manure treatment can be ever so fruitful! God has good in mind, even when by the world’s standards it just stinks.

God’s Judgment is ComingThis parable ends with the vinedresser saying that if the care and nurturing and patience doesn’t yield the fruit, that the tree will be cut down. This is the final judgement. Either we have the good soil in our hearts that yield a fruit producing tree, of which we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and submitted to Him in obedience as our Lord, or we don’t. And if we don’t, the coming judgement will cut us off with one fell swoop.

This may seem like a harsh reality, but in light of the patience God demonstrates, in light of the ever so many opportunities He gives for those salvation seeds sown to reap the fruit of righteousness and love, it is the just consequence. This is a call to inspect our own fruit production. Is God reaping fruit from the tree of our life?

Are we tuned in to the Spirit, letting the steadfastness that the testing of our faith is producing to have its full effect in our lives? Or do we push back against God’s attempts to grow us?

Yes, we want to avoid the coming judgement, but there’s also the aspect that we have God, the owner and vinedresser of the vineyard that we’re planted in, who loves us, tends to our needs, and looks after our growth, who is seeking fruit from us. We want that love that He has sown into our hearts to produce an abundant outflow of fruit in our lives because He is worthy of it!

I’ll leave you this week with a question to consider in your own life – Is God reaping the fruit He is seeking in your life?

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There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

Do you remember in John 9 the situation with the man who was born blind and Jesus’ disciples asked Him if it was the man or his parents who had sinned that caused him to be born blind? And now here we see that the perception of the people mimics this idea that hardship somehow equates to how bad of a sinner someone is.

Even in our current culture of unchurched, people tend to claim “karma” – the idea that if you do good, good will happen to you and if you do bad, bad will happen to you. But Jesus debunked that, not only in John 9, when He answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) but also here, when He says not once but twice, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

To God, sin is sin.It doesn’t matter if the sin is telling a lie or killing someone, sin is sin.

A common example given is that when you view a city from an airplane, you can’t tell which buildings are houses or skyscrapers. They all look like little tiny boxes from that high. But think of this – If you caught someone lying to you, did they do wrong towards you? How about if someone came over to your house and stole from you, would you say they wronged you? What about if someone walked up to you and punched you in the face, would that be wrong towards you? Sure, you might feel different levels of upset about those, but regardless of how bad, they still wronged you.

But let’s take the emotion out of it - if you get pulled over for speeding 5 miles per hour over the legal speed limit, did you break the law? If you get pulled over for speeding 20 miles per hour over the legal speed limit, did you break the law? Since the law states the speed limit, even if you’re only driving a little over that, you have technically broken the law.

God, who is holy and good, gave us His law, first through the ten commandments, and later in more details through Moses, which included those 613 laws, both ceremonial laws and moral laws. There has only been one human to date who has never broken any of those laws and that was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, IN ORDER that through His fulfillment of them He would be the perfect substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. If we’re in court for speeding, even if only 1 mile and hour over the speed limit, facing fines for breaking the law – it would be like Jesus standing up, paying our fines, doing traffic school on our behalf, and our driving record is instantly clean.

But UnlessThat is of course a very simplistic example, but the idea is the same – we did the crime but Jesus paid the time, it’s that great exchange in which Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them… For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:19a,21)

But just because Jesus died for the sins of the world and quite literally anyone who believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved, doesn’t mean that everyone will be saved. Jesus makes it very clear that unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. So indeed, sin is sin and all who confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9), but if repentance doesn’t happen, then salvation isn’t received. Repentance is the predecessor, the heart soil prepper, so to speak, to the seed of salvation to be sown and grow – they go hand in hand.

Don’t misunderstand this, because this isn’t adding extra requirements to salvation, simply put – One will indeed be saved if they confess and believe, but one who doesn’t repent won’t confess and believe.

Remember it mentioned that Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly and then died on our behalf? No one could ever have or ever will fulfill the Law. The point of the Law was to point us to the realization that we are sinners and need a Savior to stand in the gap between us and God to reconcile us. Only Jesus could do that. And it was that kindness towards us, that Jesus died while we were still sinners, that leads us to repentance.

If you are reading this and you’re saved – rejoice that your sins are forgiven and meditate on the love, joy, and unity we get to share with God in the reconciliation that Jesus died to give us.

If you are reading this and you’re not saved – all the sins you’ve committed, no matter how big or small, does not separate you from the love of God. He loves you so much, which is why Jesus died for you. He offers you salvation in Him today – will you receive it?

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He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.” (Luke 12:54-59)

In our current culture, the world views love as tolerance of sin and not acknowledging sin as sin, but that’s the most unloving thing we can do to those who are dying in their sin. And this isn’t a soapbox message threatening hell, but it truly is a message of love as Jesus urges people to be reconciled to God before it’s too late.

Accountable in the EndEvery person will have to give account for their words and actions in the end. The only difference between those who get separated as God’s sheep and the rest as goats is that the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, covers His sheep. As Christians, we not only need to take inventory of ourselves to ensure the treasure we’re storing is in heaven, just as we read Jesus mention several devotionals ago, but we need to be a people burdened as ambassadors seeking to reconcile a lost people to their loving Creator. Even though our salvation is secure, we too will have to give account for our faithfulness to what God entrusted to us.

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3) Don’t we want to be a person who shines like the stars in heaven? And the end is coming soon, so the time to work will soon run out.

JudgementYes, many have and will scoff and say that Christians have been saying it’s the end times for a long time, but with the knowledge that the “slowness” they speak of is God’s grace allowing time for repentance - Do we share despite the scoffing or does the scoffing silence our gospel message? This is another one of those hard questions, but one well worth taking the time to honestly answer and take assessment of in ourselves. Jesus didn’t come down off the cross and stop His mission of redemption for you and me when people scoffed at Him, and neither should we be halted in our mission when people scoff at us.

It is well observed that the world doesn’t like the word judge. They actively quote the partial words of Jesus out of context when they tell Christians that He said to “judge not”, but the Spirit Himself is convicting the world of the coming judgement and Jesus here asks, “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”.

The thing is, it was while we were still sinners that God died for us, and He loved us and sought after us in our lost state to bring us into reconciliation with Himself. So while we may be hated in the process, don’t ever give up on sharing the gospel with people. They are indeed sinners whom Jesus died for and we have the message, the very words of life, that Jesus gave us to share.

Do you remember the person or the people who shared Christ and His gospel message with you? I bet you do because it was likely super impactful, it changed your whole life! And you now, as a follower of Jesus, not only have the opportunities that the Spirit provides but the calling to share the gospel with them, which is what Jesus commissioned His disciples before He ascended and in which you have been commissioned as His follower.

The Very Last PennyJust as the parable of the servant who is forgiven a financial debt they could never repay, this too is giving that parable type example that we all owe a debt that we can never repay. This example of making an effort on the way to settle is the chance at redemption through Jesus Christ prior to coming before eternal judgement. Because once someone dies and faces final judgement and the books are opened in the end, one will either be responsible to pay their debt themselves because the wages of sin is death, or have their debts forgiven by Jesus because they accepted the gift of God, which is eternal life.

Being in a cultural climate of politically correctness and tolerance, this blunt honesty may seem mean, but who really can accuse Jesus of not being loving? The Son of God, who is love, is telling people who are perishing that they need redemption, which He offers, before getting to the final judgement. That is the most loving thing He can do. And if He did that loving act of sharing the truth in love, then we too need to be bold and tell the same message in love.

Let me ask you these questions to think on – Who do you know who needs to hear the gospel message today? Do you believe God when He says the time of judgement is near? Then as an ambassador of Christ, boldly share that message of love with them today. Who knows, because of your willingness to share, today could be their day of salvation!

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“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53)

This little section of verses is packed full! Jesus quickly speaks about the coming judgement and His work on the cross in just the first two sentences, before giving us the details of what to expect (especially when the world tries to say otherwise!).

Fire & BaptismWe know in Jesus’ first coming that He came to set the captives free, not to condemn but to save. But in His second coming, there will be a fiery judgement upon the earth and those on earth who have chosen to reject the salvation offered to them through Jesus. However, at the time Jesus said this, He hadn’t even been crucified yet.

It’s really interesting how Jesus describes His pending death for the sins of the world though a baptism and that it was a great distress to Him until it was accomplished. When we go through water baptism, we are publicly showing the inner work that took place in our hearts in an outward way. As we go down into the water and back up again, it symbolizes our dying to sin and going into the grave and then raising to life anew; this is identifying with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. And in that act of death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus redeemed mankind – of which He was eager to do and is why it caused such great distress until it was accomplished. We were the joy set before Him on that day, the reward in which He was paying His life to redeem.

Not Peace, But DivisionThis whole idea of peace and division is something that most people who don’t have a true knowledge of God and the Bible usually miss. They claim that Jesus was all about unity and tolerance and love, usually to justify their sin when the Holy Spirit is convicting them concerning sin and righteousness and judgement. While Jesus is indeed about unity, it’s unity within His church, of which He prayed for in His high priestly prayer; and grace, of which through the apostle’s letters we are encouraged to abound in; and love, of which God is. But an aspect that is often disregarded by those misguided Bible quoters is that Jesus is also the Way and the Truth and the Life, and while that creates unity and stirs grace and love within His Church, it indeed creates division between darkness and light.

Just as with the woman caught in adultery, Jesus came to draw a line in the sand. He Himself created division amongst the Jews in His day – those who heard Him and believed and those who heard Him and loved their sin more, which fueled their desire to kill Him. When Peter and John were brought before the council in Acts 4, there was division between them, as followers of Jesus, and the Jewish council, who had killed Jesus. And the Scriptures say that Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12)

Jesus Himself is the dividing line and as He had said earlier in Luke, Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:23) And the fact that there is salvation in no one else other than Jesus is a solid line that will create a divide between those who are in Christ and those who aren’t.

Unity Because of DivisionThe thing is, while the world claims that they hate division and only want peace, the world inevitably creates division between them and the Church because darkness hates the light and wants nothing to do with it. But in that, while we don’t close off our doors and boundaries to never reach the lost in darkness, being persecuted by the world also inevitably creates a stronger unity within the Church as we all cling closely to Christ and walk in Him side by side together. As a united Church of Jesus, we stir one another to love and good works, we pray for one another and bear each other’s burdens, and we sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron.

When you face the division that the dividing line of Christ draws, especially when it comes to families, like Jesus described – father against son, mother against daughter, etc – it can feel discouraging and almost like we’re doing something wrong. I’m sure Peter and John and Paul felt that way when they were facing criminal charges for preaching Christ, but they weren’t doing wrong, they were walking rightly before God and in the calling He gave them. And just as the Word of God, which is living and active, pierces to the division of soul and of spirit, and discerns the thoughts and intensions of the heart – not all division is bad so long as it’s in accordance with following God.

To be extremely clear, the division is not over just anything. God is not saying division with families is what He came for or that’s what He desires. That’s not even the goal, because it is God’s will that ALL would come to repentance. What Jesus is saying is that when it comes to following Him, it will create divisions when some members of a household follow Jesus and the others don’t. If this is the state of your family right now, my heart goes out to you, and it’s a really hard situation. I do hope this encourages you as you continue in your walk with Jesus and living with the division that choosing Him has brought – Jesus knew that kind of division would happen and He’s given you a church family to be united to in Him.

Ultimately, we need to keep walking and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, sharing the truth in love with all who will listen, pray for the unsaved and for opportunities to share the gospel, live peaceably with others so far as it depends on us, and take up the full armor of God as we stand strong in the strength of His might as we serve and eagerly await His return for us.

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Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:41-48)

Peter asked a good question here – who is this message for? When we read the consequences of disobedience, they are severe, so we kind of should know who Jesus is telling this to.

Jesus says here that His message is for all who are servants of God. To the servants who are faithful and wise stewards of what God has entrusted to them, will be blessed and rewarded. But to the servants who say to themselves, “My master is delayed in coming” and decides to mistreat other servants and love the things of the world, they will face the consequences upon the master’s arrival, which will come upon them unexpectedly.

Varying ConsequencesIt’s interesting that we read about varying consequences because servants who aren’t obedient will all face consequences, but some will be more severe than others. The varied severity of negative consequence is based on the knowledge of the master’s will.

Now we could get into the details of the servants who will receive what in the parable is described as a beating, but the more important aspect for us to focus on is the difference between the servants who will receive a beating and the servants who won’t. Sure a lighter beating is better than a severe beating, but isn’t no beating at all better? The difference between whether or not a servant will receive a negative consequence is based on their obedience to the master’s will.

The Faithful and WiseAs we read these distinctions, we should want to be a faithful and wise servant. The master trusts this servant and gives them responsibility over His household. This is one who leads and serves his other fellow servants, looking out for them and not beating them like the unfaithful and disobedient servant.

It is easy to put ourselves immediately into the place of the faithful and wise servant, but we don’t want to miss this opportunity to self-reflect and make sure that we are indeed falling into this category and not just deceiving ourselves. It’s much easier to be lazy, mean, and selfish because that’s our natural tendency as sinners.

Faithfulness comes from loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and wisdom comes from asking God for it. In this process of self-reflection, and being completely honest with yourself, are you doing these things? In short, it takes abiding in Jesus to produce the fruit that comes from a faithful and wise servant.

Much Will Be RequiredEveryone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

As a follower of Jesus, you have been entrusted with things. These things may look different from person to person. The most obvious differences is things like: a pastor has been entrusted with feeding and equipping a congregation, along with his first ministry of his wife and children if he has them; and a prayer ministry leader has been entrusted with faithful intercession for the saints of that church body, following up with those who request prayer; and even those who aren’t officially in any position of leadership within their church body, maybe they fold bulletins or greet people as they come in for service or make coffee to have available as people walk in – these are all things that have been entrusted to them. Different things entrusted to different people, but the underlying requirement of both is faithfulness to obey God in what He’s entrusted to them.

What have you been entrusted with?

What has God called you to do for Him as His servant?

Have you been faithful to do it?

These can be hard questions to reflect on sometimes. In the seasons where you’re hitting homeruns in faithfully serving the Lord, these questions are easy and can even be encouraging as you can truthfully answer yes. But in those seasons where you know you’ve been struggling in your faithfulness or maybe you’ve even gotten to the point of thinking God’s arrival has been delayed and you’re focusing on the wrong things and being guided by your flesh – it’s in those times that these questions can bring on feelings of shame. If that is you, today is the day to seek God’s forgiveness, renew your mind, and get back on track with the Lord. We all have missteps sometimes, but if you stumble and stay there then you’ll end there, and you don’t want to end up there when Jesus comes back.

This is a call to obedience to God’s will and walking faithfully and wisely with all that we’ve been entrusted with by God. If you’re on track with that today, right on my fellow sibling and servant in Christ! (High Fives) And if you’re not, I truly hope you receive these words as I intend them – to be that friendly hand being held out to help you stand back up and get on track. Our Lord and Savior is coming back soon and I don’t want anyone to be found in disobedience upon His arrival.

Here’s a song to encourage you as you wait in expectation for God to come back.

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“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35-40)

This is the cherry on top of the last several things Jesus has been telling us. He’s been telling us to not live for this physical world, not to be anxious but to instead seek the kingdom of God; all in all an exhortation to live heavenly minded. And this is the epitome of why – You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Dressed for ActionJesus is coming back soon and as His servants we shouldn’t be slacking even He seems to tarry. The first command Jesus gave was to stay dressed for action. We live in a dark world and it can often feel wearisome to keep working and serving, but in essence Jesus is saying, don’t put your spiritual pajamas on just because it’s dark. No one is ready to work and serve in anything with their pajamas on, right? They have to be dressed and outfitted for work, proving they have a willingness to serve. So yes, it’s dark but it’s not time to sleep, it’s quite the opposite - it’s time to wake up and serve BECAUSE the days are evil.

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:13-17)

Burning LampsPart of Jesus’ command to stay dressed for action was to also keep your lamps burning. God’s word is likened to lamp as king David wrote, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) and based on the parable of the ten virgins we know that we need to keep oil in our lamps to keep them burning, of which the Holy Spirit is likened to.We can be ready and willing to serve but how can we effectively see and not stumble if we don’t have our lamps continuously burning in this dark and evil world? Part of being dressed for action, being willing to serve, is abiding in Jesus, reading His word and meditating on it, in order to keep our lamps burning.

Ready for His KnockWhen my husband goes out of town for work trips, my girls and I count down the days until he comes back. And on the day he’s coming home and around the time we think he might drive up, we all intermittently check the driveway to see if he’s back yet. As soon as one of us sees him, we announce it throughout the house and run to the door to greet him. This is kind of how I imagine this description of the servants who are waiting for their master to come home. As soon as the master knocks, they open since they’ve been serving with an expectation and checking periodically to see if there’s a sign of his arrival.

God has graciously given us prophecies and signs that His coming is near, but do we live expectantly for His arrival? Are we getting too wrapped up in the service of our King that we aren’t looking out for the King Himself? We must be ready because we don’t know the day or hour that Jesus is coming back, but we can definitely see based on the signs that it’s closer than ever.

That day will come when He takes us into His eternal kingdom forever, but until that day, we keep our eyes up and focused on Him, praying His kingdom come and His will be done as we continue to faithfully serve Him while we wait, and being mindful to meditate on His word and keep our lamps burning.

This week, I’ll leave you with the last two verses of the Bible, my friend:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

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“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:32-34)

This week is a continuation of the previous things Jesus has said. Obviously when, Jesus spoke these words He didn’t break them up into chapters and verses, so we keep in mind the context in which He was speaking from the verses we looked at in the previous devotional weeks leading up to this one.

Jesus had told a parable of a rich fool who wasn’t considering anything spiritual and was only living for the physical. That then led to Jesus talking about not being anxious because our Father knows what we need so instead we should seek His kingdom. And this week, we get more information that not only will God give us the kingdom, but it’s the Father’s good pleasure to do so.

As our good Shepherd, Jesus, reminds us of this type of relationship with Him in His precious address of calling us His “little flock”, all while repeating that phrase that we talked about last month again – Fear Not. He had just told us to seek God’s kingdom instead of being anxious, and now He tells us an awesome reassurance of that. We can obey in seeking His kingdom and not fear that it won’t be given because Jesus is telling us it’s our Father’s good pleasure to give it to us. This provides us freedom! We don’t have to be anxious or fearful, we can trust our Good Father.

That freedom paves the way to focus on storing the right kind of treasure in the right place. Part of that right kind of treasure is giving to the needy.

Treasure in the HeavensIn the early church we end up seeing that they sold their possessions and gave freely as anyone had need. And in James we read that taking care of those who cannot care for themselves, such as orphans and widows, is a pure and undefiled religion. These are the types of things that God values and treasures. Gold, silver, and jewels are all made by God and they don’t have the same value to Him that people have placed on it. Yet in our free will, it’s the things, including our hearts, that we freely offer to God that is of great value to Him and that He has defined as heavenly treasure.

Jesus makes it clear that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Now here we see treasure and hearts, but following this the right way doesn’t actually start with the heart. The heart is deceitful, and we most definitely don’t want to be guided by it. If we did that and went based on our feelings, our sinful nature would guide us to treasure the wrong things and we’d be stuck in a rut there.

To be effective in this, it actually has to start in your mind. If you are renewing your mind in the Word of God then your mind will be set on the things which are above. If your mind is set on the things which are above, then you’re going to have God’s perspective of treasure and not only treasuring the right things but storing that heavenly treasure. And where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

So once again, we see the application to this is to abide in Jesus and be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The bible is God’s direct word to us and we have the privilege of having our own personal copy of it, often many copies in a household. Do we treasure that fact? That the God of the universe not only came down to earth to bring us redemption for our souls, but that He has preserved His word over thousands and thousands of years, and that He has gifted people to translate it into our native language, giving us the ability to read it whenever we want and with the promise that the Holy Spirit will guide and teach us as we read. That is amazing! God is amazing and His grace is amazing! This week, let’s be mindful of what we are treasuring and where it’s being stored as we continue to abide in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to mold us to be more like Him.

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And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:22-31)

Every person who has followed Jesus for a while knows we aren’t supposed to be anxious. There are several bible verses that get quoted regularly, such as “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) but it can be hard to just tell yourself to not be anxious and follow through with it. The battle in our minds is strong, especially when it surrounds our basic needs.

Thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave us with only verses 22-23 where He tells us to not be anxious about life, food, and clothing. Jesus graciously gave us the rationale that life is more than those things, but He also gave us examples to consider and help build our faith – consider the ravens and consider the lilies – before telling us what to do instead of being anxious.

Consider the Ravens and LilliesWhen we consider the birds, we see they’re not planting food and striving to store up food, yet God feeds them. And when we consider the flowers, their growth is not because of anything they’re working for – yet God clothes them. In comparison to birds and flowers, we are of way more value to our Father. God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, but He didn’t send His Son to die for them. If our loving Heavenly Father was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son to give you eternal life, then surely He will take care of your basic needs in this fleeting earthly life.

What Does Being Anxious Gain?Jesus hits on a key aspect to this when He said, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”

Let me ask you this to reflect on for a second: What has anxiety ever done or gained for you? Has anxiety ever made the outcome good? Has anxiety ever changed the circumstance that you’re anxious about? Has anxiety ever bought you more time? Of course anxiety has never done any of those things, right? And here Jesus only asks about the time aspect and then calls adding time to a life a “small thing”.

I don’t know about you, but adding an hour to my life span, although I can’t actually do it, would be a pretty huge thing. However, to the God Who literally created time, Who is outside of time, and Who is completely sovereign over time, it’s a small thing. And that leads us to the real issue at hand with anxiety – trust and control.

Trust and ControlWe have the knowledge that God created all things, which includes time itself and us humans. We have the knowledge that God loves us unconditionally and even while we were sinners, He died for us to save our souls. Yet with the basic necessities and small things in life – small, especially in comparison to eternity – we suddenly worry ourselves sick over it.

At the foundation, anxiety is an issue with trusting God and not relinquishing control to Him. We’re so often anxious over things even though anxiety doesn’t actually change anything and despite knowing God is completely capable of working all things for our good, yet for some reason it’s hard for our human minds to relinquish control. The mind is where the battle must be fought in order to win and that requires taking those anxious thoughts captive and surrendering them to Christ.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

Has anxiety become a stronghold in your life? It’s time to face that battle where it stands in the mind. You have the knowledge of God, so it’s time to destroy the arguments and opinions of anxiety that are raised against the knowledge of God and take those thoughts captive to obey Christ. Remember, if you trust God with your eternal soul, you can indeed trust Him with providing for your basic needs for the years you are here on earth.

InsteadLastly, Jesus said, Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. This not only tells us what we should be seeking and focusing on, but it’s part of the solution to beating the anxious thoughts.

Step 1: Take anxious thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
Step 2: Seek His kingdom.

Now, we may have to make a habit of repeating those two steps again and again because so often the thoughts that battle in our mind are not one and done when we first take them captive. BUT THAT’S OK! The victory over anxiety isn’t only the endgame, it’s part of the journey. If you’re filling your mind with seeking His kingdom, anxious thoughts will have a much harder time breaking through to occupy space in your mind. Keep battling any anxious thoughts, taking them captive when they do arise, and instead seek God’s kingdom and trust Him in His sovereignty.

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Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21)

In light of Christmas, whether you got a bunch of gifts or not, and considering New Year’s when many make resolutions and goals towards making their life better somehow, we should heed Jesus’ admonishment – Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. In actuality, our lives as followers of Jesus consists of the life He has given us. He told us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

What happens when covetousness creeps in? The things that we do have are no longer good enough because our focus isn’t on being thankful for what God has given us, it’s instead on what others have. And the thing is, covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The ten commandments list off these including no idolatry, not taking the Lord’s Name in vain, not murdering, stealing, lying, coveting – these all would avoided by loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This isn’t something that comes easy for anyone. Those fiery darts comes straight from the chief thief, satan, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy things like your joy and thanksgiving.

What This Doesn’t MeanNow, having earthly possessions and being wise with them, such as financial planning and such, is not wrong. Jesus isn’t saying you can’t have earthly possessions, He said you shouldn’t be laying up treasure for yourself. So what’s the difference? Well simply put, having possessions doesn’t make them your treasure. But focusing more on earthly things as treasure instead of being rich toward God is a recipe for disaster in the end.

Jesus also told us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Notice here that that thieves breaking in and destroying are mentioned in these verses too? If your treasuring things that make you rich towards God, satan can’t steal and destroy that. Verse 21 is key in tying this all together - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Tying it all TogetherIf your heart is where your treasure is, and one who lays up earthly treasure for themselves makes them not rich towards God, then it’s a direct correlation with the command to love God first. If our hearts are focused on loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we won’t have any idols in our lives, and our driving focus won’t be on making worldly possessions our treasure. Abiding in God is once again the application!

Are you poor? Don’t worry about it, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and your needs will be added to you.

Are you rich? Don’t make it your treasure, instead lay up treasure in heaven.

Regardless of your financial status, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Be rich towards God and daily abide in Him, living in the abundant life He has given you!

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And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12)

This week, the week leading up to Christmas, we just happen to be in this section of Scripture where Jesus is talking about not fearing man, to not deny Him, and to not be anxious in defending yourself in persecution – all with the encouragement to fear God, acknowledge Him, and that the Holy Spirit will teach you what to say in the moment of need.

When, Not IfNotice that Jesus said WHEN they bring you, not if. It may be a merry and bright season and a life, at least here in America, filled with comforts, but I can guarantee that persecution is coming and we must be ready. I love that Jesus didn’t just bear the news that we’ll be persecuted, but He also included encouragement and commands for His followers. In this case it was to not worry about what to say, but that the Holy Spirit would teach us what to say in that specific moment.

I think sometimes it can slip our minds that as followers of Jesus, redeemed by His blood and sealed with the Holy Spirit, that we have God dwelling within us. Yes, Jesus came as a baby and dwelt among us, but following His work of salvation on the cross, that dwelling is now within. We are not orphans left alone, we have full access to talk to God at any day and any time. Persecution already affects our brothers and sisters in churches all over the world. But when persecution inevitably affects us here in America, we have that open line of communication with the very God who created and saved us, and who will bring us to perfect completion in Him in the end. Honestly, it may seem like this is a rather odd section that we’re digging into right before Christmas, in reality it actually lines up perfectly with Christmas.

The Christmas ConnectionDuring Christmas we celebrate that Jesus came to us, our Savior born in a lowly stable, but to what end did He come? The whole purpose of Him coming as a baby was to ultimately face persecution for being God in the flesh and speaking and doing the works of the Father and then dying upon a cross to redeem us. Here in this section, Jesus is not telling us anything that He Himself did not face and if we are following Him closely, then we too can expect persecution.

When we take the last several weeks of devotions, we really have a great guide that encourages us that by abiding and exercising faith, resolving to never deny Jesus no matter the cost, we don’t have to be anxious or fearful, we can proudly acknowledge our Savior and speak whatever the Holy Spirit teaches us to say in that very hour. In this Christmas season, I hope as you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus that you remember His ultimate sacrifice and are encouraged in the help He provides us in our walk of following Him.

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And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:8-10)

This week’s verses flow directly from the context Jesus spoke in the verses we looked at last week. He had admonished us to not fear men, but to fear God because man cannot affect our eternity, but God can. This week we are told the consequences of choosing to either acknowledging Jesus or denying Him, and what one thing won’t be forgiven.

Acknowledge or DenyJesus makes it very plain and clear that He will respond in kind to our choice. Now this doesn’t mean that Jesus is playing an eye for an eye here, what it means is that those who acknowledge Him are His and those who deny Him aren’t. How do we know? Well, because Peter denied Jesus three times and yet was forgiven, and God used him to establish His church among the Jews. Peter spoke a word against Jesus, the Son of Man, and was forgiven, because Peter did ultimately acknowledge Jesus before men as a follower of Jesus.

This last verse also gives us the indicator of this as well. There very well may be unfortunate times in a believer’s life in which they don’t stand up proudly as a follower of Jesus, but cave in fear of men. But the conviction of the Holy Spirit should produce a godly grief that leads to repentance. However, someone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is not a follower of Jesus at all, and therefore has not received forgiveness.

Will Not Be ForgivenNow this verse is where we usually hear people talk about “the unforgiveable sin”, but blaspheming against the Holy Spirit isn’t a one-time sin or words said in which a person is now unforgiveable.

Jesus had already made it clear earlier in Luke 11, that whoever is not with Him is against Him. This is the same principle. We know that God sent Jesus into the world, not to condemn the world but to save it. But that section of verses in John 3 goes on to say that Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

The thing is, the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus and upon receiving the salvation Jesus offers, becomes the seal of guarantee as He dwells within us. So, if someone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, they do not have salvation and because they do not believe the testimony of the Holy Spirit, loving darkness rather than light, they are condemned already. It’s not that God is withholding forgiveness, it’s that one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit has not chosen to accept forgiveness as God offers it.

Two ApplicationsFor followers of Jesus, this section serves as an admonishment and should stir even more compassion for the lost.

Yes, we know that we can be forgiven in moments of weakness in which our fear of men momentarily outweighs our fear of God, but we should be truly seeking to abide in Jesus and build our faith muscles so that when those moments come we can stand strong in the Lord, in the strength of His might, and not falter in our acknowledgement of our Savior who never faltered in His love and mission to save us.

And knowing that those who ultimately die having blasphemed against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven but will die in their condemnation, spending the rest of eternity in hell – that should stir our hearts to compassion for those who don’t yet believe in Jesus. We can’t ever know someone’s heart, but we know God’s heart and that His desire is that no one should perish but that all would come to repentance, so we should share His heart and actions for the lost. He sent Jesus into the world to die for them, and He’s sent us into the world as lights to reach them and bring that good news of the gospel to them.

Especially in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, when we tend to interact with more people out and about, be sure not to be so busy that you don’t hear when the Holy Spirit shows you opportunities to acknowledge Jesus and share the gospel to a lost world.

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I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)

When we think of someone killing us, that is a scary thought, right? We have a survival and self-preservation aspect to us that God created. Yet, Jesus reminds us that after our flesh is dead, there’s still afterlife. While fellow mankind can kill our bodies, they cannot affect what happens to our spirit afterwards – But God can!

Man’s Limited AbilityIn light of the fact that where we spend eternity is far more important than how we die here on earth, we should not have a fear of those who can harm our body because that’s the extent of their ability. Now before we move on, I do think it’s important to note that Jesus is not saying to walk around town like you’re untouchable simply because you’re saved and know your eternity life is secure in Him. He does give us wisdom and we should walk in it, being cautious when necessary. But if a time comes when persecution becomes physical and you’re in a position of recanting or dying with your faith firm in God, you can remember that after death comes eternal life in Christ and be encouraged and strengthened to indeed stand firm in your faith to the very end.

Your Spirit Is SafeGod knows His children, even down to the number of hairs on their head. The average person has between 90,000 and 140,000 strands of hair on their head, and no matter how much hair you have, God knows the exact number on your head. When you lose a hair, God knows. When your physical safety is in question, God cares. God may not always choose to rescue you physically in every circumstance, but if you are His, sealed with the Holy Spirit on your day of salvation, then you can rest assured that your spirit is safe in His hands.

Right when Jesus was about to die on the cross, He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46). He trusted His Father to raise Him from the dead and yielded His spirit to Him. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we too have become children of God and can trust our spirits to Him, whenever and however our earthly, physical death comes. And know that whatever your eventual death looks like, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 115:16). My precious sibling in Christ, when you die you will forevermore be with God in His presence and He will have you with Him as the reward He died to redeem.

Do Not FearThe phrase “Do not fear”/”Fear not”/”Do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the bible. With 365 days in the year, you could read one a day and always be reminded of this admonishment. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), and as a follower of Jesus you have love dwelling inside of you because God is love (1 John 4:8).

We know as Christians that we will face persecution because Jesus warned us that cost of following Him when He said, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20). And Paul again reminded of the same thing when He wrote to Timothy saying, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

We can also be admonished and encouraged by what the church in Smyrna was told: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11)

How To Not FearAbiding in Jesus daily is the way in which we can obey the command to not fear. We know that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4), so as we grow in our relationship with God and are reminded of how great our God is, we won’t fear the people and circumstances that we’ll face in life, no matter how bad and no matter the outcome.

I’ll leave you with this quote by Charles Spurgeon: “He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man.”

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In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:1-3)

Immediately before this, at the end of Luke 11, Jesus was proclaiming woes to the Pharisees and lawyers because of their wrong ways and by hindering people from coming to God. The Pharisees and lawyers were vehemently upset with Jesus and seeking to catch Him in what He might say to accuse Him. In the meantime we see crowds of people are drawing near. It would appear this was becoming quite the ordeal since so many thousands of people were gathered that they were trampling one another – I kind of imagine much like Black Friday shopping used to be when the doors to stores opened to those early bird shoppers gathered for the best shopping sales.

Yet, Jesus tells his disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees. In the midst of a pressing crowd, Jesus wanted His disciples to heed this warning, so it clearly was important to Him. He didn’t even wait until the commotion had died down or He and His disciples were alone, and the lesson was about hypocrisy.

The Rise of HypocrisyHe goes on to include that what is covered up will eventually be revealed and that things can’t stay hidden forever. When you think of His warning to beware the “leaven of the Pharisees”, it creates this picture. Leaven is used in bread and it’s what makes it rise. When baked in fire, it makes the bread airy and fluffy, but without leaven the bread will be dense. Not much leaven is required for a whole loaf of bread to rise and when the leaven is added, it is covered up and put into a dark place to rise. Much like hypocrisy, what might start as a seemingly small thing, done in the covered up places of hearts – it will eventually rise and be uncovered to reveal that that little bit of leaven has leavened the whole lump and the substance is nothing but the air and fluff of hypocrisy.

This gave way to another aspect of the warning – THEREFORE whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the rooftops.

If gossip, slander, or other ill words are spoken in darkness, they find their way to be heard in the light. And this goes both ways – have you ever done a good deed or said something nice about someone in private and it ends up being known anyway? Jesus often healed people in private and it had a way of being spread around.

Ultimately, this warning is against hypocrisy and being careful what you say in light of it. A hypocritical word can and will bite you in the end because it stems from a double-mindedness, in which James tells us that a double-minded person is unstable in all their ways (James 1:8).

How We See OurselvesWhenever we read the gospels, we clearly see that the Pharisees weren’t doing things right and Jesus points it out on many occasions, but the Pharisees don’t seem to see the wrong in themselves, do they? So often we tend to not want to put ourselves in the position of the Pharisees because it’s a place of correction from Jesus. Yet, in this instance, whether we do or not, Jesus is warning us about the hypocrisy that the Pharisees demonstrated. So whether we are actively in need of that correction or whether it’s only a warning right now – beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Jesus wouldn’t tell us to beware of something if it wasn’t a possibility to fall susceptible to it. We are all susceptible to hypocrisy, and I think even more so when we are professing to be Christians because sometimes we forget that our salvation and our sanctification is not by our works but by God’s work alone. In that failure to remind ourselves of that gift and grace, we can become piously pompous as we strive to appear holy even if we’re not taking the time to be transformed by the renewal of our minds.

How do we apply this warning then and avoid the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy? Abide in Jesus, letting the word of Christ dwell richly in you, and not only read what it says, but also do what it says.

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While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. (Luke 11:37-41)

This is a hard section that we happen to be on as we gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday here in America this next week, but God knows and planned this timing so let’s dig into it!

Many Pharisees in Jesus time were hypocrites, they were more concerned with their outer appearance and what people thought of them than the state of their hearts and what God knew of them. This ended up with them disapproving of Jesus because Jesus didn’t uphold the tradition of their fathers, even though He was perfectly doing the work of His Father and upheld the Law perfectly. One of these traditions that Jesus didn’t follow was washing before dining.

To Wash or Not to WashNow, this wasn’t like when your mom told you dinner was almost ready and to go wash up; this was a ceremonial washing of the hands with water only. It often wouldn’t even be a full hand washing, it would often be a dipping of the fingers and drying them off. But it wasn’t their hands that needed to be washed, they needed to be washed with the water of the word to cleanse the inside.

It could seem like common sense to wash, even with only water, before eating, but the issue here is not about hygiene, the issue was that the Pharisees held the traditions of man equal to the Law of God and were more concerned with upholding traditions – even disapproving of the actions of God in the flesh based on it. Could you imagine disapproving of God Himself?? Goodness me! Instead of Jesus’ actions being a catalyst to inspect themselves and change to be like God, they placed their own traditions and outer perception of spirituality above God’s Law and desire for them.

This, as is many sins, was based in pride. They held people’s perception of them higher than God’s because they wanted to look good. And honestly, it’s easier to operate in this way because people can’t witness our every action or word and they certainly can’t know our every thought; however, God knows it all and He sees it all so it’s that much harder to live pleasing to the Lord than it is pleasing to man. And even further, the reward for living right according to God has eternal rewards that will be received in heaven, to where doing right for eye service to man has it’s momentary and fleeting reward of maybe accolades, likes, or follows.

Clean the InsideIn this section, Jesus specifically mentions paying attention to the inside and that the outside would be clean. These are a few bible verses that speak to this as well:

And [Jesus] called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:10-11)
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34b)
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:15-16)

When you think of an illness, such as cancer or an autoimmune disease – the illness starts inside. It may be months by the time you notice outward symptoms, but the issue has already been stirring within. When you treat the illness within, the outer symptoms go away and the body is healthy both inside and out. And there may be times where someone doesn’t even realize they’re sick, maybe in the case of something like cancer, but when they go in for an annual physical and get blood work, it indicates something is wrong. The body on the outside seemed perfectly fine, both to the patient and the doctor, yet the bloodwork revealed something wrong.

In the same way, Jesus here is like the bloodwork to the Pharisees, who may or may not even have realized they had a serious internal issue to repent of and get healed from with God. Jesus so much wanted them to see the heart of the matter and stop living for the outer, temporal things, and live with the eternal things in mind, which was what matters to God; and in order to share that truth in love, Jesus had to point out their hypocrisy.

Dealing with HypocrisyBeing faced with hypocrisy in our own lives is not easy at all, it’s a huge hit on our pride and requires humility before the Lord to deal with properly.

Is there anything in your life that although seems fine to everyone around you, Jesus is pointing out is not clean within?

Don’t dismiss that quickly. Sit with it and allow the Holy Spirit’s conviction to grieve you over your sin. And then repent and make the necessary changes, asking God to help you.

Take the TimeNext week in America, we’re going to be gathering for a Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. Take time to first cleanse the inner dish of your heart so that your thanksgiving to God will be genuine and not only a tradition done yearly for appearances or holiday’s sake, or based on what those around you think it should be. And regardless of the Thanksgiving holiday, the principle remains – Jesus desires for our hearts to be clean and pure before Him, which requires self-examination and full surrender to God.

Just as Jesus warned us about the health of the lamp of our body last week, this week is another spiritual health check. Jesus cares immensely about your inward state. So follow His lead and make it your prayer, like king David had when he prayed to God, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

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No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:33-36)

Here in Luke 11, Jesus explains that your eye is the lamp of your body. The epitome of spiritual health would be having your whole body full of light, and the opposite would be a body full of darkness. And Jesus gives a stern warning - Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. This is a serious warning! If one thinks they have light in them, but it is actually darkness, how can they truly see?

The Light That Is Darkness

“A man without an eye might as well be without the sun, so far as light is concerned. The eye is as needful as the lamp, if a man is to see. The most brilliant light that ever has been invented, or ever can be discovered, will be of no use to the person who has no eye… The condition of the eye of the mind is of the utmost importance: our light or our darkness will depend upon it.” (Charles Spurgeon)

If someone is self-deceived and what they consider the light in them is actually darkness, they are completely misled in all things because the premise on which they operate is based in darkness. The thing is, the darkness has to be willfully embraced for the eye to be diseased and unhealthy. For those who truly have light within, they are abiding in Christ, seeking truth, and the truth sets them free with the word of God being a lamp unto their feet and a light to their path. For those whose light is actually darkness, the love of sin has blinded the lens of their eye, not actually allowing light in. Once again, Charles Spurgeon puts it so well:

Nine times out of ten, allowed sin is the cataract which darkens the mental eye. Men cannot see truth, because they love falsehood… When people reject the doctrines of the gospel, they also tolerate laxity of morals, and give predominance to the customs of the world. (Charles Spurgeon)

Be Full of LightAs followers of Jesus, we are to be lights. After the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16).

We all come from a sinful nature and we all have darkness within us prior to receiving Jesus as salvation, but once born again in Christ, we are the light of the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) and James tells us that of God’s own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18) The only reason we are the light of the world is because we have been made new in Christ, who is the light. And the point of being a light is to shine and allow sight in this dark world so that God will be glorified by our good works. Jesus’ statement says that we are the light of the world, so if we’re hiding the light within, it’s simply hypocrisy of which we need to repent of.

Let Your Light ShineIn a couple short weeks, at least in America, we will literally be in our family’s houses for Thanksgiving celebrations. These times are opportunities for us to shine bright and not hide our light under a basket. So often we don’t want to let our lights shine because it may stir up uncomfortable situations with unsaved people, but if we are to love others, truly love them the way Christ loves them, then we will let our lights shine and put it on a stand to give light to all in the house.

I encourage you, to self-analyze the light within and if then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, so take the opportunities that the Holy Spirit opens and let your light shine before others.

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When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:29-32)

As Jesus went through His earthly ministry, He encountered people who wanted a sign, and here He says that the generation who was seeking a sign was an evil generation. Now it’s important to distinguish here that these people weren’t seeking a sign to inquire of the truth, they were seeking a sign as proof of what had already been prophesied about. Jesus said that the queen of the South sought the wisdom of Solomon and the men of Nineveh repented at Jonah’s preaching, and yet those would rise up at judgement against that generation who was seeking a sign from the Son of God.

The Sign of JonahJesus says the only sign that would be given is the sign of Jonah. Now, there are distinct parallels between Jonah and Jesus. Jonah was sent to preach repentance to a people in captivity to their sin and Jesus was sent with the message of repentance for the kingdom of God was at hand and He was sent to set the captives free. Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of a large fish before rising out of the ocean onto dry land and Jesus died and rose on the 3rd day. And yet, regardless of the similarities and even foreshadowing of Messiah through the sign of Jonah, Jesus is greater than Jonah and He was there.

Something GreaterJesus tells the people that they’re an evil generation because there was a foreshadowing of their Messiah in that sign, and even with Jesus being greater and the fulfillment as the Messiah they had long awaited, they still sought a sign from Him. The thing is, Jesus didn’t need to perform any signs because He WAS the sign – He is Messiah, He is salvation, He is God.

They missed the big picture! They were so focused on wanting a sign they could see that they actually failed to see Who was right in front of them. The issue with that generation was their lack of faith because faith walks not by sight. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen, so if they’re focused on what they can see then faith wouldn’t be required. Yet, we know that Abraham, and many others, believed and it was counted to them as righteousness – hence the righteous shall walk by faith.

As followers of Jesus, we already believe and have accepted Jesus as Messiah, but it can still be tempting to have a worldview based on what we see happening in today’s culture. However, as followers of Jesus we should have a biblical worldview, trusting in God as we walk by faith in following Him. Our current days are evil, but we have the assurance that Jesus, as our living hope who died to redeem us and rose on the third day and has set us free from the captivity of our sin, is coming to take us home someday soon. Be comforted, my sibling in Christ, and keep walking and focusing on our Savior, who is greater and is here.

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As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27-28)

On our first reading, we see a woman yell out that basically Mary is super blessed and Jesus responds with “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” But what on earth is happening here, what does this mean, and what can we glean from it?

An Out of Place Response?Let’s start with this woman in the crowd. This woman had sat there and listened to Jesus talk about demon possession, the kingdom of God, being with or against Him, gathering with Him or scattering, and not being in a place of allowing for return of unclean spirits, and her response is about His mom being blessed? Seems a bit out of place doesn’t it? Who knows if she truly had listened to His words or if she was caught up in the heightened emotion of all this and kind of stuck in her own head in which she blurted out something that sounded spiritual, of what we might call “Christianese” today, but ended up being out in left field somewhere. And she raised her voice so the whole crowd could hear. Who knows what her motive was, but it does appear that she wanted to be heard more than she wanted to listen.

Are there times when you aren’t really listening when God speaks, could be at church during the sermon or while reading your bible, and then you get caught up in your own thoughts? Or maybe you get tempted to care more about how you’re perceived by others than hearing and learning what God is teaching?

There is a time for everything, and there are times when we don’t need to speak or make ourselves the center of attention, we just simply need to hear and obey. This was one of those times.

The Distinction Jesus MakesAlthough this woman’s outburst was a rather oddly timed one, Jesus did what He does so well – He used it as a teaching opportunity. On one hand, yes, Mary was blessed among women being the mother of our Savior, and that is incredible, yet when this woman in the crowd attempted to elevate Mary, Jesus shifted the perspective to the proper place.

This doesn’t mean that Jesus didn’t think Mary was blessed, but this makes it clear that the focus shouldn’t be on her and that she too, was blessed not that she was simply the one who birthed him, but because she heard the word of God and she accepted it and kept it. With that, Jesus is saying that anyone who hears God’s words and keeps it are blessed, so Mary isn’t elevated even because of that, she is a co-heir along with us all.

Why is this an important distinction then? Well, we see this especially in the Catholic Church that Mary is elevated, even to the point of praying to her. But the simple fact is that Mary doesn’t save you, she can’t give you faith, and she cannot mediate between us and God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of God, and Jesus is the only one who can save. So yes, we acknowledge that Mary was blessed, but you too can be just as blessed in following her and other believers’ examples of faith and obedience.

This is the same message that Jesus told the lawyer who had come to test him which we went over a couple months ago in Luke chapter 10 – hear the word of God and DO IT! This may be something you’ve heard before, especially if you’ve been a Christian for some time, but are you hearing AND keeping God’s word?

If you have ears to hear what the Spirit says, don’t harden your heart, but instead receive the word and obey, for then Jesus says you will be blessed.

Lastly, some may wonder, what exactly are we supposed to hear and obey in the word of God? Well, all of it. The word of God is living and active and it is breathed out by God, profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness so that we can be complete and equipped for every good work. In order to hear though, we must listen as we read, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak directly into our lives. We could be willing to listen and obey, but if we don’t open the word of God then we can’t hear Him speak to us.

Today, open God’s word and let Him speak to you and when you hear Him, keep His commands.

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“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” (Luke 11:24-26)

This may seem to have changed topic, but it is continuing Jesus’ thought train. He had been talking to the Pharisees about casting out demons and which kingdom He’s from, iterating that those who aren’t for Him are against Him and that those who don’t gather with Him scatter. He’s now talking about a person who has been freed from demon possession and gets themselves cleaned up so to speak, but not filled with God, which just opens themselves up to even worse possession later. If they are not with Jesus, they are against Him and therefore prime real estate for the kingdom of darkness since they are not filled with light.

Now I want to preempt this by clearly stating that Christians cannot be possessed by demons. If someone has the Spirit of God dwelling inside of them, they are sealed as set apart to God and satan has literally no power or control over them. They are not of this world, they are living in it as a light of the world. Just as darkness cannot penetrate light since darkness is the literal absence of light, so too is a Christian who is in the light cannot have the demons of the kingdom of darkness dwelling in them simultaneously. Simply put, being bought and paid for by Jesus, as followers of Christ we belong to God and are not the possession of satan; therefore, a follower of Christ cannot be possessed by demons.

The State of a PersonThis issue of the state of a person is an important one to know, even if you’re a Christian and therefore cannot be possessed by any demons. Why? Because you never know when you may come across a demon possessed person. If you were to come in contact with a demon possessed person, which is common when serving in homeless ministries for example, casting out a demon would only be half of the battle. After they’re free from possession, they still have sin to deal with. If they aren’t willing to surrender to Christ and receive salvation, they are then open to being possessed in a worse state than before.

We must remember the context in which Jesus says these things. Because Jesus is saying it’s not enough to simply cast a demon out of a person, they must be filled with Him in order to not be a clean vacancy that invites demons back in. Jesus is the stronger man who has authority to cast out demons AND completely redeem anyone who accepts His salvation.

Don’t Open the DoorBy these verses, it appears that demons are at rest when possessing a person, and they look for vacancies. Now we know that a follower of Jesus cannot be possessed by demons, but what about non-believers, are they free game for demon possession? Well, that’s not an easily answered question where we have a clear bible verse on this, but if God allows man to have free will and doesn’t force salvation upon us in which we’d be filled with the Holy Spirit, then it’s reasonable to think that God would not allow satan to overpower our free will with demon possession either.

A person becomes available for demon possession when they open the door to demonic activities. Messing around with tarot cards, Ouija boards, occult practices, etc – these are all activities in which a person uses their free will to open the door to demonic spirits. We need to warn people, and especially children, not to dabble in these things.

So what is Jesus’ point here? The point is, if someone is freed from demon possession, they also need to be freed from the bondage of their sin to be truly free and the only way to do that is through Jesus.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. (Luke 11:21-23)

In continuing the response from Jesus about casting out demons and the discussion about which kingdom He’s from, He gives the example of a strong man and a stronger man.

When we generally think of satan, the true enemy, I think we’d like to think of him as a wimp who doesn’t have much power. But biblically speaking, he is the ruling principality in this current world and he does have strength. And while Jesus considered us the reward set before Him, satan merely looks at people as goods.

The beauty of this is that while yes, satan is strong, armed, and dangerous; seeking to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus on the other hand is stronger and overcomes. Greater is God who is in us than he who is in the world! That is very encouraging, but we don’t want to let our guards down against the enemy because we’re not impervious to his attacks even though we have the armor of God available to us – we must use it in order to prevail.

With or AgainstFor the rest of this week’s devotional time, we’re going to focus on verse 23, Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. This is a two-parter here:

Whoever is not with me is against me
Whoever does not gather with me scatters

We touched a little last week on the fact that you can’t ride the fence when it comes to your faith, you’re either all in or all out. These really are circumstances of choices and defaults.

If anyone chooses to receive the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus’ redeeming offering on the cross, they stand uncondemned in the righteousness of Christ, being part of the kingdom of God. But if anyone doesn’t make that choice, they are by default part of satan’s domain in the kingdom of darkness and are condemned to an eternity in hell because that’s where satan’s kingdom will end up in the end. This is made clear in the bible where it says, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:17-18)

Gather or ScatterFor the last two hundred something years, America has enjoyed a religious freedom in which we can freely worship God. This has not been the case for all our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, and yet in those places where religious persecution is still happening daily, they still gather as the Church. If the Church didn’t gather, it would scatter, especially in the face of persecution.

I wholly believe that persecution is coming in America, and while we know that our God is greater than the ruler of this dark world, persecution tests the resolve of our faith and produces a perseverance to those who are doers of the word. But if we are not making the habit to gather with Jesus and His Church, we will scatter in the end.

And here’s the truth: we can’t expect to have great faith in a moment of any persecution if we don’t regularly meet with Jesus and exercise our faith in Him. This is how God designed our relationship with Him and each other. By gathering with Him, we grow and mature into more Christ-like people. By gathering together as the Body of Christ, we sharpen one another like iron sharpens iron and stir one another to love and good works. So…we shouldn’t neglect to meet.

The disciples were known for spending time with Jesus, and when the counsel brought them in to tell them not to teach, they recognized they had been with Jesus, and the disciples passed the test as they stood their ground in faith regardless of their physical well-being. And one by one over the years, the disciples would prove their love of God and faith in Him as they were persecuted and martyred. That didn’t come from periodic church services, it came from gathering with Jesus, abiding in Him daily, and gathering with the Church to encourage one another in their faith.

My dear sibling in Christ, you are for God, and He in you and greater than the enemy. Be encouraged by that fact that Jesus has overcome and therefore you will overcome. And lastly, be sure to gather with Him and His Church the way He designed and wills for you to.

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Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Luke 11:14-20)

This interaction is so crazy to me, to accuse Jesus of casting out demons…by Beelzebul, the prince of demons; in essence claiming that God gets His authority by demons! Now, admittedly, any Christian would be biased here because we’ve already come to the saving knowledge of Jesus and know that He is indeed God, but holy smokes that is crazy.

Interestingly enough, the Pharisees sought to discredit Jesus so much that they became hypocrites to their very claims. They were claiming Jesus cast it out by demonic power, yet Jesus points out that their sons cast out demons as well and asks what authority they do it by then. But the lesson we’re going to focus on here is that a kingdom divided cannot stand.

A Church DividedThis can be true of a church body. If a church is dividing within, they won’t be effective in the mission God gave them.

Jesus prayed in His high priestly prayer, in John 17, that we as His people would be united as one body – His body. And He also said we would be known as His disciples by our love for one another. If we expect to be a household of God that won’t fail, we have to remember who the real enemy is, not fighting one another, but seeking to reconcile any hurts and be united in seeking and serving God.

A Person DividedThis can also be true of an individual person. If someone is riding the fence of faith, they are divided and cannot stand. You cannot be half in, half out. You cannot love the world and love God, you cannot be of the world and of God, you cannot serve the world and serve God – you’re either with God or against Him. James 4 tells us clearly that friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Jesus later in this section, which we’ll go more into depth on next week, says in verse 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me”. That is a sharp claim that still remains true today. So, are you with God or against Him?

We know that the kingdom of God has come upon us – it was proclaimed through prophecies of old and spoken of by John the Baptist and Jesus very clearly. We cannot be divided against each other nor in our own hearts and expect to be effective for God.

United, Not DividedIn seeking to be united and not divided, we have to be willing to be humble, gracious, and forgiving – all of which are not going to come from our flesh nature. Just as we gleaned from last week’s devotional, we must ask for the Holy Spirit knowing He can empower us to live with these characteristics that are natural to our God.

The next time you’re faced with a situation in which you’re hurt or have a disagreement with another believer, ask the Holy Spirit for the empowerment to follow what Jesus said in Matthew 18, to reconcile and be united as siblings in Christ.

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What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13)

This whole section, starting with the model of prayer is one continuous thought, so even though we’ve broken it apart to devotionally study through it week by week, we need to remember the context is still prayer. So, continuing in this context of prayer, Jesus gives another example and instruction on prayer.

Last week, Jesus used the hypothetical example of a friend giving what was requested due to persistence, and this week we’re looking at another example Jesus gave of a father giving good gifts to his child. He started with a rhetorical question, getting the hearers into a mindset of the relationship and love a father has for his children using the earthly example of a child asking for food. Now of course this is completely relatable, because even amongst those who don’t have children, they can easily understand that a parent isn’t going to give something harmful when their child asks them for something they need.

In Jesus’ model of prayer, He already included that we are to ask God for our daily provisions, but here Jesus goes beyond the necessities of things like food and shifts our focus to another need we have that we may not even realize we have – the Holy Spirit.

In and UponNow we know that when we accept salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and He dwells within us; but we also have need of the Holy Spirit for more than just salvation. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives gifts of the spirit in which we are empowered to serve God and His people, He is the one who convicts us of sin, reminds us of God’s word, and guides us into all righteousness. Just as we surrender to the will of the Father, are covered in the righteousness of Christ, we are enabled to act like Christ and are being shaped more and more into His image by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus made it very clear that if we ask our heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit, He will give Him. This is applicable to salvation as well as godly living. As Christians, we are our Father’s children in Christ – the Father of lights who gives good gifts and we can know that He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.

So the question is: Do you ask for the Holy Spirit?

And just like the example of a child asking for food, no one asks for food only once. It is a continual process. Now to make this clear, you aren’t asking for the Holy Spirit again and again unto salvation, because once you’re sealed with the Holy Spirit, you’re sealed. However, there are different ways in which the Holy Spirit interacts with us. He comes alongside everyone, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. Once a person has accepted Jesus as salvation, the Spirit indwells that person in which they are sealed as a guarantee of salvation. But we also see another way the Holy Spirit interacts and that is to come upon.

In John 20, when Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room after He rose from the dead, we see Him breathe on them and said to receive the Holy Spirit. Then fast forwarding to Acts 1 when Jesus was getting ready to ascend, He said that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be His witnesses in fulfilling the great commission. It was when the day of Pentecost arrived that this happened and we see gifts of the Spirit in operation in the disciples He had come upon.

Now the Holy Spirit coming upon someone isn’t some mystical thing, it’s simply the empowerment of God, enabling followers of Jesus to serve for the glory of God.

A Daily Holy HabitWith that in mind, if we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus daily, knowing that our flesh can be quite persistent in trying to win against our spirit each day, then doesn’t it make sense that we also need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment each day?

We can and should be asking for the Holy Spirit every day, knowing that our good heavenly Father will give Him to those who ask. The Father knows we need the Holy Spirit. There’s no way we can walk in this life and follow after Jesus without Him. And notice that there’s no qualifier to asking, we just simply need to ask. I encourage you to make asking for the Holy Spirit a holy habit that’s part of your prayer life every day.

If you don’t already do this, I want to challenge you to ask for the Holy Spirit every day this next week, starting right now, and take notice of the difference it makes in your life and being more like Christ – in your family, at work, in your responses to life circumstances. We all know we need the Holy Spirit, so take Jesus at His word in this and ask!

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And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:5-10)

This section of Scripture is immediately following the model for prayer where Jesus taught the disciples to pray. Here Jesus gives some additional information of being persistent in prayer.

He tells a hypothetical story of going to a friend at midnight with a need and receiving what is asked for because of being persistent in asking. That word “impudence” in our English means to not show respect for, but that’s not exactly what this implying here. It is implying that this person is such a close friend that they feel they can interrupt them in the middle of the night with a type of boldness and shameless persistence in their asking.

If you’re only acquainted with someone, you certainly wouldn’t call or text them in the middle of the night, right? That would be considered rude. But if it’s your parent, sibling, close friend – you definitely have more freedom to approach them in the middle of the night. With God, we have even more freedom to go to Him at any hour of the day or night because by grace through faith we are no longer at enmity with God, we are His friends and children and can boldly approach the throne of grace for help. We don’t need to follow a certain etiquette, because He’s our Abba, our Daddy!

Now there’s an important factor here. We can’t just ask for anything and expect God to magically give it to us; God’s not a genie existing to provide our every desire. But we can know that if we are seeking God, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, being transformed by the renewing of our minds, we can indeed pray in the perfect will of God. And for the things when in our flesh we don’t pray in His will, we are reminded why Jesus included “Your will be done” in the model of prayer He taught. With that in mind, be persistent in prayer.

Now our persistence to another human being causes an urgency for human reasons. In this example Jesus gave, it’s mainly out of annoyance to the persistence; but God doesn’t sleep, God isn’t annoyed with us for our persistence, and God isn’t even changed by our persistence because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever – but our persistence in prayer changes US. It gives us time for our hearts to change and align with God so that when we ask, we ask in alignment with His will in which, we will receive, find, and the door will be opened to us.

As you persistently pray to the Father for things, be open to letting the Holy Spirit change your heart and mind, molding and shaping you into the image of Jesus through the transforming process of sanctification in your life. If you’re not receiving, finding, and having doors opened – don’t be discouraged, instead I encourage you to ask God to search your heart and align it with His so you can pray in His will, knowing that in His will the answer is always yes. I’ll leave you with these verses from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth:

As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1: 18-20)

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Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

***So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.” (Luke 11:1-4)***

This prayer, often titled “The Lord’s Prayer” in bibles and recited verbatim, is a model of prayer Jesus gave. This wasn’t Jesus telling us exactly what words to say and we know this because of what verse 1 reveals – it was after the disciples saw Jesus praying that they said, “Lord, teach us to pray…”. When a teacher teaches an academic concept, they give examples of using that concept. Here is no different. Jesus, in teaching the disciples to pray, gave in essence a model or outline of prayer as He taught them.

You’ve likely heard different, easy-to-remember acronyms, such as ACTS, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication, and these are modeled on this section of scripture and put into an easy to remember acronym. However, if we were to breakdown Jesus’ model of prayer into a not-so easy-to-remember but more detailed outline, it would look something like this:

Reverence – remembering and acknowledging the Almighty God we are praying to.
Submission – in remembering Who we’re praying to, we remember that His sovereign will is good and we submit to that in our requests.
Supplication – for our daily needs and the needs of those we pray for.
Forgiveness – not only forgiveness of our own sins, but also remembering that we need to have a heart of forgiveness to others. This is the concept of what Jesus said in Matthew 5, that if you bring your gift to the altar and remember that there’s an issue that needs reconciling, to go first and reconcile and then come back to offer your gift; as well as Jesus plainly saying, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…” (Mark 11:25)
Deliverance – although we know that God doesn’t tempt anyone (James 1:13), we do know that the Spirit does sometimes lead us to places where we may be tempted, such as He did with Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4). The disciples didn’t have the added context that we do, but in Jesus’ high priestly prayer, He said, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) We echo Jesus’ prayer for us in not being led into temptation but to be delivered from the evil one, being spiritually protected by the hand of our Father.

This week, we’re going to dig in and focus on Submission and Forgiveness. Why? Because they tend to be the aspects that we struggle most with as Christians.

SubmissionThink of a child who is told what they may or may not do, who then almost immediately defies their authoritative figure and does what they shouldn’t. It’s innate from birth that being born into a sinful state, submission isn’t a top priority or desire for us. So as new creations in Christ, we must fight the struggle of our flesh and submit ourselves unto the Lord.

Submission to God in our head is a no brainer – we know that He is perfect, good, knows all things, is all powerful, etc, yet it’s still a struggle sometimes in our hearts to fully relinquish control of everything to Him. Remember last week, when we read about Martha and how she went to Jesus and told Him how she thought He should handle things? Would you say she was submitted to Jesus’ will in that moment? Well, she didn’t know His will yet because she hadn’t asked, but sometimes in prayer we won’t know what God’s will is for specific things. And that’s where we need to have a heart that truly surrenders and can say, “Your will be done”.

And Jesus is no stranger to this specific aspect of prayer. Remember the night of His arrest, as He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray? Jesus prayed and asked the Father if He’d be willing to remove the cup from Him – the cup being His crucifixion and being a picture of Jesus being poured out as a cup offering according to the sacrifices laid out in the Law. And yet, immediately after that request He prayed: Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:42) Jesus is not asking us, as His followers, to do anything He didn’t do Himself. If Jesus, as the perfect Son of God, submitted Himself to the Father’s will, should we not also?

ForgivenessForgiveness is one of those topics that is usually very sensitive to most people. It’s far easier to receive forgiveness than to give it, and in part, forgiveness is impossible to give without God’s help. Because we live in such a broken, sinful world, the sins committed against each other can be downright brutal; yet we don’t find exclusions to the forgiveness we’re told to extend to others. For God, forgiveness is a part of His very nature – He is a loving and merciful God; and as Christians, forgiveness should also be in practice in our lives.

In this model of prayer, Jesus includes two practices of forgiveness – asking God for forgiveness and forgiving others, and the model of prayer presumes our forgiveness of others has already been dealt with as we’re coming to the Lord and praying for His forgiveness of our own sins.

“The thing about forgiveness is, it’s not like a light switch, it’s more like a journey” (to quote my pastor, Daniel Reagan). In our journey through life, we are in the process of sanctification, which is a lifelong process, so to think that any aspect of it has to be instantaneous is flawed. Only God can instantly forgive someone and truly have done it without having any qualms surrounding it later. So although we’re currently being sanctified, we’re not perfect until we’re in heaven with Him, so we can’t expect to be able to instantly forgive and never have issues or feel like there’s still unforgiveness lingering.

Might some transgressions take a lifetime to completely forgive, coming about when the Author and Finisher of our faith has completed us in Himself in the end? Maybe. Does that mean you’re not forgiving? No, it means you’re not perfect and while your spirit longs to forgive like Jesus, your flesh is weak and battles against your spirit. If your heart is to forgive and you’re moving down that road, you’re moving in the right direction and therefore in the process of forgiving.

With forgiveness of our sins against God, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t “remember” our sins. This doesn’t mean He doesn’t actually have any memory of it. The word for remember indicates taking action over. So when it says God doesn’t remember, it means He won’t be taking action against us for our sins – because Jesus already paid for them. Likewise, we shouldn’t take vengeful action towards our transgressors, because the Bible says, Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) – we need to release them to the one who paid for our and their sins and forgive them.

I pray that as you spend time in prayer with God, that you’d use Jesus’ model of prayer, approaching the Father with reverence, being fully submitted to His will as you make your requests known to Him, having a forgiving heart towards others as you seek the forgiveness for your own sins and the deliverance from the evil one.

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Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

This is a really packed several verses, so we’re going to dig into the deeper meanings of the original Greek words that don’t necessarily come across in our English translations.

Upon initial reading of this situation, we can see the picture here is that Jesus comes into the village and Martha invites him to her home, in which it appears she lives there with her sister, Mary. Jesus begins to teach and Mary sits at His feet to listen while Martha gets busy with serving – or what we might think of as hospitality service. Upset that her sister isn’t helping, she goes to Jesus and wants Him to tell Mary to help. But Jesus tells her that Mary has chosen the good portion and that it won’t be taken away from her. However, if we only ever take away nuggets from that surface level understanding, we miss a lot from this interaction that we can glean from.

First, I know this story tends to draw a perspective that Mary is good and Martha is bad, but that’s just not the case here. Mary indeed chose the good portion, but that doesn’t make Martha bad. There are definitely some areas where Martha didn’t keep the right perspective and it led her to make errors, so what can we learn from both women from this interaction?

Martha Had a Heart to Serve Martha truly wanted to serve Jesus and His disciples. That word for serving means to serve or minister to, and It’s literally where we derive our English word for deacon, with the Greek word being diakonia. That’s not a bad thing. The part where she went wrong was that she was distracted with much serving.

The word for distracted here means to be drawn away and over-occupied about something, to the point of being distressed. It’s not that what she was doing was bad, it was that she got drawn away from the good portion and became over-occupied with serving. It’s important to both sit and serve. You can’t effectively serve if you don’t spend time sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Martha Was Led By Emotion I don’t want to assert that this is always how Martha interacted, but in this particular situation, she was led by her emotions and so much so that she went up to Jesus, accused Him of not caring, and told Him what to do regarding Mary.

When it says, she went up to him, this action in the Greek means to stand over or place oneself above by coming upon suddenly. This is wrong in and of itself, but to do this to Jesus has greater consequences. We should go to Jesus with our problems, 100% we should go to Him with our problems, but HOW we come to Him makes all the difference. Through her actions, we see that her heart wasn’t to bring her burdens to lay down at His feet and surrender them to Him, she instead wanted to share her upset and then tell Jesus how to handle it.

And honestly, I can understand how Martha could feel what she felt. In a closer look at the Greek, when she asks Jesus, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? She was sharing that she felt like her sister had forsaken and abandoned her and was questioning if Jesus had a concern or regard for that. She felt abandoned and alone in her service, and while she was indeed alone in it since she decided to be distracted with much serving while her sister chose the good portion, Martha was not abandoned in the least. Not by her sister and not by her Lord.

Martha was Important to Jesus Jesus’ response to Martha has a mix of encouragement and correction. Clearly, Martha was emotionally distraught and Jesus recognized that, since part of His response was to acknowledge that she was anxious and troubled with many things. But before He even said that, He said her name twice.

In our English language, saying her name twice may seem merely like wanting to make sure He had her full attention; but in the Greek there is another purpose. Think of the times when Jesus would say, “Truly, truly I say to you…” When someone wanted to emphasize something as important, they would say it twice, and here Jesus says Martha’s name twice. Jesus emphasized that although she feels abandoned and alone, she is indeed very important to Him. Jesus prefaced His response to the situation by meeting her where she was at, even while in a state of being overwhelmed with her emotions.

In addition to her importance to Jesus, it was important to Jesus that Martha realized what He was telling her. She didn’t NEED to be anxious about many things, and the one good portion was readily available to her as well as her sister who had already chosen it.

A Correct Perspective Jesus told Martha that she was concerned with many things, but pointed out that really only one thing was necessary. While I’m sure the things she was doing were nice and pleasing to her guests in some way, they weren’t necessary in that moment. In that moment, her service was serving to distract her from choosing the good portion.

In this situation, Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him teach, and that’s all that was necessary in that moment. Martha’s serving wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t necessary in that moment and was causing her anxiety and a troubled mind.

Now this good portion that Mary had chosen, the word for good is the same word that Jesus used when he told the Parable of the Talents, where it says, His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21)

We are told to be anxious for nothing but to address things with prayer and supplication – and not to worry about what we’ll eat or drink or wear but to seek first the kingdom of God. The thing was, Martha had the One whom she should pray to and the King of the kingdom right in front of her, but her anxiety was keeping her from seeing things rightly. She needed to be still before the Lord, and that was a lesson she needed to learn.

Are you overwhelmed and anxious? My dear, dear sibling in Christ, choose the good portion that won’t be taken from you and sit at the feet of your Savior.

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But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:29-37)

After already getting the answer from Jesus and told to do it, this lawyer wants to “justify” himself. Which tells us he wasn’t already doing what Jesus said to do, even though he had answered correctly. This lawyer knew what he should be doing, what the Scriptures said to do, but wasn’t doing it currently; and instead of letting that conviction change him, he sought to justify himself and his own sin of missing the mark of perfection as laid out in the Law.

With this in mind, the foundation of the issue this lawyer is having isn’t with the neighbor at all, the foundation of the issue is with loving God. If he was indeed following the first commandment of loving God with all his heart and soul and strength and mind, like he quoted, he wouldn’t be trying to justify himself in asking who his neighbor was, since he’d be busy already loving his neighbor.

I love that Jesus then replied with the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus didn’t engage this man in conversation about his attempt to justify himself, Jesus didn’t scold him like a child, Jesus simply took the teachable opportunity and shared a parable that would help align this lawyer’s perspective with His – with God’s perspective.

Justification How often do we see a truth from the Bible and when pricked with conviction, we don’t meditate on the Word which God spoke to our hearts but instead immediately jump to self-justification? If that’s you, you’re not alone, because that’s unfortunately part of our sin nature. That doesn’t excuse it though. Yes, we are sinful, and we have a nature that chooses sin and to justify that sin and to push the blame onto someone else, anyone else – But that doesn’t make it right. We shouldn’t simply acknowledge our failings and flaws as sinful people and justify it with “well that’s just me, I’m a sinful person” simply because we know that God gives grace.

The fact that our righteousness is likened in the Bible to filthy rags, or used menstrual pads as we can better understand today, means that our very best, in and of ourselves, is not even close to the standard of holiness God requires. The thing is, as Christians, we don’t need to justify ourselves because we are already justified in Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit. So then, any attempt to justify ourselves is worthless and at best only serves to deceive ourselves, just as James described hearers only who hear the Word and don’t do it. The key then is to not let that justification standing with God be an excuse for sin in place of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and being refined in the sanctification process of becoming more like Jesus.

Sanctification I can guarantee you that if you seek to love God and in turn love others, that in that process of sanctification, your growth will make you more like Jesus who was sinless and you will in turn sin less. When you attempt to justify yourself and your sin, your thoughts are solely on yourself. When you’re seeking to love God and others, you’re denying yourself and following in the footsteps of Jesus, the One who truly has justified you.

The first response from Jesus when the lawyer answered correctly was, “do this, and you will live.” Notice that now after trying to justify himself and being taught through a parable, the answer from Jesus remains the same – “You go, and do likewise.” You can fruitlessly try to justify yourself to Jesus all day long when you sin, but the answer will stay the same from the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever – DO what He says.

I’ll leave you with this admonishment and encouragement from Paul in several verses in Romans 6, and I pray that you respond well to the Spirit’s convictions, walking in the newness of life in Christ you were born into as a child of God, and that you would walk free from sin:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4)

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?… But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:15-16, 22)

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And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)

Now in our day, we think of a lawyer as one who represents an accused in court, but that is not the role of this man coming to Jesus with a question about eternal life. In those days, a lawyer was synonymous with scribe – as in one who studied and interpreted the Law and would instruct youth in the Law. They were in essence scholars and teachers and quite literally their text of study and teaching from was the Law.

So when this lawyer came to ask Jesus this question of how to inherit eternal life, it was purely to put Jesus to the test. However, in response, Jesus didn’t give the lawyer the answer, He instead asked him two questions. These two questions – What is written in the Law? How do you read it? – were seemingly two fold. One aspect is directing the attention to what the Law says and the context of its meaning, and the other is in essence bringing to light that someone such as a lawyer who studies and teaches the Law should know the answer to the question they’re asking. This is similar in how Jesus responded to Nicodemus when speaking about being born again and Nicodemus said, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? (John 3:9-10)

Context Matters, Continuity Matters, Truth Matters. For us, who may not be scholars of the Law, this line of questioning still leads us to understand that it’s not just a matter of knowing what is written in God’s word, but HOW we read it. If we don’t read the Bible in context, we can interpret all kinds of false things from it that’s not in continuity with the truth of the rest of God’s word.

Out of context, we see things written in the bible that can be completely twisted, such as an atheist claiming even the Bible says “There is no God.”; or when going through a rough time in life claiming that though “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” or that God won’t give us more than we can handle. But these aren’t true, they are misconstrued. In reality and in true context, those verses are:

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)

If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” (Malachi 1:4)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

There are amazing truths and promises in the Bible that God has given to us, but if we start twisting context, there is no power or promise in those. This question that the lawyer asked in how to inherit eternal life is a super important one, but it’s by the truth of God’s word that we truly find the answer and can live.

Jesus is the Word, the Way, the Truth, and the Life – that is the true context, that is continuous throughout the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. He is the Name above all names and the only Name by which we are saved. Those truths matter!

And it’s those truths that we see in the answer to what is written in the Law - “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” Of which we see that Jesus said in Matthew 22 that on these two commandments the whole Law and prophets depend.

Although the lawyer asked this question to test Jesus, the answer remains true and is profitable for us. Jesus told this lawyer, do this, and you will live and likewise, just as James admonishes us to be doers of the word and not hearers only, and that faith without works is dead, we need to not only read the Bible, but we need to read it in context and do it.

What should our takeaway be this week? Love God and love others, but don’t just read and know this – do it and live!

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Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24)

Jesus made it a point to privately tell His disciples this, that they are blessed to see and that the things they are witnessing are what the prophets and kings of old desired to see and hear but didn’t live to see and hear it in this lifetime. The time of Jesus’ earthly ministry was unique. It was a period of 33 years in which God dwelt among men in the flesh and experienced life as we do in human form. It was a time of fulfilling many, many prophecies, it was a time of a new covenant, it was a time of mysteries revealed, and it was a time of redemption.

It’s doubtful the twelve disciples truly understood exactly what Jesus was saying here, because they themselves hadn’t fully grasped all that entailed in Jesus being Messiah. They heard the things He said, but some of the things were hidden from them and they wouldn’t piece together the significance and fulfillment of prophecies until later on when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.

We can look at the disciples in hindsight and agree, they were very blessed to walk and talk with Jesus, to learn from Him face to face and come alongside Him in His ministry. I can only imagine how King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Zechariah, Daniel, Abraham, and even all the way back to Moses – the way they would long to see the fruition of what was prophesied and promised, yet died not ever seeing or hearing it.

Now in fast forwarding all the way to 2023, the Church that Jesus established also didn’t get to see it with our own eyes, hear it with our own ears, and yet we read firsthand experiences in the gospels and can now see the prophesies of the Old Testament and the fulfillment in the New Testament, all within the palms of our hands and bound in one book. So, while the prophets of old longed to see and hear, they were not serving themselves, they were serving us. That is a huge blessing!

But we as the Church are also blessed in another area that Jesus mentioned in when Doubting Thomas was able to touch and see Jesus’ nail pierced hands and side, in which he made a declaration of his belief - Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Peter also in his first epistle, wrote to the Christians in the Dispersion, Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

The blessings may look a little different between the prophets, twelve disciples, and us now, but the foundation of all three is Jesus. The prophets spoke of the future of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and Him being our salvation; the disciples witnessed the fulfillment of those prophecies and got to spend time with Jesus in the flesh; and we get the benefit of having the entire cannon of Scripture in which the Holy Spirit teach us, and can have a very close and intimate relationship with Jesus at any time or place. We may even get to be amongst those whom get raptured by Jesus. Even if not, we have salvation in Him and we await the day when we can see, hear, and worship Him face to face. O what a glorious day that will be!

In continuing in the last two weeks’ theme of rejoicing – we rejoice because our names are written in heaven, we rejoice in the Holy Spirit with a great joy, and we are blessed in believing though we have not seen. Look up, my sibling in Christ, because our faithful Bridegroom, Jesus, is coming back for us soon!

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In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Luke 10:21-22)

This first little notation is just beautiful – Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had just finished telling the seventy-two who had returned and were rejoicing in demons being subject to them in Jesus’ Name not to rejoice in that but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. And then the next thing we read is that He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and with thanksgiving declares that the Father revealed such things to little children and that no one can know the Father and Son except to whom it is revealed to by the Son.

This is not the first time in Scripture we see people rejoicing in the Lord and where the Spirit gives utterances and joy. We see a song of rejoicing from Moses and echoed from Miriam, when God had brought His people safely out of Egypt and across the Red Sea in Exodus 15. We see a song of praise when Mary had visited Elizabeth, where she said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-47)

Have you ever seen a beautiful landscape, or a sunrise or sunset with all the wonderful colors that fill the sky, or a flower or plant that’s eye-catchingly unique, or someone hear the truth of God’s word and believe, or someone make a decision to follow Jesus? How did witnessing those things make you feel? When we see things in life that clearly have God’s fingerprints on it, it should make our spirit leap for joy. And the thing is, God created all things, so when we see things in our everyday life, should that not cause us to rejoice?

We, as followers of Christ who have been redeemed by Him, have every reason to rejoice. Jesus said that no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. If you know Jesus, the Son, and the Father, whom you can call, “Abba! Father!” being children of God by receiving the Spirit of adoption in Him – that’s because Jesus has chosen to reveal Himself to you! Even if you have nothing else in this life going for you except for knowing God, THAT is a reason to rejoice!

So my fellow sibling in Christ, let’s rejoice in the God of our salvation today, following in the footsteps of our Savior as we rejoice in the Holy Spirit and heed the exhortation of Paul to Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

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The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)

The seventy-two that Jesus had sent out end up coming back from their trips in the same way that the twelve had come back from theirs, where we read about in Luke 9 – they come back and tell Jesus all about what they had done. This group was particularly joyful that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ Name, but Jesus responds with what He has seen and telling them not to rejoice in the fact that the spirits are subject to them, and instead He turns their attention to what they should be rejoicing at.

I don’t know about you, but coming face to face with a demon who has possessed a human being has never been light thing to experience. It can be rather intense, even with the knowledge that God is with us. And here in this situation, Jesus shares His experience of seeing satan fall from heaven and it was already known that He delivered many people from demon possession even just in His time on earth. Yet, He tells these people who are joyful at having authority over demons not to rejoice in it.

Why Not Rejoice in Authority Over Demons? Jesus didn’t just tell them not to rejoice over demons being subject to them, He pointed them to what they should be rejoicing in, which is that their names are written in heaven. Jesus didn’t want their focus and rejoicing being on the power at work through them, He wanted their focus and rejoicing to be who they were IN HIM.

In Christ, we are made alive, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, and we can do great works as the Spirit works through us. But if our focus is on the WHAT, then our focus isn’t on the WHO. Not only that, but salvation is a gift from God so that no one can boast. Anything in this life can easily cause pride in feeling like we’re anyone of consequence, but we must remember that salvation is a gift, the ability to do good works is a gift, and we have no basis to boast about gifts given to us. We simply receive with gratitude and give glory to God.

Keeping Proper Perspective If we keep our eyes focused on God, rejoicing in the God of our salvation and the fact that we are a saved, redeemed people who have abundant life in Christ who will one day be glorified in heaven with Him for eternity – the works we do here keep their proper perspective – they’re all done by Him and for His glory.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t have feelings of joy in seeing the works God does through you, but it does mean we shouldn’t dwell on the works. Instead, we should dwell on God Who has empowered us, Who has saved us, Who is sanctifying us, and Who is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.

When you do great things for the Lord, rejoice that you are saved and that you are being used by God, and praise Him, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever!

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“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:13-16)

As Jesus continues in these woes of unrepentance, we get to verse 16, where He says, “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me”. Here Jesus makes it very clear that we are His ambassadors, His representatives. It’s in this point of us being His ambassador that we need to remember not only in how we share the gospel and live, but also in rejection.

When we share the gospel and someone receives it, we need to remember that they are hearing us, yes, but they are ultimately hearing God speak through us. Likewise, when we share with someone and they reject it, yes they are rejecting us, but ultimately they are rejecting God.

We shouldn’t take everything personal, whether it’s good or bad in ministry, because it can delay or derail our mission.

It’s easy to understand how if we take something bad personal, it can delay or derail our mission, right? If we get too internally focused, we make it about ourselves, what didn’t they like about me, did I say something the wrong way, maybe they didn’t understand what I meant, maybe if I were dressed differently they would have listened, etc and now the focus is on ourselves instead of pushing forward in the work.

However, the same can be true of something we perceive as good. If we take something good personally, then the accolades people give as they see the work of God in and through you can get you internally focused, which can still delay or derail you. If we make it about ourselves, it becomes something like, wow, I guess I am pretty great, I do have a talent for this, I am better than (insert anyone who does similar ministry work as yourself), and pride can quickly become a huge issue.

But if we keep focused on the fact that we are HIS ambassadors, we represent HIM and we should be daily denying ourselves in that process, then there’s no room for us to insert ourselves regardless of the outcomes.

Now by not taking outcomes personally, this doesn’t mean that we don’t feel feelings about it. We’re not robot ambassadors, we are indeed human beings just like Jesus, who have feelings. This doesn’t mean suppress your feelings, because that can create bad responses on either sides of the spectrum such as false humility or apathy. We can’t and shouldn’t try to hide our feelings. We have feelings that we share with God, as being created in His image. What it does mean is that as His ambassadors, we share His heart by rejoicing when people accept and feel grieved when people reject.

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Genesis 6:5-6)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The thing to remember is that regardless of the outcome, you’re in Christ. He is your Savior, you’re His ambassador, He has gone before you, and He is with you through it all. So through the rejoicing and grieving, the trials and persecutions – persevere and stay on mission!

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (John 15:18-20)

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But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:10-12)

These are a tough few verses here! Jesus has given them the heads up that they won’t be received everywhere they go. We know that the world hated Jesus and if we’re coming in His name and sharing the same message, there are going to be those who aren’t receptive and will hate us. But more importantly than the heads up that we won’t be received by everyone, is the instruction on how to handle that. It’s more than just an outward handling, but how to handle that in your heart.

Jesus makes it clear that those who don’t receive the gospel message will be judged in their unbelief, even to the point of being more bearable for Sodom. Yikes! If you recall back to Genesis when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He did so with fire and sulfur. They were completely destroyed, and yet the eternal judgment will be more bearable for them than those who don’t receive the gospel.

Why More Bearable? When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, that brought a knowledge of good and evil, but with the Law given to the Israelites (around 400 years after Sodom was destroyed) came a knowledge of sin, which pointed us to God our Savior. Those who choose not to receive the gospel, the full revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ which became known with Jesus, but had been foreshadowed in the Law and prophets, have fully rejected their only source of salvation. Those in Sodom, having lived so many years earlier, didn’t have the full knowledge of the gospel and therefore it will be more bearable for them.

The Outward Now on the outside, we see that Jesus instructed these seventy-two people to dust their feet off and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

How do you picture this in your head? Is the disciple frustrated, angry, justified, sad, crying? There were a plethora of feelings that could come with this action, but they all would stem from the condition of the disciple’s heart. If it is being done in a frustrated or angry manner, it would seem rather confrontational and hateful. If it’s done in a justified manner, it would seem rather prideful and judgmental. If they’re sad or crying, it would seem they have a broken heart over the people’s rejection.

The thing is, even though they were to shake the dust off their feet and declare that it was because they weren’t receptive, the message of the kingdom of God still stands.

The Inward These instructions weren’t being given to condemn unreceptive people before the time of judgment. The disciples weren’t being told to judge them unto condemnation. He was telling them to boldly tell them that they are being left in the dust of their hard hearts, but that nonetheless, GOD wants them to know that His kingdom has come near. Notice how Jesus didn’t tell them to include that their judgment for not receiving was going to be worse than Sodom? That information was only for the disciples to keep in mind. Jesus wants us to keep a right perspective of people.

Our human response may be to see those who don’t receive as the enemy or somehow beneath us and may even stir a point of pride or consolation such as, “O well, they’re just going to hell then, serves them right for not receiving me and the message I shared”. But that is NOT the heart of God.

Our hearts should be broken for those who do not receive because we know where they’re going if they don’t ever repent. If we’re to be Christ like in this and have our hearts properly aligned with God’s, then we too should desire that none would perish but that ALL would come to repentance.

Precious Souls Each and every time you share the gospel with someone, keep their soul in mind. You’re not looking to get them to agree with you or say a special prayer, you’re sharing Jesus with them who is able to save their soul and give them eternal life. And remember, God is not the only one who is seeking after them, so is the enemy. Satan would love to keep them wallowed or blinded in their sin, with a heart hard like stone and eventually ending up with him in the Lake of Fire for all eternity. But people are precious. Every. single. person is precious.

Charles Spurgeon was once quoted saying this, “Consider how precious a soul must be when both God and the devil are after it.”

We shouldn’t ever be picky or choosy about who we deem worth sharing the gospel with. We are called to make disciples of ALL nations, not the ones we think we should. Jesus deemed everyone worth dying for, so shouldn’t we deem them worth sharing His gospel with?

And we can’t get caught up in feeling rejected when people don’t receive the gospel message we share with them either. They aren’t rejecting you anyway, because it’s not about you, it’s about salvation in Jesus. But if we’re not preaching the gospel to our own hearts regularly, where we freshly remember the sin we were once in and the wonderous work Jesus did on the cross for us on our behalf, and the immense love He has for us and every single person ever created, we just may end up making our own feelings the focus instead of the soul saving work we were sent out to do. Rejection isn’t fun, but it’s a part of the Christian’s life when they walk out their faith in their calling. If during times of rejection, we can shift our focus from our feelings of rejection to sharing the broken heart God feels towards them, then we can stay the course in our mission and service to God.

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And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. (Luke 10:7-9)

It’s interesting here that Jesus gives instruction to these missionaries to not go from house to house but to remain in the same house where they are provided, and to receive what is provided to eat and drink, giving us further insight that a laborer deserves his wages. Why is this interesting? For several reasons…

Before we dive into these specifically, it is important to note that reaping physical wages for sowing spiritual labors is a biblical concept. This concept in its basic principle of a laborer deserving wages, goes all the way back to the Law, where it says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4). Paul very clearly laid this out that it’s not for the ox’s sake that this was included in the Law, but to point to the fact that God designed that those who minister spiritually would be provided for physically, when he wrote to the Corinthians:

Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?… If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:4-7, 11) and Paul even further explains this as God’s design a few verses later when he said, Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).

Even further, in one of the letters that we consider to be a guidance for those serving in ministry and how the church should conduct itself, we’re told to Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18)

This principle is biblical and shouldn’t cause us to look at missionaries/pastor/teachers as if they are reaping something they shouldn’t by having their needs provided by God through the people they were entrusted to shepherd and equip.

With that in mind, let’s look at the several reasons this is so interesting:

In our human minds, we may think that staying in multiple places would be a lighter burden on those hosting, but Jesus said to remain at the same house, not to go house to house. If they went from house to house, they’d only be there a short time making the hospitality less of a burden, but they would be spending less time at each house which means the quality of relationship they could build and minister in would be less. Also, the less burden on those hosting would mean more burden on the missionaries themselves, but they deserve their wages, of which housing is included.
Eating and drinking what is provided would seem like a no brainer to us now, but back then when dietary restrictions of the Law and the traditions that the Pharisees held so dear, many would scrutinize what they were served. Jesus tells them not to do this, but to simply be thankful for the provision and eat what’s provided.

Matthew Henry in his commentary on this section said, “Christ here refers to the traditions of the elders about their meat which were so many that those who observed them were extremely critical, you could hardly set a dish of meat before them, but there was some scruple or other concerning it; but Christ would not have them to regard those things, but eat what was given them, asking no question for conscience' sake.” 3. Although we looked at a laborer deserving their wages from the outside, Jesus said this to the laborers themselves. There can be a tendency from a laborer’s perspective to feel like they should be giving everything and expecting nothing in return. In part this is true, in that sharing the gospel should not be the means by which anyone gains. Salvation is free and is freely shared without motive for financial gain, otherwise they’re simply a hired hand.

However, the fact that a laborer deserves their wages goes beyond sharing the gospel. Laborers spend a lot of time in a day ministering spiritually, which means there’s not that time available to earn wages to live. If they can’t labor in a typical job for a paycheck since they’re busy ministering spiritually, then the work they do labor in needs to provide their means to survive, which is what Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9. The hard part then, would seem to be getting the laborer to not only understand that, but not feel guilty for receiving the Lord’s provision through the work they’re doing. The Lord can provide in any number of ways, and by the hand of others should be no less be received and with no less gratitude. And the labor was not easy work – they were healing and preaching the kingdom of God, day in and day out, and sometimes facing opposition from those who would not receive them.

An overarching aspect of all this comes back to trusting God. God is the one who provides all things, and these laborers were going out, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and they had to trust that God was going to provide for their needs. But the trust also comes in on the part of those whom are being ministered to as well. When we give tithes and offerings, we’re not giving to the church leaders, we’re giving to God. We’re entrusting that He is going to take and use what we’ve given how He wills, part of which is providing for church leaders who labor over you as shepherds and teachers.

Yes, there are instances in which money given to certain churches doesn’t get used well, but that has nothing to do with us. Our faithfulness and desire to fill God’s storehouse should be based on our relationship with God in which we give with a cheerful heart; not based on our own outward examination of how other servants of God are being stewards. If you’re being spiritually sown into, there should be no problem physically providing means for those laborers to reap a living.

Whether you labor in ministry full time or not, there is application for you in this. Trust God, be thankful for His provision, AND actually receive His provision as you labor in the mission He’s called you to.

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After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. (Luke 10:1-3)

These people, the seventy-two, went before Jesus where He was about to go. Jesus not only gave them instruction for their mission trips, but He gave them insight that the harvest was plentiful with few laborers, and to pray that God would send out laborers into His harvest. And He says this right before He, the Lord of the Harvest, sends them out. So why tell them to pray when He was about to send them?

True Today We have to remember that this wasn’t just for their sake, but for ours also. The same rings true today, we help to prepare the way in our modern times. We don’t do the work of salvation, but we labor for the Lord of the harvest. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t appear that as many people are eager to be sent out into the harvest if it doesn’t include comforts and amenities that they can access by staying where they’re settled. This may seem a bit pessimistic, but Jesus Himself said the laborers were few and think of this – do you personally know even 72 pastors and/or missionaries who have gone out into the plentiful harvest?

Now, don’t get me wrong, every believer is in a mission field, no matter where that is on the globe, because we are called to make disciples of all nations, which include those at home, close to home, all the way out to the ends of the earth. So even if God doesn’t call you into a far-off mission field, we’re still told by Jesus to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Why? Because the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

I believe God is stirring hearts and calling people to go out, but how do you know if He’s sending you? Have you asked Him?

BUSY – Burdened Under Satan’s Yolk There is a lot in our world that can keep one busy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are usually at least 8 hours a day spent at work, there are commute times, home responsibility times, fun times, but even in those hours of the day that aren’t filled, they are easily filled with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon…literally the possibilities are endless. But what if God is trying to get your attention and would like to send you somewhere, but you’re too busy to hear? Do you spend time waiting on Him and listening to what He has to say?

This applies not only to Him sending you out, but also in personal time with your Savior. In your mind, your knee jerk reaction may be that He’d never call you to leave your hometown, but I can guarantee you that regardless of whether God sends you far-off or keeps you local, you won’t be useful in your mission field if you’re not spending time in earnest prayer with the Lord of the harvest.

Being Sent Out Now, there’s another aspect to this…what if you pray for Him to send laborers into the plentiful harvest and He tells YOU to go? Are you willing to go?

The way of the sent is hard. Jesus said He was sending them out as lambs in the midst of wolves, BUT Jesus also said that He will go with you wherever you go, that He will never leave or forsake you, and that He will give you words to speak in the moments you need it, even in the face of persecution.

I encourage you that as you pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest for laborers to be sent out into the plentiful harvest, that you would pray for a heart willing to be sent should God ever will to send you. To have an earnest desire to serve the Lord, in the way that Isaiah did when He heard God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” and to not have a defiant spirit like Jonah had as he literally ran from the calling. I pray that you would always have a heart like Jesus to say, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”

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After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:1-12)

This section may seem a little like DeJa’Vu but in reality it was a separate event than we read before. Last time, Jesus had sent out His twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God and heal. In this instance, it’s not just His twelve, but He appoints seventy-two others and sent them on head of Him in groups of two to go ahead of where He would be going. They in essence had a similar mission as John the Baptist, except short-term. They were to go ahead of Jesus and prepare the people for Jesus arrival there, proclaiming that the kingdom of God had come near to them.

Jesus says a lot of things in preparing them for this mission, and we’ll be digging into some aspects even deeper in the next several weeks, but ultimately, He gave a lot of the same type of instructions that He gave His twelve disciples when He sent them out. In a nutshell, the instructions included these aspects:

Don’t take provisions
Stay wherever provision was offered them
Heal the sick
Proclaim the kingdom of God has come
Shake the dust off if you’re not accepted

Still Applicable Jesus sent out His twelve disciples this way. Jesus sent out these seventy-two others this way. And Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever specifically prayed this in His high priestly prayer, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:18-19). Then we, as disciples of Jesus in 2023, should be paying attention when He sends us out because these instructions are still applicable to us.

It might seem crazy to not take provisions when He sends you out somewhere, but it still happens today. I’ve shared in the past when our homeless ministry team had gone out street witnessing and God provided a walking stick that was given to us from one homeless man we met and later that day it was used to provide for another homeless veteran we met. There’s one example. Even when God had called us to move from Southern California to Northern California but we didn’t know how God was going to work out all those details yet, He had told us very specifically to not take provisions to just put our belongings in storage and go. So, we began putting our things into storage in Southern California and listed our house for sale, and our house sale was already in escrow before God opened the opportunity for us to rent a fully furnished house in Northern California while we looked to buy. The crazy part was, we didn’t go looking for a furnished house to rent, it was offered to us when people learned we were moving for a church plant. God can provide, literally from nothing, so it becomes a matter of trusting that He will when He sends you on mission.

Proclaiming the Kingdom We know that we know that Jesus has sent us to be ambassadors for Him, we have so many verses throughout the New Testament that support His commission and desire for us to be His hands and feet, but are we walking in that?

In most places in America, we assume everyone has heard of Jesus and how to have salvation in Him, but that’s not true. I have talked to people in the Bay Area who had never heard of Jesus or the gospel, which to be honest shocked me when it first happened. But regardless of whether they’ve heard yet or not, the commission and calling isn’t only planting first time seeds – it can be watering them. We are called to make disciples, which takes time and relationship as we walk alongside others and spend meaningful, quality time truly showing care for their souls as we share the truth of God’s word, one opportunity at a time.

Most people would be glad to evangelize, witness a conversion, and go on their way, but discipleship is more than a single moment in time. Just as nourishing a child from infancy takes time, one little drinkable meal of milk at a time, and eventually soft solids, to meat – it’s a process. If we only fed an infant a bottle of milk once, that’s certainly a recipe for death because they need a steady diet of milk, taking time to digest it before getting more and moving onto solid food. In the same way, this takes us back to the soil of hearts. Planted seeds need steady watering to grow. Are you willing to be a planter and a waterer, taking time and care to disciple others?

Keep Going And in those instances in which your message is just not accepted and received, shake the dust off your feet and continue on in your mission. The life of a person on mission for Christ is not easy, especially if you’re committed to going from town to town, so to speak, in your mission field, continuing on through the hard times of rejection and pushing forward through the challenging times of discipleship. To be honest, ministry and relationships are messy, but they’re well worth it, to love and serve both God and your neighbors. Do you hear God appointing you to go on mission? Maybe you’ve been hearing Him but not taking the steps to walk forward yet. Today, if you hear the Spirit’s voice, don’t harden your heart. Heed the instructions and go!

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Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62)

This week is much like last, in that this person said, “let me first…” all in a way to find an excuse to linger in their old life before turning to follow Jesus. We’ve all seen people in our lives do this kind of thing, whether in relation to salvation or not – they want to have their party years before growing up and taking responsibility, they want to “live their best life” before settling down to a moral lifestyle; there are endless things that we, as the fragile and flawed human beings that we are, will try to find as an excuse to push off surrendering to God.

Why Do We Make Excuses? This is the question, right? Why do we make excuses? In our flesh, we are at enmity with God, that’s the effect sin has on us. No one wants to be told their wrong, no one wants to be told what to do, no one wants to be subject to any authority in their flesh, because we’re a prideful bunch. Even from the beginning in the Garden of Eden, we see that Eve was tempted to sin when she saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise (Genesis 3:6). And James tells us that each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:14-15).

And yet even further in James 4, we are told, Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (James 4:4-5) Anything that comes before God is an idol, so we cannot choose to “first go” and do whatever because that is to choose friendship with the world, which ultimately is enmity with God.

God will let you choose, you have free will, but He yearns jealously over you as one whom He died to redeem.

But James continues in chapter 4 saying, But [God] gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7) Our answer to the problem is there – when we’re tempted to reply to Jesus’ call to follow with “but let me first” do such and such, we need to resist the devil and submit to God.

Don’t Look Back This is applicable in our areas of ministry – if God is calling you to do a certain way of serving Him and your response is “but let me first”, here is a call to repentance. Because Jesus response is very serious here – “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” There is no “kinda following Jesus” or identifying with Him but not actually following and doing what He says. If you’re claiming to follow Him, follow Him!

Lot’s wife, after the angels had led their family out of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah which were about to be destroyed, looked back and proved what her heart truly desired, and she turned into a pillar of salt. And Paul admonished us in Philippians when he said, But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

So the decision is yours – put your hand to the plow and push forward, walking in the works God created you in Christ Jesus to do, or look back and prove to be unfit for the kingdom of God. I pray you choose to press on toward Jesus!

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To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-60)

Last week, we saw someone come to Jesus saying they would follow Him wherever He went, but this week we see Jesus initiated the conversation to another in saying, “Follow Me”. We don’t actually know what the previous person’s response was after being told the cost of not having a place to lay their head. However, in this interaction, the person has a reason for delaying in following Jesus.

Jesus’ response to leave the dead to bury their own dead may seem heartless, cruel, and completely lacking in compassion, but since we know that is not Jesus’ character at all, we need to look deeper at what was actually happening during this interaction to understand.

As this person told Jesus, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father” in response to Jesus’ call to follow Him, this person wasn’t saying that their father had just died and they needed to literally bury him. This person was in essence saying that their father is still alive so they want to wait until he dies before leaving to follow Jesus. This person deemed it more important to stay based on their father, then to go based on Jesus’ command.

A Flawed Perspective As flawed human beings, our perspectives are most often not aligned well and when left to our own, certainly not aligned with God’s. How many people just in their own lives put off one thing for another? Put off getting married for a career, put off having children to travel, put off spending time with family to work, etc. And yet, how many times have you heard people say they would until their death bed to accept Jesus as salvation? But tomorrow is not promised, so anything that gets put off today, isn’t guaranteed to even be available to happen tomorrow.

And in essence anything that is put off for later is then deemed less important or valuable than what is being tended to in place of it. But is there anything more important than following Jesus?

Of course, the answer is no, but if it feels like there is, that’s a real problem.

Not Only for Non-Believers To one who identifies as a Christian, this may seem like a moot point, but just like our devotional on the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, one can be self-deceived if the soil of their heart is not good. If you find that you put off reading your bible to first go and do something else, such as laundry, dishes, check social media, etc. Or that you put off going to church to worship, study, and fellowship to first go and do something else, such as watch the game on TV or take the kids to their sports game, etc. These are all instances which call to attend to the check engine light of your heart.

Listen and obey the call of Jesus to let those other things be and follow Him wholly, to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

In Matthew 22, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40) God is a God of order – we see it in the Godhead of Father, Son, and Spirit, we see it in creation, we see it through prophecies and time – and in the commands it’s no different. The greatest and first commandment is to love God with your everything. So if we are letting anything come before that, it is sin to us. And the second, is to love others, which is part of Jesus command to this second person who wanted to first wait until their father died – was to go and preach the kingdom of God.

In loving God with all their heart, soul, and mind, this person would choose to follow Jesus first; and in following the command to go and preach the kingdom of God, they would be loving others. Of which Jesus then said in Matthew 22:41, “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Truths to Consider As we wrap up here, consider these truths:

On those two commandments, to love God and love others, depend all the Law and Prophets (Matthew 22:41)
The perfect Law, the Law of liberty, is what James tells us we should look into and persevere as a doer (James 1:22-25)
Jesus came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, and He did so perfectly (Matthew 5:17-20)
If we choose to follow Jesus, we are to be His ambassadors – to do and be like He is

THEREFORE, we must choose to leave behind all our “let me first go” type things and choose God first, and then love others in going and proclaiming the kingdom of God.

I’ll leave you with these verses from Romans 8:5-9:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

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As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:57-58)

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to dig into this last section of Luke 9, as we read about three different people’s response to the cost of following Jesus.

This week, we see that someone came to Jesus saying they would follow Him wherever He went. This person came on their own accord and had a desire to follow Jesus. Their claim is a big one because they didn’t just say they wanted to follow Him, they said wherever He went.

Now maybe they had full understanding of what they were saying, but it’s likely they did not because becoming a disciple of a rabbi in those days usually didn’t require all that it would require to actually follow Jesus wherever He went. But Jesus makes it very clear what the cost would be for this person – a loss of typical life comforts.

When Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He is literally saying He doesn’t have a home or bed. He’s not going out to do ministry and then coming back home and putting up His feet at night. He traveled around, basically camping out as the Spirit led Him from town to town in His ministry. And when you think about it, Jesus was no stranger to lack of typical home-like comfort because even as a baby, just as the Christmas carol puts it, there was no crib for a bed. The Son of Man had humble comforts at best, and any follower of His should be content with the same if it comes to that.

Following Jesus Today Now in today’s culture, we don’t generally see homeless missionaries in the way we think of homeless. However, if we are going to choose to follow Jesus wherever He goes, being willing to be sent wherever the Spirit leads, then that very well may require leaving “home” and other homelike comforts behind. In some cases, this could be extreme if God calls you to live and minister in the jungles of a far-off country. Or it could look something like leaving a comfortable sized house for a small apartment in your new mission field.

Regardless of the actual housing conditions, the focus here is that following Jesus isn’t a glamorous endeavor, and comfort and luxury aren’t guarantees when following Jesus.

Unfortunately, there are false teachers in our culture who preach that by following Jesus you can have health, wealth, and a prosperous life and go as far as to claim that God wants all these things for you. By Jesus’ own words here, this is clearly not true. Our heavenly Father has indeed blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:3), but those are spiritual riches, not earthly.

In Matthew 6, Jesus said not to store treasure here on earth, but to store it in heaven, so the claims of health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine are clearly not biblical and are earthly minded. We, as followers of Jesus, are to set our minds on the things above, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2).

Most of us in American culture are pretty comfortable with the houses we live in, so this can be harder to relate to. Yet, let’s imagine for a moment that God called you to a mission field in a third world country, where the comforts you currently have would be gone. Would you go?

A Heart Matter This is more of a heart thing than it is even a reality for most – you may never be called to serve in a place where you don’t have a place to lay your head the way Jesus lived during His earthly ministry, but would you? Is your heart in a place to truly follow Jesus WHEREVER He goes regardless of whether that would cost a place to lay your head?

We are spiritual sojourners in this life and should not get too comfortable with the comforts of this life, lest we become complacent in our willingness to follow Jesus wherever. I encourage you to take some time to really think about your response to those questions and check the condition of your heart towards this. If you find that there is hesitation to follow wherever with complete abandonment, ask God to help you adjust your perspective.

I don’t know what your future holds, but I pray that you would always have a heart to follow Jesus wherever He may lead you.

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When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:51-56)

Oh, James and John, those silly sons of thunder! But as silly and eye rolling as we may see their response, it was wrong, and we know this because Jesus rebuked them over it. Even though they were right to not like that Jesus wasn’t accepted there, in desiring that they be consumed showed how flippantly James and John viewed those people’s value to Jesus.

Hadn’t Jesus already told them on their last missionary journeys that if they were not received to shake the dust off their feet and keep walking to the next town? How quickly they forgot His words and in turn failed to apply them in the next situation.

Yet, we don’t read that Jesus like smacked them upside the head or even started yelling them or anything, He simply rebuked them and then led by example as they went on to another village without further incident.

Are We Like Sons of Thunder?How often do we get all up in arms over something that we shouldn’t? Or try to make a bigger deal out of something that should remain small. As humans, we can tend to make mountains out of mole hills. Sometimes this is caused by gossip, other times anger, and yet other times just a sinful desire for drama. Yet that’s not what Jesus desires for us as children of God, nor as His ambassadors.

Instead of James and John being saddened by the hard hearts of the Samaritans, they were angered so much that they wanted fire to come down and consume them. For all we know, there were people in that village who would eventually believe in Jesus unto salvation as the gospel would spread into Judea, Samaria, and reaching towards the ends of the earth after Jesus’ death and resurrection. But the anger of James of John blinded them to the love Jesus had for these people* despite them not receiving Him right then and there, and just as James tells us, the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20)***.

Not All BadTo James and John’s praise though, they went into a village of the Samaritans and didn’t put up a fight over interacting with them, like they had when we first read Jesus talking about going into Samaria in John 4. Now while their comment about bringing down fire from heaven was said wrongly, they seemed to have great faith.

They had faith enough that they believed they could indeed tell fire to come down from heaven to consume this village and that it would happen. In their faith, they were learning as they walked with Jesus, but they still needed course correction along the way, which Jesus gave them. Ultimately, they had faith and zeal, but their love was lacking. This is exactly what Paul mentioned to the Corinthians when he said if he had faith to remove mountains but not love, that he was nothing, as he further then defined what love was in the rest of 1 Corinthians 13.

Rebuked by GodLastly, we assume the rebuke wasn’t fun for them, and it probably pierced their hearts to hear Jesus rebuke them. But while chastisement isn’t fun in the moment, it is effective. When we get disciplined by God, it’s not fun and it’s hard to hear, but a rebuke from God, as rough as it is, is a good thing because it means you’re His child. Look what Hebrews has to say about this:

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

These sons of thunder may have started with desiring to call down fire from heaven, but because of Jesus’ rebuke and continued training in righteousness, which later would continue through the work of the Holy Spirit in them, they ended up being men who not only learned compassion for people, but were persecuted for the sake of Jesus without their former desire to call down fire from heaven. They endured to their end, having yielded that peaceful fruit of righteousness.

When a situation arises where you feel quick to anger and a desire for retribution, and the Spirit of God convicts you of it – remember that you’re His child, humbly repent, and ask God to help you see other people with eyes and a heart of compassion and love for them the way He does. We truly need Him to teach us to be like Him, and we do this as we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.

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John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50)

This may seem to be a situation in which was isolated to the times of Jesus, seeing as it was someone casting out demons, but what if we inserted another action – preaching in Jesus’ name, holding prayer meetings in Jesus’ name, ministering to the homeless in Jesus’ name…the list could go on. And the reason John gave for trying to stop this person who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name was “because he doesn’t follow with us”. This in our modern times would be like saying, “because he doesn’t go to our church”.

Now in our minds, we may instantly think, well that’s silly, of course we wouldn’t try to stop another church from teaching and praying and ministering to the homeless. But what about when they plan an outreach on the same day as your church? What about if their congregation is bigger or smaller? What about when their ministries seem to yield more fruit than your church’s similar ministries?

See how things can be a slippery slope when you start differentiating between believers of different congregations? Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t be discerning, because not every establishment that calls themselves a church is a bible teaching and Jesus following congregation that makes up Jesus’ whole Church. But if they are indeed teaching the bible and following Jesus, then they are our brothers and sisters. So why on earth would Christians being clicky?

The True BattleEphesians tells us that our war isn’t with flesh and blood, and Jesus tells us here that anyone who is not against us is for us. In light of the spiritual battle we’re facing, don’t you want more brothers and sisters in fellowship and prayerful support? Sure, you and they may be growing in different sheep folds, but you’re both co-heirs and servants in the kingdom of God and both your folds have the same head, which is Christ.

The bible tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, but will the gates of hell storm itself? Will the ambassadors of Christ be able to storm those gates if they’re too concerned with how another ambassador is storming them, or even worse, something even pettier such as which pastor God is using to shepherd them?

Jesus’ Church can’t effectively outreach to the lost and make disciples if it’s battling clicks within itself.

Now this response from John comes after Jesus’ gentle rebuke over the disciples’ argument over who was the greatest. It really could be a deflective response or still operating in pride trying to appear great by promoting an action he thought was good. Regardless of the reason John said it, Jesus’ answer still applies – “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

You may be part of a large church, medium church, small church, city church, country church, home church – the size and location really don’t matter. The early church met both in houses and corporately, but the key was that they devoted themselves to teaching, prayer, fellowship, and breaking of bread and Jesus grew His Church. (Acts 2:42-47)

Your pastor may be a great speaker, in the way the early church in Corinth thought of Apollos, or a not so enthralling speaker, the way the early church in Corinth thought of Paul; yet the power of a pastor’s words isn’t found in their ability to be a great public speaker or rouser of emotion, the power is found in the Word in which they teach from and the Holy Spirit who empowers them. So, if our loyalty, awe, motivation to go to church, or reason for wanting to serve is over our pastor, or anything other than Jesus for that matter, then we’ve made an idol out of them.

Testing Our Own HeartsThis calls for a diagnostic of our own hearts. How do we respond, even in our own minds, when we think of or encounter other Jesus following church congregations? Do we jump at the chance to fellowship and/or serve alongside them or do we shy away and keep them at arm’s length simply because they belong to another church?

Just because we don’t actively try to stop them the way John had done with the man casting out demons in Jesus’ name, doesn’t mean there’s not a problem to irradicate in our own hearts. Sin starts in the heart long before it becomes an action, and being clicky – which is showing partiality – is sin.

Next time you see a fellow brother or sister from another Jesus following church congregation or see a ministry from another Jesus following church congregation, test whether you have joy at seeing a sibling in Christ or a work of God being done, or whether there’s some partiality you need to seek God’s help carving out of your life.

I’ll leave you with a portion of Jesus’ high priestly prayer, in which He prayed for His whole Church in John 17:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:20-23)

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An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:46-48)

Could you imagine arguing over who’s greatest while in the physical midst of God? From our hindsight, we can see 20/20, but in the moment, the disciples had their perception of the kingdom of God and where they desired their place to be in it. Yet, Jesus was so long-suffering and responded in a kind and gentle manner.

In taking a child, one whom would have been regarded as lesser than adults and who should be seen and not heard, Jesus gave a clear picture that being great in His kingdom wasn’t the typical worldly perception of greatness. It was quite the opposite; it would be the least among them who would be great.

I can’t help but think that it’s going to be the people who were “nobodies” while serving the Lord here on earth, that will shine the brightest in heaven.

Are We the Greatest?This makes me evaluate my own pride. How often do we think too highly of ourselves? And not just too highly, but in doing so that we consider others lower than us? If we are thinking of ourselves as the greatest, then how will we ever share the gospel and disciple others when it would require us to “stoop low”?

THIS is why applying the gospel to our lives daily is so important. When we remember who we are in and of ourselves, and the only reason that we are anyone is because of God, we can keep our pride in check.

Think of this:

You have life because God formed you in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13-16)
You loved because He first loved you. (1 John 4:19)
The faith you placed in God was the measure of faith He gave you. (Romans 12:3)
You would die in your sin if Jesus hadn’t died in your place. (John 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The gifts you have and the ministries you serve in are completely empowered by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 4:4-11)
The process of sanctification affects you but isn’t because of you, it’s a work of God in you. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
When you die, you can’t raise yourself, but God will raise you just as He raised Jesus. (1 Corinthians 6:14)

In light of all this, how could we ever boast about being the greatest? By all accounts, apart from Jesus we can do nothing, so the boasting should only ever be in how great our God is.

A Soft AnswerNow in this situation with His disciples, Jesus could have rebuked them and put them in their place, and He would have been justified in doing so, but He took a different approach; one that wasn’t so direct, yet would directly speak to and correct the issue at hand.

Now when we think of Jesus’ response, it was a soft answer, especially compared with what could have been blatantly said. Proverbs tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). In this case, don’t you think that the disciples, who were actively arguing over who was the greatest, would have responded from their pride with anger over a harsh correction, regardless of how true the correction was? Yet Jesus’ soft answer, gave a direct response to the issue in a way that could be accepted and learned in the state they were in.

And yes, sometimes a direct rebuke or teaching is in order, but more times than not, a nudge in the right direction with a gentler approach is more than capable of having the lesson be successfully received, and in a way that doesn’t stir up anger and further the pride issue that’s underlaying it.

This also makes me evaluate my own responses to others. How often do we attempt to correct someone and come in like a wrecking ball to the situation? Are you guilty of this sometimes too? That’s backwards though because when we are corrected, we want the gentle answer, but when we go to correct we tend to bring the hammer down hard. I believe this stems from a godly desire for justice but because of sin, we end up failing to include mercy and compassion which leads to a harsh response.

So then, the things we must pray for are humility, patience, and compassion, all of which are attributes of our amazing Savior. When you’re tempted to think too highly of yourself, remember what Jesus said, For he who is least among you all is the one who is great. And when the temptation to jump to a harsh correction upon witnessing other’s pride, remember Jesus’ soft answer, which turned away wrath, as you follow the example given to you by the greatest servant of all.

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While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (Luke 9:42-45)

It’s interesting here that it says the people were marveling at everything Jesus was doing, yet we don’t read that they marveled at Him. Jesus is God and was doing things that only God can do, yet they were marveling at the works of God and not God Himself.

And Jesus’ disciples were not immune to this either, which we especially notice in this situation. It was as they too were marveling at His works that He tells them, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” They, like so many, had a preconceived notion of what Messiah would come and do. They had created their own story in their heads about what this kingdom would be like and were dreaming up what their position within the kingdom would be like – which we’ll dig into more next week when we look at the argument that arose among the disciples.

Jesus is graciously and lovingly telling them what the next step is on His mission, and trying to refocus them on the reality that His whole goal in this coming was not to conqueror men and reign over them for this life, but to conqueror death and reign within them unto eternal life.

That phrasing, “Let these words sink into your ears”, means to truly listen and take it in. He had told them the truth of His coming crucifixion before and He was telling them again, as it was coming closer.

The word of Christ does us no good, unless we let it sink down into our heads and hearts. (Matthew Henry)

But the very thing that Jesus admonished to let sink into their ears was concealed from them. This may seem unfair, as if God set them up, telling them a command and not allowing them to understand it. However, this is not the case. This is actually similar to the situation with Pharoah during the time of Israel’s slavery in Egypt. God knew that Pharoah’s heart was against His people and that he would not let them go, therefore He hardened his heart. In the same way, the disciples were so immersed in their own idea of the type of kingdom Jesus had and would reign in, that they wouldn’t accept what Jesus was telling them time and time again, and therefore it was hidden from them.

This wasn’t the first time Jesus had told them His crucifixion was coming. If they had let His words sink in the first time, there wouldn’t have been a searing or desensitization to when He said it again this time. We must heed Jesus’ words when He first tells us things, letting His words sink into our ears, because otherwise we can truly deceive ourselves. James warns of this when he wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25)

In being like the man who looks in the mirror and forgets what he was like, the disciples heard Jesus’ words but didn’t let them sink in, and in so deceived themselves.

How can we learn from the mistake of the disciples and let the words of Jesus sink in? That last part of James gives us a clue – looking into the perfect law and persevering, which leads to action. We also see an actionable example in the words of King David:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Have you ever been driving and the next thing you know, you’re at your destination and you don’t remember driving there? What about reading something and you realize you’ve read a whole page but don’t even know what it said? We need to spend time in the word of God, not just reading the words but meditating on them. It’s then that we truly let His words sink in and change us, renewing our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Will you try something to help ensure you’re letting His words sink in? Try telling at least one person a day what you read about in the bible that day. If you can recall and share what you’ve read, and even share what the Lord spoke to you through it, you can be more confident that it sunk in. I encourage you to spend time meditating on His word and sharing it with others, starting today!

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And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. (Luke 9:38-43)

In this account of Jesus healing this demon possessed child, there are a couple things that are exactly the same details recorded in all accounts of this event across the gospels: Jesus’ response to the man and the fact that Jesus healed the boy.

When the man told Jesus that he first tried having His disciples heal his son but that they couldn’t, Jesus responded with, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” Now this may seem like a very harsh response, and it appears as though it was only in relation to the disciples’ inability to cast out the demon. But in Mark 9, we also read:

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:20-24)

So we see that this father who had brought his child to Jesus after a failed attempt at the hands of the disciples, had his doubts. This does seem reasonable from a human standpoint, especially since the father had undoubtedly tried to seek help elsewhere even before the disciples, but each attempt kept failing by the time he came to Jesus. Yet, when all attempts of the world to heal fail, it doesn’t even remotely reflect God’s ability to do as He wills.

As human beings though, we tend to be a doubtful bunch, don’t we? So it’s no surprise that Jesus spoke the harsh truth that they were a faithless and twisted generation. And even though Jesus included the rhetorical questions of how long He was to be with and bear with them, the fact remains that HE WAS there and HE DID bear with them through their weakness as He healed the boy. He remained faithful even when they were faithless, for He could not deny Himself.

More Paralleled InsightNow it’s easy to chalk up that the disciples simply didn’t have enough faith to cast out the demon from the boy, but the account of this event in Mark gives even more insight to this:

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:25-29)

Now this verse in Mark, about that kind of demon cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting, has been widely interpreted by different people, but what we do know is that Jesus made it a habit to pray and fast regularly, and He was always able to cast out any demon. Who knows, maybe the Spirit had prompted Jesus to fast and pray leading up to that event, knowing that it would be needed. But regardless, we can still follow the lead of Jesus in this and be in tune with the Spirit, being obedient in prayer and times of fasting as we’re prompted to, so that in whatever situation we find ourselves, we are ready and equipped to be used by the Lord.

And if you find doubt in your own heart as you seek Jesus, just as the father in this story did, cry out to Him who is faithful, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And know that He who is always faithful, will hear you.

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And behold, two men were talking with [Jesus], Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:32-35)

As we wrap up this section on Jesus transfiguring, there are 3 points we can really glean from it:

A Heavy SleepJesus’ appearance had already changed, but the disciples didn’t see Him standing in glory until they woke up from their heavy sleep. Although this was actually true, physically, of the disciples, the same things rings true in our spiritual states. If we are walking through life in a kind of spiritual sleepy haze, we aren’t going to see Jesus who is with us, and in us through the Holy Spirit.

This was part of the admonishment to the believers in Ephesus, when Paul wrote his letter saying, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:11-17)

These end days we live in are evil, and we need to stay awake with our oil lamps full, being careful to walk in the light of Jesus. If the unfruitful works of darkness don’t stir up a desire for justice, and the grace and mercy of God don’t stir up a desire to worship and reach out, then how likely is one to walk humbly with God, which is good and what the Lord requires?

Don’t let the sleepy haze of this world’s darkness keep you from seeing our glorified Lord Jesus and hearing the voice of God.

Nothing ComparesEven though Moses and Elijah also appeared in glory, the description was that the disciples woke and saw Jesus’ glory and two men with him. Moses and Elijah had been dead for a long while and apparently Peter recognized them because he later suggests making tents for them all. Yet, in the recollection of this event, the remembrance wasn’t first that of Moses and Elijah; it was of seeing Jesus’ glory. This quote by Charles Spurgeon words it so well:

“The apostles saw the greatest of the prophets, and the great law-giver, after whom there was never the like till Christ himself came, yet the inspired record concerning the event is, ‘They saw his glow, and the two men that stood with him.’” (Spurgeon)

God and His glory drive a desire to be in the presence of, and yet a simultaneous fear and reverence in light of. We may see great things in this lifetime, of which include great people of God and great works of God, yet nothing in all of creation will ever compare to seeing God in His glory.

The Overshadowing CloudJust like when God’s glory filled the temple, a cloud came and overshadowed them. Yet in the case of the Old Testament priests, who couldn’t even enter the temple because of the glory of the Lord, the disciples were able to enter the cloud. They were afraid, yes, but Jesus was right there with them and they were able to enter through the cloud and heard God’s voice as He made a declaration and command.

This isn’t the first instance of God’s glory being likened to a cloud or smoke in the bible. We see that when the temple was dedicated by Solomon, and when the tabernacle was in the wilderness, and when Isaiah had a vision of the temple, that this was also the case.

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire descended from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. The priests could not enter into the Temple because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-2)

The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. Whenever the cloud was lifted up from the tent, the Israelis would set out on their journey, but if the cloud was not lifted up, they would not set out until it was lifted up, since the cloud of the Lord was over the tent by day, and the fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel in all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38)

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4)

These disciples got to experience something that Moses longed to see. In Exodus 33, Moses asked to see God’s glory, but God told him he couldn’t see His face and live. He put Moses in the cleft of the rock and secure him with His hand while He passed by and then Moses could see His backside. With Jesus, they saw it and lived.

Apart from Jesus, we could never see the Father, but in Him, as the Father and He are One, we can experience the glory of the Lord. And just as Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, we too shall be changed and appear in glory with Him one day.

The Heart of the MatterAlthough we currently see Him only dimly, since we cannot see God face to face now, the time is coming soon and very soon, so we don’t want to be caught up in the things of this world or asleep when our master arrives. And even through we see dimly, it doesn’t stop us from seeking and seeing Him through the lens of His word, in which is found pure joy amidst this evil world.

Ultimately, my friend, we need to stay alert as followers of Jesus sojourning in this dark world, knowing that we look forward to His return one day when we too will be changed and behold His glory face to face, of which nothing can ever compare.

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Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28-31)

The Transfiguration of Jesus is truly a remarkable event. It was while He was praying that He changed. This setting of prayer is an important aspect because although we don’t physically alter our appearance through prayer, we do change as a result of it. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s.

The Real ChangeWhen Jesus’ appearance was altered in this moment, this is similar to when Moses would go up the mountain and meet with God and come back down glowing. Yet when Moses did it, the glory would fade after being apart from being in the presence of God.

On the other hand, the real change wasn’t when Jesus transfigured and was dazzling white, it was that He was in human form for His period on earth. Jesus has always been God, the Son of God, and always will be. The glorious appearance witnessed by the disciples wasn’t new for Jesus, it had just been concealed while Jesus was on mission, coming to dwell among us and redeem us.

Context of PrayerIt is very interesting that we get a glimpse of what Jesus was likely praying about as His appearance changed because of the context of the conversation He was then having with Moses and Elijah. He spoke of His departure, that is His death and resurrection.

I have a feeling this was the topic of quite a bit of Jesus’ prayers. It was most likely part of His prayers when He fasted for 40 days and nights, kicking off His ministry timeline to the cross, and with every passing day those 3 years, it would undoubtedly come to mind, all the way to the Garden at Gethsemane. The work He was set out to accomplish by the Father was no easy task, and Jesus, being 100% human, would need strength to endure it.

Our Own PrayersLikewise, we have been given work to do by our Heavenly Father, and we too need His strength to carry it out. But do we pray about it as often as Jesus had?

As we spend time with God in prayer, it’s time where we can air out our anxieties and fears, but it’s also a time where we exchange those feelings for the confidence we have in Him as our hope. That hope is an anchor that keeps the ships of our minds from drifting in the storm of life. We know that no matter what we face in this life, the Author and Finisher of our faith will bring the work He started in us to completion. And it’s that knowledge that allows us to come to Him and rest.

Appearing in GloryWhen we read that Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, this just blows my mind. These godly men, who had been long since dead, had come and appeared to Jesus in glory. This cannot be explained in our finite human minds and understanding of time. But by faith, we understand that God is not bound by time and that things not yet happened as we understand it has already happened in light of eternity. It’s the same way that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world before He ever was born on this earth. So these two men appearing in glory before the end when we all are changed and have glorified bodies may seem strange to us, but it is not strange to God.

We too, are being changed while here on earth and will eventually be completely changed. The ways we are changed here on earth is by the renewal of our minds and from one degree of glory to another.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

And when we come to the end of our lives here on earth, whether that be natural death, persecution, or by being taken up by Jesus, all followers of Jesus will be changed and brought to completion in Him.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

I encourage you, as you await your fully glorified body, live your life to fully glorify God, praying your way through every aspect of your life here, just as Jesus did.

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And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:23-27)

As we’ve just finished celebrating Easter in which Christ literally took up His cross to die for our sins, let’s look at what it means to truly follow Him by taking up our own cross daily.

Jesus starts off this sentence with an “If”. If anyone would come after me. Choosing to go after Jesus is a choice. But once you make that choice, He makes clear what you should do – deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Him.

Taking Up Your CrossTo His audience, taking up your cross had a clear meaning, because crucifixion in those days was well known as torture and ultimate led to death. To take up your cross was a one-way journey. When criminals were crucified on crosses, it wasn’t voluntary since they were dying as a consequence of their own sin, but Jesus in order to go after us and redeem us in our sinful state, He willingly faced the cross as a consequence of our sin. In order to go after Jesus, we must willingly choose to pick up our cross daily to follow Him.

Taking up our cross daily has to be a choice made every. single. day. Each day isn’t promised to us, but every day that we wake up, we have to make the fresh decision of taking up our cross that day to follow Jesus, which requires denying ourselves. In our pride we wouldn’t choose to deny ourselves, in fact it’s the opposite – our culture celebrates elevating ourselves and granting ourselves permission to indulge in whatever we want because “You deserve it”. But do we deserve anything? Well, we do, but it’s death since that’s the wages of our sin. BUT the last half of that verse in Romans is “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 6:23) Jesus came to give us eternal life and abundant life at that, in Him, so how does that reconcile with denying ourselves daily, taking up our cross, and following Jesus?

An Abundant Life of Denying SelfIt’s important to keep the proper heavenly perspective in this. Abundant life in Jesus isn’t about your physical life. Jesus never promised houses, cars, high paying jobs, designer clothes, no sickness, and popularity – health, wealth, and prosperity are all aspects of living an abundant life for this world, not for Jesus. An abundant life in Jesus is a spiritual one. One in which we have peace, joy, and strength in Him as we journey through this life as sojourners, living for God’s glory as we await the final destination of our heavenly home.

In denying yourself, your fleshly desires, and choosing every morning to take up your cross on this one-way journey you chose to walk when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and following Jesus as you abide in Him – you are living an abundant life. It surely doesn’t look abundant to the world, because the lives of Christians are filled with trials, but when God looks at you and sees your genuine faith in Him and how you’re being refined by the trials you face – it is more precious than gold.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6-9)

Choose What You LoseJesus clearly lays out that if we choose to chase after things in this life, then only this life is what we gain, but we cannot take anything of this world with us into eternity. However, if we choose to chase after Jesus in this life, He is our reward now and for eternity. What does it profit anyone to gain anything in this world then, when the cost would be yourself? In light of this, there is nothing in this world that is worth following over following Jesus – even if that means losing everything here in the process.

Lastly, Jesus says if anyone is ashamed of Him and His words, that He would be ashamed of them in the end. It’s easy to think that anyone ashamed of Jesus just simply isn’t saved. But in order to be ashamed of something, you have to believe in it first. You have to believe Jesus exists and have some kind of personal connection to Him in order to be ashamed of Him. So it’s not those who openly mock Him or don’t believe He is real that this speaks to – it’s those that do believe. In contrast, look at what the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Roman Church:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame… (Romans 5:1-5a)

So, if we justify ourselves in this life, caring more about what the world thinks of us than God, the end result is shame – even further Jesus being ashamed of us. But if we choose to follow Jesus, taking up our cross daily and walking the path that is paved with refining trials, then our end result is hope, which does not put us to shame.

In loving and serving this world, we have everything to lose, but in loving and serving Jesus, we have everything to gain. Wouldn’t you agree – Jesus is worth losing everything in this life for? Jesus chose to take up His cross for you physically, will you choose to daily take up your cross for Him spiritually?

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And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:21-22)

Interestingly, we’ve been going through Luke devotionally for almost a year now (well exactly one year tomorrow), and I couldn’t have predicted that we’d end up in chapter 9 at this specific section, but God worked it out that we’d be in this exact section right before Easter.

Peter had just finished answering Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” by responding with, “The Christ of God.” The very next thing Jesus did was command them not to tell anyone that truth. Now He didn’t just command them not to tell, but He also prophesied His suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.

Christ’s SufferingWhen we look at the suffering Jesus endured, it is excruciating – He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and mutilated by whippings in which ribbons of flesh tore His back open, exposing muscle and bone. Then was forced to carry His cross on His tore open back. He had nails driven through His hands and feet, lifted high on the cross naked as He watched those whom He loved looking onward as He gasped for breaths while slowly suffocating. And the most heart breaking was being forsaken by the Father, with Whom Jesus had shared a perfect unity and oneness with until that point in time, when He became our sin and completed His mission of reconciliation.

The natural question to that image of suffering is why. Why did Jesus have to suffer many things? Why couldn’t He just have had a quick death and then resurrected on the third day?

Old Testament LawTo understand this, we have to look back at the Old Testament. When God delivered His people out of Egypt, He gave them the Law through Moses. This set, what Galatians explained it as, a guardian or tutor over us until Jesus came. When Adam and Eve sinned by eating that fruit, that brought a knowledge of good and evil. However, the Law brought a knowledge of our transgressions.

When the Law defined the sacrifices for atoning sin, it gave a picture of how bad sin was, how serious God took sin, and foreshadowed His plan for our redemption. The fact that an innocent, blemish free animal would take the penalty of death, in place of the person who had committed the sin, showed God’s mercy. The fact that the person was part of the sacrifice in which they placed their hand upon the head of the animal, signifying that the animal would be taking on the sin, showed the seriousness of the sin – the person offering the sacrifice had to look at that animal’s face and see the innocent die to atone for the sin they had committed. And the bloody mess of sacrifice as the animal was slain showed both a visual picture of the utter atrocity sin is to God as well as foreshadowing that the blood of the sacrifice would cover the one who was being atoned for. The sacrificial process was an up close and personal process, not a far-off observation.

Jesus, our perfect Lamb of God, became sin. He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. That process of atonement could get lost on those of us who have never sacrificed an animal to atone for our sin according to the Law. But the picture we get from the description in the Bible, of Jesus hanging naked and beaten beyond recognition from the cross, shows us that process perfectly fulfilled once and for all. It shows us what our sin looks like to God and it’s excruciating to see.

Beyond what the Law could do, since it couldn’t offer a clear conscience nor give true life to the transgressor, Jesus did for us. He came to give us abundant life in Him in which we will be raised with Christ just as He resurrected, because He is our resurrection.

He was forsaken so that we never have to be, but we do share in His suffering. Yet, sharing in His suffering is a privilege as we are being molded and shaped into His image, and the momentary and light affliction that we face here on earth is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Happy EasterAs you go throughout this Easter weekend, I encourage you to take time to remember all that Jesus did in becoming your sin, all so that you could be reconciled to God and be called His child. And in your thanksgiving to Him for His steadfast love, grace, mercy, and for being your resurrection, tune your ear to hear what the Spirit says as He reminds you to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus. Happy Easter!

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Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:18-20)

This question that Jesus asked His disciples,” Who do the crowds say that I am?”, came after Jesus was praying. Undoubtedly, Jesus had many conversations with the Father about His upcoming crucifixion and while He had told some people that He was the Messiah, such as the Samaritan woman at the well, He knew not everyone knew who He actually was.

This was a pretty cool moment in which Jesus asked His disciples who the crowds of people said He was. This shows an intimacy between Jesus and His disciples, a friendship and closeness that He could ask such a question. And we see that although this was a rather short conversation, it was a great one, ending in the disciples assessing for themselves who they believed Jesus was, and Peter answering with the truth, in which the Father had revealed to him, that Jesus indeed is the Messiah.

Today’s CultureIn this day and age, people say a lot of things about Jesus. Our culture is very opinionated about Jesus and Who they believe He is, what He would or wouldn’t do, and what He’s like – but it’s not all based in truth. In fact, when truth is spoken, our mainstream culture will often dispute it by saying things like, “Well the Jesus I know wouldn’t judge others for doing {insert some kind of sin}”. Except, the hard truth is, the Jesus they know isn’t actually Jesus, the Christ of God.

If someone is claiming to follow Jesus but not obeying Him, then they’ve simply heaped up for themselves an idol based on the idea of who they want Jesus to be instead of accepting and worshipping Him for Who HE says He is. However, Jesus Himself said that we must worship God in spirit and in truth. There is only absolute truth - Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Not “a” way or “a” truth, there’s no such thing as Jesus’ truth and my truth and your truth – Jesus is THE way, truth, and life. And since Jesus IS truth, then anything apart from Him is not based in truth.

It is vital to align ourselves with who He really is, just as the Bible clearly lays out, and not heap up for ourselves an image based on our own debased and sinful nature and desires.

Who Do You Say He Is?This question that Jesus asked His disciples is for ALL of His disciples throughout all of time – Who do you say that I am? The answer to that question reveals if you’re following the true only begotten Son of God who died for the sins of the world or whether you’re following a cheap, knock off version of Jesus who can’t actually save you.

If you’ve been saved for awhile, please don’t disregard this question for yourself. Take the time to evaluate who you say Jesus is and ensure it aligns with who the inerrant Word of God says He is. If you find yourself feeling like Jesus wouldn’t call out sin or be righteously angry or warn those practicing sin to repent, then it’s time to reevaluate what the Bible says of Jesus.

Love AND Righteous AngerJesus is love, just as 1 John tells us that God is love, and God also gets angry at sinful acts. Jesus took the time to braid a whip and then used it to drive out the money changers who were defiling the house of God by making a profit off the people who had come to worship.

Grace, Mercy, AND JusticeGod is gracious and merciful, yet God is also just. Sin will be paid for either by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for those who have accepted Him as their Savior or by the sinner paying it themselves being eternally separated from God in torment. Payment for sin is just, and laying Himself down as that payment is gracious and merciful.

Jesus repeatedly taught repentance and that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever so the message stays the same even thousands of years later.

True OR FalseIf you find that you’ve been led astray by a false image of Jesus maybe by our culture or even a church who claims to be a Christian church but isn’t actually teaching what the Bible says about Jesus, today is the day to repent and turn to follow the true Son of God. If that is you, I encourage you to have a heart to heart conversation with God and read through the gospels, meditating on who the Bible says Jesus is.

If you’re following the true Jesus, I encourage you to take time to sit and remember your Maker. Reflect on all that He went through to save you and the love He has for you, because it is truly immense; and thank Him for being Who He is – the Christ of God, your Savior.

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Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Luke 9:12-17)

As we finish up on this section, it wraps up with Jesus’ miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes, but there are some things to take notice of here. The people sought out Jesus without even thinking about provisions for themselves even though they followed Him to a desolate place. And even further yet, Jesus didn’t stop at giving them spiritual food, He also provided physical food.

Seek FirstJesus knows our every need and can provide for all of them. In Matthew 6, Jesus taught on how God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers and He said to seek first the kingdom of God and those things would be added because God knows what we need. The principle of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and a need, like hunger, being cared for is seen directly within this situation. The people sought Jesus as He taught on the kingdom of God, even following Him to a place where provisions could not be found, and when they needed food, He fed them.

It is notable that after everyone, over 5,000 people, had eaten until satisfied, that the pieces left over filled twelve baskets. Each disciple would have a basket of leftover pieces to carry. I could imagine that anytime they encountered a similar basket they’d remember that day; that when the situation looked bleak and they were feeling desperate in a desolate place, that God was there and He provided.

Lastly, we’re going to shift the focus onto something a little different – those twelve baskets were filled with broken pieces.

The Broken PiecesMost people would have seen random broken pieces and left them behind as worthless, but Jesus wanted all those broken pieces gathered and collected into baskets. Those broken pieces in themselves, filling twelve baskets, were worth gathering to Jesus. If you’re feeling broken, know that God sees those broken pieces and He cares. Some people, maybe even you, may see the broken pieces of your life as having no value and thinking they should be discarded, but God sees them as testaments to the miracle He’s done or is doing in you.

As you walk through this life, wounds will occur and pieces of you may feel like they get broken off. Those broken pieces could be a result of sin, whether your own or other’s done to you, or they could be pieces that God has chipped away as He’s molding and shaping you into the image of Jesus. Regardless of what the pieces are from, the person you are today is a product of those pieces which are no longer part of you. And just as the broken pieces were what was left over after all the people had eaten to full satisfaction – when you feast on what Jesus offers you, you can be fully satisfied in Christ even if you have broken pieces left over.

We never want to dwell on the past or our broken pieces, but remembering and being able to look back on what God’s done and how far God has brought us is important. Those pieces are no longer part of you, but ultimately, your broken pieces, no matter how they came about, are part of your testimony and evidence of God’s wonderous work in you. Don’t let your broken pieces be left behind and forgotten, because they do still have value even after the miracle has been completed. Gather those pieces and store them in a basket to remember the work God has done and is doing in you and let those broken pieces be an Ebenezer for God’s glory.

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On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” (Luke 9:10-13)

Jesus’ disciples had returned from their missions when He took them to Bethsaida, but the crowds were seeking Jesus out and following Him. Isn’t that in itself a beautiful picture? Jesus could barely arrive at a town before news would spread and people came seeking Him. Notice that Jesus didn’t get frustrated that He was being bombarded by crowds everywhere He went. He welcomed them to come and sit at His feet as He told them of the kingdom of God and healed the sick. Jesus was always willing to give of Himself for the mission His Father sent Him for.

TellingNow when the day started to end, the disciples took concern that they were in a desolate place since there was nowhere close by to get provisions. But the disciples didn’t go to Jesus, express their concern, and ask Him what to do. This is where the first mistake was made - they told Jesus what to do in saying, “Send the crowds away…". Nevertheless, Jesus responds by giving them a command to give the people something to eat.

And Jesus’ response only seemed to baffle the disciples because they tell Him the amount of food they actually do have as if it was nothing. Now physically speaking, yes, five loaves of bread and two fish wasn’t realistically enough to feed about five thousand men, plus women and children. However, where had the disciples just come back from?

Previous ExperiencesHis disciples had just returned from being sent out on missions in which they took nothing for their journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra clothes – yet they didn’t lack anything in the process. And now they see a crowd of people in whom they rightfully have concern for their physical needs, but think it an impossible task when Jesus said, “You give them something to eat”. They already had some resources to work with, which was way more than they had taken on their missions.

Now we can’t just sit here and judge the disciples, because in all honesty we’d probably do the same exact thing. Have you ever gone to a retreat or a short-term mission trip and experienced God’s work in such an awe-inspiring tangible way? And yet when you return, when you “come back down from the mountain top”, sometimes things fade back to “normal” and you may not have taken away applicational truth, even though you experienced God’s work firsthand. I believe this is what happened to the disciples.

They had to have faith to walk in what Jesus told them to do on their missions and they went out mentally and spiritually prepared for what they might face. Yet when they came back, they in a sense stopped expecting God to work through them.

BUT, wouldn’t we rather respond with faith that can move mountains when Jesus tells us something like that, regardless of whether we’re on a mountain top, mission trip, in the city, at the grocery store, etc? How do we learn from this so that we don’t react in the flesh but instead respond with a faith that pleases God? It’s based on our mindset and resolution.

Expectations & ToolsIf we go out to our days at work, school, wherever, with the same expectation and mindset as we do when we go out to retreats and mission trips, then we’ll be prepared for God to do amazing works and be ready to be used however He would like us to be used. This requires us to put on the armor that God gives us. That belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, ready shoes given by the gospel of peace, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, all allow us to stand strong in the strength of His might as we do our work for His kingdom.

When the disciples reacted with shock and Jesus telling them to give the people something to eat, those darts of doubt could have been extinguished by the shield of faith while their belt of truth held up their britches and the shoes readied them to walk in the miracle about to be done.

Our minds are powerful, and while we can’t make things happen with our minds, we can prevent ourselves from doing things if we have the wrong mindset. We have read about the miracles, signs, and wonderful works done by Jesus, His disciples, Peter, Paul, and others in the Bible. We have experienced works of God in our own lives and in the lives of others. Why would we think that the same God who did mighty works in the past would suddenly stop doing them through His people in the present? Did Jesus not say, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do”? (By the way, He did say this in John 14:12)

If we don’t expect God to use us, we won’t be willing when the time comes to be used by Him. In the same way we must resolve to not sin against the Lord, we must also resolve to be willing vessels for God to use. Do you need to make some changes to your mindset and resolutions today? If so, don’t put it off – meditate on these verses in Luke 9 and John 14, and resolve to be a willing vessel of honor and live your life as a living sacrifice to God, expecting Him to fill you and pour you out according to His good and perfect will.

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On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. (Luke 9:10a)

After the apostles were sent and given power, they went preaching the gospel and healing everywhere, AND they came back and told Jesus about it! Just because they were sent in power by Jesus doesn’t mean they were now forever going to be in a season of outreach. They came back and shared with Jesus what they had encountered and done.

Yes, Jesus already knows the things we do, He is the one who sends us out, BUT the act of coming before God and sharing with Him the stories of what we do when we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit is a special thing.

Have You EverHave you ever been shooting a basketball and then you make a 3-pointer shot or sink a layup? Or maybe you get out a sketchpad and draw and then end is a beautiful artwork. Or you organize your garage or another space in your house. In all these things, don’t you want to tell your family and friends and share that excitement with them?

What about when you get into a car accident, or you get injured, or you find out you’re being laid off at work – don’t you have the urge to tell others and have their support?

Created to ConnectThis inclination to share our experiences with others was created into us. We are social beings in which God created in His own image. This means that God desires to be a part of our experiences and share Himself with us too. We were created with the intention of relationship with God, so to deny that aspect of our relationship with Him just because He is omniscient is to miss out on sweet moments with our Father, Savior, and Helper.

There is another aspect to sharing with God too. Along with the excitement of joyous moments is also the hardship, the questions, and thanksgiving. We cannot forget to be grateful to God for Who He is and how He empowers us to do the works we do. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, so we’d be awfully remiss if we didn’t thank God for everything.

A ChallengeLet me ask you this –When the dust of the day has settled, you’ve eaten dinner, and it’s time to go to bed, do you consider God before you go to sleep?

I want to challenge you to try adding something to your routine at night. And if you already do this, that’s awesome, and if not, give it a try and see what kind of difference it makes in your relationship with God:

Try taking time before sleeping (it could even be while you’re lying in bed) and share with God all that you did that day, also being mindful to thank Him for what He did in you, through you, and for you that day. Share your excitements, your joy, your sadness, your hurt, your growth, and your hope. Jesus died, killing the enmity we once had with God through His body so that we might be reconciled, no longer being enemies but friends with God. God can truly be your very best friend, if you let Him. Will you try this challenge starting tonight?

I will leave you with these verses:

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:9-11)

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:8-9)

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

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And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6)

This section where Jesus sends out His disciples is amazing, isn’t it? Jesus gave them authority to do the works He had been doing and sent them out on mission, except there was now 12 men to go out instead of just Himself.

Here are some really awesome nuggets from this that we’re going to focus on this week:

Called & EmpoweredJesus not only called His disciples to this work, but He gave them the power and authority to complete the calling. Jesus had already been equipping His disciples as they walked with Him daily and learned from Him. They may not have felt ready for this mission, but as we’ll see later on, when they stepped out in faith to walk in the calling, they indeed were empowered to do it.

When Jesus calls you to do something, you may not feel able and on your own abilities and talents you might be correct in that assessment. It’s not usually the people who are equipped in the worldly sense that God calls. Many times in scripture we see the opposite, that God didn’t call the equipped, but instead He equipped the called. You can trust that if God is calling you to do something, He’s going to equip and empower you to do it.

The Mission GoalTheir mission may seem to have many goals but in reality, the whole mission was simply to tend to the physical and spiritual healing of the people they came across. This would manifest as casting out demons, curing disease, and preaching the gospel message of the kingdom of God. They had heard Jesus preach to the multitudes on many occasions and had private conversations with Him about meaning of parables, such as the parable of the sower, so they were now ready to go out and practice what Jesus had preached, being ambassadors for Christ then as we are called to be today.

The empowerment the Spirit gave them to do things such as casting out demons and healing, may not be seen in our day and age like it was then, but it is still possible if God wants to. And preaching the gospel to all who will listen is most definitely still what we’re all called to today. It’s a matter of willingness to be a useful vessel for God’s glory. Are you ready to be used by God to further His kingdom, whatever that may look like in your life?

Take NothingThey were instructed to take nothing with them, no provisions such as a staff, bag, bread, money, or extra clothes. In those days, traveling around was by foot and could take quite a bit of time getting from town to town, so to not take even the most basic of necessities would take trusting what Jesus taught them in Matthew 6, that if they sought first the kingdom of God, their needs like food and clothes, would be provided by their loving Father. The only thing required for their journey was going to be their faith in God.

When God calls you to do something for Him, it may seem spur of the moment to you, but He would have planned that work for you to walk in long before you became aware of it. So if you don’t feel you’re equipped with the provision you need at the moment, don’t let that stop you from following His lead and letting Him provide in ways you can’t even imagine.

I just have to share this experience with you because it speaks so clearly to how God provides where He guides. A homeless ministry outreach team I was a part of had gone out with bags made up of food, water, basic hygiene necessities, socks, and a bible. The first gentleman we came across was in the park and as we talked to him, he already had a bible and said he read it often but wasn’t sure he actually believed in God because the bible was confusing. We talked to him for a little while before he was done with the conversation. As we were saying bye to him, he gave us a walking stick he had carved from a tree branch as a thank you to us for visiting him. We put it in the trunk of the car we were carpooling in and continued on our way through the homeless areas of the city. About halfway through the day, we approached a man across the street from Safeway who was a veteran. He was also given a bag and after we prayed with him, one of our teammates felt prompted to ask him if there was anything else we could do for him. His answer about shocked us when everyone suddenly realized that God had provided for the need hours ago – he asked if we could get him a cane or a walking stick to help him better walk because of his old injuries. Getting to tell that man that the God of the universe who created him saw his need, loves him, and cared enough to provide for him was such a sweet moment for our team.

Shake It OffJesus told them that when they weren’t received, they were to shake off the dust from their feet and keep moving forward in their mission. Notice that Jesus didn’t say “if” they didn’t receive them. He was giving them the heads up that some of the places wouldn’t receive them, and then gave clear instruction on how to deal with that. They were sent on mission with very specific goals – preach the gospel and healing, but there was no instruction on making anyone believe or forcing anyone to listen to them. The gospel always has been a message that must be received voluntarily and willingly by the hearer – believing is a free will choice. The disciples would have undoubtedly been very discouraged if they were going along their way and then a village decides they don’t want them there at all, the way Nazareth was with Jesus when He said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown”. Yet how gracious Jesus is to have equipped them with knowledge on how to handle it when they weren’t received - to just shake it off and keep going to wherever people were willing to receive them.

Your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, etc may not always receive what you say, even if it’s not necessarily the gospel, but could just be your biblical world view or faith filled comments. That’s ok. You’re not responsible to make people receive you, you just need to be faithful to keep moving forward and share wherever you are received. If you are not received, don’t be discouraged, be encouraged that you’re still on mission for God.

The Same GodIt may be tempting to look at this section of scripture and think we could never be like the disciples, being sent out like they were or doing even half the things they did. After all, they got to physically walk with Him and learn from His every move before they were sent out. BUT, my dear sibling in Christ – the same Jesus who sent them is sending you, and the same Spirit who empowered them empowers you, and the same principles of equipping and provision that was true for them is true for you. Don’t allow those flaming darts of fear or doubt rob you of the opportunities to serve God in the ways He calls you to.

If God has called you, He’ll equip you, and if He guides you, He’ll provide for you. All you need is faith, my friend, so trust Him completely as you go out wherever He sends you.

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As we wrap up this section in Luke 8, when Jesus healed the woman with a discharge of blood on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter in which He ends up raising her from the dead, we see a lot of contrasting aspects to the two situations and yet it’s also comparable in these individuals. Since we’ve been going through this section devotionally for the last several weeks, we’re going to switch things up this week. Let’s look at the contrasts and similarities first and then we’ll end with the entire scripture section.

Known & Unknown: Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue and would have been known publicly and held in high regard among the people. We don’t even know the woman’s name, but she had been ostracized by the people because of her uncleanness.
Same Number of Years Spent Differently: Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old, and yet for the length of time she had been alive, the woman had been suffering with a discharge of blood. For 12 years, Jairus’ daughter had been able to live her life, but for 12 years the woman had been suffering through hers.
Rich & Poor: Jairus being a ruler and important person in the culture, would have had more wealth than most, but the woman was poor because she had spent all her money on physicians trying to be healed.
Publicly vs Secretly: Jairus came publicly to Jesus to ask for a healing for his daughter, and the woman came secretly as if to be healed and slip away unnoticed.
Varying Thoughts on Healing: By Jairus’ actions, he thought Jesus needed to come perform a healing, and by the woman’s actions she thought she only needed to touch the fringe of Jesus garment to be healed.
Immediate vs Delay: Jesus immediately responded to the woman’s touch and had a personal experience with her, yet He responded to Jairus after a delay on the way to his house.
Silence vs Proclamation: Jairus’ daughter was healed in secret and Jesus told them not to tell anyone. The woman was healed publicly and proclaimed what had happened in the presence of everyone.

This isn’t a comparison of Jairus and the woman in an attempt to make one look better than the other. We are all unique and are all in need of Jesus in some way, yet we may live and suffer differently. Ultimately, both Jairus’ daughter and the woman needed healing, but who they were, their faith, their circumstances – they were very different. Jesus met everyone involved exactly where they were in exactly the way they needed to be met.

Your Own HealingAs mentioned before, physical healing may or may not be God’s will in your life, but spiritual healing is. You can trust God’s will for your life and find comfort in the fact that no matter where you are physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God can meet you exactly where you are. The thing that Jairus and the woman had in common is that they both purposed to go to Jesus for healing. Will you go to Him for yours?

Other’s SufferingWe all face hardship in this life and while they may be similar in some ways, they are also different in other ways. We can understand one another by the similarities we face as human beings, but we also have to have grace and understanding, compassion and mercy for one another in our differences, the way Jesus did. Even if their suffering is because of their own actions, it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance so anything short of kindness on our part is falling short of being a good ambassador for Christ. When you see other people suffering, are you moved to compassion and led by the Spirit in how to minister to them?

Last But Certainly Not LeastI’ll leave you with the whole section of Luke 8 because I hope and pray that as you read through this section again, the things the Holy Spirit has spoken to you over the last several weeks will be stirred again to remembrance and allow you to meditate on the truths He’s teaching you. I pray you believe and go in peace, my friend!

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Luke 8:40-56)

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As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:42-48)

Could you imagine having an illness for 12 years and despite spending a fortune on doctors, only ending up poor and still ill? I wouldn’t be surprised if she had even spent money on snake oil that she knew may be just that, simply because after suffering for so long one becomes desperate to try anything that could help. Honestly, I can relate to this woman’s situation and the feeling of desperation as the years go on and the doctors’ help proves unsuccessful, and sometimes you just don’t want to hope anymore because it means you won’t be let down. But this woman placed her hope in the right place when she decided to go to Jesus.

An Unclean Touch?This woman undoubtedly had heard about Jesus and the miracles of healing He had performed for others because when He came into town, she was determined to get to Him. Now according to Leviticus, to touch Jesus wouldn’t have made Him unclean, since Leviticus 15 outlines that if one touched the bed or where the woman sat then they would be unclean and need to wash themselves and clothes and be unclean until evening. Regardless of whether it would or would not have made Jesus ceremonially unclean in the process, the outcome would have simply been Him washing His body and clothes and being ceremonially unclean until evening. This is important because no sin would be imputed upon Jesus regardless.

However, the traditions of the times appear to have taught that even to touch anything the woman with the discharge of blood touched would make them unclean, so this woman probably lived in isolation for the last 12 years as she sought healing from the many physicians who could not heal her. The act of going into the crowd just to touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment shows a great amount of faith and hope in the Great Physician that Jesus is. She believed that if she could just touch the fringe of His garment she would be healed and her faith – that assurance of the healing she hoped for – gave her the strength to venture into the crowd that day to get to Jesus.

The Power to HealIt is very interesting that power left Jesus without Him actively trying to heal her. It was the Father’s will to heal this woman in accordance to her faith and Jesus, although the Son of God, was still human and the vessel in which the Father chose to heal His daughter. Similarly, we read in Acts that, “God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.” (Acts 19:11-22) This doesn’t mean we can in any way steal healing or miracles from God, but just as Jesus and Paul were willing vessels for God’s glory, we too can be used in ways we may not even realize – if we’re willing.

Came Desperate, Left in PeaceLastly, this woman began her journey into the crowd determined but timid, probably hoping she would touch the fringe of His garment, be healed, and be on her way without anyone even noticing. Yet because Jesus was determined to have a personal encounter with her, she got to declare in the presence of all the people that she was sick and was healed by touching the fringe of Jesus’ garment AND heard directly from Jesus that her faith had made her well as He sent her off in peace. She came to Jesus sick and desperate and left well and in peace.

I can’t tell you that if you’re facing physical illness that God will heal you. I really wish that were the case, but we can’t always know why God may choose to heal some and not others. However, when it comes to your spiritual state, you can know that if you go to Jesus sick and desperate, He will heal you and keep you in His peace as you stay your mind on Him because you trust Him. Unlike then when Jesus was here on earth, we have full access to Him now, anytime and anywhere, to talk to Him and seek His healing in our lives. And when you do find healing in Jesus, declare it to everyone and go in peace.

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Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him… (Then the woman with discharge of blood was healed)… While he was still speaking [to the woman who had been healed], someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Luke 8:40-42, 49-56)**

Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue and was no doubt well aware of what his peers thought of Jesus. Yet when his only daughter was dying, he sought after Jesus and fell at His feet, imploring Him to come to his house. He had faith that Jesus, of whom he had heard of the miracles already performed, could heal his dying daughter and no amount of social shame was going to deter him from seeking Jesus out.

An Interrupted JourneyAs they make their way with crowds of people pressed in around Jesus, I can only imagine what might have been going through Jairus’ mind. I’m sure he was wanting to get to his house with Jesus as quickly as possible and yet having a crowd pressing in around the very man he’s trying to lead to his house may have been a bit nerve wracking. But then to have Jesus stop and ask about someone who touched Him. I don’t know about Jairus, but I think I would have been about ready to burst into tears at the delay.

Right as Jesus was telling the woman who had just been healed that her faith had made her well, was when someone from Jairus’ house came to deliver the bad news that his daughter was dead. I can’t even imagine the heart sink feeling he had in that moment and the possible flood of emotions from sadness to possible anger that someone else got healed and yet his daughter died in the process.

Even though the messenger from Jairus’ house said, “do not trouble the Teacher any more”, Jesus without skipping a beat answered, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” Jesus encouraged Jairus' faith in a time when it would be understandable for his faith to falter.

Do Not Fear; Only BelieveThis statement, “Do not fear” and “Do not be afraid” occurs 68 times in the bible. When an angel would come to people with a message from God, this was often the first thing out of their mouths. And we see it’s also the first thing Jesus said to Jairus after he received news of his only daughter’s death.

That word “believe” means to put confidence in and show an absolute trust in. Jesus was telling him to that instead of fearing, to only put his confidence in trust in Him and that she would be made well.

Fear and faith don’t mix together well and Jesus specifically focused Jairus to not fear and only believe. The order of this is important though because in order to fully believe, fear needs to be dealt with. Fear induces doubt, but faith has no room for doubt.

The MiracleWhen Jesus said Jairus’ daughter would be well, that word He used in the Greek, sōzō, was literally saying He was going to deliver her from destruction and restore her to health – which since she was already dead, this meant He would raise her from the dead.

Jairus showed a tremendous amount of faith here and listened and obeyed Jesus when he continued to allow Him to come into his house where his now dead daughter lay. He had faith and was doing what Jesus said – only believe - even despite the mourners, who had already been summoned and were crying aloud, who then mockingly laughed at Jesus saying, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” Jairus did what Jesus told him to and was blessed in his doing as Jesus delivered his daughter from death and restored her to health.

Only BelieveEven if others seem to imply “Do not trouble the Teacher”, when you go through trials, make your requests made known to God. And even if God seems to not be answering right away or allowing the situation to get worse, you can have faith that He is indeed at work.

You can and should put your confidence and absolute trust in Him who tells you, “Do not fear, only believe”.

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This week’s passage, which we’ll dig into a little deeper in the coming weeks but are going to look at an overview this week, is a longer passage than our normal devotional passages. But I couldn’t leave out or pick apart God’s word, so bear with me.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Luke 8:40-56)

Amazing how Jesus interacted with everyone in these situations – He’s greeted by a crowd waiting for Him, undoubtedly to hear Him teach or see miracles, and Jairus comes begging Him to heal his only daughter who was dying. On the way to Jairus’ house, another miracle is performed as power involuntarily leaves Jesus and heals the woman. Jesus knows Jairus’ daughter is dying, but He stops to address this woman in a personal interaction before continuing on His way. When it’s told that Jairus’ daughter is now dead, He isn’t swayed at all and the would be healing of the sick becomes a raising of the dead.

A Flexible ApproachJesus approached His ministry with flexibility and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead Him in the Father’s will even though it sometimes seemed to detour from a current work. He could have been upset that the woman touched Him, He could have just known and ignored it, He could have decided to try to come back and find out who it was later, but He valued the person who had just been healed and wanted a make a personal connection. And although His initial visit to Jairus’ house was going to be to heal the daughter’s sickness, hearing the news of her death didn’t keep Him away and He performed an even greater miracle.

In Your MinistryHow often do you take the time be flexible when you serve in ministry? Sometimes ministry can be extremely busy and we often find that being good stewards requires us to make schedules, plan ahead, and diligently work within timeframes to be effective in certain areas of ministry. What if by being stringent to do so, you miss an opportunity to witness or be a part of a greater work?

Making schedules, planning ahead, and being diligent and disciplined are not bad things. The gifts, such as administration, is given by the Holy Spirit, but if we also need to be open to allow the Holy Spirit to change the schedule and plan sometimes. Jesus said the Spirit moves about like the wind (John 3:8), so we need to be willing and open to move about whichever way He leads us.

Your FieldOne last thing to point out is that the good works God has prepared for you to walk in won’t all necessarily be what you think of as ministry, in the sense that it won’t all take place in a church building or be led by the church. God has good works for you to do within your family, your job, your community – your sphere of influence, which is your mission field.

So as you go about your day, whether that be work, school, chores, errands, etc – are you willing to let the Holy Spirit detour your schedule and plans in order to use you? He very well may lead you in a direction you didn’t anticipate or plan for, but if He detours your plans, let Him guide your steps as you walk in those good works. Who knows, that detour may end up being a greater work than you ever realized.

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And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:36-39)

Could you imagine seeing such a great miracle – a man possessed with around 6,000 demons being healed – only to turn around and ask the One who healed him to go away? That’s exactly what we read the people of country of the Garasenes did and it was all because of fear.

This word for fear in the Greek, when it says, “they were seized with great fear” is to be alarmed, afraid, and in terror. The sad thing is that instead of pressing in to better understand Jesus and Who He was, recognizing that He had exercised great authority and changed this man’s life, they let their fear rule their decision making and sent God away from them.

Defeated By or Defeating Fear?Have you ever been so gripped by fear that you end up making decisions based on that emotion. It’s as if you see everything through the lens of fear and it affects every aspect of your life.

Our emotions change with circumstances, but God never changes. Our hearts are deceptive, but God is holy. We’ve not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.

So how do we defeat fear and prevent being guided by our emotions? When you think of fear, what is the opposite of it? Maybe you think of courage or bravery, but the opposite of fear is not courage or bravery, it’s love. Just as light cast out darkness, perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

If you abide in God, Who is love, you can walk confident in the One who has said, “Do not be afraid” because He goes with you wherever you go. Don’t let your fear overwhelm you and end up pushing Jesus away, let His love fill you and cast out your fear.

You Can OvercomeWhen Jesus told the man to return to his home and proclaim what God had done for him, he didn’t argue, he didn’t offer up another idea or suggestion on what he might do, he just did it. Jesus gave him a mission of sharing his testimony. Jesus healed one man, and that one man was able to reach people throughout the whole city!

And you know what? It’s in the very thing that Jesus told him to do – share his testimony – that he overcame his initial desire and fulfilled the will of God. Originally, he wanted to go with Jesus before Jesus gave him a work to do. He could have gotten stuck in being told no or gone away upset, but he overcame – by the word of his testimony.

When your emotions stir, fear grips you, or maybe things don’t go the way you want, you have choices to make. You can let your emotions and desires get the best of you or you can turn to Jesus and do whatever He tells you. Having two options doesn’t mean that choice is always easy to make in the moment, but if you resolve to turn to Jesus, to listen and obey Him no matter what; then when situations arise, you have a plan of action to better help override your emotional response.

I pray you go forth today, casting out fear with God’s perfect love, having been washed by Christ’s blood, and overcoming by the word of your testimony!

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When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. (Luke 8:34-36)

We don’t know exactly how long this man had suffered demon possession, but we do know that what he suffered was great since he was kept under guard in chains, living naked and among the tombs, and often driving him out into the desert. And immediately after being healed and having this legion of demons cast out, the first thing we see of him is that he’s clothed, in his right mind, and sitting at the feet of his Healer.

These three things are significant!

1.) He was ClothedSeeing that this man was often naked, living in his shame as people saw his nakedness regularly, now being fully clothed restored the dignity of this man. It’s also a beautiful picture of any person who is healed from their sin and a warning to anyone who may be walking the line of Christianity instead of on fire for Jesus. Just as was written to the church in Laodicea:

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (Revelation 3:17-18)

2.) He was in His Right MindThis man had been perceived as rather crazy, and rightfully so seeing as he had around 6,000 demons possessing him before Jesus healed him. Living among tombs, breaking through shackles, and hanging out in the desert is not exactly the actions of one in their right mind. But, when Jesus healed him, he could think and act clearly. Though we may never have been demon possessed, we know that it is through God that we have a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

3.) He was Sitting at the Feet of JesusThis man, whose mind and body would have never had rest while possessed by demons, was resting in submission and reverence to the One who had healed him. In Luke, we also saw Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, sitting at the feet of Jesus and He said it was the good portion and would not be taken from her. Likewise, the sinful woman, which we looked at in Luke 7 a little while back, fell at Jesus’ feet, kissing them and anointing them as she wiped them with her hair. There is something about being healed from much that brings one to humbly take one’s place at the feet of Jesus, Lord and Savior.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching…. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38-39, 42)

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment… And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace. (Luke 7:37-38,50)

Haven’t You Also Been Healed?Now, I don’t think you probably ever had a habit of running around naked and insane, but if you’re a follower of Jesus, you too have been healed. As one who has been healed by Jesus, clothed in His righteousness and given a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind, do you take the time to sit at the feet of your Savior?

We have been saved and given so much – being blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1), yet it’s seemingly so easy to get busy with the schedule for any given day and either keep putting off sitting at His feet until there’s no time left in the day or forget to do it altogether.

Is Jesus not worthy to have you sit at His feet every day?

I encourage you to make the time to spend with your Savior, worshipping Him as you sit at His feet and listen to Him speak to you.

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When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8:27-33)

What a sad image we see here of a man, made in the image of God, yet possessed by a legion of demons. The first thing one would have taken notice of this man was that he was naked. After the fall in Genesis 3, we see humankind wearing clothes of sorts to cover their nakedness because with the entrance of sin into the world came shame. It is undignified to go about public places with our nakedness showing and this man being possessed by demons was living in his shame daily. Even further, he didn’t live in a house but among the tombs. This man, in essence, was counted among the dead.

We read that the people of that town kept him under guard, bound with chains and shackles. At times the demons would break the bonds and lead him into further isolation and deathly conditions into the desert. Ultimately, it appears as though he was frequently found bound among the tombs. So he was naked, poor, bound by chains, and counted as dead.

At first glance, we may not feel we can understand or sympathize with this man, but in all reality, we can. Though we may never have been demon possessed, before we accepted Christ as our Savior, we too were covered in shame, bound by the chains of sin, being dead in our sin living under the control set by the principalities of this world.

BUT GODNotice here that the state of this demon possessed man wasn’t where Jesus’ sight stopped. Jesus did not point out his nakedness, his chains, or even mention his living conditions being among the tombs. Jesus first asked him his name.

There is something about a name that humanizes people. It’s easy in this world to label and only see people by their occupation, appearance, political party, blatant sins, etc. but that is the exact opposite of what Jesus did. No, Jesus wasn’t blind to these things, but time and time again, Jesus looked beyond the muck of sin to the soul of the sinner He loves because He came to save them, not condemn them.

There will be a day when God’s wrath comes upon those who chose not to accept Him as their Lord and Savior, but not only is only He able to judge on that final day, but until that day His Spirit still calls out as He has for thousands of years, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. Shouldn’t we, as followers of Jesus, also be echoing the same message of salvation?

LOOK BEYONDHere is a time to be honest with ourselves and God and contemplate these 3 questions:

Do you ever get stuck on seeing the outward appearances or outwardly obvious sins of people, instead of looking beyond to the soul loved by God?
If you’re so caught up in judging the temporal things about other people, how will ever bring yourself to even ask their name?
If you can’t look beyond their sin to see them as people made in the image of God with a soul chained by sin and in need of Jesus, how will compassion ever be stirred within you to share Jesus with them?

And yet Jesus knows their name and loves them, and died for them, and has sent you in the ministry of reconciliation as His ambassador. Wouldn’t we be bad ambassadors if we didn’t follow the exact example Jesus has given in how to interact with sinners stuck in sin?

SET FREEYou were once in the same state of being dead in your sin before you gave your life to Christ, so in all reality there is no room for condemnation if you’re going to be an effective ambassador of Christ. There’s only room for love, compassion, truth, and boldness, but each of those components must be present.

If you share the truth in boldness without love and compassion, you convey blatant condemnation. If you have love and compassion but don’t share the truth in boldness, you convey hidden condemnation. Only sharing the truth with boldness pushes people away from desiring God due to the misrepresentation of Him, and only showing love and compassion draws people to an idea of God that doesn’t exist and they’ll ultimately die in the condemnation they’re already in without Him as their Savior.

You have been set free, and in order to be a useful vessel to bring others to Christ and also be set free, you must look beyond the sin to the very sinner in need of our Savior. I encourage you to look beyond those whom you encounter, and if you don’t know them yet, a good place to start is to do what Jesus did and ask them their name.

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Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (Luke 8:26-29)

As we have entered this new year, we now start the next section of Luke 8 where Jesus healed a demon possessed man. Over this next month, we will look at 4 distinct aspects of this story to dig a little deeper into and glean from.

When Jesus stepped off the boat, he was met by a naked, demon possessed man who lived among the tombs, who we’ll later read was kept under guard with chains. As this man approached Jesus and Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out, the man, or rather a legion of demons as we’ll soon read, fell down before him and asked a question.

Now in the days of Jesus, a standard Roman legion was 6,000 men. So, it’s fair to say that this man was possessed with around 6,000 demons, and yet they, through the actions and voice of the man they possessed, fell down before Jesus and acknowledged Him as the Son of the Most High God. These demons whose eternal damnation is only a matter of time to come, bowed down and confessed who Jesus was.

And being found in human form, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11)

Falling Before JesusAs we read that the demon possessed man fell down before Jesus, this is one word in the Greek which means to violently fall forward and prostrate oneself in homage. These demons couldn’t help but fall forward and pay homage in the presence of Jesus because they knew exactly who Jesus was.

As Paul mentioned in Hebrews: For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30-31)

The demons knew who Jesus was, they recognized Him as the Living God, Son of the Most High God, and fell in homage as they begged to not be tormented.

Jesus paid the price for our sins and He offers every human being salvation through Him. We all must choose to either bow the knee and confess His Lordship now, accepting Him as our salvation; and if not, then we will bow later and confess before being eternally separated from Him.

For us as followers of Jesus, we see the goodness of God’s great mercy and have bowed the knee and confessed with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and are saved.

Let’s wrap up with this…If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, have you also fully surrendered your entire life and every aspect of it to His Lordship? If not, what’s stopping you? You know who He is, you know that even demons declare it and violently fall prostrate in homage to Him, so why would you ever choose to withhold any part of yourself from Him?

If you truly believe that Jesus is who He says He is, surrender your all to Him and don’t let demons outdo you in showing homage to the Most High God.

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And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:24-25)

After Jesus rebuked the wind and waves and they had ceased, leaving the lake with a calm, Jesus asked them the question, “Where is your faith?”. The disciples seemingly didn’t listen or were so caught up in saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25) that had they contemplated that question; their question should have been answered?

Their question of who commands winds and water and they obey is answered simply in, the creation obeys the Creator. By His word creation was spoken into being, and by His word creation obeys. But are we not part of His creation too? We are not only part of His creation, but we are made in His image and the only ones in creation in whom He died to redeem. How much more should we also obey His commands at the first sound of hearing them.

Applying Jesus’ question to yourself:Knowing that Jesus is Creator of all in which even winds and water obey Him - “Where is YOUR faith?”

You’ve seen His works in your life or if you’re not walking with Jesus, then at the very least you’ve seen His works in the lives of His followers. Has He not proven Himself trustworthy of placing your faith in? He is always faithful and if you place your faith in Him alone, your faith will never be put to shame.

Be encouraged today, my friend, that if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus then He is indeed directing your life’s path. He is always with you and available to turn to in times of fear, and when you do hear your Creator’s commands – obey Him!

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So they set out, and as they sailed [Jesus] fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Luke 8:23-24)

If you’ve ever been on a sailboat, the rhythmic rocking of the boat can be quite lulling, especially if you’re tired. Jesus’ ministry was busy. He routinely was around a lot of people often, teaching and doing miracles, and on guard against the Jewish leaders who sought to trap Him. It’s no wonder that Jesus fell asleep on the boat. He was also fully human after all.

In our lives, it can sometimes feel like Jesus has fallen asleep as we start to sail wherever He directed us, yet we can trust that in our life today, He has not. He always lives to make intercession for those whom He has saved (Hebrews 7:25), so even when He might be particularly silent in any given situation, He is there with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Silent Night?When He seems silent, you can still trust His words to you and call out to Him whenever you want. If He gave you directions and said He’s taking you to the other side, then you can trust He’ll get you there and be with you through it, even if that means there will be danger.

Jesus may not choose to immediately speak and rebuke the wind and waves of your storm in every trial you go through. He may choose to help you navigate through it instead, refining you through the process. But regardless, He will be with you through it, every step of the way.

O Come, O Come ImmanuelAs we are about to celebrate Christ’s birth, we read the foretold words of Isaiah that God gave Jesus, our Immanuel, to be with us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Immanuel means God with us). (Isaiah 7:14)

And even though Jesus had ascended and is currently seated at the right hand of the Father, He prays for you and has given His followers the Holy Spirit and His peace.

I will not leave you as orphans…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:18, 26-27)

If you’ve been getting beaten down by wind and waves lately, call out to your loving Lord and Savior, Jesus, and focus your mind on Him. You can have peace in that storm with the knowledge and meditation on the fact that He is with you.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4)

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So they set out, and as they sailed [Jesus] fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Luke 8:23-24)

When the disciples were afraid at the windstorm that had arisen, we read that they were in danger as the windstorm was actively filling their boat with water. They could have struggled a bit more, trying to navigate the boat by themselves through the windstorm. After all, several of them were experienced fishermen, having grown up on the lake.

Their Experiences with Jesus Trumped Their Experience on the LakeThe disciples had been following Jesus and seen the things He was doing in their lives and the lives of others, with the authority He regularly displayed, so they turned and called out to Him – their personal teacher and leader – when they found themselves in need.

In the midst of the storm and danger, instead of relying on their own knowledge or experience, they went to Jesus.

Many of us nowadays probably don’t live lives where we find ourselves in much physical danger the way the disciples did in this situation. But we will all have times of feeling fear, doubt, and uncertainty, and we should make the habit of going to Jesus in those times of faltering.

Who Ya Gonna Call?In the current era of technology, academia, government programs, etc. it can be very tempting to seek other things for help. And while in some instances, you may find adequate help, or God may even choose to use other sources to aid you – it is telling of your heart whether you turn to God first during your times of need.

We as human beings will naturally look to whomever we trust most when we need help. This can be a real heart check moment. Who do you find yourself turning to lately when you need help?

Is it yourself, your spouse, your parent, your pastor, your friends, your government…? If it’s anything other than God, it’s time to repent and make God your fortress and take Him up on being your ever-present help in time of need.

Think on the experiences you’ve had where God has met you and been faithful to help in your situation. You may not have turned to Him first, the outcome may not have turned out the way you wanted, but I can guarantee you God was faithful to you. God has been faithful to you in your past, and you can trust He will continue to be in your present and future.

When you’re in danger, or even when you’re not in danger, but you’re fearful and need help – GO TO JESUS FIRST!

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One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” (Luke 8:22)

Over the next four weeks we’re going to dig into four distinct nuggets to glean from this story in Luke of Jesus calming the storm. This week, we’re going to focus on the directions that Jesus gives us.

From this section, we can clearly see that Jesus gave His disciples verbal directions when He said, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake”. Yet notice that it says He got into a boat with His disciples first and then gave them the direction they were going. The disciples undoubtedly realized they’d be going somewhere when getting into the boat, but they had no real direction until Jesus spoke clear directions to them.

The Same Rings True TodayJesus still operates like this often in our lives today. He gives His followers directions as He guides our lives, but if we refuse to walk until He tells us where we’re going, we’re bound to face a tougher journey. If we dig in our heels and if our desire to know what He knows outweighs our desire for sheer obedience to God, our refinement process will not only take longer, but it means God will need to break us in order to sift away that which shouldn’t be in us first.

We can trust that Jesus will give us directions when He deems it time and that will be we actually need them, it may just not be exactly when we’d like them. Sometimes we have to get into the boat before Jesus tells you where you’re going.

Where Are You Now?Do you feel like you’ve been told to get into the boat, but you don’t know where you’re going? Remember that that’s not a bad place to be if Jesus told you to do it and be patient and actively listening as you read the word every day.

God may be trying to teach you to be more flexible and simply be content with His will, His way, and His time in even the smallest of areas in life. Keep walking with Jesus daily and keeping in tune to Holy Spirit’s voice so you can hear when He speaks to you and gives you the next step of directions.

As much as you may want to know the full plan, trust in His sovereign plan knowing it’s all in your best interest and for your good, and He will be faithful to tell you when the time is right. God has never failed you, so trust in Him, His decisions, and His timing completely,

Even if God is only giving you one step at a time right now, trust Him in every single step!

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“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Luke 8:16-18)

Jesus uses a familiar physical example to explain the spiritual. Just as it seems silly to not display a light for all to see, and to instead cover it or hide it, when we’re made alive, receiving the Light of the World into the good soil of our hearts, we should let Him shine through us.

Take Care Then How You Hear This followed the Parable of the Sower in which Jesus called out after_, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”_ _(Luke 8:8)_. We who receive the word are accountable for how we hear. If we receive it, and hide it, have we really, truly received it? But if we receive the word truly, letting it penetrate deep into the soil of our hearts, it will sprout with fruit which will affirm the hearing by the good fruit we’ve produced.

Fruit Growing Builds Momentum When you begin producing fruit as a follower of Jesus, it’s only the beginning of fruit production, and will continue to increase in your by abiding in Jesus. But when it comes to the rocky or thorny soil, what was thought to be received yet never actually took root, won’t end up springing forth fruit and in the end will be cut away.

Being a Christian is not a glamorous lifestyle. It requires a daily walk that responds with a repentant heart, receiving, and regularly bear fruit. If you’re not repentant you won’t receive, if you don’t receive you won’t bear fruit, if you don’t bear fruit there’s no evidence of salvation, and if there’s no evidence of salvation, are you saved?

This isn’t to condemn you by questioning your salvation, but simply to stir your heart to be faithful in taking care of how you hear, because it has a profound effect on you. The result of how you hear is either being given more or the taking away of what you thought you had.

Not the Root, But Still the Fruit James teaches us this same concept. Not that works are the be all end all and works certainly don’t earn salvation, but while works aren’t the root of our salvation, they are the fruit of it. And if we’re finding ourselves hiding our lights, afraid to let them shine, how can we expect God to give us more stands in new places and opportunities in which to place our lamps if we aren’t faithful with the ones we already have?

In paraphrasing what Matthew Henry said in his commentary - Be faithful hearers of the word by being doers of the work.

You’re Accountability What it comes down to is that we are all accountable not only to let our lights shine bright for Jesus, but to also be hearers and doers of the word we receive. If we only shine forth a light without hearing and doing, we will simply become like the religious Pharisees in which Jesus called whitewashed tombs.

Today, if you have an ear to hear – take care then how you hear and be a faithful hearer of the word by being a doer of the work.

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And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. (Luke 8:4-5a)

Last week we dug into the introspective look at the soil of our own hearts. This week, we’re looking at the perspective of the sower and what that means for a follower of Christ.

Every sower sows seed, but there are differences in how those seeds are sown. One sower may dig specific areas in which to sow the seeds, another sower may only sow on good soil and not get close to any other areas that may lead to seed falling on the pathway, near rocky area, or where thorns may grow, and yet another may sow without prejudice and let the seeds fall where they may. In all these, the sowers who sow sparingly may have a higher percent of successful growth, but their overall reaping will likely be less than the one who sows liberally allowing the seed to cover as much good soil as possible even if some seeds don’t ever grow.

Being a Good Sower With the seed being the Word of God, we are charged with the calling of sharing the good news and discipling according to God’s Word. In order to do this well, we cannot be sowers who sow sparingly. We need to let the seeds fly far and wide and share with anyone and everyone who will listen. We don’t know exactly what kind of heart soil it will fall on, but our calling is not to make the seeds grow, it’s simply to sow it.

What Kind of Sower are You? As the Lord works on tending to the soil in people’s hearts, He expects the laborers of His fields to go out and sow. You never know where someone’s heart is at at any given time, and wouldn’t you hate to miss an opportunity for a seed to be planted and watered simply because you were sowing sparingly?

We’re not expected to make seeds grow, the growth is the Lords, but the works of sowing will reap heavenly rewards for you. If you sow sparingly, you’re not only missing opportunity for others to receive the seed of the Word into their life, but you’re limiting your own opportunity for rewards that God would delight to give you for your work.

You cannot expect to reap bountifully if you sow sparingly. At Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas, we all tend to see more family, friends, and strangers as we prepare to celebrate the holidays. What a great time and opportunity to resolve to be a good sower among those whom we come in contact with.

If you have an ear to hear, heed the reminder that as a sower in God’s field, go out and sow generously as you proclaim the truth of the gospel in love to all who will listen!

Related Song Share May you go forth and sow generously, my friend!

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“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:5-8)

This parable is not only good for understanding what Jesus described as one saved and unsaved, but it’s also good for the saved to understand our role as laborers in Lord’s harvest land, which we’ll dig into more next week.

A quick look at this parable with Jesus’ explanation further down in verses 9-15, we can clearly see that there is only one situation in which one is saved – a heart of good soil which bears fruit. It may seem rather exclusionary to claim only one of these four hearts are actually saved, but the way to Jesus is indeed straight and narrow.

The Pathway Soil Jesus describes this person as one who heard the word, but the devil came and took away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved. This is one that would often be described as being hard hearted, because the pathway in which the seed fell was hard and did not allow the seed to get buried in the ground at all, it was simply trampled and devoured.

The Rocky Soil Jesus describes this person as one who has a joyful reception upon hearing the word, but without moisture, there are no roots, and they eventually fall away. The Holy Spirit is our “moisture” and helps us to establish deep roots in Jesus. Without roots and moisture, there is no real life. In vegetable gardening, you expect to see seed leaves grow rather quickly. However, every gardener knows that until a seedling’s true leaves have grown, it’s not considered a viable plant. If a seedling only ever grows seed leaves and never grows true leaves, you wouldn’t say your plant died, you’d say your seedling never took. In the same way, the seeds that fall on rocky soil isn’t established, it just never takes.

Unfortunately, anyone in this category may be under the impression that because they know about God and had a joyful, maybe even a very emotional “salvation experience”, that they are indeed saved. Jesus also spoke to this when He said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

The Thorny Soil Jesus describes this person as one who hears but ends up being choked out by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life, in which they don’t produce fruit. In some translations, it says something to the effect that their fruit doesn’t mature, or they bring no fruit to maturity, but the Greek makes it very clear that it’s not a maturity thing, it’s a complete lack of fruit. John makes this point very clear when he wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Anyone in this category may too be under the same impression as the rocky soil people, that because they go to church and do Christian activities, that they are saved. But Jesus again made it clear that fruit is the evidence of truly being His, and that fruit is not gathered from thornbushes, when He said, “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?… Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16,19-20)

The Good Soil Jesus described His true followers in ones that have good soil and produce fruit. They hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience (Luke 8:15). This concept is written about throughout the New Testament:

Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:6)

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14).

It is in the holding fast that we abide in Jesus and in turn produce fruit. But apart from Jesus, we cannot be saved. Jesus again made it abundantly clear when He said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

Your Heart Soil In light of these, what would you say the soil of your heart is? Don’t answer this flippantly, because you don’t want to end up being one of those in the end whom Jesus says He never knew.

Now, this isn’t to say that you will never stumble, we all do. This is a heart check for those who may be seemingly “doing” all the right things – going to church, abstaining from blatant sins, has memorized some bible verses, etc. but this calls for a time to inspect whether you are holding fast to the Word of God and growing and bearing fruit. If you’re new in the Lord, your fruit may have not sprouted yet, but are you spending time everyday abiding in Jesus or has the joy of the good news already faded or the cares and riches and pleasures of the world already grabbed your full attention again?

If you have claimed to be in Christ for a long time and yet you notice that your joy in Christ has faded, or that you care more about riches and worldly pleasures, or that you simply aren’t abiding and producing fruit – take heed to what Jesus told the church in Sardis:

I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent (Revelation 3:1b-3a).

If your examination of yourself has been found that you indeed have good heart soil, I want to simply encourage you to keep on walking strong in the Lord! And just as Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy encouraged the saints in Thessalonica, I encourage you to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

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Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. (Luke 8:1-3)

When we read about how Jesus had chosen twelve disciples and these men followed Jesus during His three-year earthly ministry, it can be easy to get into the pattern of thinking that there were only these twelve men following Jesus. However, there were others that followed Jesus and Luke clearly describes women, of whom he specifically names three, who also were with Jesus during this time of going through cities and villages.

The Healed Women We see here that the women who were following Jesus had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. They had a close encounter with Jesus in which He healed them, and their response was to follow and serve Him by providing for Him out of their means. This is such a beautiful and genuine response – in essence, Jesus met them where they were, and they were now sold out for Jesus. He had given them life back, having been healed from evil spirits and infirmities, and they in turn decided to dedicate that life to Him.

Mary Magdalene It is clear that Mary Magdalene was demon possessed by seven demons when she first met Jesus, and that He cast them out of her. Mary was wholly dedicated to Jesus after He cast out those demons. She is mentioned throughout the gospels, from the moment of the demons being cast out through the resurrection of Jesus. She had been finally emptied of demons controlling her life, to choosing to follow Jesus and surrendering control of her life to Him as her Lord and Savior.

Joanna It’s interesting that Joanna, being the wife of Herod’s household manager, is named among the women who followed Jesus. She was a woman of affluence and wealth, and ironically, whose husband served the household of a man who wasn’t exactly fond of Jesus. She was also a married woman, and the social culture would not have looked acceptingly at her following Jesus the way she did. She would have likely given up a lot of clout and pomp when she decided to follow Jesus, and yet she not only gave up the social stance, but also gave of her wealth as she helped provide for Jesus as He served in ministry full time.

Susanna We don’t know much about Susanna, but we know that she was healed by Jesus, and she contributed from her means to help provide for Jesus during His ministry. So, while not much is said, what is said largely compliments her heart for the Lord.

Many Others It may seem like it’s unfair to the women whose names weren’t listed, but we know their hearts were to serve Jesus. They may not have had a mention by name in this passage, but their service will by no means be forgotten by God and their reward is in heaven.

When you serve and don’t get any recognition for your contribution, whether time, talent, money, or otherwise, don’t be discouraged because God sees your contributions and more importantly sees your heart. You don’t need man’s recognition to reap God’s reward.

Beyond the Money It’s important to note that the financial provision wasn’t just about the money, it was mainly about the heart – that full surrender and willingness to use their means unselfishly and for furthering the kingdom of God. The same rings true today, our contributions to our church, ministry organizations, missions, etc. isn’t just about getting them funded. If God provided money from the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17), then certainly God can provide in whatever way He wants. Yet, He gives us the opportunity to be used in such ways and store eternal treasures and rewards even though we’re giving up our earthly ones now for His sake. Ultimately, we are called to be cheerful givers and to give according to what we purpose in our heart (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

While we may not all get physical healing from Jesus, we are all offered the spiritual healing of our souls through Him. These women are all a beautiful example of a fully surrendered and wholly dedicated response to Jesus. Like these women, will you be fully surrendered to follow Jesus wherever that leads you, being a part of His gospel ministry of proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God, and be willing to provide for those needs out of your means as the Lord leads you to? I pray you will!

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Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:47-50)

Jesus had just told Simon the Pharisee about a moneylender who had cancelled the debts of two people, one large debt and the other a small debt. The Pharisee rightly judged that the one forgiven the larger debt would love the moneylender more – yet he hadn’t judged the woman rightly. He had been blinded to the fact that this “woman of the city”, a sinner, realized her state and humbly had come and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and anointed Him with ointment. Then Jesus does something incredible – He publicly forgives the woman’s sins!

Freely Forgiven This woman had many sins. Honestly, we all do, but hers were very publicly transparent. And yet when she humbled herself in the sight of God, He forgave her and lifted her up in the presence of influential people.

A thing to notice is that Jesus didn’t just once say that her sins were forgiven, but He said it once in referring to her, once directly to her, and again in mentioning that her faith had saved her. It wasn’t a slip of the tongue, it wasn’t a misunderstood referencing, Jesus had forgiven her, and she and everyone present heard it.

Of course, at this time the apostle Paul hadn’t been converted yet and hadn’t written the letters to the churches yet. However, now that we have the entire cannon of Scripture, it just provides more proof that the Bible is the breath of God, divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and although written by many men still only authored by One. The Author Himself spoke the truth that Paul would later speaks of in his letters, “Your faith has saved you”.

Go in Peace Lastly, Jesus tells her to go in peace. We can’t have peace apart from God and previously, this woman was separated from God by her sin. Now that she had been forgiven of her sins, she is able to go in peace. However, do you think she would have realized this if Jesus had not told her?

So often, even once we are forgiven our sins can seem to haunt us, and it only robs us of peace and from growing in our relationship with Jesus. Yes, we don’t magically forget our past when we are forgiven, but it doesn’t have to weigh us down anymore. We can have true peace from the Prince of Peace once that burden of sin has been lifted from off our shoulders.

Are any past sins keeping you from going in peace? Come to Jesus, humbly bowing at His feet, and remember again His work on the cross, and that His forgiveness of your sins is complete. May your past sins never weigh you down again and may the vastness of them only ever serve as a remembrance of the even more vastness of God’s grace and forgiveness, so that you may love Him much and go in peace!

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Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” (Luke 7:39-40)

Isn’t it interesting that it says the Pharisee said to himself – referring to that internal dialogue we have with ourselves, and yet Jesus answered him directly. Jesus didn’t come right out and say, “Look dude, I know what you’re thinking” but His response spoke directly to the heart of the matter.

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” (Luke 7:41-43)

At this, the Pharisee may have actually not realized Jesus was answering his unspoken thoughts. He may have felt quite proud at Jesus mention that he had judged rightly. Yet Jesus brings it full circle, and clearly shows him how it relates to his unspoken thoughts:

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)

Simon had not only missed seeing the repentant heart and the love this woman had for Jesus through her actions, but he also had even misjudged Jesus' prophetic ability to know what sort of woman this was. The thing was, Jesus hadn’t failed to know what sort of woman she was. He knew she was a sinner, but His love for her was greater still, and His acceptance of her worship speaks volumes.

She also didn’t try to hide who she was or her past from Jesus, she came as she was. And Jesus is willing to look past our past and the past of others when we/they come with repentant hearts seeking forgiveness.

Have You Ever 1. Have you ever been judged by others because of your past sins?

As followers of Jesus, saved by grace through faith, we have been forgiven of ALL our sins and we don’t have to worry about the misplaced judgement of others towards us. We are a work in progress, and we know the Author and Finisher of our faith is faithful to complete the good work He has started in us. And this also rings just as true to our other siblings in Christ.

Have you ever judged someone else because of their past sins?

Do you allow your siblings in Christ the opportunity to show the fruit of their repentance, being patient as it grows, and then accept it as fruit instead of judging in a condemning way as if their fruit is somehow not good enough? The Pharisee Simon was witnessing fruit of repentance in this woman, and an adoration and love for Jesus that was bold. Yet he defined her by her past and therefore disregarded the fruit that was evidenced.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀. Your past does not define you and neither does it define anyone else. A person is either in Christ, in which there is no condemnation, and they identify with His death, burial, and resurrection OR they are in need of Jesus as Savior in which to be cleansed and find their identity in. If they are not yet saved, judging and defining them by their sins isn’t going to lead them to repentance – it’s God’s kindness that does that.

If you’re guilty of defining people by their past, no matter how recent, today’s the day to repent of this yourself and ask God to give you a perspective like His for people.

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One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:36-39)

There are several people involved in this situation, but this week, let’s take a closer look at the woman.

This is all we read about this woman, in a mere few short verses. If we only went based on the description of others and not her actions, the image of this woman is pretty bad – a sinful woman of the city. YET, we see her actions of adoration to Jesus far outweighs the sins of her past.

This “woman of the city”, or as it is thought to describe her sexual lewdness, had steep opposition in coming to Jesus that day. She was a known sinner, her sins were known publicly, and this alone could have prevented her from coming to Jesus. In order to get to Jesus, she had to enter the house of a Pharisee uninvited. She brought an ointment in an alabaster flask that was undoubtedly of high value to her. She served Jesus by wiping His feet, which in just cleansing feet alone would have been a servant’s role, yet she used her own tears and hair, and kissed and anointed His feet. On the outside, everything was against her, and yet she surrendered everything to serve and worship at the feet of Jesus. She counted serving and worshiping Jesus so valuable that she faced her shame and disgrace to do it.

A Beautiful Exchange Even though Jesus hadn’t died yet, we see the making of a beautiful exchange here. The very hair that this woman once used to adorn to lure in lovers, was now being used to humbly wipe the feet of her Lord with her tears of repentance. She had nothing but sin weighing her down, and yet she came to Jesus humbly and with a brokenness. In return, Jesus accepted her adoration and ended up forgiving her sins and sending her in peace.

This woman is not Mary Magdalene, but it is beautiful to see recorded in Scripture that two women were brought to such adoration of Jesus that they worshiped and honored Him in this way.

How do you honor Jesus? We don’t have Jesus physically here to anoint and fall at His feet, but we do have the very Spirit of God dwelling within us and allowing us to enter in before Him anytime. The very feet that were pierced and now scarred, rest as He is seated at the right hand of the Father.

“It ought not to astonish you that there were two persons whose intense affection thus displayed itself; the astonishment should rather be that there were not two hundred who did so, for the anointing of the feet of an honored friend…Loved as Jesus deserved to be, the marvel is that he was not oftener visited with these generous tokens of human love.” (Spurgeon)

Today, in your adoration of Jesus, what token of love will you offer Him Who is your Savior, your Lord, and your friend?

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I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) (Luke 7:28-30)

As Jesus spoke of John the Baptist to the crowd, of whom Pharisees and lawyers were, His focus was on the kingdom of God and the way that was prepared for Him. The people in the crowd who had received the baptism of repentance that John baptized them with, declared God just, and yet the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves. How can the same message stir up such a drastic response?

Purposeful Ministry When John the Baptism and Jesus first came on the scenes of their ministries, we see something largely in common. These verses in Matthew 3 and 4 show the beginning of each of their ministries:

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2)

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17).

John the Baptist himself said it clearly that his baptism was one of repentance. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

These people had already received the baptism of repentance and were looking toward the mightier one coming after John. All the Pharisees and lawyers seemingly heard was that they weren’t greater than John the Baptist and with a bruised ego, rejected. The difference between these crowds of people and the Pharisees and lawyers was repentance.

But what exactly were the Pharisees and lawyers rejecting? The purpose of God for themselves!

Purposeful Repentance God has a purpose for you, and repentance is part of it. Just as both John and Jesus, and prophets before them, declared a call for repentance, today the Holy Spirit still calls for repentance, both in the life of the unbeliever and in the daily life of the believer.

God is just – His judgements are just and in His justice, He gave Jesus as the sacrifice for every sin you have or will commit. When you sin, even in the slightest, make it a habit to come to your just God with a repentant heart, seeking the forgiveness you know He will give you. Accept the purpose of God for yourself today!

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And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:20-23)

These men sent by John the Baptist came with a very good question. They desired to know if He was the Messiah of whom John was the forerunner, or if they should be looking for another. There is a genuine motivation to know if He is the One, because they wanted to follow only the true Messiah and not be led astray after someone else.

Yes, No, Maybe So? I do wonder if these men who came to Jesus expected a straightforward answer through, such as “Yes, I am He” or “No, go look for another”. Yet the answer they got required discernment, wisdom, and knowledge of prophecies regarding the Messiah to actually know the answer was that yes, Jesus truly is the Messiah they had been looking forward to and the One John the Baptist had been preparing the way for.

When Jesus read from the scroll in the synagogue and said that it had been fulfilled in their hearing He had read from Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1)

And as Jesus told the disciples from John to tell them what they’ve seen and heard, it would require knowledge of more prophecy in Isaiah to understand that Jesus was indeed affirming His deity: Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. (Isaiah 35:4-6)

He gave them a very clear answer, but to the undiscerned, it may have seemed cryptic.

Hearing God’s Answer This can bear true today when we pray and ask God questions. Sometimes it may seem as if God is being cryptic when we ask Him things simply because we don’t get an answer that’s as clear as an audible voice telling us the answer plainly. Yet, if in the midst of our lack of understanding, we need to continue to press in and abide in Him, asking for wisdom and discernment, and trust that He will open our eyes and give us understanding.

King Solomon gave insight to this in Proverbs 1:2-7:

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

As well as in James we read that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

If you find yourself a bit confused as you receive answers from the Lord, don’t be anxious; be strong, fear not, continue to abide, and ask for wisdom to discern what He’s speaking to you. He is not a God of confusion, and He delights in revealing Himself to you. Fear the Lord, it truly is the beginning of knowledge!

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As [Jesus] drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. (Luke 7:12-15)

In many of the miracles Jesus did, as recorded throughout the gospels, we see Jesus have compassion right before we read about Him performing a miracle.

This word compassion is so complex it has different definitions depending on which dictionary you use, because it really is hard to fully put into words the whole encompassing definition of compassion.

Definitions: * Oxford Dictionary: Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. * Miriam-Webster Dictionary: Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. * Cambridge Dictionary: A strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them.

In these English definitions, they label this word as a noun. Yet in the Greek, this word is a verb, it is active, and indicates the feeling of being moved to compassion. In the days of Jesus this word would have been related as a feeling deep within your bowels (which was where they used to think love was in the body). It is a very deep emotion, that not only is a feeling but a feeling that stirs action on behalf of others.

As Jesus went into this town and saw the funeral procession for a young man whose mother would be left alone and have no one left to care for her, Jesus felt a deep sympathetic feeling towards her and wanted to help. Doesn’t it make you wonder what would have happened had Jesus not had compassion on her? Would her son have been raised from the dead? Would this woman have died for lack of care?

All we know is that Jesus did have compassion on her and He did raise her son, and the result was people glorifying God and spreading the word of God’s wonderful work.

Are You Compassionate? Different personalities may have a tendency to be more or less compassionate, but this is a trait you can exercise and grow in regardless. The root word of compassion in the Greek describes an inward affection and tender mercy – love. This is the very fruit of the Spirit so even if it’s not a more natural tendency for you, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you can be like Jesus in having compassion for others.

With compassion so often being a precursor to miracles, we should desire to have compassion for others the way Jesus did, and then by faith be available to be used in whatever way God wills to use us. It could be supernatural miracles, it could be more of the natural – being a listening ear, giving godly advice, helping in a practical way. Either way, it’s being used by God and that’s part of our workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Don’t be afraid to ask God to help you see people the way He sees them, having compassion for them in their times of need. It’s much easier to judge or criticize others when they’re down, but by purposing to have compassion for people, you will not only see amazing works, but you will spark others to glorify God!

Related Song Share I wrote this song during the pandemic when starting to feel a little too comfortable with isolation. I was convicted with the realization that I can’t have compassion on others and be the hands and feet of God if I’m not walking, talking, serving, and loving like Jesus. In order to do this, we need Jesus to teach us. I hope this song is encouraging to you!

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When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Luke 7:9)

The centurion that Jesus marveled at demonstrated not only great faith, but great kindness, respect, and humility. His servant was sick and dying and the centurion valued the life of his servant. Although he had authority, he didn’t even have to strongarm anyone into going to Jesus, the elders of the Jews pleaded earnestly with Jesus on behalf of this centurion. And when Jesus was not far off from the centurion’s house, he sent friends to express his unworthiness to have Jesus come to his house. This is where the marveling comes in:

And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Luke 7:6-8)

Through his words, this centurion not only recognized Jesus’ authority, but humbly respected Jesus and put his faith in Him.

Even being a man set under authority and at the word of the Jewish elders was a man worthy of receiving from Jesus what he asked; yet in light of Jesus, he asked humbly – not even presuming Jesus to come to his house, but merely to speak healing for his servant.

Jesus Marveled When reading, “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him”, what goes through your mind?

There are two instances in which we read of Jesus marveling at people – this section in Luke and this one in Mark:

And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. (Mark 6:4-6)

The contrast is stark – He marvels at the faith of the centurion and a miraculous healing is performed, and He marvels at the unbelief and He could do no mighty work there.

Do you want Jesus to marvel at your faith? Assumingly every child of God answers yes to this. Yet, how can we ensure that we are being people who will make Jesus marvel in a good way and not at our disbelief? The answer, as usual, is to abide in Jesus. If you are making the habit of daily abiding in Him, reading His word and praying, you will not only “hear” about the works He’s done as recorded in His word, but you will see the works of God in your life.

Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11), but by exercising your faith by abiding in Jesus and believing the result reaped will be as He says in His word, this ultimately makes your faith grow, which is so precious to God. Today, humbly walk with your God by faith and show Him a great faith to marvel over.

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“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49)

In each situation, both the man who built his house on the rock and the man who built his house without a foundation, it says, “And WHEN a flood arose” and “WHEN the stream broke against it”. Having adversity, opposition, trial, tribulation, etc. these are not a matter of if, but when. We must be prepared, and our preparation is Jesus.

Notice here that one who builds their foundation on the rock has to dig deep in order to lay that foundation. It takes work, digging deep into the Word of God to build a strong foundation on Jesus, our Rock. Time is sacrificed, but never wasted, when building on Jesus.

Three characteristics Jesus mentions of those who build their house on the rock: 1. They come to Jesus

They hear Jesus’ words
They do what Jesus said

James exhorts us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Even further describing the one who is a hearer only as being “like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:23-25)

When we see the outcomes of the two examples Jesus gives us, we see that the house built on the rock was called “well built” and the flood could not shake it. While on the other hand, the house built without a foundation fell immediately and its ruin was great. These are the only two outcomes. You either have a house built on the foundation of Jesus, the Rock, or you don’t. Don’t let the world fool you into thinking you can fortify yourself by any other means, because when you build your life on Jesus, not only is He your Rock, He is your fortress, your deliverer, your shield, your salvation, your stronghold – He’s your everything.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2)

Building your life upon Jesus as the foundation is only the beginning, but a necessary start to the rest of your life in Him. Maybe you thought you had built a foundation on Jesus, but you’re realizing your faith is being shaken by things in life, or you realize the Jesus you’ve been serving isn’t actually the Jesus of the Bible and you’ve been blinded by false teachings. If this is you, you can start afresh today and build your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and Him alone.

Regardless of where you stand right now, do a foundation check and hear the Spirit’s call for you to come to Jesus, hear His words, and do what He says.

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The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

A couple verses before this Jesus says that good trees bear good fruit and bad trees bear bad fruit. He uses the natural to explain the human state that is unseen, and often denied through pride.

It is plain when Jesus says that what we hold inside, our thoughts, our motives, the abundance – it is the well in which our words come from. No matter how much we try to filter our words, eventually that abundance will overflow outward through our words, we just can’t help it.

And by this, we have a type of testing of fruit – is what your mouth produces good or evil?

By and large, most people will answer that question with good before ever really thinking about it, but we know that no one is good but God. Therefore, if we are not of God, the produce coming from the abundance of our hearts cannot be good.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

By nature, due to our fallen and sinful state, our hearts are deceitful and our go to is to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. But it’s the Lord who searches our hearts and minds and He knows exactly the kind of fruit we produce. The beauty of our adoption as children into His family when we receive Jesus as our salvation, is that it takes our branches that have produced evil and grafts us into His tree of goodness to produce good as we’re abiding in Him.

Examine your heart by examining your words and take note of the things God shows you that should not be. That old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is false. Words can make or break a person, and we want to use our words to share the gospel, encourage, uplift, edify, and stir one another in love. Speaking the truth in love can still sting from conviction, but the truth without love can destroy from condemnation.

Purpose today to abide in Jesus to produce good treasure in your heart and speak from the abundance of God’s goodness within you!

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He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. (Luke 6:39-42)

This scenario is common among mankind. We have this inherent pride that makes us want to be the person instructing and never want to be in the place of instruction. Yet, it’s often the things that we are frequently trying to instruct in others in that we ourselves struggle with but are blind to.

This is a dangerous place to be, both for ourselves and anyone whom we are trying to lead though, because as Jesus said, both will fall. Our instruction and leading must first be from God, our perfect Teacher and the only one who is not blind to anything. As we are trained by Him, we are becoming like Him. This training enables us as we find victory after the log in our own eye is removed to then be able to be used by God to help our sibling in Christ to remove their speck.

If we attempt to remove their speck with our log still in, we’re going to inevitably cause damage to the very person we’re trying to help. Imagine a person with a log protruding from their eye. One they can’t see with the log in the way, and two, they’re going to smack the other person in the head with the log if they get near them to try to remove a speck.

Log Removal Instruction This parable calls for humility, diligence, and discipline to sit under the daily instruction of our perfect Teacher. We all want to be used for a higher purpose and that desire is godly, but we must be willing to go through the hard process of having God remove that log out of our eye that we may not even realize is there.

Do you have any logs in your eye? Often times we are blind to them, and we should make a habit of asking God to search us and reveal any logs that are blinding us and then allow Him to use His word that’s sharper than any two-edged sword to do a spiritual surgical removal of that log. Only then, can we move from a blind person to a comforter and leader for others who have the same kind of speck or log that we once had.

When God shows you a log at any given time, be encouraged! It’s only once you realize you have one, that you can humbly surrender yourself to His removal of it. May you live log free, being able to see clearly as God uses you to remove specks from your sibling in Christ’s eyes the way He so lovingly and gently removed yours!

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A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40

It’s easy to understand that, as followers of Jesus, we aren’t above Him. Yet, when we’ve been fully trained, we will be like Jesus as co-heirs with Him.

This is double sided though, because while being trained by Jesus will result in you being like Jesus, if you are submitting yourself to be trained under anyone else, guess who you’re going to be like?

Called to Holiness God has called us to be holy in our conduct just as the One who has called us is holy, and this process of sanctification, being transformed into the image of Jesus from one degree of glory to another is achieved through the lifelong training that we’ll go through here on earth. This process is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, but we have the part of following our Teacher through our training by abiding in Him through His word.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the [person] of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Sharing in Suffering In our training and in becoming more like our Teacher Jesus, we also share in His sufferings, but we also share in comfort too through Him (2 Corinthians 1:5). If we follow the One who was persecuted, we need to be prepared to be persecuted and face various trials that will test the genuineness of our faith, knowing that in the end if we endure it will result in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

As you face trials in your life, keep focused on your Teacher and be encouraged that the One guiding you has overcome the world and is the founder and perfecter of your faith, will bring that good work in you to completion. (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 1:6)

A Disciplined Child Not all the things we consider bad in our lives are trials, some is discipline. If Jesus, the only perfect person to ever walk this earth, learned obedience through the things He suffered, we even more need to learn it. And we do so through the loving, disciplining hand of our Father. (Hebrews 5:7-8)

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?…For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-7,11)

Whether trial or discipline, we learn to endure just as Jesus endured. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:3) We aren’t alone in experiencing the trials of training, we have a great cloud of witnesses that we’re surrounded by, and we need to run our race with endurance knowing that in the end, we will reach being fully trained because Jesus will get us there. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Resemblance, Not Resistance Don’t kick against the goad, if God has you in an intense trial, this is part of your training. Don’t resist it, learn from it, and embrace the fact that you’re being refined and sanctified, and it’s all part of getting you to being fully trained where you’ll be like your Teacher, Jesus. One of the hardest times to rejoice is through intense trials and suffering, and yet that is the time to rejoice in the God of your salvation, of Whom the joy of will be your strength.

If you’re in a trial right now, my heart simultaneously feels compassion and excitement for you. Compassion because I know trials are hard, push you to your limits, and if it weren’t for the grace of God could crush you, but I feel excited for you because it means you’re in the process of completing another level of glory. As you learn and grow through this, you’re looking more and more like Jesus, my friend, and that is beautiful! Follow Him, submit to your training, and be encouraged that He will bring you to completion.

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Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:37-38)

Judge Not This is often a phrase used by non-believers whenever Christians state something the Bible says that exposes sin. But it is important to understand what Jesus is really saying here to be effective in our witness for Christ. There is a judgement that is related to discernment and there is judgement that is related to condemnation - this is key!

The word for judge and judged in this verse is speaking of a judicial sense, to condemn and punish, and condemn meaning to pronounce guilt. We, as followers of Jesus, aren’t to go around condemning others for their sin because only one without sin can judge, and there is only One able – Jesus. However, we can and should discern things, not unto condemnation but in order that we would work out our salvation with fear and trembling and be stirred to compassion for others needing Jesus.

Paul mentioned to the church in Corinth when correcting their behavior in how they were receiving communion, that “if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31). Those two words for judged are different. This means that if we discerned ourselves truly, we would not be condemned and pronounced guilty. This ties into this verse in Luke because if we are discerning ourselves truly, we will not be so prideful as to condemn anyone else who is a fellow sinner like ourselves.

Forgive This word for forgive and forgiven literally means to release, set at liberty, to let go. It is such a beautiful word because in the same sense that we would release and let go of the trespasses committed against us, we also are released and set at liberty in Christ. Holding on to grudges and past pains not only hurts you, but also hurts the heart of God who desires to set you free.

Forgiveness is a painful and yet beautiful journey that God desires us to take when we’ve been hurt. If you carry your sorrows to the cross, He can heal your loss.

So, as you walk down the path of forgiveness, focus on the One who has forgiven you before you focus on the one you need to forgive – He gives beauty for ashes.

Give With Good Measure This next section creates an awesome word picture. Imagine taking a cup and putting pudding in it. There are natural air pockets that are created, but if you push it down to fill them, shake the cup to settle it, and then keep filling to overflowing – this is what this verse is stating but in the context of good measure. It is not only an admonishment to use good measure when relating to others, but it is an encouragement that it will be measured back to you.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)

Apply It Today If you tend to have a critical and condemning spirit towards others, have a hard time forgiving wrongs done to you, or tend to skimp on blessing others, this is a call repent and turn it around. To be honest, in our frail human nature, don’t we all struggle with any of these at seasons in life? So, if this is you right now and you feel it, the Spirit isn’t condemning you He’s convicting you unto repentance so He can work that change within you and make you more like Jesus.

Jesus is coming soon, my friend, and we want to be found having discerned ourselves truly and not judging others, forgiving, and giving with good measure upon His return.

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But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (Luke 6:27-31)

As Jesus says this, He’s talking to the people who have been instructed with “an eye for eye and tooth for a tooth” methodology, but He says something different. He wants us to love, do good, bless, pray for, and give to those who are enemies, who hate you, who curse you, who abuse you, and who take from you. It’s completely backwards in our fleshly thinking, and yet it’s the correct way spiritually.

But What’s the Limit? With this new perspective that goes against our flesh nature, the next question may be something like, what’s the limit then? How much good, how often to bless and pray for, how much to give? Just as when Peter asked, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Matthew 18:21) In this, even seven times may seem like quite a lot, but Jesus responded with, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22)

Notice how Jesus started this passage in Luke with the preface of love. It’s the fruit of the Spirit, it’s what caused God to send Jesus to die for us, and it’s one of the very things God is defined as – God is love (1 John 4:8). It’s this very thing, love, that should direct our conduct towards those who are against us. Jesus’ love held nothing back in any of the areas mentioned and neither should ours.

When it comes to the question of how much or what’s the limit, verse 31 helps guide that mindset - as you wish others would do to you. Don’t worry about them, their motive, their actions, their deservedness of these good things Jesus has told you to do. We all want good things for ourselves, and we should be doing all things for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), therefore if we love like He does, the good things Jesus has commanded us to do in response to those against us will simply flow from love. There is a caveat though. Without abiding in Jesus, we’ll never be able to fulfill what He’s told us to do here since the fruit that comes from abiding is the fruit of the spirit - love.

Not Striving, Just Overflowing In Psalm 23, it says that our Shepherd prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, anoints our head with oil, and our cup overflows. That anointing and overflow is the Spirit of God and if we’re anointed and overflowing with the Spirit, of whom the fruit is love, then that overflow will eventually flow out and touch the enemies of whose presence we happen to have our table set in.

We don’t need to focus on trying our best to love, do good, pray for, or give - we need to focus on the Preparer of our table and the One who has anointed our head and given us the overflow. The overflow will come, the love, the good, the prayers, it will all come as we sit at the table prepared for us and abide in Jesus. I pray you take the actionable aspect of this command Jesus has given, not to strive to do all these things on your own, but to abide and let Him do it through you. With Jesus, it won’t be a striving, it will be the fruit of the overflow of Him in you.

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Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)

As we wrap up the last Beatitude, it is a beautiful encouragement in light of what every follower of Jesus will face. We know that as followers of Jesus we will have tribulation, just as Jesus and Paul stated very clearly.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)

However, Jesus said He has overcome the world and in Him, we will too.

It may seem odd and oxymoronic that one will be blessed, let alone should rejoice and leap for joy when people hate, exclude, revile, and spurn your name as evil, but when we really dig into this, we see how that is exactly the perfect response.

The Deeper Meaning In the English language, we have some words that just don’t quite have the same meaning as a word translated from the Greek. The word “love” is a great example of this because in English we have one word and it can mean so many different things depending on context. Yet in the Greek, there are four different words for love and they all have their own contextual use. In a similar way, here’s what some of the words in the Greek mean:

when this verse says “hate”, it not only means that feeling of hatred or detest, but especially to persecute.
when it says “exclude”, it means to set a boundary and limit or separate your interaction.
when it says “revile”, it means to defame and taunt you.
when it says “spurn your name as evil”, it means to single you out or drive you away claiming that you’re a hurtful influence and malicious.

Seeing the meaning come through from the Greek word origin doesn’t make it sound any better, it actually makes for better understanding that Jesus is literally saying you’re blessed when people hate you so much for being a Christian that they persecute you; that because you follow Christ they don’t want you to follow anywhere near them; they defame and taunt you because you’re a Christian, and all because you claim the Name of Christ they single you out and claim that you’re a malicious and hurtful influence to society at large.

However, Jesus explains how one is blessed when this happens and how we should respond: REJOICE and leap for joy! This phrase “leap for joy” is the same used when describing how John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb upon hearing the greeting of Mary (the mother of Jesus). He leaped as the mother of his Lord came near and greeted his mom with his Lord in her womb, and we are to leap for joy because our reward is great in heaven.

That word for reward literally means pay for service or wages. So when we’re being hated, excluded, reviled, and spurned on account of Jesus, it’s because we’re actively working and doing things for the Kingdom of God, and for that work we will be rewarded in heaven. It doesn’t matter what men can do to us, because it’s God who has given us eternal life and Who will reward us for the work we’ve done for Him.

Your Reward is Great At the end of the apostle Paul’s life, he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

John Trapp, in his commentary, wrote examples of men who rejoiced at persecution as they faced their execution on account of Jesus and this is one of the men he wrote of:

“Doctor Taylor leapt and danced a little as he came to his execution, saying when asked how he was, “Well, God be praised, good Master Sheriff, never better; for now I am almost home…I am even at my Father’s house.” (Trapp)

Could you imagine leaping and having joy as you make your way to your own execution? I imagine such people who have faced this situation and done well until the end didn’t get to that response without having spent much time with Jesus Himself on a daily basis.

God knows we as humans need to have things to look forward to, that help push us forward and motivate us to keep strong and endure, and our loving Father has promised us rewards in heaven – things far better than we can even imagine. We know that if we follow Jesus we will face persecution of varying kinds, and the way to be better off and happier through it is by rejoicing in the remembrance of the great reward that awaits us in heaven.

When you face persecution, remember the reward in which you’ll reap, then rejoice and leap!

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Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21b)

In this continuation of the Beatitudes, Jesus has already covered the circumstance (blessed are you who are poor), the need (blessed are you who are hungry), and now He addresses the emotional – Blessed are you who weep now. In all these, Jesus speaks to the spiritual using the physical.

In using the word weep, this doesn’t just mean to cry. This word in the Greek means to wail with grief – like think snot nose ugly crying – over something that has pained you tremendously. When we see sin for what it is, especially in light of our holy, holy God, it should cause us to grieve. This grief is stirred from the pangs to our heart when we truly understand the penalty of our sin – separation from God – and the cost Jesus had to pay on our behalf in order to offer us salvation.

For Our Own AND Others And this weeping isn’t only over our own personal sin but can and should also be the response we have when we are faced with the sin of our society and culture. Just as Daniel and Isaiah were dismayed as they thought on how their people had turned away from the Lord and they prayed over it, so should we have a dismay that would cause us to weep and pray in light of sin in our own lives and all around us.

As Jesus said, Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh, there is a two-fold message. If we weep now over our own sin, it’s a godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) and ultimately laughter when God gathers His redeemed to Himself. Likewise, if we weep now for the sin of our society and culture, we will laugh and have immense joy in the time to come when God has taken us home, remembering that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

The question to ponder today is: Are you weeping now? Our society desires to kill innocent babies in the womb for their own convenience, so much that they threaten to kill/harm those who desire to protect those babies. Our culture says that the very design of male and female and the sexuality God created for a husband and wife to enjoy is not only a farse but they have perverted it beyond recognition of the original design. Our modern world tries to dictate and modify what the Bible says to suit whatever changing school of thought, instead of being convicted unto repentance. This is all rebellion, and it hurts the heart of God, and it should pierce our hearts to mourn, to weep because of the world we live in.

If your response to sin isn’t grief, take time to think why not and to ask God to give you a heart like His that is broken over sin, as He desires that none should perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And when your heart is grieving over sin, don’t just weep but pray until that day of laughter comes.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

For those whose hearts may be overwhelmed with grief as you see the sin in your own life and in the world around you, be encouraged that God hears your prayers and laughter is in your future, my dear sibling in Christ!

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Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. (Luke 6:21a)

As Jesus continued in the Beatitudes, He again speaks in a simultaneous literal and figurative manner, addressing the very poor and hungry people in front of Him but also referring to their spiritual state and the promises of God.

The Greek Foundation Last week we mentioned how the word for “blessed” means to be well off and happier. In the same way, Jesus speaks of how those who are hungry now are blessed because they will be satisfied. What does that mean exactly to be hungry and being satisfied?

The word “hungry” (peinaō) in the Greek, means to be needy, to famish, or to figuratively crave. The people Jesus was talking to were literally hungry because of the oppression under Roman rule, but they also were looking towards their Messiah to come. It’s that spiritual craving that Jesus addresses as He said, “for you shall be satisfied” and we know that because the word “satisfied” (chortazō) in the Greek, means to fodder, supply food in abundance, fill, satisfy. To fodder animals is directly related to Jesus being our Shepherd and Him feeding us Himself as we commune with Him.

The Promised Care When we look at Matthew 6, it also gives insight to the two needs God says He’ll take care of: food and clothing. We know He never promised a house, car, etc. He actually said the exact opposite in Matthew 8, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) when someone told Him they would follow Him wherever He went. He also promised abundance and eternal life for everyone who gives up houses, family, and land for His name (Matthew 19:29).

The idea of food, in both literal and spiritual senses, is something of great importance to God. He knows that physical food sustains our flesh, and that He as our spiritual food sustains our spirits. When Jesus says that someone is blessed for being hungry, we can see the blessing right in the last section because our satisfaction will be brought about by Him. He will physically and spiritually feed us, and THAT is a true blessing from our loving creator and Father.

If you’re feeling spiritually starved, I encourage you to sit at His feet and be blessed as you eat of the Word that He gives you. I promise you will be satisfied. I’ll leave you with this last verse to encourage you:

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:9)

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Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20b)

Jesus had been healing multitudes of people, and then He turned His attention to His disciples as He began to speak what we call the Beatitudes. In this first verse of the Beatitudes, there can be a few ways to interpret what “poor” means, but we know that whomever Jesus is referring, theirs is the kingdom of God. In Matthew 5, when Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount, He says something very similar - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

The Greek Foundation In the Greek, the word “blessed” (makarios) means to be well off and happier, and the word “kingdom” (basileia) refers to royalty, rule, or realm: kingdom. So then the one who is blessed, is well off and happier, while the kingdom of God refers to our standing within Him as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). But what does it mean to be poor or poor in spirit, and why would that make a person well off or happier?

When we look at the word for “poor” (ptōchos) in the Greek, it means to be brought low, fearful, reduced to begging, destitute of influence/wealth/honor, helpless and powerless to accomplish an end. This gives a little more insight when we realize that Jesus is not only speaking about our outward circumstance of being poor, but our inward perspective of being sinners in need of a Savior.

The people He was talking to would have been the poorer of the time. The Pharisees and Sadducees were the influencers of the time, and they didn’t care to listen to Him, they only sought to kill Him. While this would have had a big impact on those who were circumstantially poor, it also should have a big impact on us when we realize our state of spiritual poorness.

Our Spiritual State We see even further explanation that Jesus is also speaking of our spiritual state in Revelation when Jesus spoke to the church in Laodicea saying, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:15-18). In and of ourselves, we are poor and even our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and we are helpless and powerless to accomplish anything if we’re not abiding in Him (John 15:5).

This isn’t something that is only meant for non-believers to hear, as Jesus said this to the very disciples who were following Him and counseled the church in Laodicea. This statement is in line with the gospel message of repentance and is just as much for believers as it is for non-believers.

If we do not realize our state of being poor, we won’t go to Jesus to be rich in Him, in which is the only way we can inherit the kingdom of God.

The good news is, Jesus tells us plainly that we will be well off and happier if we realize our state of being poor, and being humbled before Him, because it’s then that we’ll come to Jesus and be blessed.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Ultimately, the message of this Beatitude is: you must be poor in spirit in order to be rich in Christ.

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And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. (Luke 6:19)

As I read through this, I’ll be honest, I found myself feeling a bit jealous of those people. I have battled with chronic illness for years and have prayed over and over to be completely healed and it hasn’t happened yet. I found myself wishing I had Jesus physically here to touch the way these crowds of people did and were healed as the power came out from Him and healed them all. Then this little thought popped up, that maybe I’m just out of luck because I can’t touch Him.

And as I sat quietly before the Lord, with tears filling up in my eyes, I heard God say, “You might not be able to physically touch Me, but I can still touch you."

It’s tempting to put more credit into something like touch, when it’s solely Jesus who deserves the glory, honor, and praise for the healing. In other accounts, He healed without touch and only word, and still yet in others an action was commanded.

The Truth About Healing When it comes down to the truth of the matter of healing, Jesus is able to heal just as much today as He did back then, regardless of not being physically present on earth. I recognize that the enemy tried to impose a subtle lie in his attack and attempt to pervert my thinking and understanding of God’s healing, and while I could have wallowed in it and let it sink in (and admittedly I have before), this time there was victory in sitting before Jesus and hearing His voice and what He had to say about it.

We all face trials and tribulations in life, and whatever you are currently facing, although you may feel broken and lost in the crowd sometimes, God does indeed see you. I can’t guarantee He will choose to heal you, and that doesn’t mean your faith is somehow lacking, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t have the power to heal you, it doesn’t mean He won’t ever heal you; it just means you’re a frail human in need of the grace your strong God can provide.

When in Doubt, Think About… If you’re ever feeling doubt, fear, despair, cynical, etc. - don’t entertain thoughts that take you further down that train of thought, because they’re attacks from the enemy.

We’re told in Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, pray about everything with thanksgiving, and that His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. It goes on to exhort us to only think on certain things:

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Our brains are highly complicated, and research shows that if you think about toxic things and ruminate on them, it has a poor effect on your body in ways that can affect your heart, memory, cells, immune system, and even the telomere length of your chromosomes. In short, meditating on toxic thoughts is effectively killing you quicker. On the other hand, if you think upon good things, based in truth and take your thoughts captive instead of them taking you captive, your brain can actually rearrange thought patterns and heal things in your mind.

If you find yourself being attacked by the enemy or being overwhelmed with emotions or toxically negative thoughts, make it a habit to stop, drop, and sit before the Lord, letting Him speak to you and comfort you in your time of need.

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In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles. (Luke 6:12-13)

Jesus knew the Father was calling Him to select men to personally disciple, yet even being the Son of God, He prayed all night long as He sought the Father’s guidance on which men to choose.

How do you make your decisions? Do you pray real quick right before making a decision and then choose what feels right?

How often do you spend hours, days, weeks, or years in prayer over decisions and wait on God to reveal to you His will in the matter?

If you’re decision making habit is to quickly pray and then choose what feels right, it’s time for a change. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us our hearts are deceitful. Our feelings and emotions can change like the wind and they’re never good to base decisions on. However, we KNOW that God’s will is perfect, but we need to be transformed by the renewal of our mind in order to discern what the will of God is (Romans 12:2).

You may lose sleep, you may set aside doing other things, but you’ll never regret a decision made when you’ve sought the Lord’s will before making it.

Consider This One of the men Jesus chose to be His disciple was Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Him. Yet that too was all within the Father’s sovereignty. If Jesus was following His feelings, do you think He would have chose someone like Judas to be one of His disciples? Or Matthew or Peter for that matter – tax collector and a fisherman notorious for speaking and acting before he thought.

One could look at Jesus’ decision and feel that He wrongfully chose Judas Iscariot based on the eventual circumstances. However, considering that if you know that you’ve followed God’s will on your decisions, you’ll also know that the outcome, regardless of how good or bad it “feels”, will all be used for your good and God is sovereign over it all.

When you consider that Jesus prayed ever so frequently, maintaining that communication with the Father so that He would do or say whatever the Father willed, then as His ambassador, we should be following in His footsteps when making decisions in our own lives.

Prayerful Decision Making We have countless examples in the Bible of people making decisions without talking to God first and seeking His will, and it was disastrous. For example, numerous times Israel made decisions about war without seeking God first, and in 1 Samuel 4, they again did not seek God and decided instead to make the decision to go to battle against the Philistines and “take God with them” by bringing the ark of the covenant into battle. The consequence was another defeat and losing the ark of the covenant. Yet in the times when they did seek God first, He would fight for them and bring them victories His way, or guide them otherwise.

Prayerful consideration in decision making shouldn’t just be for big decisions, but for every decision. God cares about you and your life, and He wants what’s best for you, but you have to give Him the opportunity to speak to you in the decision you’re looking to make. Choose today, to give the Father His time to reveal His will to you, seeking Him in prayer, and rest in whatever answer He gives, remembering that He is sovereign and good.

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On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. (Luke 6:6-10)

As Jesus was teaching and saw this man with a withered hand, He knew the scribes and pharisees were watching and trying to find a reason to accuse Him. Yet, He also knew what His Father was directing Him to do - heal the man with the withered hand.

I can only assume there was some temptation to avoid conflict, but Jesus chose to be obedient to His Father in telling the man to come to Him and to stretch out his hand. In turn, the man with the withered hand was obedient to Jesus when he came and stood and stretched out his hand. In both acts of obedience to God, this miraculous healing was done and the man received restoration of his hand.

How do you respond in the face of conflict? If you walked into a situation in which you knew people were watching and waiting to accuse you of something and stir problems with you, would you be quick to respond in your flesh or wait and be submissive to the Father’s will in that moment?

This is a hard question to ask yourself and truthfully answer. Most people would take one of a few choices – get instantly aggressive and defensive, opt to be passive-aggressive, or simply walk away to avoid conflict altogether. Personally, in my own flesh, I might initially get my feathers a bit ruffled and be upset that someone is seeking to come against me. However, we know that if we are being submissive and obedient to the Father’s will, He will give us what to say and/or do in that moment, so we should respond in the Spirit of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).

One thing to take note of here, is that in light of the Pharisees seeking to come against Jesus, He didn’t lose sight of the Father’s will and the prompting of the Spirit to heal this man with a withered hand. This man’s life was worth navigating through the ill wills of others in order to bring restoration.

The next time you’re in a situation that may initially ruffle your feathers, pray that the Spirit would reveal to you anything the Father wants you to say or do in that moment. Who knows, you may impact someone else’s life greatly for God’s glory in that moment through your submission and obedience to your heavenly Father.

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And the Pharisees grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:30-32)

As Jesus sat and shared a meal with tax collectors and others, the pharisees judged Him and His disciples for it. Notice how the Pharisees directed their grumbles to Jesus’ disciples, but Jesus jumped in and responded by telling them who He came for - “I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance." We can glean a couple things from this exchange:

1. How you identify yourself and others will affect who you spend time with. Jesus identified Himself as the anointed one who was sent to proclaim liberty to the captives, fulfilling what had been written in Isaiah. This directed His time spent with people, and He spent time with those who were in captivity – people whom the Pharisees identified as tax collectors and sinners. Had Jesus chosen not to spend time with those types of people, they would not have heard the message and had opportunity to repent.

Jesus knew His Father’s will, that none would perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and since faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of God, of Whom Jesus is (Romans 10:17; John 1:1), His mission would indeed be to spend time with sinners, and it would be His kindness that would lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Likewise, being ambassadors for Christ, if we are properly finding our identity in Jesus Christ, we will find ourselves spending time with sinners in need of Jesus. Now this isn’t to be confused with trying to find fellowship with those who are not saved, because that is a slippery slope that will sooner find you covered in the mud of sin sooner than it would find them cleansed from it. However, being mission minded and intentional in our time spent with those who have not yet accepted Jesus as their salvation, is exactly the heart of God and the ministry of reconciliation given to us as ambassadors for Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

2. How you identify yourself will largely impact your response to God’s call. The tax collectors and others knew they were sinners and they took the opportunity to eat with Jesus and listen to Him. The pharisees felt they were righteous in and of themselves by keeping the laws and traditions, and therefore misjudged the Son of God repeatedly. When Jesus said that He came not to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance, the pharisees likely then in their pride considered that they were not among those called to repentance because they were already “righteous”. But as both Jesus and Paul told us, there is no one righteous or good but God (Luke 18:18-19; Romans 3:10-12). Had the pharisees understood the purpose of the law and viewed themselves in the state they were actually in, sinners in need of God as their Savior, they may have heeded the call to repentance, desiring to spend time with and listen to Jesus.

If we are walking in pride, it creates a hindrance to repentance. No one who thinks they are good will want to spend time with the only One who truly is good, because it’s a major bruise to their ego when His light points out their darkness. But if we humble ourselves before God, His kindness leads us to repentance and we will be daily reconciled in our relationship with Him. Living in the marvelous light of God can only happen after a heart has repented, and that requires understanding and accepting that you are a sinner, loved by God, called to repentance, and offered grace and salvation by placing your faith in Jesus. This is something that non-followers of Jesus desperately need to know and understand, and something that followers of Jesus desperately need to keep in remembrance as they walk with Jesus everyday.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)

In a world seemingly bent on celebrating self-seeking and self-justifying identity, follow God’s desire for you by finding your identity in Christ, and let the outflow of the Spirit lead you in the ministry of reconciliation God has given you as His ambassador.

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And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— he said to the man who was paralyzed —“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” (Luke 5:20-24)

As a paralyzed man’s friends brought him to be healed by Jesus, Jesus addressed his sin by saying, “Man, your sins are forgiven you." But as the scribes and pharisees started questioning this, Jesus responded in a way that should have answered their question of, “Who can forgive sins but God?" with the revelation that Jesus is indeed God.

In our human minds, it is easier to simply say “your sins are forgiven” versus performing a miracle of healing, since forgiveness isn’t something tangible that can be proven. Yet when we really think about the cost of forgiveness, and the sacrifice Jesus had to make to offer us forgiveness, the miracle is the easier of the two.

I love that Jesus said, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” and then heals the man with His word, because if any of those pharisees or scribes were there at His crucifixion, remembering that He had proven His deity in that moment, then hearing His statement from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) could have had a profound impact on them. We know Nicodemus was affected by his experience with Jesus, and even though it wasn’t recorded, other pharisees could have been affected as well.

This little interaction that Jesus had with the crippled man and pharisees should give us a renewed appreciation for the compassion Jesus has on us, and His eager willingness to forgive us of the sins we daily commit. The only thing that stands in the way is our own willingness to come to or be brought to Him and receive His forgiveness.

How Long Has it Been? When was the last time you asked God for forgiveness? If you’ve not already received God’s gift of salvation, then receiving forgiveness is the first time you will experience the burden lifting freedom yielded when you repent and receive Jesus as your salvation. If you’ve already received the gift of salvation, then forgiveness should be that familiar restoration in your relationship with Him when you commit sins. We all sin, it’s just a matter of whether those sins are being forgiven unto salvation and/or relational restoration.

Do you make it a habit to ask God for forgiveness? Regardless of being saved, we still sin because we’re in these earthly bodies in which our sinful flesh nature battles our regenerated spirits that are alive in Christ. But there is a big difference between the life a Christian who regularly seeks God’s forgiveness and the one who does not. Sin separates us from God. When we’re saved, that separation doesn’t mean we lose our salvation, but it does mean there’s a break in relationship. I don’t know about you, but if someone does something wrong against me, I’m not exactly going to be in the best relationship with them until there’s restoration. In our human relationships, that usually looks like the wrongdoer acknowledging they’ve done wrong, apologizing, and seeking forgiveness.

In the same way, when we do wrong against God (aka sin), then regardless of our salvation standing, it still separates us from Him in our relationship. If you want to have as close of a relationship as you can, then forgiveness needs to be a regular thing you seek from the One whom you’ve sinned against.

Lastly, it may have been awhile since you sought forgiveness from God, or maybe you’ve never come to Him in repentance and asking for forgiveness. BUT GOD is ready and willing to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness if you simply come to Him and confess. My friend, make it a habit to confess your sin and seek God’s forgiveness daily.

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And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” (Luke 5:18-20)

The paralyzed man wouldn’t have been able to get to Jesus, but his friends faithfully carried him and laid him before Jesus, even at great effort to go through the roof in order to do it. The man received forgiveness and healing, but Jesus didn’t do it until after He had seen their faith.

In our current day, we don’t have Jesus here physically to bring our friends to, but we have an even easier method through prayer. We don’t have to go anywhere or go through any roofs to bring our friends and their burdens before the Lord. We simply talk to God on their behalf as we intercede fervently.

Prayer may not feel like a great action or an action at all, but prayer is the greatest action we can take. We’ve been given the gift of entering in boldly to the throne of grace through the blood of Jesus, and we should walk in that. While those men sacrificed their time and physical energy to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, you too can have the privilege of sacrificing time and energy to intercede for your friends by bringing requests before Jesus.

Your Level of Willingness We are told that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16) so if we truly care about people, should we not be willing to sacrifice our time to pray for them? It ultimately becomes a matter of whether we’re willing and have a desire and discipline to do it.

Take a moment to examine yourself and answer these questions:

Are you willing to sacrifice time to pray for your friends?
How often do you take advantage of the access you have with God through prayer?
How eager are you to bring your friends before the Lord?

We’ve seen time and time again throughout the gospels that Jesus was a man of prayer. He told a parable of being persistent in prayer, and we see the example of Elijah and other people of faith in the bible who took the time to fervently pray, in which great things were accomplished. The thing about prayer is that it is an opportunity to demonstrate our faith in the God who has told us to pray without ceasing, and in return it gives opportunity for God to be magnified and glorified in His answering. Prayer may not be glamorous, but it certainly is powerful.

A Daily Demonstration Even if you haven’t been asked directly for prayer, there are always opportunities all around you to pray for people. When you’re scrolling on social media and see a post about someone in need or a sad situation, pray for them. When you’re driving and see a car accident, pray for them. When you see homeless people on the side of the road, pray for them. When you get cut off while driving, pray for them. In all things with all people, pray for them!

And especially when you have a friend who is in any kind of need, show them love by first praying for them. There isn’t always something that can be physically done to help, but even if there is, prayer is the surest help you can offer. Prayer is the surest help because the answer is not found in what your human hands can offer, but in the One whose righteous right hand will uphold your friend in their time of need.

Who do you know that needs prayer? Be a friend that loves, by bringing them before the Lord today.

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But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. (Luke 5:16)

Continually throughout the gospels, we see Jesus withdrawing to desolate places in between serving and it was to spend time in prayer with His Father. How different His effectiveness in ministry would have been if He wouldn’t have intentionally set this time aside.

Often Jesus is thought of as somehow supernaturally more empowered than us when He was here fulfilling His earthly ministry because He is God. But we have to remember that just because He didn’t separate from His deity didn’t mean He wasn’t fully human like us. Yes, He lived perfectly, but He was made to be like us in every respect, so He was tempted in the same ways, He got tired and had to sleep, He got hungry and had to eat, He pooped just like us, etc. Don’t set aside this fact, He is our merciful and faithful High Priest BECAUSE He can relate to our humanness. If you separate His humanness from His deity in your mind, you can’t effectively follow His example and there will be a hindrance in your relationship to Him.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-15,17-18)

The Old Age Question of Why This bears the question - Why was He in the habit of withdrawing to pray? And why to desolate places?

Jesus was disciplined in His habit of prayer. He was here to fulfill a mission and that required Him doing and saying what the Father told him. How was He to do that if He wasn’t in the habit of communicating with the Father? He would go to the synagogue and read from the scrolls, the way we read our Bibles; and He had that open line of communication through prayer.

Why He went to desolate places may seem odd in our modern day culture where Christians often pray together and pastors and leaders pray in front of congregations. There isn’t anything wrong with open and public prayer, but Jesus made it obvious that a personal prayer life is necessary to get through our life. When we pray in public, there is inherently an aspect of consciousness before others. In some cases this can create a hypocrisy, as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 6 when He taught His disciples how to pray. When we pray in private, one on one with the Lord, there is the ability to be completely open, honest, and raw with your Creator and when we choose isolated places, it allows us to pray undistracted from outside things and devote the time and attention to talking with God.

The last little tidbit to glean was that Jesus knew when to serve and when to withdraw to pray. Great crowds would gather and while sometimes He did serve them and then withdraw to pray, other times He simply withdrew to prayer first. We don’t need to be constantly serving, but we should always be praying without ceasing.

Implementing the Habit How often are you praying, and setting aside time not just before meals or bed, but time dedicated just to prayer? If you don’t already have a habit of setting aside time to pray every day, today’s the day to start! I have personally found that having a written prayer list helps me better focus as I sit before the Lord in prayer and bring my requests, intercession, and thanksgiving to Him, and I keep it in my Bible. I encourage you to find what works for you to remember to be in regular prayer with your Father just as Jesus did.

Ultimately, if the sinless Son of God made a habit of praying, then us, as sinful people, need to be in this habit as well.

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And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:10-11)

The way fishers back then caught fish was usually with wide nets. They’d cast them into the water, drag them along, and pull up to have caught a net full of fish. Today, we have many methods of fishing - fishing pole catching one fish at a time, a handheld net catching possibly a few at a time, and the wide nets as of old catching multitudes of fish at a time.

The Tools to Catch When Jesus said He would make His disciples fishers of men, He never specified which way they’d be catching them though. The call was to fish and it was going to be to the Holy Spirit’s eventual empowering with gifts, and His still small voice guiding them, that would determine what method they used at any given time.

In today’s time, we have many methods available for the Holy Spirit to use as He gifts us and prompts us in our fishing expeditions, both locally and farther out. He may call you to use a wide net, being a pastor or evangelist. He may call you to use a hand net of sorts, sharing the gospel with small groups of people. He may call you to use a fishing pole ministering to one person at a time.

The Temptation to Compare It can be tempting to look at the methods and callings of other people and feel like they’re better in some way, especially when our culture creates idols of people and places them on high pedestals often. The truth is, not any one method is better than the other, just as not any member of the Church body is better than the other. The Spirit will give as He wills for the glory of God.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (1 Corinthians 12:14-18)

The Spirit gives gifts to Christ’s followers for the common good. No matter what gifts He gives or what method He calls you to use, you don’t need to compare to others, only need to listen and obey. You’re not responsible for how many people you catch, you’re responsible for your faithfulness to obedience. So today, my friend, I encourage you to listen for the Spirit’s voice to go fishing for people and be faithful with whatever tool He gives you to use!

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And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon.. (Luke 4:31-33a)

Jesus went into the synagogue teaching on the Sabbath and in there was a demon possessed man. Don’t you wonder what a man who was demon possessed was doing in a synagogue?

This really brings front and center that just because someone is in a church doesn’t mean they are saved. They could even be demon possessed.

Being Hurt by Church People So many people get hurt by people in their church, and yes that could be by other Christians because we’re all imperfect, but we have to know that we can’t expect perfection from people in the church whether they’re saved or not. I’ve heard it said that the church is like a hospital, where Christians come to get healed. I won’t fully disagree, but I think of the church more of like a big restaurant where we all come together to eat the meat of the Word and serve one another. Sometimes we feel like the food has been served cold, or the server wasn’t as quick as we’d like, or we felt the way they spoke to us wasn’t as pleasant as we’d prefer. Except, because this example is not perfect, we shouldn’t decide to never come back to the restaurant if we feel like the service towards us wasn’t the greatest. We should be serving as well and have grace and understanding for one another, as well as getting together when we’re not serving or sitting at church, to do life together the way Jesus intended.

Meeting Your Needs There can be a great danger and disservice in our representation of Christ when we look to the people in the church to meet the needs only God should be meeting.

The church shouldn’t ever be what we look to as our example or our fulfilling, only Jesus should be in that role. There is no pastor, teacher, leader, or person otherwise that will perfectly meet your needs or fulfill the desires of your heart because the Church is made up of imperfect people just like you and me.

You may have gotten saved in a church building, but the Church didn’t save you. The Church can’t sanctify you, the Church won’t take you up into heaven and glorify you one day, only God can do those things. So if you’re placing too much expectations on the Church, our fellow brothers and sisters who are being sanctified right along with you, then I can guarantee you’re going to be hurt and disappointed and the devil will gladly tempt you in those feelings. In addition, if we’re placing our expectations and hopes and desires of fulfillment in the Church and the people who make it up, then we’re creating an idol.

Jesus designed His Church to be a family, and with every family there are familial spats that arise and need to be resolved. If we are operating as the family Church that God desires us to be, we’ll not only be pleasing to the Lord, but we’ll be more able to serve and help those around us, including any demon possessed people who walk through the doors of the church.

How to Respond Last week we read about Jesus walking with purpose in His calling, and today echoes a similar message – regardless of the little details of your church’s worship services, BE the Church in and out of the building. Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

Lastly, if you have something against someone in the Church that has been left unresolved, I encourage you to go to them and make amends. It could have been a misunderstanding, it could have been purposeful, or maybe they never even realized how you were hurt, but you can’t gain your sibling in Christ back if you won’t go to them. God doesn’t want falling outs in His family, so go “Matthew 18” it and as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people (Romans 12:18).

And if you have made any idols of people in the Church, it’s time to tear them down from that place in your heart and return to magnify your first love of Jesus. If we all looked to love and serve one another as Christ did and does for us, we’d be the Church that God desires.

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And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)

Jesus' ministry was to proclaim the good news and set people free, yet hatred and persecution followed Him throughout it all. He spoke the truth and did the works and miracles the Father told Him to and for some people it resulted in believing and being set free, and for others it resulted in a desire to murder Him.

In our life of following Jesus here, we can’t expect any different. If the world hated Jesus, it certainly is going to hate us, just as He told us in John 15. Throughout Jesus' ministry, He had to dodge people seeking to kill Him, and ultimately gave Himself into their hands when His time had come. BUT through all that hatred and persecution, Jesus was fulfilling Scripture and the mission the Father sent Him on.

Could you imagine if Jesus had decided what to do based on the people seeking to kill Him instead of the Father’s will? The ramification of that would have literally been death to the whole world. Thankfully for us, He walked through His life on earth with a discipline to spend time with the Father and do and say whatever the Father told Him to.

Fulfilling our Purpose Now we don’t have the weight of the world’s salvation on our shoulders the way Jesus did (Thank you, Lord, for that!), but we do have a purpose in this life and God calls us to serve in specific ways, and our actions to obey or disobey will have its own consequences.

Let me ask you this:

Are you willing to be ridiculed, hated, and persecuted for Jesus?
If it ever came to it, are you resolved to die for His Name sake?

These are heavy things to think about, and for those living in free areas such as America it isn’t something that’s front and center in life the way it is to our fellow brothers and sisters in places with intense persecution of the saints. Regardless of how prevalent it is, we must resolve to stay faithful to our Faithful God and Savior no matter the cost.

What’s the Purpose? Why even bother to think upon these things? If you were going to be in a boxing match one day, let’s say a year from now. Would you wait until you’re entering the ring to start weight training and sparring? That seems crazy, right? Of course you wouldn’t wait, you would train from the moment you knew you’d be in that match! Well, Paul did warn us that “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). So if you’ve never read this and maybe never faced any kind of persecution yet, here’s the news that your boxing match is coming and it’s time to prepare!

This doesn’t mean that when persecution comes you’ll be immune to it or you’ll somehow not be physically, emotionally, or spiritually affected. You don’t even need to memorize speeches of what you’ll say when the time comes, the Holy Spirit has you covered there just like Jesus said in Mathew, “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19-20) However, it does mean that you’ll be prepared to suffer, and even die, for Christ’s sake if it comes to that, because you’ll have been training and renewing your mind.

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi has such encouraging and mind preparing words to this topic, but I’ll leave you with these couple verses:

As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20-21)

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And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry… And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-2, 13)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit knew exactly why He had led Jesus there and it was in the Father’s will that Jesus be equipped through this time of testing.

We know that with calling into ministry work, there is going to be times of trial and equipping. The purpose here we can see was equipping Jesus for His ministry, but the purpose for the specific things we go through isn’t always easy to see while we’re in it. The thing is, if we hide God’s word in our hearts and remain steadfast in the trial, trusting we are indeed being refined through it, it will have an outcome for our good and be one step closer in the process of being formed into the image of Jesus Christ.

During this encounter in the wilderness, Jesus was tried physically, mentally, and spiritually, and was triumphant after resisting the devil. The book of James hadn’t been written yet, but this doesn’t change the truth that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. Jesus proved that and serves as an example of that to us.

The Devil in is in the Details We can’t ignore the fact though that the devil had departed from Him until an opportune time. This means that just because Jesus had victory in this particular time of tempting, didn’t mean satan was just giving up and going to leave Him alone now. The enemy is like a lion seeking whom to devour, and like a predator, they seek out prey who are weak, isolated, young (physically or spiritually speaking), or hurt. Jesus in that time was weak from hunger and even though it was for a spiritually good reason, He was also isolated as He fasted and satan took that opportunity to pounce and attempt to devour.

What State Are You In? Knowing that the enemy goes after those who are weak, isolated, young, and/or hurt, where does that leave you?

Are you young in the Lord?
Are you in a state of weakness or hurting physically or emotionally?
Have you knowingly or even unconsciously isolated yourself from others, either in person or by keeping them at arms length from having a real relationship with you?

Coming from a place of being physically and emotionally hurting, I understand the desire to withdraw and wait for better days to come. But I can also tell you from experience that unless I’m withdrawing for a period of time to fast or setting aside a set period to focus on time with God, isolating doesn’t yield good things. The times where I have fallen into self-isolation are the times when the enemy has attacked from every angle and been all up in my face and it is awful! It’s hard to know top from bottom and side to side when he’s hurling constant attacks, and the way to get out of it and, better yet, prevent it, is being in the Word and letting other believers come alongside you and bear your burdens with you the way God intended His Church to.

Have Victory as a Human We are all human, but so was Jesus and He had victory. If you are in Jesus, you can have victory too, but remember that our human limitations are not the issue, it’s when we embrace our flesh nature and desire that we find ourselves in trouble.

It’s ok to be weak but don’t be afraid to boast in your weakness because His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)
It’s ok to isolate for small periods of time to fast and spend dedicated time with God the way Jesus did, but don’t neglect to allow others in (Matthew 6; Galatians 6:2)
It’s ok if you’re young, physically and/or spiritually, but don’t be afraid to cozy up in the wings of Jesus (Luke 13:34)
It’s ok to feel hurt, those feelings need to be felt, but don’t wallow in your hurt – work through it, process it, and heal from it (Ecclesiastes 3:4; Psalm 147:3)

Ultimately Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered, and we can’t expect our learning process to be any different. However, we also can expect to have victory in Jesus and through Him because with God all things are possible. Whatever state you find yourself in right now, remember that the Holy Spirit is leading you with a purpose. So cling to Jesus, allow others to help you, and walk in victory when the enemy tempts you by resisting him until he flees from you! Be a mighty child of God, my friend!

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But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart… And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:19 & Luke 2:51)

As the shepherds came that night, worshipping the Son whom the angels had told them of, Mary treasured up that experience in her heart. As she listened to how her 12 year old Son was in the synagogue and spoke of being in His Father’s house, Mary didn’t understand it all, but she treasured up that experience in her heart. She kept these things stored to recall all the works and wonders of God she had observed.

Why is this important to treasure things up in our hearts? If we’re talking about experiences in which we’ve witnessed God working, it’s important because as humans we tend to be a forgetful bunch. Just ask the Israelites who lived in a cycle of seeing great miracles, signs, and wonders of God to forgetting Him and running after idols. Treasuring up these personal experiences in which God has worked in our life helps keep our mind and heart set right on Him. It also builds our faith to treasure them up. Whenever we think back on the wonderful works of God, it serves as a kind of pep rally to our hearts, boosting our faith as we remember His love, faithfulness, and graciousness towards us. It also keeps our hearts treasured on the right things.

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:20-21)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)

The other thing we should be treasuring up in our hearts is God’s Word. As we walk through life, the only safe way to navigate through is with the Bible, the very breath of God which is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that we’ll be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

Answer these for yourself: * Do you keep a remembrance of treasured moments that you have experienced God work in your life? * When was the last time you thought about those treasured moments? * Do you regularly memorize scripture?

If you’re like me, memorizing nowadays isn’t always something that’s easy, but thanks to journals (paper or computer) and songs, my mind gets extended storage through journaling about those things I want to treasure up and look back on, and memorizing scripture is much easier when it’s with a song.

On a quick side note, if you’re interested in memorizing scripture with songs, a good resource is a website called_ I Am A Wall - iamawall.com._ It’s a project currently in progress and being added to frequently, that lists songs by Bible reference. The project’s goal is to have a song for every part of the Bible, both to memorize scripture and to accompany your studies through the Bible. I have the pleasure of being a part of this project and have been blessed by the other artists and musicians who area part of it too.

However you choose to treasure things up in your heart and memorize God’s word, I pray your time spent doing it would be a blessing to you and effective in bringing you closer in your relationship with God.

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And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. (Luke 1:80)

This verse is speaking of John the Baptist. John grew and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. I don’t know about you, but when I think of my children growing up and living their adult life, I wouldn’t in a million years think that they would live in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey and wearing camel hair outfits. However, as a Christian parent who is raising godly young children, I do expect they’ll face spiritual wilderness, likely more than once in their lifetime.

When we think of the wilderness in biblical accounts, it’s a physical and metaphorical place, but often seen physically displayed in an account while reading the spiritual work being done there.

Examples in the Wilderness 1. Jesus was in the wilderness leading up to His ministry, being led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days (Matthew 4). 2. The apostle Paul spent time in the wilderness after his conversion on the road to Damascus in which he grew in the LORD and was prepared for his ministry (Galatians 1). 3. The prophet Elijah spent time in the wilderness as God told him to hide by the brook Cherith. There God provided his needs through ravens bringing food and when the brook water had dried up, he was sent out to serve God again (1 Kings 17). 4. Likewise, John the Baptist was also being prepared, spending time with God alone, for when he would make his public appearance to make straight the way of the Lord.

In all these people, time spent in the wilderness led to wonderful works of God being worked through them. And yet, it’s not only through Jesus and these biblical figures that we see the Holy Spirit working. He is still working through men and women today, and they go through their own wildernesses and preparation in order to be fully equipped for the good works that God has prepared for them to walk in.

What Season Are You In? If you’re in a wilderness right now, take heart, God has good plans for you, for hope and a future. He knows what He’s working in you through this season of wilderness, which may feel dry at times, but I can guarantee you that if you’re spending time with God through it, you’ll be like a tree, planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season. Keep meditating on His word day and night! (Psalm 1)

If you’re also a parent, would you pray for your own children’s seasons of wilderness? That they too would be brought through it well, being refined and prepared for the next season of work in their life. It doesn’t matter how old you or your children are, God can use you and will use you if you’re surrendered to His will.

My prayer for you and your family is that you all grow strong in spirit in any and every season of your life, but that you especially continue that growth in seasons of wilderness.

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And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. (Luke 1:21-23)

When the angel Gabriel had visited Zechariah and told him that his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child, Zechariah responded with doubt. The consequence was being mute until the prophecy of his son’s birth was fulfilled, but he still finished the time of his service.

Zechariah very easily could have been so overcome by the consequence and wallowed in it. He could have sought to go to the familiarity of home and comfort of his wife, but he chose to stay and complete his time of service to the Lord. He stayed to serve the God who had afflicted him.

When we’re afflicted, it’s always one of three things – a consequence of our own sin, a casualty of someone else’s sin, or not any kind of consequence of sin but rather done to bring God glory, just as it was with the man who was born blind:

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:2-3)

Our Response Matters Regardless of the reason of the affliction, our response matters, because it reveals our own hearts in the response.

While we would understand and even sympathize if Zechariah wanted to go home after becoming mute, it would have revealed a heart more concerned with his own feelings than his commitment to serving the LORD. It took a heart of repentance and humility to continue his time of service after God had afflicted him in his unbelief. He was not only accepting of his consequence, but he pressed into the LORD when afflicted instead of run from Him.

This is a beautiful heart and one to learn an example from.

After Zechariah had gone home, he still had months of waiting for the birth of his son, but he now his faith wouldn’t falter when the prophesy came about. Once his son was born, he was adamant that he would be called John (John the Baptist as we call him), as he wrote down “His name is John.” He had learned in those months of not being able to talk to embrace God’s word fully and I can’t help but believe that His relationship with God Almighty was now closer than when he was physically in the temple because of the affliction he had faced.

What is Your Response What afflictions are you facing? Will you sit before God and take the time to press into Him during this affliction? And will you resolve to continue to serve God through this affliction?

If God is disciplining your sin, rejoice because you’re a child of His. If you’re afflicted as a casualty of someone else’s sin, rejoice because God is with you and using it for your good. If your affliction has no apparent cause, rejoice because you have the opportunity to bring God glory through your suffering. Regardless of the cause, press deeper into your Savior than the depth of your affliction and I promise, the fruit produced will be sweet.

One Final Thought Once John the Baptist had been born, the first words out of Zechariah’s mouth after his mouth was opened was blessings and prophecy as he was filled with the Holy Spirit. I want to leave you with his beautiful prophetic words of worship and blessings to our great and mighty God:

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

``` for he has visited and redeemed his people

```

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

``` in the house of his servant David,

```

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

``` and from the hand of all who hate us;

```

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

``` and to remember his holy covenant,

```

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

``` that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

```

might serve him without fear,

``` in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

```

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

``` for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

```

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

``` in the forgiveness of their sins,

```

because of the tender mercy of our God,

``` whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

```

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

``` to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

```

(Luke 1:67-79)

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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

God the Father sees those in Christ as righteousness and pure, not because of our own righteousness but because of the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. If you’re at all like me, this is something that is not only hard to understand when faced with the sins I commit daily, but also when viewing others who commit evil in this world and their opportunity for redemption. In these two verses in Ephesians and Philippians, it simultaneously says that we ARE, as in presently, God’s masterpiece and that the work WILL BE brought to completion. So how are we both a finished masterpiece yet a work in progress at the same time?

A Finished Masterpiece in Progress How can God see a saved sinner like me as righteous? How can God see a saved sinner who’s committed murder or rape as righteous?

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is outside of time and space so He can see past, present, and future all at once. When Jesus came into the world as a man, He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it. So, He isn’t judging our salvation on an instant-by-instant basis, He is looking at the whole picture.

For His children, those who have surrendered themselves to God and accepted His salvation, we are His masterpiece even though we are still being sanctified presently, and will be brought to completion in Christ in our future.

It’s ALL Been Paid For When God looks at His children, He sees us in our current situation – with intense emotion throughout the situations in our lives – yet views us currently in the spotless white robe of Christ’s righteousness that will be given to us when we’re glorified with Jesus in heaven.

When you sin, Jesus has already taken that wrath on the cross.

When you’re sinned against, Jesus has already taken that wrath on the cross and God has compassion for you and His heart aches for you.

My precious sibling in Christ, God loves you and He sees you presently as the masterpiece He will bring unto completion in you, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Called to Freedom The grace that we’re viewed as a completed masterpiece while being made into that masterpiece brings freedom. We are not bound in the identity of the sins we were saved from, our identity is in Christ alone with His righteousness alone. Yet in this freedom, the battle still rages on between our flesh and our spirit. So how do we do these good works God planned for us?

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:13,16)

We have to purpose to serve one another in love over the desire to serve ourselves in our flesh, and the only way to successfully do that and be able to do the good things God planned, is to walk by the Spirit.

Today, I encourage you, to be refreshed in the knowledge of this freeing grace that you are His masterpiece, and be stirred to walk in the Spirt, using your freedom to serve one another through love.

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But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:6-7)

God gives grace to the humble. This is something that in mere surface understanding we may feel like we’ll of course receive – because we’re all humble, right? But when met with such strong language revealing that “God resists the proud”, it should stir us to take a moment to think on the posture of our heart openly and honestly before God. We may appear humble to others, but that is easier than true humility since no one can know our thoughts and the intentions of our heart. Yet with God, who indeed does know our thoughts and intentions, knows whether we are truly humble or proud.

THEREFORE: WHAT’S IT THERE FOR? Now, whenever I see “therefore” it makes me stop to see just what it is actually there for. Verse 5 before this says, Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (James 4:5). God yearns jealously over our spirits because if we make ourselves friends of the world, we are making ourselves enemies of God, and it’s in our pride that we would ever seek to make a friend of the world instead of humbly bowing ourselves before our God and King. And if we choose the prideful route of friendship with the world, we make ourselves enemies of God and will be resisted by Him.

RESIST OR BE RESISTED In this last sentence, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” speaks to our tendency to be prideful and an encouragement to resist the devil. Take the way of escape that God brings when you’re tempted to act in pride (1 Corinthians 10:13), and the devil will flee from you. And you’re not alone in this experience because Jesus resisted the devil after His time of fasting for 40 days, when the devil tempted His pride as he said, “If you’re the Son of God…” (Luke 4). Jesus may now be sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, but He didn’t leave you as an orphan, He has given you His Spirit who empowers you to resist the devil in these temptations.

If you don’t resist the devil’s temptation of pride, God will resist you.

The devil’s goal is to steal, kill, and destroy you – and not just you, your family, your spouse, your children, your testimony. One of the sure ways he has done this in the past and that he continues to do presently, is poke your pride to stir it up. He knows that if you embrace being prideful, which can happen slowly over time, it will not only damage relationships with those around you, but God will resist you.

A HEART OF HUMILITY Being humble is easier said than done, but the answer is given to us within these verses: “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” You don’t have to work on being a humble person, you simply need to submit yourself to God and humility will follow. When you seek to obey God’s word and grow in your relationship with Him, you will see Him magnified in your eyes, and be humbled before your great and mighty God.

God made all things in this world of which you are a small fraction of, yet loved so much by your Father that Jesus paid the ultimate cost just so that you could be reconciled to Him. The only thing that we can offer as acceptable to God is what He has first given us. That is humbling! And that is a perspective that we can continue to walk in humbly with our God, full of love for Him, as we receive the grace He gives to us in our humility.

Safeguard yourself from being in a place where God resists you. Resist the devil, submit to God, and receive the grace God gives you.

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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

When Harriet Tubman made her way to freedom, finally crossing into the free state of Pennsylvania, she recalled that “there was such a glory over everything” and that “the sun came like gold through the trees, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven.” Yet, being in such a great place, having a new lot in life as a free woman, she decided to risk her life to go back and help free other slaves, leading them to that place of “heaven”.

What does Harriet Tubman have to do with making disciples? To answer that, we have to look what it means to make disciples.

The biblical meaning of a disciple is a personal follower of Jesus, and this idea of discipleship was very common in biblical days. A disciple in Jesus’ time would be a student of a teacher who would literally follow them around and learn from them by living real life with them.

It’s important to see the distinction between a convert and a disciple.

When Jesus commissioned His servants to make disciples, He fully intended us to live life with those whom are made disciples in order to teach to, not just share the gospel with and convert and be on our merry way. Unfortunately, when the emphasis is on conversion and not discipling, this means that there are people who are missing out on being discipled the way Jesus intended. All disciples are converts, but unfortunately not all converts are discipled.

What we have, we should fully share. We, as disciples of Jesus, are called to make disciples, which requires us to teach them God’s commands, and in due time they too will make disciples. This means we are called to get in the thick of it with people, walking alongside them, and helping them along their journey to freedom in Christ, truly living an abundant life in His grace.

Imagine if Harriet Tubman would have simply sent a telegram to the remaining slaves letting them know there was this Underground Railroad instead of going herself to help them along the way. I can’t imagine the over 300 slaves she helped free would have truly been brought to freedom had she not made the decision to personally walk alongside them, leading the way through the stations which she had personally walked before on the Underground Railroad.

How much more should Jesus’ followers walk alongside others in the calling of discipleship, to share what we know, what we’ve experienced, what we look forward to in our heavenly inheritance to come?

Are you making disciples? My dear friend, when was the last time you found yourself discipling someone? I don’t ask this to judge or condemn you, but to stir you to evaluate your activity in the great commission Jesus called you to. God has good works planned for you to walk in, and He has people He could use you to disciple if you’re willing to.

I know the idea of making disciples may seem intimidating, scary, or downright impossible to you, but I guarantee you that if you’re willing to walk in that calling, God is ready and willing to equip you in all areas of this calling. It won’t be by your power or might, by your extensive head knowledge of the Bible, by your position in ministry at your church, or by any other means – it will only be by the Spirit of God that you’re able to disciple others. If you’ve got the Spirt of God dwelling inside of you, you’ve got what you need to be a disciple of Jesus AND to make disciples of Jesus.

Who do you know that needs to be discipled? Pray about it, and don’t be afraid to step out in the power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the great commission that Jesus has called you to.

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But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. (2 Chronicles 15:7)

I’ll be honest, living with chronic illness is a daily battle of whether I’m going to give in to the opposition of my body fighting against me, as well as the enemy who is never far behind symptom flares striking blows at me, or whether I’m going to press in even deeper into Jesus and trust that His grace will be sufficient for yet another day. I wish I could say that everyday I wake up and am ready to put that armor of God on and fight excellently without falter, but that would make me perfect – of which I am not. However, I can attest to the faithfulness of God who sees the daily struggle and is a constant encouragement to keep fighting the good fight.

In this verse in 2 Chronicles, Asa the king, was a God-fearing man, and yet he needed that push from the prophesy that Azariah spoke to him. He was reminded of the history of Israel in their rebellion and the distress that had come upon them, and then is told, “BUT YOU, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:7, emphasis added) And his very next actions recorded were that he took courage and repaired the altar of the Lord which led the people to worship and make a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul.

“God deserves to be served with all the energy of which we are capable."(Charles Spurgeon)

I know I personally have fluctuating energy levels and capabilities due to chronic illness, but God doesn’t expect me to serve Him with more than I’m capable of. He never even intended that His people would serve Him on their own without His Spirit empowering them. And yet it should be with all the energy in which we’re capable of that we serve Him, even knowing full well that it won’t be by our power or might but by His Spirit that things are successfully accomplished (Zechariah 4:6). This isn’t a capability or strength issue, it’s a courage and obedience issue – it’s a heart issue.

Be honest with yourself. Do you feel like a failure or like your weakness is defining who you are?

Never forget that your identity is in Christ and God is calling you to be a faithful steward. Realize this though, we never see God call His people to be successful stewards, only faithful ones. In the end we desire to hear, “Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant”, not “good and successful servant”. Your success for the work you do isn’t the reason you’re rewarded, your obedience and faithfulness is. Don’t worry about striving for success in the work; merely attend to your faithfulness, because your obedience and faithfulness to simply do the work He calls you to IS your success. God is your strength and portion, so serve Him to the fullest of your capability, not for success in the work itself, but for His glory in which you shall be rewarded.

When you don’t have energy, when you feel like nothing is going right, when you feel like things take forever to progress, when you’re finding you focus on the work or outcome of the work itself to find meaning or purpose in doing it – take a moment to stop and remember Who called you. People wandering aimlessly without Jesus in this life have reason to feel discouraged and hopeless when their work doesn’t yield the success they want, BUT YOU, take courage, do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!

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For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

(Ecclesiates 3:1-8)

Pain is a part of life, but even though we as humans tend to shy away from pain, God doesn’t. Pain can be a physical feeling from our nerve signals, but it is also an emotion that often is far deeper than any physical pain felt. Pain is something that God feels, and He felt it both physically and emotionally the way we do, yet even deeper than we have ever experienced or can ever imagine.

As Jesus lived His life here, pain was a part of the process. * Pain was part of the process when He wept over Lazarus’ death, feeling the loss He never intended for us to experience. (John 11:35) * Pain was part of the process when He wept over the city of Jerusalem heartbroken that His people didn’t know the day of their visitation. (Luke 19:41-44) * Pain was part of the process when He received brutal whippings, creating stripes in His flesh by which we are healed. (Luke 27:26; Isaiah 53:5) * Pain was part of the process when He received nails in His hands by which our sins would be nailed to the cross. (1 Peter 2:24) * Pain was part of the process when He became sin by which we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)_ * Pain was part of the process when He was forsaken by the Father so that we’d never be forsaken. (Luke 26:46; Hebrews 13:5)

And pain is still part of the process when God sees us hurt, abused, abandoned, brokenhearted…

One of the hardest parts is often coming to a place of accepting that pain is going to be a part of our process, and still choosing to move forward in it. We want the healing, we want the progress and the good outcome, because we view those as good things, but the pain in between – that we tend to see as negative and something to be avoided at all costs. But if we can change our perspective on pain, that place of acceptance, as we’re being sanctified and refined, and ultimately coming to a place of healing will come easier.

When we face hurt in this life, it marks us and we feel pain.

If we avoid dealing with it, it festers like a cancer that will slowly kill us. Jesus died that you would be set free, be healed, and live an abundant life in Him. If you stay ensnared in your hurts, it’s only letting the enemy win in his endeavor to steal, kill, and destroy you. Just as satan desired to do with Peter, he seeks to sift you like wheat, BUT JESUS PRAYS FOR YOU!

What emotional pain have you been carrying?

How long have you been carrying this?

Isn’t it time to trust God’s healing hand in this area of your hurt even though it’s painful?

The process of healing is long and hard and painful, but it’s assuredly going to be part of yielding the beauty of God’s masterpiece in you. The locusts may have eaten from the field of your life, but God can restore to you the years that have been taken and He will deal wondrously with you (Joel 2:25-26).

Just as we read in Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time to break down and weep and mourn and heal – and pain is a part of that process. Don’t let your fear of pain cripple the healing process that will bring you the freedom and joy that God has for you. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5b).

“Pain and trials are almost constant companions, but never enemies. They drive me into His sovereign arms.” (Kay Arthur)

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After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. (2 Chronicles 20:1,3)

This king set such a good example of how to respond when faced with bad circumstances. Here’s what we can glean from king Jehoshaphat:

When you’re afraid, seek the LORD! As a great multitude had come against Israel, King Jehoshaphat faced an inevitable battle that he knew he couldn’t win and he was afraid, yet he set his face to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast to seek Him as a whole people. The result of seeking the LORD was hearing directly from the LORD. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, and he boldly spoke, saying, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15,17)

When the LORD answers you, respond in worship! After receiving this word, king Jehoshaphat “bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19)

The king led his people in worship, responding to the goodness of God with praises. They had received a gracious word that God would fight on their behalf, which would be a very big victory, so they responded with a very loud voice.

Show up in great faith! “And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

They had heard that the LORD would fight this battle for them, and they followed the instruction to go out against them believing that it would be just as God had promised them. The king encouraged the people to believe in the Lord their God and spoke in faith, himself believing the promises of God would be fulfilled.

Keep worshiping God in the battle! And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)

The people had rose early and believed God, yet even still in a further display of trust in God’s promise and adoration of Him, king Jehoshaphat appointed worship leaders to go before the army, singing and praising God in thanksgiving of what He was about to do for them. Even further on in this chapter we read the details of the LORD working on their behalf and the victory He gave them over their enemies.

What Are You Facing? What battles are you currently facing? Are there many sources from which the battle is coming at you? Are you finding yourself in times of fear thinking about what possibly lay ahead in these battles? Set your face to seek the LORD! God will draw near to you as you draw near to Him. You may not know what to do, but keep your eyes on Him, not being anxious but lifting everything up to Him in prayer with thanksgiving.

When you receive a gift, do you thank the person who gave it to you? Similarly, when God does respond to you, respond to Him in worship, and don’t be afraid to fully surrender yourself to unabandoned worship with a loud voice lifted to your God.

Do you need to know the details of God’s plan to have faith that He will work all things for your good? God may or may not decide to fight the entire battle for you, but whatever He tells you to do, do in faith, trusting that our faithful God will keep His promises to you.

Do you tend to go into circumstances you feel is bad with your battle gear on first? Instead of going in facing it as a soldier in an army, first face it as a worshiper. Instead of going into that meeting or conversation with proverbial guns ready, go into it with a song of praise as you trust the God who is walking before you in it.

My friend, if God is for you, who can be against you? Whatever battle you find yourself facing, set your face to seek the LORD and worship Him today!

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He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

In this section of Romans 8, it is a focus on God’s love for us: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

When Jesus died on the cross, He not only bridged the gap between sinful mankind and God in a way that would allow us to come to God, but it also made us children of God and co-heirs with Christ. Being a child comes with privileges in which we receive good things from our Heavenly Father, which starts with Jesus as our salvation, being sealed with the Holy Spirit, but it doesn’t end there.

An Example of Love When we look at the example of a father and child and the love the father has for his child, it would be odd if that father would die to save his child yet not provide their needs, such as food and clothes. In the same sense, the ultimate display of God’s love came in the form of sacrificing Jesus to atone for our sins, and Romans 8:32 brings front and center that if God didn’t spare Jesus, then He won’t spare graciously giving us other things. He knows our every need and will meet them. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

“What can the Lord deny us after giving us Jesus?…for if there had been a limit anywhere, He would have kept back His own Son.” (Charles Spurgeon)

What About You? What needs do you have today? Have you asked your Heavenly Father to provide for them yet?

God doesn’t look at your needs as too big or too small. He sees you as His precious child whom He desires to care and provide for. We have been blessed in Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in accordance with our inheritance as children of God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:3-4)

There is no need to be timid when it comes to your Heavenly Father. He created you, He knows your every thought and need and desire, and He is your present help in time of need.

I encourage you to take every need you have to the LORD in prayer today, the next, and fervently continuing as you wait for Him to answer. You can fully trust that your Abba who did not spare Jesus but gave Him up for your sins, will also graciously supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. (Hosea 14:8)

As the prophet Hosea wrote this, the nation of Israel was in a state of disobedience to God. They had once again gone after idols, forsaking the one and only true God. As God speaks directly to the tribe of Ephraim, pointing out that He is not like the idols, He is alive, responding and looking after His people, He then uses a simile that can get easily overlooked: “I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.”

The Mediterranean evergreen cypress trees are an incredibly interesting tree species.

They grow in hilly or mountain areas
They are extremely drought tolerant
They are impervious to long, hot summers
They can live for thousands of years
They are practically fireproof – able to withstand days of burning wildfire without being burned up
While they don’t have edible fruit, the fruit is technically the seeds which are held in cones and aren’t released until the parent dies – in which they develop in bare, burnt ground.

Like an Evergreen Cypress Our God, who had gone before us in all things, likens Himself to an evergreen cypress and in which our fruit comes from Him. He is our stronghold, our tower, that we can be safe within, and while we will go through trials by fire, we will not be burned. There may be seasons of drought, feeling parched in a spiritual wilderness but we will continue to grow steadily in Christ, and it was through the death of Him that the gospel seed is able to go out into all the world.

We are one with God as we abide in Him, and if we are to take part in glory one day, we also take part in His suffering (Philippians 3:10). But “as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)

Our God is like an evergreen cypress, and from Him comes our fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is love and God is love; and it was the demonstration of His love for us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:8; Romans 5:8).

What Have I to do with Idols? When we contemplate all this, it’s hard to think of ever having any idols in life, because our God is incredible – He’s faithful, just, merciful, gracious, loving, long-suffering – and yet, how easily like Israel do we “forget” Him and heap up things to make as a great importance in our lives.

The idols of the ancient days were things made with hands, consumable by fire. But our God likens Himself to an evergreen cypress in which fire doesn’t burn up and destroy, the fire instead provides the perfect environment for the seed to germinate and grow. We serve the God who has joined us to Himself by His Spirit and who tries us by fire, not to consume us but to help us grow; and the fruit comes from Him. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Have you heaped up modern day idols in your life? Allow any conviction by God to spur you into action and purge them from your midst. It’s far better to be refined by fire than be baptized by fire.

Have you been searching for answers, purpose, meaning? It is God who answers and looks after you. Seek His face and read His word today.

Are you in a fiery trial? Be found in God who, like an evergreen cypress, withstands even the hottest fires and provides growth in them.

I’ll leave you with these encouraging verses:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2-3)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Just as our God likens Himself to an evergreen cypress, so you can be, like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season.

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Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2-3)

If you’ve been a Christian and gone through trials, you’ve probably been quoted this verse before. Most of the time the focus is on counting it joy when you meet trials, but today let’s focus on the second half of the verse and the reason in which we can count it all joy.

“for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:3) That word for “produce” means to work fully and to accomplish; and the word for “steadfastness” means a cheerful or hopeful endurance and patience. When we go through trials, it’s testing and refining our faith to accomplish an endurance in us.

Why is steadfastness anything worth producing through the testing of our faith? James 1:4 and James 1:12 tells us this clearly:

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

With every trial that you face, there is a beautiful refinement going on in you. When the steadfastness that is being produced in you has its full effect, you will be perfect, complete, and not lacking in anything. The reason the one who remains steadfast is blessed is because in the end, it’s the steadfast ones who love God who will receive the crown of life.

In Revelation 2, the letter to the church in Smyrna, the only church in Revelation who did not receive a rebuke, it says,

“I know your tribulation…Do not fear what you are about to suffer…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:9a,10a,11)

The end goal is not steadfastness itself, it’s the full effect, the completion of our faith in Christ Jesus, and the crown of life that awaits the faithful.

The trials that you’re facing right now have a purpose and are working something beautiful in you. Even if it is something that began from evil and was inflicted upon you, God is using it for your good, and as the Author of your faith, He will bring it to completion.

The refining fire hurts as it burns away impurities in us and softens us to a place of being shaped by our Maker, but it’s working its way to a full effect in you. That day when you take your last breath here on earth and you open your eyes to see Jesus, the steadfastness, that hopeful endurance that was produced in your trials will in no way put you to shame (Romans 5:1-5). On the contrary, you will receive the crown of life which God promises you.

All the pain, the tears, the sleepless nights, the bad memories, the times of weariness, it will all have been worth it all, because Jesus is worth it all.

As you face today and the days to come, I encourage you to put on the lens of remembrance that your endurance through your trials is not meaningless, it has purpose for eternity to come. That, my friend, is reason to count it all joy today.

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Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

As Jesus saw the crowds and sat down to teach them, He speaks this profound sequence of blessings upon types of people and what is theirs, they shall be, they shall inherit, and in this one verse, what they shall receive.

On initial reading, this may seem like a pretty straight forward thing – be merciful and receive mercy – yet when we take a closer look, the implications are much deeper.

When it says, “Blessed are the merciful”, that word for merciful is only used 2 times in the New Testament. The other verse it’s found in is Hebrews:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a MERCIFUL and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17, emphasis added)

This word, “merciful”, is an adjective meaning to be compassionate. Its root word is from the verb that we see as “mercy” in this beatitude, and implies helping one who is afflicted.

Jesus had to be made in the lower state of us humans for a little while, so that in what He experienced as a man would produce the effect of becoming a help to us who are afflicted and forever be a faithful high priest. His faithfulness as a high priest was foundationally His blood sacrifice for the atonement of our sins, but His faithfulness continues as He lives to intercede for us and as a help in our afflictions.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:18-19)

The mercy of God goes far beyond salvation alone, and it extends to our everyday lives. We are like sheep, getting ourselves into trouble on a regular basis and constantly being hunted by the predator that is the enemy; and here Jesus tells us that we can receive his help in our time of affliction by being merciful – showing compassion.

The thing is, we in ourselves cannot be compassionate and described as merciful. We are fallen human beings, and it’s actually the opposite when left to our human nature. The compassion that we show to others must be what we’ve received from God first.

Now this isn’t an oxymoronic circular idea that we need mercy in order to be merciful so that we then would receive mercy. This is not at all a salvation issue, it’s a lifestyle issue. If we are communing with God, we will be more like Him, and in turn be merciful towards others. In being merciful towards others, we’ll be blessed with the compassionate help in our afflictions by our faithful high priest and Savior.

Is there someone in your life that you could be merciful towards? It can be hard, especially in a cultural environment where everyone tends to put their best foot forward and hides any part of them that could be considered a flaw or looked at negatively. But around you, there are hurting people. People you work with, people you pass at the grocery store or walking to your car, the people you live next to… Everyone is dealing with something, and everyone needs compassion.

Have you ever heard the saying, “If a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs, the one who barks the loudest is the one that got hit”? The same rings true with people, except that “rock” may just be a basic circumstance of life; but to a person who felt “hit” by it, it’s overwhelming and they “bark” loudly. There are a lot of hurting people all around you, you are likely even one of them, and yet many times we look at others with a filter as if there is no possible explanation for why they are acting in a way that we have perceived as poor. If you could see how things affected others by seeing them as literal stones being thrown at the person, wouldn’t you have compassion on them?

Do you need to know other people’s problems to be merciful towards them? Or can you simply be merciful because Jesus has said that if you’re merciful, you’ll be blessed and receive His mercy?

As you go about your days and someone cuts you off during traffic, says something you feel is rude, or any other thing that causes you to put up a guard and get your feathers ruffled; I encourage you to take a deep breath, remember how your merciful and faithful high priest responds, and mimic Him in action.

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Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. John 4:1-4

As this chapter in John continues, we read that Jesus came to Samaria, wearied from the journey in the heat of the day, and he sat down by the well in which He meets a Samaritan woman. Most people know this account pretty well – Jesus has a conversation with her, speaking prophetically when saying she had five husbands and the man she was currently with was not her husband, and ultimately revealing directly to her that He was the Messiah.

Yet it’s even before this account with the woman, that we get to see something amazing. The Jews and Samaritans were not exactly friendly with one another and would avoid taking roads in which interactions would happen. As Jesus was leaving Judea and heading towards Galilee, the common road used by Jews passing this direction would have taken Him around Samaria, not through it. But we read, “And he had to pass through Samaria.” It wasn’t a geographical requirement to pass through, but it was a spiritual one. Jesus was told by His Father to go through Samaria, therefore He HAD TO.

Yes, the journey was tiring as we read that Jesus was wearied from His journey as he sat by the well, but the outcome of His obedience was lifechanging to this woman and He changed the lives of countless others that she later shares her testimony with.

This poor woman, had become an utter outcast, coming to the well during the midday heat instead of with the other women in the morning, and had been abused by men. In those days, women weren’t allowed to divorce their husbands, only husbands were allowed to give a certificate of divorce, and she had been cast out by 5 husbands, now living in sin with another man.

Jesus was led with precision. Jesus was led to that precise place, at that precise time, for precisely that woman. He was brought near to a woman whose spirit was crushed and heart was broken, not in condemnation, but in kindness, love, and bearing good news.

She was changed by hearing His words, repentant brought on by His kindness, and she became a missionary in her hometown. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. (John 4:39-41) What if Jesus had not listened to the prompting to pass through Samaria? What if He had not taken that word from the Father with such strong conviction and instead passed on the road most commonly taken instead?

What about you? Do you hear the Spirit’s voice prompting you throughout the day? Do you feel a strong conviction to listen to Him, even if that means taking a path that may be uncomfortable or may ruin your reputation in this world?

My friend, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7), and while you may second guess when the Spirit prompts you to say or do something, don’t let fear have its way. Look at the people around you and be reminded of the love God has for them, and the love you too should have for them. Take up that shield of faith, walking by faith, and set your conviction to do as the Lord has told you. You never know who you may encounter and the lives that may be changed because of simply following where the Spirit leads you and what He has you say.

The Pursuit Continues. When Adam and Eve first sinned and they hid themselves from God, how did God respond? But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) God pursued them. Ever since that first sin was committed, God has continued to pursue us with the goal and mission of reconciliation unto Himself.

Do you remember your days before Christ, when God was pursuing your heart? Do you recall the people He used in your life during that process? How differently it would have been had they not been obedient to the Spirit’s prompt to go to you.

When Jesus met that woman, He told her the Father was seeking those who would worship in spirit and in truth, and that He was the Messiah in which that would be possible to do. Now that He has ascended and is preparing a place for us, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

If you are seeking to be a good and faithful ambassador for Christ, you MUST go where His Spirit takes you. If you’re open to be a vessel in which God can completely guide and direct…Oh, the places you’ll go, the people you’ll meet, and the opportunities you’ll have to serve and give glory to God! As you take time to be still before God, ask, “Father, where do I have to go today?”

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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 8-9,11b)

As we approached the beginning of 2022, there was talk spread over social circles about whether this would be the year our normal life would be returning. I’ll admit I’ve wondered this as well, but why are we as humans so quick to hope for our “normal” to return to us? There is something comfortable about what we feel is normal to us, isn’t there? But with that comfort, complacency is often an all too familiar companion.

Now, I don’t know if the world will ever return to what most people think of as “normal”, but I do know that Jesus is returning and His moment of return is closer than ever. As Christians, we don’t need to nor should we be looking for the comforts of “normal life” because we’re merely sojourners in this foreign land, and we should be busy about our master’s business while we await His return for us.

We have the Holy Spirit and Jesus told us plainly that we are to be His witnesses all the way to the end of the earth. Soldiers don’t bother with civilian issues, and neither should we as soldiers in God’s army, concern ourselves with when “normal life” will return to society as we know it. Whether normal life as we knew it does or doesn’t return, our mission remains the same – be Jesus’ witnesses, making disciples and bringing God glory in all that we do.

My friend, will you purpose in your heart to keep your eyes looking forward at Jesus, your feet walking forward in the good works God has prepared for you, fighting the good fight armed with the full armor of God, and loving people by sharing the good news of the gospel in truth and love?

At the coming of Jesus, may all you do be found to be gold, silver, and precious stones when tried by fire, and may you hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them… Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:8-9,15

Every January brings about a new year in our recording of time, but it also tends to bring a feeling of hope and excitement as we start a new and fresh year. Some make resolutions or have new goals to work towards, others carry on from the past year hoping to do better than the year before.

Yet in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a new year, continues to sit enthroned in heaven above the God who does not change. Jesus is the same always, and with the Father there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We are warned not to be led astray by diverse and strange teachings, while living in a world that celebrates and elevates diversity and itching ear teachings that stray from the teachings of the Bible. We are told it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them, while living in a world with endless television shows dedicated to food and with social media influencers obsessed with various diets, swearing they will give you what you’re looking for in your own body if you’d just devote daily effort to follow them.

What if instead of making resolutions that affect your emotions and physical appearance, you resolved to daily growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever? What if you resolved to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, acknowledging Him in all your ways and letting Him direct your paths? What if you faced 2022 with a refreshed and renewed perspective that is aligned with the end times we currently live in, moving forward in the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, seeking His kingdom first? What changes would you need to make to devote yourself to those goals?

I want to challenge you to 3 things this year: 1.) Read your Bible every day. It doesn’t have to be whole chapters in a sitting. Read until God speaks to you and then meditate on that with Him, letting Him transform you by the renewal of your mind as He washes you in the water of His living and active Word.

2.) Pray throughout your day. Make it a habit to talk to God, your Creator and Savior, and make Him your best friend that you turn to talk to first. If you’re happy, tell Him about it. If you’re sad, pour out your broken heart to Him. If you’re mad, take it to the One whom vengeance belongs to. If you’re worried or fearful, cast your cares upon Him. When you’re lost or confused, seek wisdom and guidance from Him. When you hear of prayer requests for others, fervently intercede for them. If you find provision, beauty, humor, favor, anything good, thank and praise Him for it. Pray without ceasing.

3.) Make it a point to bless at least one person every day. It’s amazing what the Holy Spirit would use you to do if you’d only slow down enough to see the opportunity open. As you’re in prayer throughout the day, having gotten refreshed in the word, keep your eyes open for those around you whom the Holy Spirit would have you speak to, call or text, provide a need for, pray for, be used in whatever way He wills. You may start with one person a day now, but I bet it’ll turn into many more by the end of the year and you’ll be blessed in being used to bless others. God loves people, so love them too.

May your heart be strengthened by grace this year as you grow closer to your God, who has not changed once since you began walking with Him and will stay the same forever!

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“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

As we are about to exit the year 2021 and enter a new year, the Lord has been reminding me of this verse frequently. There have been so many things in the past that have caused hurt, heartache, and lasting effects, but they don’t get to have a place in my remembrance or consideration unless I allow them. Things of the mind and heart can feel very overwhelming at times, but God gives His way of escape and beckons to bring thoughts captive to Jesus.

When we seek God’s forgiveness for our iniquity and transgressions against Him, we can know they are finished, done, and dealt with. He casts them as far as the east is from the west and He CHOOSES not to remember them, so neither should we. The harder part is when there are sins committed against us and the transgressor doesn’t seek our forgiveness. These things can wreak havoc in our mind as we assume motivations and try to find a scenario in our own minds that we deem the most acceptable to us. The thing is, we can’t ever find peace and rest when we’re assuming such things, and we certainly aren’t taking our thoughts captive to Jesus in those times.

Regardless of what the other person’s motives were or whether they even sought forgiveness through Jesus, Jesus has already taken care of it for YOU. There is always hope and healing found in Jesus, no matter what takes place here on earth.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

Jesus didn’t die only for the sins of those who would accept Him as their Savior, He became sin and took the punishment for all of it. Yes, we as people must accept His gift and righteousness in order to not pay that penalty ourselves, accepting Him as our Savior, but it is offered to all because He already paid for it all. That includes the sins done to us. This is how we can have healing in Him regardless of whether the transgressor seeks our forgiveness. We can forgive them without being asked, and we should, and let the Lord deal with them on His own.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

When we give everything over to Him, every thought, every emotion, we are letting Him take our burdens and baggage and hurts that He already paid for. There is no need to hold onto it. It would be like going on an airplane and having your ticket include a carry-on bag in the overhead compartment, but you insist on holding it in your lap the whole flight. Sure, you’ll still get to your destination, but you’ll be burdened the whole way when it isn’t necessary and that’s not God’s desire for you.

Jesus desires to walk with us, taking our burdens from us and teaching us to walk yoked to Him, which gives us rest for our souls.

Isaiah tells us not to remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. The word for “remember” means to call to mind, be mindful of, and keep in remembrance, with implied regret; and the word for “consider” means to mentally separate, distinguish, and give attention to. The word for “the former things” means the past in time, the things at first; and the word for “things of old” means ancient things.

While in our lives here on earth, our past years, maybe a handful of years or maybe decades ago, may seem like the not too distant past, God views the past of His redeemed as ancient, and the former things in them to not worth remembering or considering because He has covered them all. Of course, thoughts may pop into your mind, whether of your own thinking or by attacks of the devil, but you have to choose to not entertain them and to instead take them captive to Christ. What God has covered up, don’t dig up.

We know the apostle Paul’s past, and yet we get to see how he too had to leave his past behind and move forward with his eyes on God. “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

A word the Lord gave me that I’ll share again with you is, He has cleansed your past, He holds your future, and He’s refining you in the present. God never meant for us to feel shame, that only came with the fall of mankind. Don’t let your sin, or anyone else’s sin against you, keep you from the forgiveness and abundant life God desires for you. He has good plans for you, but in order to press on towards that goal you must remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

I encourage you to take those thoughts captive to Christ and press forward into this new year with that in mind.

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And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b)

Behold, I am coming soon. (Revelation 22:7,12,20)

As we celebrate the coming of Jesus, as a tiny babe in the manger, I can’t help but look forward to the work He did on the cross and to the end when Jesus will come back. After He had died and rose again and was getting ready to ascend into heaven, He told His disciples to make disciples and that He will be with us always. When giving John the revelation of Himself in the end prophecies found in the book of Revelation, He says three times in the last chapter of the Bible, chapter 22, that He is coming soon.

In both accounts, Jesus used this world behold, and in the Greek is a term that is used to vivaciously draw attention to what is about to be said. In both instances, Jesus is enthusiastically drawing attention to the fact that He will always be with us and that He is coming soon. This should excite the followers of Jesus, who cry, “Come Lord, Jesus!” and patiently yet eagerly await His next coming.

When Mary was giving birth and Joseph placed Jesus on her chest, I can only imagine the thoughts that raced through her mind, thoughts of love for her child and thoughts of what the angel had told her about Him. She believed that the little boy’s face she was beholding was the Son of God. She no doubt had fears creep up, but I bet whenever she stopped and looked at her dear son, it melted away and the remembrance of the promise of Who He was brought a peace over her. It’s no wonder she seemed to be eager to have Jesus face the issue of running out of wine at the wedding in Cana. She knew Who He was and she went to Him with problems.

After Jesus had ascended and the disciples were starting to be persecuted by the Jewish authorities, it says when the authorities “saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) Now this was after Jesus had ascended, yet they had been with Him nonetheless, and we know that was through the unity of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. The key thing here is that they were with Jesus and they did not fear.

He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Jesus, during His time here on earth, spent time in prayer with the Father often, and He never feared men even knowing what they would eventually do to Him. He had a fear and reverence for the Father that emboldened Him to walk in the will of Him Who sent Him.

We too, as we remember baby Jesus born in stable and laying in a manger, need to behold the face of God afresh daily, letting His perfect love cast out all fear, having the wisdom to seek Jesus daily, and gaining a great boldness to share the good news of the gospel with all the people we meet. It’s hard to think, in the midst of a cheery Christmas season, that persecution will come, but it was on that day in which Jesus was born that the Father had in His mind the purpose of why He had sent His Son. He had sent Him to die. He sent Him knowing the hardships He would face, the persecution He would face, and the death on the cross He would face, and the resulting peace He would give in reconciling us by His sacrificial blood.

Regardless of what you are facing or will face, if you put into practice to behold the face of your God, you will never fear the face of man. Be encouraged, Jesus is with you always and He is coming soon!

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In looking over the different people involved in the birth account of Jesus, do you see a theme?

Mary and Joseph were the first to know and they trusted in the message from God that the angels told them, both with pregnancy and in fleeing to Egypt. (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Matthew 2:13-15)
The shepherds heard the message from God as the host of angels proclaimed to them in the field and they trusted that it truly meant ALL people as they walked to find Jesus. (Luke 2:8-20)
The wisemen saw the star and trusted the prophecies God had given through His prophets of old that they took up the long journey to seek after Jesus. (Matthew 2:1-12)
Simeon, who was at the temple when Jesus was presented during the time of purification, trusted that the message the Holy Spirit gave him about not seeing death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ would come about, and it did. (Luke 2:22-35)

They all trusted the message God gave them. They trusted God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

We are told to trust God with all our hearts, and Jesus told us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37)

Now trust often doesn’t come easily to many people. In most cases, I hear it said that trust is not given, it’s earned. Even putting aside the fact that God has proven His trustworthiness since before the foundation of the world, the reason we can and should trust Him stems from our love for Him. If we are following the first commandment and loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, then we will naturally trust Him. As we exercise our faith more and more, that trust becomes so strong, the world would call it blind trust. That “blind trust” is what I call a fruit of following the first commandment and greatest commandment, and it is pleasing to God.

Think over the times in your past when God has shown you His faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, provision, long-suffering, and goodness. There has never been a time in your life that God has failed you, and He won’t in your future either. He has cleansed your past, He holds your future, and He’s refining you in the present.

What are you facing in the present?

Can you relate to Mary and Joseph, facing an impossible and uncomfortable circumstance of birthing a child in a stable and having to flee a murderous king?
Can you relate to being outcasts like the shepherds and feeling alone and unaccepted?
Can you relate to the wisemen facing a long unknown journey following a sign from God?
Can you relate to Simeon, waiting for a promise from God that may be taking longer than you expected or hoped for?

Your story may be similar or different, but God sees you through it, He is with you every. single. step of the way, and He is worthy of your unconditional love and trust.

God loved you first, He reconciled you to Himself, and He is with you always. Every day, purpose your heart to wholly love Him and trust Him.

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Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (Matthew 2:1-4)

In the days when Jesus was born, there were wise men who came to see Him. Now, these wise men are often portrayed as king like people in films on the birth of Jesus, but these men, who are actually named as magi in the Greek, were more like the scientists, pagan priests, and seers of that day; much like the group of men we see Daniel grouped in with when he was taken captive to Babylon and found to have “wisdom like that of the gods” (Daniel 5:11). These particular magi appear to be of the Oriental scientific sect, having studied the stars of the sky and having knowledge of the prophecies from Israel on the coming Christ.

In this section of Scripture we see a stark contrast between these wise men and the foolish king Herod. The wise men searched for truth, finding the prophecies, such as the fact that there would be sign of a star with the coming of Christ as prophesied in Numbers 24:17; or the prophecies of the coming birth and details surrounding it as found in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, and Micah 5:2-5. Yet on the other hand, when brought to the attention of Herod the king that a king of the Jews had been born, Herod fully understood the meaning to be that this child was the Messiah when he assembled his own people to inquire of them about where the Christ was to be born. Instead of being filled with excitement, awe, and wonder at the fulfilling of this prophecy the way the shepherds had been upon first hearing the good news, his pride and selfish ambitions made him to act foolishly, deceitfully, and eventually destructively. The wise men were driven by the Scriptures, and Herod was driven by a snare of the devil, who seeks only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

In these last days of the present darkness, we need now more than ever to have wisdom to seek after Jesus. We have even more than the wise men had in their day. They had copies of parchments and their eyes to the sky, charting patterns and trying to interpret meanings. We have a complete cannon of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit who dwells within those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

These wise men had wealth to be able to gain education in their field, had the means to travel so far, and had the means to offer such pricey gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus upon their arrival. They came to see and serve Jesus Christ, but they never would have gotten to serve Him if they hadn’t followed His star.

John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” This verse is seen in the wise men and their decision to follow the star to Jesus in order to serve Him, and the Father honored their service with recognition and preservation of it in His Word.

There is a difference between those who believe and those who follow. Herod believed the Scriptures that the prophecies of the Christ were true, otherwise he wouldn’t have killed all those babies in attempt to prevent what he thought was a threat to his rule. But he didn’t follow the Christ. Instead, he tried to destroy Him because in his pride he wouldn’t allow even the Christ, Messiah to rule over him. As a follower of Jesus, we not only accept Him as Savior from penalty of our sin, but we must accept Him as Lord of our life, fully surrendering our own will to follow His and serve Him in it. That is our reasonable service and worship to Him.

Where are you at in your level of surrender to Jesus? Are there things in your life that you’ve yet to let go of, truly letting all grip and control go and be replaced with following Jesus at all costs? Is there anything you wouldn’t give up to follow Jesus, even unto death? Are there things, even in serving in ministry, that you could have too firm a grip on? I want to encourage you to think on all the things in your life, examine your own heart, and invite God to search your heart and lovingly and kindly point out areas that you may still need to surrender to Him. Things not surrendered to God are the things that weigh you down. God wants to free you from these so you can live an abundant life in Him.

Serving Jesus shouldn’t be a chore, a burden, or a thing to be controlled; it should be a joy, a pleasure, an adventure, and a lifestyle as you follow Him and are empowered by Him. I’ll leave you with this quote by Spurgeon:

“If I want to be Christ’s servant, I must be His follower.” (Charles Spurgeon)

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In India’s history, there was a time in which their society was made up of castes, or social classes. There became four primary castes and the people in them would identify strongly with their caste, shunning people in any other caste. Even still, the lowest were the people who didn’t belong to any caste. These people were the outcasts.

In the time of Jesus’ birth, shepherds were the outcasts of society. They were the lowest of the low, spending their time with smelly sheep day in and day out, and yet it was to the shepherds that God chose to make known the good news of Jesus’ birth to first.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:10-11, 15)

Can you imagine being an outcast and having a whole host of angels appear telling you that they have good news of the Messiah who would be for ALL people? The feeling of rejection by people, to inclusion by God. The feeling of being kept in the dark by people, to an appearing of great light and a life-changing message from God. The feeling of loneliness among people, to the offering of friendship with God.

The thing is, whether we have a whole host of friends or not, we are all outcasts. Our sin separates us from God and Jesus Messiah is the only one by whom we can be reconciled. It doesn’t matter if you have been a follower of Jesus for many years, you still sin and that sin still separates you in your relationship with God. Regular confession and receiving His forgiveness is needed to maintain a close and intimate relationship with God; not unto repeated salvation, because Jesus’ work on the cross was enough, but unto a continual right standing relationship with Him, in which there is true freedom, a clean conscience, and a refining and sanctifying work being done.

The shepherds heard the good news, left everything, and walked to Jesus. They were changed by the message they heard enough to walk.

How is your walk with God? Are you in right standing with Him today? How long has it been since you confessed your sins to God, both the intentional and unintentional sins? Do you need to take time to confess and receive His forgiveness and walk in that refreshed and renewed way again? God longs for you, to have a relationship that is kept pure from sin, and He is always ready and willing to give you the gift of forgiveness again and again you when you confess your sins to Him, because He is faithful and just.

Further on in Luke 2, after the shepherds had come to and seen Jesus, they “made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:18,20) This may seem simple and natural for the shepherds to tell others what they had heard and seen, it was a whole host of angles with a message from God after all. But this act by the shepherds can be so convicting at times. We have the gift of God’s redemption of our souls, but when was the last time you told anyone about it?

Based on the actions of people who perceive themselves to be outcasts in any given society or culture, they tend to try to stay under the radar, not be in the spotlight to highlight their lower standing of humility. But these shepherds were changed, therefore they shared regardless of what others would think of them. Jesus didn’t think of his societal standing when He hung from the cross being numbered among the transgressors. He thought of you. So why then would we ever hide our faith, our testimony, our God? As a Christian, you may be outcasts in our current culture, but in God’s kingdom, you’re His child.

I encourage you today to learn from the example of these shepherds whom the Lord made known His good news to first. Take time to confess your sins to your Heavenly Abba and receive His forgiveness. Walk as His child, talk as His child, and share the good news you’ve received as His child. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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Out of anguish of his soul he shall see light and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the numerous, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11-12

I know usually the bible verses you see around Thanksgiving involve giving thanks, but as I sat thinking over giving thanks, I was met with the question, “What do we give thanks for?”

Most commonly, our responses are for things that we see in the temporal world around us, which is not bad at all and we should be thankful for those things, but how often do we stop and consider the most important thing we could ever give thanks for? Without Jesus as our salvation, would we love and be thankful for others around us? Without Jesus as our salvation, would life be as beautiful and sacred to us as it is? Without Jesus as our salvation, would there be meaning in life and a desire to live a holy and blameless life? The truth is, nothing in the world has true value to be thankful for without Jesus because apart from Jesus we cannot have love, truth, life, or hope.

For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, the message of the cross and our salvation can sometimes seem to become so familiar that it can lose the awe-inspiring effect on us that it did when we first believed. Yet this is not due to salvation being any less amazing; it truly is the greatest gift to the poor, wretched mankind that we are, given from the creator of the universe. So why does the gospel sometimes seem to lose its wonder? It’s because we don’t soak it up repeatedly in order to be thankful for it as we should.

This prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah is one that helps us become more brutally aware and acknowledge the pain, suffering, anguish, and separation that Jesus went through in order that we can have the access to the Father, communion and unity with the Trinity, and the hope of glory to come. His gift of salvation to us was so extremely costly and He had to give up all of Himself in order to pay for it. We can never understand from experience just how heavy of a price that it. Even the most costly gift you’ve given has not come close to bankrupting you financially, and certainly not required your blood shed to give.

Yet Jesus died so willingly because you are His joy and reward that His sacrifice yielded.

When we come face to face with the sacrifice of Jesus, truly letting it sink in from our minds, deep down into our hearts time and time again, being broken by our sin; it is then that genuine thanksgiving to God will spring forth.

These times and seasons in life are hard on many. Physical, mental, emotional struggles that are so often way too much to bear on our own. Your flesh is weak and will inevitably fail, BUT GOD is with you! Just as Isaiah 53 makes mention that God would divide Jesus a portion with the many, Jesus is your portion.

In the early days of the Israelites, the tribes were apportioned lots of inheritance among the land God gave them, but the Levites (the lineage of priests to serve God in the tabernacle/temple) weren’t given a portion or land inheritance, they were given the LORD as their portion (Deuteronomy 10:9). It says in 1 Peter 3:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, for a people his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” We, as a royal priesthood, have been shown a great mercy in being given the LORD as our portion.

My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

In addition to this beautiful portion you’ve been given in Jesus Himself, you also have Jesus praying for you always.

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:22-25)

He knows your needs, can sympathize with them, and prays over you in intercession. That also is a daily and continuous gift to be thankful for!

This Thanksgiving, before you get up to make and serve portions of food, I pray you start your day, in remembrance of the ultimate gift of salvation, from which all other things to be thankful for stem from, and that you take time to tell God your heartfelt thanks for the beautiful portion you have in Him.

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Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

God calls us individually to do different things in life, but there are also things He calls ALL His followers to, and this verse tells us three things He expects His children to do.

REJOICE IN HOPE When we look at the three things mentioned in this one little verse, it is interesting that the first thing mentioned is rejoicing in hope, since the other two things are a bit weightier. Isn’t this just like God though, to encourage our hearts first to be exceedingly glad and cheerful in the living hope, that confidence that we have in Him? This kind of rejoicing is one that will only be found in God because the while the world can offer us momentary happiness sometimes, we can only have true joy and rejoicing from the God of our salvation.

As the people of Israel in the days of Nehemiah had gathered and heard as the Law of God was read aloud and explained to the people, the people wept as they heard. And Nehemiah said to them, “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) And the people’s response was that they all “went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:12)

What a beautiful picture that they were stirred to such emotion at hearing the words of the LORD, and yet it was the joy of the LORD being their strength that they were able to make great rejoicing as they carried on in the rest of their day.

BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATION This is one that I think we all understand in our minds as we read it, but our hearts and emotions can get overwhelmed and we desire for the tribulation, pain, and suffering to leave quickly. The word for “patient” in the Greek means to remain, tarry behind, and persevere and endure. This is the same word used in Hebrews 12 as it talks about Jesus enduring the cross, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Our rejoicing in hope flows over into our patience in tribulation. James tells us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) Being patient through the tribulation will eventually yield its fruit as we’re being refined through it. God has His purpose for the things you’re face in your life, and He is working all things for your spiritual good. That in itself is reason to rejoice, and yet we also have the hope of glory in Him, which is soon fast approaching in these end times.

BE CONSTANT IN PRAYER Prayer is a multifaceted thing in life. It is a loving conversation, cry out for help, plea on behalf of others, and a means of constant connection to God, as well as a spiritual weapon. The word for “constant” in the Greek means to be earnest towards, to be attend to with great care and perseverance, and to attend or give oneself to continually. God intends prayer to be a constant thing in your life, calling you to humility and thanksgiving in it, and He chooses to work powerfully through it.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” (1 Peter 3:12)

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b)

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:16-18)

Our greatest example, Jesus Himself, embodied this Romans 12 verse for us as it describes in Hebrews 5, “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:7-8)

Jesus rejoiced in hope, knowing the Father was able to save him from death and would raise Him as prophesied about Him.

Jesus was patient in tribulation, being sought around the region throughout His earthly ministry as He did the will of His Father, all to eventually face the cross, and He learned obedience through what He suffered.

Jesus was constant in prayer, being so fervent that while praying earnestly in the Garden of Gethsemane “his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44) And even now, while sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus always lives to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)

God does not call you to do anything He did not do Himself. Jesus is your hope, joy, intercessor, and mediator.

My dear friend, today I hope you take the time to rejoice in hope, be patient through the tribulation you’re going through right now, and be in constant prayer for all.

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You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

When looking at the world and the chaos going on around us, it can be hard to stop and have peace. On first read through of this verse, it may appear that we have to strive to be in God’s perfect peace. Yet God Himself, our Prince of Peace, makes us a conditional promise that HE WILL keep us in perfect peace IF we stay our mind on Him. And if you really stop to analyze this verse, it’s the fact that we trust in God that we’ll stay on mind on Him, in which God then does all the work of keeping us in perfect peace.

We don’t need to strive to be in God’s peace, He offers it freely and keeps those who trust in and stay focused on Him in that perfect peace.

Are there things you’ve been striving in lately? Things that, even while they may be for the Lord, you’re relying on your own power or might? Let’s look back to the beginning in Genesis when God created man and woman, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28)

God created them, He blessed them, and then told them the work He had prepared for them to do. Mind you, that was a lot of work He had just laid out, to multiply or basically make babies and raise them, and subdue the earth and have dominion over all the living things. BUT GOD blessed them first! He didn’t tell them to do all this work and then say that they’d be blessed in doing it. While yes, we do often find sweet blessings in doing the work the Lord has called us to do, it’s from God’s blessing that we will be productive. If we strive for a blessing by what we do, we’re putting the cart before the horse, and we aren’t going to have peace because we won’t have our mind stayed on God in the process. Not to mention how the action of striving in our strength quite literally proves our trust is not resting in God.

With the hustle and bustle of life, it can be extremely difficult to stop, listen, and just sit at the feet of God, but it’s made very clear in Psalm 46:10 that the proper order is to be still and know God, and what follows that is God’s exaltation among the nations and in the earth. We receive the blessings from God as we sit still before Him, and He will be exalted through the works that flow from that. If we don’t follow the way God designed for us to, we’re going to run ragged operating in our own strength and render ourselves useless in Kingdom work. It’s important to know and understand that the hustle and bustle can very much so be spiritual warfare. The enemy will attempt to hurl anything your way to get your attention on anything else other than God, and if he can’t then he’ll attempt to pervert the very works God has prepared for you to walk in and turn them into striving.

Is there anything in your life right now that God designed to be a beautiful work unto Him that has been distorted into an act of striving? Really take a moment to stop and consider this because it’s a subtle way that can hinder us from entering His rest and taking advantage of that promise to be kept in perfect peace.

The world can only offer you so much peace, and nowadays, barely any if at all anymore. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding is there to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. God gives you His peace not like the world gives, because only the God of Peace can give and keep you in perfect peace.

Trust in God is at the very foundation of this promise. The only way to trust God is to grow in a relationship with Him. Trusting Him started on the very day of your salvation, when you confessed your sin and you trusted that He was indeed faithful and just to forgive you of your sins, redeeming you unto Himself, and that was only the beginning. The sweet things He has in store for you, as He calls you deeper and deeper into relationship with Him, is far more than you can even imagine. He wants to bless you, simply because He loves you and desires to lavish His blessings upon you, and He knows that one of those blessings is His perfect peace, which comes when you trust in Him and focus your mind on Him.

In Revelation 4, the description of the throne of God says, “From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder…and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.” (Revelation 4:5-6) I love this description because it gives the imagery of a perfectly still body of water that looks like glass. Not a ripple of disturbance about it, just completely calm and peaceful, despite the awesome wonder of lightning and thunder coming from the throne. God sits upon His heavenly throne, the very rumblings of His spoken word going forth, yet so perfectly in peace as before His throne is like a sea of glass.

Have you ever seen a lake similar to that, where it’s perfectly still and looks like glass? It almost looks like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the landscape near the body of water.

God is always at peace, and He offers that to us. And although now, while on earth, we see God as if looking through a dim mirror having to wait until we’re in heaven to see Him face to face, if we decide to take Him up on His promise, we’ll be in perfect peace, able to see God in the most clear way possible while on earth.

You don’t have to have your life put together or fit any other description, you only need to trust in God and allow that growing relationship to steer your mind to focus on Him, and He WILL keep you in perfect peace.

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So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees me,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” (Genesis 16:13)

As Hagar fled an abusive situation, she settled in the wilderness and I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through her mind as she thought through her past, tried to wrap her mind around what to do in her present, and the fear she must have felt over not knowing what on earth her future might hold. It wasn’t a great time to be a woman alone, since the culture would shun her and she faced possible further abuses depending on who would find her next. It was in that hour of need and hopelessness that she came to realize and understand that God saw her and was looking after her.

It’s completely natural and a human instinct, when in any kind of perceived danger, to respond with “fight or flight”. Our brains do this subconsciously and sometimes we fight with all our might, and other times we may freeze or run away, either physically or in our minds. But in those moments, God sees us and He’s there with us, and He wants us to know and remember that.

A little bit prior to this verse, we see that God found Hagar in the wilderness. God pursued her to comfort and look after her because He loved her. We don’t read anything about Hagar crying out to the Lord, but it says in verse 11, that the Lord listened to her affliction. He saw her and heard her heart’s cry, that while silent to human ears, befell the loving and kind ears of our Heavenly Father and He came and found her. There wasn’t anywhere she could have gone that God wouldn’t have pursued after her.

It doesn’t matter where you find yourself today, there isn’t any place in this universe that you can go that God won’t pursue you because He sees you and loves you!

So if like Hagar, you find yourself in a situation where you are literally or figuratively fleeing from a situation, being in a sort of wilderness and hopeless, remember that God sees you.

He created you, He loves you, He is pursuing you, and He will look after you.

You can trust Him.

He is always kind, He never changes, and He will never leave you. He will always be there to heal your hurt, mend your wounds, and restore your soul.

Just as Hagar came to the realization that God saw her and that He looked after her, calling Him El Roi, the God who sees me, I pray that you let that truth sink in today and walk in freedom with Him, knowing that God sees you!

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Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)

As Jesus taught this to His disciples, I can’t help but wonder if they were reminded of their living conditions as they traveled around without a bed to sleep in, gleaned wheat as they walked, and had only what they could carry with as they followed Jesus. I could imagine it would have been easy at times to feel hunger pangs and wonder if they’d reach a town soon to buy food, or to look at their sandals and clothes and wonder how long they would last with the continual journeying they were doing as they followed Jesus. Yet, Jesus told them not to be anxious and to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

What does seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness look like, and how can we be effective in doing it?

Jesus gave us the example in Himself as He lived here on earth, leading up to the cross. Now, I know that can sound a bit cliché and over simplified, and God doesn’t call all of us to live without house and home, traveling around for His Name’s sake, but He does with some. Would you be willing to do that?

Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness starts in the heart before its ever seen outwardly in action. God leads us through trials and tribulations to refine us and lead us in paths of righteousness, and when it has had its full effect, that refinement makes you shine for all to see His glory. The thing is, we can’t grow from these trials and tribulations, actually being refined in this process unless we’re abiding in Him while we’re going through it.

It’s a natural human reaction to be fearful and angry when trials come our way, to question it all, and to pull away from God as we try to work things out on our own. Yet that’s the very thing God is working to sift out of us through those trials. God is love (1 John 4:8) and perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18), and we know the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20). The answer to our peace from anxiety, faith over fear, and walking in righteousness is God Himself. Jesus is literally always the answer to everything we could ever face.

When you abide in Jesus, your problems will still be there, but they move from center focus to peripheral view – out of focus and moved to the side.
When you abide in Jesus, you’re seeking to be a faithful and fruitful servant to our Almighty God, allowing the Holy Spirit to empower you to do good works.
When you abide in Jesus, you’re trusting that He is bigger than your problems and is refining you through the fire you’re passing through.
When you abide in Jesus, you may not have everything you want, but He takes care of your needs.
When you abide in Jesus, you’re living an abundant life of freedom in Christ.
When you abide in Jesus, you are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

I don’t know what you’re facing right now, but I do know that if you abide in Jesus and seek first His kingdom and righteousness, you can have victory and walk in newness of life. Jesus Christ loves you!

Ponder this…the biggest obstacle you’d ever face in your life was how to reconcile with God after the huge chasm that your sin created. Yet Jesus Christ provided Himself as the sacrifice and He bridged that gap for you, allowing you to be reconciled to God. How much easier it is for God to handle whatever it is you’re facing today and provide for you through it. Trust Him, abide in Him, seek His kingdom and righteousness, and watch Him provide your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20)

I hope this song encourages you as you seek the kingdom of God first!

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As my husband leads us through 1 Samuel, it has been really interesting to read the Psalms that David wrote as they correlate to what he went through during the various season of his life. One Psalm in particular, that seemingly covers a broad spectrum of David’s understanding of the LORD and His intervention in his life, is in Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I love how this is a mix of exclamation and telling of our Good Shepherd, but also personalized as it switches to talking about God to talking to God, wrapping it up with an exclamatory promise of dwelling with the LORD forever, something that David had been cut off from, worshipping in the temple, when he was being chased by Saul.

The LORD is my Shepherd. This alone is a beautiful statement because it puts us in a place of being the sheep, wholly dependent upon our Shepherd for everything, even the most basic things to keep us alive. This whole chapter explains the details of what this means for us and what it looks like to be a sheep of the LORD, our Jehovah Raah.

Sheep are weak and helpless animals, and they require pretty constant attention and care, otherwise they will die. A shepherd must lead sheep to green pastures to graze and in the morning dew to get plenty of hydration as they graze. The shepherd may have to lead the sheep through tougher paths like a valley, but the shepherd keeps the sheep huddled together near him and keeps them calm. If a sheep gets cast down, in which their feet are up in the air, their blood circulation slows and they will die if left in that position too long, but the shepherd comes and restores the sheep to the proper upright position. The shepherd uses a rod to fight predators and the curved end of the staff to guide wayward sheep and to pull them from places they’ve gotten stuck. The shepherd anoints the heads of his sheep with oil to keep flies away from their noses, because if they get nose flies, the sheep will hit their heads against things and hurt themselves as they attempt to get rid of the flies. Without a shepherd, sheep would die.

In the same way, my fellow lamb in Christ’s flock, your Shepherd – Jehovah Raah – leads you in His word and feeds and waters you with it. He leads you in paths that may be tough, but it is a path of righteousness, and He is with you. You can trust that He will restore and protect your soul and correct you when you go astray. He anoints you with the oil of His Holy Spirit, overflowing with empowerment to walk in His ways, touching others with that overflow of the Spirt. God’s goodness and mercy saved you and will follow you, eventually leading you into the heavenly house of the LORD, in which you will dwell forever.

My dear friend, whether you’re in a season of life where you’re lying down in green pastures or walking through the valley of the shadow of death, the LORD is your Shepherd, He is with you, and He restores your soul.

I wrote the song The Lord is My Shepherd (Jehovah Raah) as an upbeat reminder of these beautiful, comforting, and reassuring truths we read about in Psalm 23. I hope it blesses and encourages you as you walk with your Shepherd today.

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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

Even just the very first verse of the Bible tells us so much about our great God. He is referred to here in the Hebrew as Elohim, which is a masculine noun and plural in number. From the start, He showed us His existence as One God, yet plural persons.

He also showed us that He was outside of time, because He started our timeline “in the beginning” when He began to create all that is made. In fact, this one little verse shows us that He created time, space, and matter – time (the beginning), space (the heavens), and matter (the earth), all of which He is outside of and sovereign over as the creator of them.

Even in the things that God created in the beginning, we can see His triune nature. As Henry M. Morris III wrote about in His book Six Days of Creation, God shows His triune nature in space, matter, and time.

Space is not nothingness. We all have our existence in space, and we can measure its height, depth, and length even though we cannot contain or eliminate space.
Matter has three states of solid, liquid, and gas by which energy is transferred.
Time flows from the past, present, to future and we cannot control time, we can only experience it.

“God the Father is like the space of the universe: the Source and Background of all things. God the Son is like the matter (mass-energy) of the universe: the Visible One and Revealer of the Godhead. God the Spirit is like the time of the universe: the One who makes it possible to experience the work and will of God.” (Henry M. Morris III)

The Father planned all the details of creation and it was all in accordance to His will. The Son did the work, speaking all things into existence and fashioning it all into what we know today. And the Holy Spirit gave it energy as He moved. Elohim created and sustains us and all that is in our universe.

All things were made through him[Jesus], and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)

As we move further into the timeline of creation, we finally come to the creation of mankind. All the things that Elohim had created up to that point was “after its kind”, but Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (portions from Genesis 1:26-27) and unlike the vast number of plants and animals that God had created, He only made one man and one woman.

When God talked amongst Himself and said, “Let Us make man in Our own image”, that work for make is ʿāśâ, which is to fashion or make from elements already created. When the creation of man is explained in more detail in Genesis 2, it describes the forming of man with a different verb, yāṣar in the Hebrew, which is a hands-on verb meaning to mold into a form, especially a potter, and it so beautifully describes the personal involvement God took in forming and fashioning Adam.

As we fast forward through time, when Adam and Eve sinned by eating of the fruit which God told them not to eat, it was a catastrophic day for mankind. Yet we still see the character and goodness of Elohim in His actions after He proclaimed judgement against the serpent, Eve, and Adam. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

LORD God in the original text is Jehovah Elohim, and the word for made is ʿāśâ, the same word used when He said He was going to make man in His image. He took what was already there, an animal, and killed it to use the animal skins as clothing for them. The first killing in all of time was done to an animal who had done nothing wrong, to cover the nakedness and shame that sin had brought upon mankind.

In the same way, Jesus, who has always been – for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) – was already planned as the sacrifice for mankind according to the Father’s will to reconcile mankind to Himself. Jesus was made to be sin, even though He had never sinned, that we might become the righteousness of God, being covered by HIS shed blood and clothed in HIS righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. (Isaiah 53:10)

In light of this truth, that Elohim, knowing we would betray Him by sinning against Him and create a huge chasm by which we could never cross over to Him, still chose to create us and made a plan to save us through Jesus, and it was all a part of the Father’s GOOD PLAN. And for those who love God and are called according to His purpose, He is working all things for our good! (Romans 8:28)

When we read over and over in the creation story, “And God saw that it was good”, may we remember that Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for the eventual sins of mankind was part of God’s good plan. All that He made was good, His plan was good, He is working all things for our good, and HE IS GOOD!

I wrote this song on the Name of God, Elohim, and I hope it blesses you with this fresh look at creation, His goodness, His good plan of salvation, and His continued good plans for us.

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In Exodus 15, the people of Israel had left Egypt and had just finished singing the praises of God in thanksgiving, when they came to the realization that there was no water to drink and the only water they found in the wilderness was bitter. Moses cried out to God and this was God’s response:

…”and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.” (Exodus 15:25-26)

Jehovah Rapha was the Name God called Himself by in speaking to His people. Jehovah was a name that God was referred by ever since Genesis 2, when God created man and woman, and Jehovah is a proper noun that means, “the existing One”. The people of Israel had called God by this Name for generations, but now God included a verb which describes a characteristic of Himself, “rapha” which means – to mend, cure, heal, physician, repair, make whole.

Isn’t that beautiful?

Jehovah Rapha – the existing One who is our healer, Who mends and repairs us from our broken state as our physician, and makes us whole again by the cure – Himself.

Ultimately, we know that in order to heal us, He had to Himself be broken, His body shredded as He hung on the cross for our sins to make us whole and reconciled to Him. So although this was a name of God used way back in Exodus, it still pointed to the work on the cross that would come thousands of years later. It always points to Jesus.

Other instances in which we see literal physical healing was through the prophets in the Old Testament and by Jesus Himself and later through His disciples, as read about in the New Testament.

Elijah – healed the widow’s son (1 Kings 17)

Elisha – healed the Naaman, the leper (2 Kings 5)

Jesus – healed the blind, sick, lame, leper, etc. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Disciples – healing in the early church (Acts)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, (Psalm 103:2-4)

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. (Jeremiah 17:14)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

As you may already know, I have chronic illnesses that doctors label as incurable. But that doesn’t stop me from daily and persistently asking Jehovah Rapha, my Healer, to heal me. He is able, so I ask that He be willing. Over the years, my perspective has shifted on this, because I used to long for healing with every fabric of myself, but now I am satisfied in whatever state He wills me to be in, whether that be functioning quite literally solely by His sufficient grace or functioning still by His grace but in a healed and healthy body. He is good regardless of what He chooses to do, and I’d rather reap the great gain that comes from choosing godliness with contentment, trusting in His sovereignty. (1 Timothy 6:6)

God has healed some of my symptoms that I was told were incurable. I used to be intermittently in a wheelchair and I haven’t been in my wheelchair for a year and half now. But before that miraculous healing, I wrote a song on this Name of God and it ended up coming from that place of resolve, that whether He heals all of my physical afflictions on this side or the next side of eternity, He is good and I trust Him. I just want to bring Him glory, whether sick or healthy because my time here is fading fast regardless. Our lives are but “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14) and I don’t want to waste the little time I have left, however long that may be_._

Are you facing any physical, mental, or emotional battles today? How long have you been suffering? How do you feel? These things matter to your Jehovah Rapha, even if you’re not healed. God knows your heart and inner most thoughts and you matter to Him! Cry out to Him, in your heart, aloud, however you want to, but talk to Him because He is near to your broken heart and regardless of any physical healing, He WILL heal your heart and reconcile you to Himself when you come to Him. And know, my dear fellow follower of Christ, that the afflictions you now face are indeed light and “preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Don’t lose heart.

Trust God in His sovereign will and way.

Praise God, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever!

This is the song I wrote, and I pray that it edifies you, uplifts you, and encourages you to praise our Jehovah Rapha regardless of what afflictions you may or may not be facing today!

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“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:15-16)

When you hear the word sacrifice, what comes to mind? For some it will be a thing you must give up, a burden of sorts, and to others it will be pleasant thing being more of a gift given, but what about when we read that we are to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, acknowledging His Name?

I feel like this is one of those verses that our human minds have a hard time understanding fully, such as “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), because how to do realistically do something continuously, always, without ceasing, and in all circumstances?

Well, the Bible tells us this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus and that these things are pleasing to God, but never has God ever left us to our own devices when He gives us commands. Just as the Lord told Zerubbabel: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6), in the same way He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us every day.

What does it look like then, to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God?

The rest of that verse gives us insight, that “the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,” is itself the practical ways in which we do this.

Every morning, when you wake up, you are being given a gift from God. It doesn’t matter if you’re healthy, sick, dying, recovering, have a job, need a job, etc. because you’ve been given another day of life, another day to live, breathe, and experience whatever your life situation is, and God gives new mercies for that day. That means that you get another day to pursue God and His kingdom, walking in works He has prepared that you are storing rewards in heaven by doing. That is grace, my friend, that God should be praised for! If something that we think of as so simple, breathing, is something to praise Him for, think of all the other things God can and should be praised and acknowledged for.

This means that in seeing His love, grace, mercy, provision - everything that He does in your life, you have opportunity to praise Him and acknowledge Him all day, every day, continually.

This is two-fold because it’s a praise and acknowledgement in your heart and in proclaiming His wonderful works to others. Even the earth praises God: “All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. Selah” (Psalm 66:4) so all the more should we, who have been given breath in our lungs this day! “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)

We are also told to do good and share what we have because those are pleasing to God. This may be easier for one with money to think up ways to share and do good, but what about those who don’t have financial means to give? You can still give in other ways, by sharing your faith and speaking boldly what the Holy Spirit gives you utterance to speak, which we should be doing regardless of financial circumstances. In Acts we read about when Peter and John came to the beautiful gate and saw a poor, lame man. “But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God,” (Acts 3:6-8) By faith Peter gave, by faith the lame man received, and it yielded praises to God that was seen by all the people.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The root of our worship must be founded in our faith in God and our love for Him, which will yield a sacrifice of praise and that overflowing of the Holy Spirit will yield doing good and sharing what we have through loving others, thus doing what Jesus told us are the first and second greatest commandments.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

So, my friend, today, regardless of what life circumstances you’re facing, take time to think on His goodness and faithfulness in your life, offer up a sacrifice of praise, and look for ways in which the Holy Spirit might lead you to do good and share with others, and may your sacrifices be pleasing to God!

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“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you – but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” (Matthew 23:2-4)

There’s so much that could be covered in this section of Scripture, but today we’ll focus on two things: hypocrisy and heavy burdens.

Jesus called for respect to these scribes and Pharisees who sit on Moses’ seat, as a given authority, but shed light on the fact that while they preached the law, of which Paul tells us in Romans that the law is holy and good, yet they did not practice the law themselves. The Pharisees were well aware that the law was heavy and hard to bear, and they even ended up adding man made traditions as well, which laid an even heavier burden on the people. This was completely out of line from what God had even given the law for and clouded the view of looking towards Messiah by getting fixated on the burden instead of the One who was coming to remove the burden from us and bridge the chasm that our sin had made.

After this, Jesus went on through the rest of the chapter to call out seven times, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” and give them detailed reason for these woes. Jesus was bold and brutally honest when telling the Pharisees the truth, and yet He did so in love and without sin.

We also see this word “woe” in Revelation 8 and onward, as the last of the seven trumpets are blown and it is over the judgement that is to come. This word “woe” in the Greek is an accusative exclamation of grief. Jesus exclaimed His grief as he rightfully accused the Pharisees of their ongoing hypocrisy. He did this in love as it not only spoke truth but also showed the truth to the people who had come to hold the Pharisees in a religious celebrity status.

I can’t even imagine how this hypocrisy hurt the heart of God. Not only for the sake of the people who were committing the hypocrisy, but also because of the damage it was doing to His people. The Pharisees were misrepresenting God to the people and hindering themselves and the people from understanding God and the purpose of His holy law. That’s a serious accusation by Jesus, and although we know that the Pharisees at large did not repent, something that Jesus said at the end of the chapter likely was something the apostle Paul heard and came back to in his mind after he was converted on the road to Damascus.

“Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” (Matthew 23:34-36)

As Paul sat blind from His experience with Jesus on the road, I wonder if he had heard these woes and recalled his actions of watching Stephen being stoned to death for his faith in Jesus, and actively persecuting Christians from town to town, coming face to face with his own hypocrisy and then the realization that he is the “chief of sinners”, of which he later calls himself in 1 Timothy 1:15. To the rest of the Pharisees, judgement was sure to come for lack of their repentance, of which Jesus said, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:33).

What the Pharisees likely didn’t realize was that in not being willing to lift the heavy burdens of the law they placed on the people, the weight of hypocrisy was even heavier in light of eternity.

Jesus had already said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Had the Pharisees understood the purpose of the law and been looking forward to the Messiah’s coming, searching the Scriptures for true understanding instead of in piety, they would have rejoiced at Jesus’ coming and gone to Him for rest.

Now the Pharisees didn’t do this, but we can and we should. The law was our guardian, but Jesus has come and justified us by faith, releasing us from the burden of the law and instead finding rest in Christ as we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.

Being burdened by the law, legalism, and the hypocrisy that inevitably comes from trying to be perfect in and of our own works, will never yield pure religion and relationship with God. Abiding in Jesus is the only way to legitimately walk in truth and have abundant and eternal life in Christ.

Today if you hear what the Spirit has said to you and it included a convicting woe, turn from that hypocrisy, and hear and heed Jesus’ words, “Come to me…and I will give you rest.”

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In the final words of Peter’s second letter it says, “be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do with the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:14-18)

Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Why would Peter tell us to do this and what does it mean to grow in grace and knowledge?

This begins with having a proper view of our salvation, and continues on in our spiritual maturity from there, so that we can actually live out an abundant life in Jesus the way He intended us to. In Ephesians 2, it says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When we first come to Christ, we hear this message of salvation and come to general understanding of what grace is and how we are saved by it through faith. Yet, in the growing process, many Christians follow a similar path of as they see their lives change from living immersed in sin and darkness, to sinning less by living in the light of Christ through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This path and process isn’t exact for every believer, but the tendency to revert to a mindset of legalism with a sprinkle of grace can be a real battle that will hinder our growth in our relationship with the Lord.

Peter’s word for us to “be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace”, isn’t telling us to live by the law, but that we do need to keep growing. As was mentioned in last week’s devotional, Peter was told by Jesus three times to feed His sheep, so it’s undoubtedly something that was in Peter’s mind as he wrote that in order to be found without spot or blemish and at peace, that we need to be diligent to grow, which comes through eating up the Word of God that will nourish our spirits.

Peter mentions the wisdom of Paul, and how some things are hard to understand, which has led ignorant and unstable people to twist the Scriptures, and he warns us to not get carried away with that, but to instead grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Notice that Peter says Paul had wisdom given to him. That is important because we too can receive wisdom by the very same One who gave it to Paul. James mentions that very clearly when he said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Track with me here:

To fear the LORD is the beginning of wisdom > if we ask God for wisdom He will give it generously > the wisdom we receive from God will help us to not get carried away with the error of being ignorant and unstable and twisting Scripture, but instead lead us to seek after the knowledge of the Holy One to gain insight in which we will be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Charles Spurgeon had this to say, “Our duty is to keep to our main goal and continue on in knowing, not this or that specific doctrine, but the Lord Himself. To know the Lord – this is eternal life. Let us continue in this pursuit, for in this way we will gain complete instruction. By following on to know the Lord, we learn healing after being torn, restoration after being smitten, and life after death.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus is the way we need to follow, just like He told His disciples, “Follow me”, we too must follow Him in truth in order to have abundant and eternal life. And just as Jesus prayed in His High Priestly prayer, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3). The more we spend time with God through reading and prayer, the more we grow in the grace and knowledge of our God.

Yet, we don’t grow of our own accord or rely on ourselves for growth, because our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and as we read in 2 Peter, it’s the ignorant and unstable who twist the Scriptures. We must ask for wisdom and let the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth, the truth of whom is Jesus. (John 14:6)

I’ll leave you with these last quotes by Spurgeon, which I think sums up pretty well how we grow in grace and knowledge as we read the word and follow Jesus daily, walking by faith:

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years… The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. Is not this His gracious grace? Rely upon Him to fulfill it.” (Charles Spurgeon)

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When Peter denied Jesus 3 times, he went away and wept bitterly. We really don’t see much of Peter until after Jesus’ resurrection though. The first two times Peter saw Jesus, it was when He appeared to the disciples from behind a locked door. In that first appearing, Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22) and in the second appearing He addressed Thomas’ doubt directly.

I don’t know about you, but if I were Peter, the thing that would come into my mind when Jesus first appeared would be a mix of joy in seeing Him alive and a sorrowful repentance over denying Him 3 times before His death, but we don’t see that addressed here. Then when Jesus appeared a second time and addressed Thomas’ shortcoming of doubt, I would think my issue of denial would be next, but we don’t see that addressed here either. We don’t even see Peter assert himself the way he usually did before Jesus was crucified. It wasn’t until the next appearing when Jesus comes to the Sea of Tiberias as Peter and some disciples had been fishing all night, that we see Peter jump into the water and swim to Jesus when John told him it was Jesus standing on the shore.

The next thing we see is this interaction between Jesus and Peter after they had finished having breakfast.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

On first reading, it is understandable why Peter was grieved that Jesus asked him if he loved Him a third time, yet when looking even deeper, we see that Jesus was indeed being loving by meeting Peter where he was at that moment.

It’s important to know that in the Greek, the language the New Testament was written in, there are different words used for love. In English we have one word and we use it interchangeably to be interpreted according to context. However, we don’t love our favorite food the way we love our family, friends, or spouse. So in that sense, the English language falls short when it comes to the word “love”. The Greek, on the other hand, has 4 words for love to represent familial love, brotherly love, spousal intimacy love, and the unconditional and sacrificial love of God.

Understanding the Greek: In this section of Scripture, both brotherly love (phileō) and the unconditional and sacrificial love of God (agapaō) are used.

(On a quick side note: we often hear this love described as Agape love, and this is because agapaō is the root word that agape, or Agape as it’s said in English, is derived from)

When Jesus asked Peter the first time, He asked, “Do you agapaō me?” and Peter replied, “You know that I phileō you.”

When Jesus asked Peter the second time, He asked, “Do you agapaō me?” and Peter replied, “You know that I phileō you.”

When Jesus asked Peter the third time, He instead asked, “Do you phileō me? And Peter replied, “You know that I phileō you.”

We see that Peter is honest in his reply that while Jesus is asking if Peter loves Him unconditionally and sacrificially, at that moment the love that Peter could honestly profess was a brotherly love. Yet, the third time, Jesus met him where he was at and asked if he had brotherly love for Him. Three times Peter had denied, and three times he professes his brotherly love for Jesus.

Further on in this encounter, Jesus tells Peter that he will indeed be martyred for His sake to glorify God, and then Jesus ends that encounter by saying, “Follow me.” While it did cause grief in Peter because Jesus asked him 3 times, it was also encouragement from Jesus, because while in that moment of time Peter could only honestly profess to have a brotherly love for Jesus, he would eventually grow in his unconditional and sacrificial love FOR God by abiding IN God.

I would also be remiss if I don’t mention the second part of Jesus’ interaction, which was regarding the tending of His sheep.

The first time Jesus says, “Feed my lambs”, it is boskō egō arnion in the Greek.

The second time Jesus says, “Tend my sheep”, it is poimainō egō probation in the Greek.

The third time Jesus says, Feed my sheep”, it is boskō egō probation in the Greek.

This is important because Jesus was not only stating the importance by repeating Himself, but He was including how to view His followers and care for them.

Here is what those Greek words mean:

Boskō – to pasture, fodder/feed, graze

Arnion – lambkin, a little lamb

Poimainō – to tend as a shepherd to, feed, rule

Probation – sheep, sheepfold

Jesus views us as His lambs, some are little and some are bigger, which speaks to our spiritual maturity, but we all need to be fed. Now as far as it was speaking to Peter, who would later take on the roll of a pastor/shepherd in the Jewish community of those who would come to believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah, it also speaks to the heart of God towards us and how we should view one another.

If we are viewing our brothers and sisters in Christ in any way other than how God sees them, then we’re in the wrong and we’re not showing that agapaō love of God. When Jesus gave the new command in John 13:34-35 to love one another as He has loved us and that people will know we’re His disciples if we have love for one another, He uses the word agapaō in reference to the love He has and the love He expects from us towards one another. We cannot show that agapaō love of God if we’re not abiding in Him, because we cannot give what we are not receiving. At best, we’ll peak at phileō brotherly love, which while sweet, still falls short of what God intends for us.

If you have been or still are in the place Peter found himself, whether in moments of weakness or denial or only able to offer brotherly love, heed the words of Jesus and follow Him, abiding in Him the vine, whom apart from you can do nothing (John 15). And may you, when asked by our Lord Jesus, “Do you agapaō me?”, be able to answer with full confidence, “Yes Lord, I agapaō You!”

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Right after the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees on the authority in which He and John the Baptists were operating in, Jesus continued the conversation with the Parable of the Two Sons.

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’, but afterwards he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir’, but did not go. Which of the two did the will of the father?” [The Pharisees] said, “The first”. Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32)

In context, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees concerning salvation in which He and John the Baptist had preached. We know that the will of the Father is that none should perish but that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and that “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36) But this also speaks a word to us as believers and followers of Christ.

In James, it’s made very clear that faith without works is dead: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sisters is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead…Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:14-17; 21-23)

Now, I don’t want this to be misconstrued in anyway, so I want to make it abundantly clear that we do not work our way into heaven. Our salvation has been achieved by Christ alone, is offered by grace alone, and is received by faith alone. HOWEVER, it’s important to understand that our faith must be, in essence alive. A little further down in James 2 it says, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26) That’s NOT at all saying that faith + works = salvation. It’s saying that in order for faith to be counted to us as righteousness, just as it was with Abraham, that faith must be alive and active, which is evidenced by our works. Our works are the fruit, not the root of our salvation. So just as a tree that doesn’t produce fruit is considered dead and gets cut down, without the fruit of works, it is the indicator of dead faith.

If you’re already a follower of Christ, this parable of Jesus serves as a reminder and health check for us, that we should be acting in obedience to our heavenly Father’s will, producing fruit by doing the good works He’s prepared and called us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

Consider these questions a moment:

What has God called you to work in?
Do you have an eagerness to walk in those works?
Are you walking in those works or have you only provided lip service to God?

We should have a willing and good heart towards the things God has called us to, but over and over again, we see that the merit is in actually doing those works. Remember when Jesus told Peter after Peter had just spent a whole night of fishing but caught nothing, to cast his net to the other side. Peter wasn’t told get a net full of fish, he was told to cast his net. We aren’t responsible for the outcome of the works, but simply doing the ones God calls us to do.

We must be careful, especially where Christians are free to worship, like here in America, because we can rather easily appear to others as great Christians on the outside, being always willing to say yes in serving in this and that work when the first announcement is made, but what does it matter if we’re not actually walking in them. Is that not worse because we’re not only not doing the works, but we aren’t keeping to our word in honesty and integrity if we’re flippantly agreeing to do what is asked and not following through with it.

There is great prudence in waiting on the Lord and seeking His will in all things, and when you know that HE has called you to do something, don’t wait to walk in it, just take the first step in faith and let Him direct and use you.

My dear friend, my prayer is that you listen to the calling of God in your life, that you have an eagerness to walk in it, and that you actually do the works. It doesn’t matter what recognition you get here on earth, but to do what pleases the heart of God and brings Him glory as you live your life unto Him as a living sacrifice, is worth it because He is worthy of it all.

Whatever God has called you to do, I encourage you to go and work in it today.

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Take heart. That phrase is one that Jesus used during His time here on earth and even beyond, when He spoke to Paul as he was being jailed for Christ’s name sake.

In the Greek, “take heart” or tharseō, is a verb that means to be of good courage, cheer, and comfort, and the root words stem from words meaning to exercise courage, confidence, and boldness.

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”…”Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. (excerpts from Matthew 9:2-7)
A woman who had a discharge of blood for 12 years and longed to be healed touched Jesus’ clothes believing she would be healed, and Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:22)
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (Matthew 14:27-29)
When a blind man “heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”…And they called the blind man saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus…And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” (excerpts from Mark 10:47-52)
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?…I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; *I have overcome the world.” (John 16:31,33)*
After Paul had been taken by the Jewish counsel and caused quite a stir between the Pharisees and Sadducees, it says, “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.“ (Acts 23:11)

We can see the many different circumstances in which this phrase was used, but it was always used in relation to faith; whether it was to affirm, encourage, or boost one’s faith.

The people who brought the paralytic had faith that Jesus could heal their friend and whether the paralytic had the faith or needed a boost, Jesus encouraged him with “take heart” and the assurance that his sins had been forgiven, before he ever told him to get up and go home.

The woman with the discharge of blood had faith that merely touching Jesus’ clothes would heal her, and Jesus affirmed her faith with “take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well”.

When the storm was raging on the Sea of Galilee and the disciples were afraid as they saw Jesus walking on water, Jesus encouraged them and even foresaw Peter’s faith, as He said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And the next thing we see is Peter walking on water in faith as he walked to Jesus.

The blind man expressed faith in Jesus as Messiah as he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” and as soon as he heard people tell him to “take heart” and that Jesus was calling him, he sprang up and went to Jesus. Jesus affirmed his faith when he said, “your faith has made you well.”

When the disciples finally made a declaration of believing in Jesus as he spoke plainly to them, Jesus encouraged them as He told them of the tribulation that they would face in saying, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Paul testified of Jesus boldly before the Pharisees and Sadducees, and though it started what would become a long imprisonment journey for sake of Jesus, the Lord encouraged and boosted his faith, courage, and boldness in saying, “Take courage” and preparing Paul with a glimpse of what was to come.

What is Jesus calling you to “take heart” in?

Maybe your faith has been faltering in light of situations, or maybe God is affirming your faith and equipping you for future things to come. Where ever you currently are in your walk with the Lord, Jesus used this phrase then and it is still relevant today to affirm, encourage, and boost our courage, confidence, and boldness in Him. I’ll leave you with this further encouragement from Hebrews 10:

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:35-39)

So my friend, I encourage you today, to take heart!

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In Matthew 16, right after Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus says to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) Yet in the very next section as Jesus tells His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things, be killed, and raised on the third day, we see a completely different interaction between Peter and Jesus:

“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”’ (Matthew 16:22-23)

How did Peter go from receiving a response from Jesus of blessing to a rebuke? Simply put, as Jesus stated, Peter was setting his mind on the things of man, not God.

It was when Peter was focused on Jesus, and who He was, that he received a blessing from Jesus. As Peter lost focus of the spiritual while Jesus talked about His pending suffering, death, and resurrection, he sowed to his carnal thinking and as his speech came forth, he reaped a rebuke from Jesus and was even found to be hindrance to God. How can we live our life in order to please Jesus and avoid receiving such rebukes and not be hindrances to God?

In Ephesians, we are clearly told that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) and this is why we must take up our spiritual armor of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day and stand firm. We cannot go throughout life only seeing and sowing to the temporal and expect to reap blessings in the spiritual.

Whether we’re taking the time to perceive the spiritual battles raging around us or not makes no difference to the fact that it is indeed going on. The only difference is whether we’re fighting on the right side with the proper armor or being used by the enemy as hindrances to God. If we are taking up the whole armor of God, we’re fighting as part of God’s army in an effective manner. If we’re not, then because of our flesh nature, we’re inevitably fighting a spiritual battle in the physical and inevitably helping the enemy’s cause.

In today’s day and age, the physical conflict has been around things such as masks, vaccines, and political affiliation, but those things are not merely physical, there is a whole spiritual side to it and a very real battle is waged between light and darkness. In the physical, it may appear to only be about a pandemic and political agendas, but in the spiritual, it is still very much so about isolating the Church, sowing division amongst the body of Christ, and tarnishing a Christian’s witness to reduce the effectiveness of our light in this dark world.

“Consider how precious a soul must be when both God and the devil are after it.” (Charles Spurgeon) We know how precious God deems every human soul because He gave us the entire Bible revealing His steadfast love towards us and His foundational plan to redeem us by the blood of Jesus. But have you ever wondered why the devil is after souls too? The devil wants to hurt God and take His reward in which He paid His own blood to redeem, which is our souls. His way of doing that is trying to prevent the gospel from being shared, making the Church so busy with division or caught up in the things of man that they aren’t storming the gates of hell, and by trying to steal the seeds that are being planted.

We see how we can learn from Peter’s success and failure, but let’s not miss what can be gleaned from Jesus’ response itself. He blessed AND He rebuked, and we know He did it without sinning and with kind and compassionate intentions. We can’t neglect to speak both blessings and rebukes in season, as the Holy Spirit gives us utterances.

When Jesus said, “Get behind me, satan! You are a hindrance to me”, I don’t believe He was actually calling Peter satan. I believe He was speaking beyond the physical, which was Peter, and to the source of Peter’s rebuke, which was from the devil. Jesus didn’t try to reason with Peter’s rebuke or defend His position of the mission His Father sent Him on. Jesus simply met rebuke with rebuke and although it played out in the physical, it was very much so a spiritual battle. We can take a stand and be bold in Christ without struggling against people. If we struggle against people and get wrapped up in the things of man, we not only risk turning them away from Christ, but we waste our time better spent on the Father’s business. We are to boldly speak the truth in love, but to engage in dissention is not profitable to either party involved.

I encourage you to spend time in prayer and consider what things in your own life you may need to change in order to ensure you’re fighting spiritual battles and not picking or engaging in temporal ones that struggle against flesh and blood, of whom Jesus died to redeem.

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In Ezra 7, during the time of Artaxerxes, Ezra was a scribe among his people in Babylonia. He ended up being sent by the king to Jerusalem to the remnant who had gone and rebuilt the temple in order to teach the people the Law of the LORD, but there’s something very distinct that we see recur throughout this chapter:

“He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.” (Ezra 7:6)

“For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:9-10)

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” (Ezra 7:27-28)

The hand of the LORD his God was on him. Ezra found favor with the king, and in his journey, and took courage BECAUSE the hand of the LORD his God was on him.

Digging another layer down, we see Ezra’s heart was set to study, do, and teach God’s law. Now Ezra was already described as a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, yet his heart’s desire was to continue to study and really dig into the Law of the LORD in order to do it himself and teach it. This reminds me of David’s Psalm, “Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Ezra’s heart was in the right place before the LORD, and the LORD gave him favor by putting His good hand on him. Just as we see in the next verse of Psalm 1, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

Lastly, we see that in light of this, Ezra took courage and stirred others to good works to go with him. Ezra didn’t have Jesus, the Messiah’s redemption on the cross to look back on the way we do, but he had the promise of the Messiah and the goodness and faithfulness of God to look forward to and he acted upon it, taking courage and walking in the way the LORD had paved before him recognizing God’s good hand on him.

We now, have Jesus as our High Priest and in Hebrews are told to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22-25)

My dear friend, set your heart on the things above, drawing near to God, and taking courage because His good hand on you will lead you as you walk in the path He leads as you stir one another to love and good works. Just as a dear pants for flowing streams, may your soul pant and thirst for the living God (Psalm 42:1-2) and may you take courage and encourage others all the more since we can fully see the Day drawing near.

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In Matthew 9, Jesus responded to the Pharisees who had asked why He eats with tax collectors and sinners by saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13)

Then only a few chapters later, we see the follow up in Matthew 12, as the Pharisees were taking issue with the disciples plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath as they were walking through the grain fields, errantly claiming it was unlawful. Jesus responded with “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:6-8)

The Pharisees apparently did not go and learn what Jesus had referenced to them from Hosea the first time He mentioned it, and they continued to do wrong by God Himself by not following through with what He commanded them both through the prophets and in person face to face through Jesus. They may have not gone and learned what that meant, but we can learn and dig into the word to learn what it means.

Both times here, Jesus referenced Hosea 6, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6) And if we look at the state of Israel during the time of Hosea, we can see that they were a people who were unrepentant, having whored after false gods and idol worship. The verses leading up to verse 6 indicates how God had struck them down and bound them up, but was a call to return to the LORD that He may heal them. God made a heart-breaking mention of the waning love of Ephraim and Judah, likening it to the morning cloud and dew that goes away early. God’s heart was broken at the unfaithfulness of His people, and He makes fully known what He desires: mercy, not sacrifice.

He didn’t want lip service, He didn’t want eye service, He didn’t want a physical offering, He wanted them and their hearts; and the only way that was going to happen was through His great love and mercy found in the redemptive act of Jesus, the Messiah. He had even previously mentioned in verse 2, that “after two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him.” (Hosea 6:2) Everything that the Father gave to them through the prophets all pointed to Jesus.

When Jesus told the Pharisees to go and learn what it meant, He was opening the opportunity for them to actually seek truth, in which they would ultimately find themselves led back to Him, our way and truth and life, but with a different heart and mind. Jesus would have no longer been the Sabbath breaker to them, but the Lord of the Sabbath and of all.

Legalism has never been the heart of God, even in giving the Law of Moses. God didn’t give the Israelites the Law in order to enslave them to it, but to instead help them realize their falling short of God’s glory and then point them to Himself, who would ultimately fulfill the law and abolish it in Jesus’ flesh, taking on the full wrath of God in our place. These Pharisees had gotten so wrapped up in trying to fulfill their own righteousness under the Law, no matter that it was impossible, that they failed to see and accept the imputation of God’s righteousness being so mercifully offered to them in the person of Jesus.

How often are we getting wrapped up in trying to act righteous? This is a personal question to take some time to think on, because if you’re like me, your initial response is going to be something like, “I know my acts of righteousness are as dirty rags/used menstrual rags and that it’s in Christ alone that my righteousness is found.” But that doesn’t actually answer the question at hand does it? What we know in our minds doesn’t always instantly translate to operating in our actions does it? Legalism can slip in rather sly like sometimes and it’s not until it’s getting a foothold that we notice it. I usually find my thinking towards others to be a good indicator on the mercy vs sacrifice scale. If I am looking at other Christians and judging their actions, motives, thoughts, and measuring them up to how I think or expect a Christian “should” act, even if it only be in my mind and never spoken, I know my heart scale has tipped and is heavily leaning on a legalistic/sacrifice mindset. I’m failing in those moments to view people through the lens of Christ, and instead putting myself in a place of righteous judge that I not only have no place being, but don’t even have the capacity to be in because I am a fellow sinner saved by the grace and mercy of God too.

This can also be an issue in holding ourselves to the standard of God’s righteousness, in order to achieve it on our own. In this sense, we still miss the mark yet instead of falling again at the foot of the cross and accepting His mercy and covering in His righteousness, we’re trying to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and try harder to achieve the unachievable through our strife and sacrifice.

Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

God came down in person and showed us what is good and what He desires and requires of us. We can’t do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God if we’re living in legalism. We either live and die by the Law or by the blood of Jesus. We need to remember that legalism breeds pride, not humility. Humbly walking with God comes from understanding that justice was had by the loving mercy found in the shedding of Jesus’ blood for us, so that we can be reconciled and walk humbly with our God. God has made it clear that the choice we have is to choose between His mercy or our sacrifice, but only one of those will lead us in the way everlasting to our merciful God.

If you have ears to hear, understand that our Heavenly Father and loving Savior desire mercy, not sacrifice.

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In Acts 15, an issue had arisen in which the false gospel was being taught that circumcision was required for salvation. As the council was setting out to write a letter in which Paul and Barnabas would deliver, the letter starts out, “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.” (Acts 15:23)

Greetings. This may seem like a small thing in such an important letter, but it really is rather huge. Throughout the New Testament, we typically see the greeting reserved for the end of the letter, but in this letter, in which “greetings” was used at the beginning, and in the book of James (James, the brother of Jesus) we see it at the beginning. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” (James 1:1) James is believed to have been the one to pen the council’s letter in Acts.

When we look at this word for greetings in the Greek, it’s chairō, and it’s a verb that carries the meaning to rejoice exceedingly and was used as a salutation in that time. Most people, according to the letter writing custom of the day, gave the greeting at the end, as in the other letters we see in the New Testament, so why did James put it first?

In Luke 1:28, when Gabriel, being a messenger of God, came to Mary to tell her the news that she would be the mother of our Lord, he said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”. But more interestingly, in Matthew 28:9, after Jesus had resurrected, Jesus met his disciples and said, “Greetings!”

James, having grown up with Jesus, would have been around him longer than the disciples and it makes me wonder if Jesus would often greet James, his little brother, with “Greetings”. That would make sense why James didn’t follow the custom of the day, but instead followed the example of his older brother and Savior, Jesus.

Consider these:

“Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.” (1 Thessalonians 5:26 – in context of giving a warm greeting among brethren)

“As you enter the house, greet it.” (Matthew 10:12 – in context of being sent out)

“And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:47 – in context of loving your enemies)

We’re told to greet our brothers and sisters in Christ, to greet those whom show us hospitality, and to greet those who have placed themselves against us as enemies, as well as having the example of God’s messengers and Jesus Himself giving a greeting of rejoice. Do you greet people in this way?

In our culture, this can be hard or feel awkward, but think about when you’ve been somewhere, you could have been in a good or bad mood, but all of a sudden someone makes eye contact with you and greets you with a friendly “Hello!”. Didn’t that lift your spirit a bit? In this world full of hate and self-serving mentality, what a breath of fresh air a kind greeting could do, and what an opportunity that could arise to share Jesus with a broken world. How about you? Will you really see people, not just look at them, but see them and take part in storming the gates of hell that won’t prevail against His Church, starting with one little, loving word? Greetings!

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“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:19-21)

As persecution kicks in, it tends to do a number on the Church, which can be both good and bad. In the spiritual realm, the devil’s intention is to destroy the Church, but God uses it for the good of His people who love Him and are called according to His purpose and uses it instead to refine His Church. We see that even in the early church, as persecution revved up, the people scattered. The scattering wasn’t a bad thing though, we later see Paul escaping death through a window and by means of Roman escort through persecution. What was bad is that they ceased to speak the word to anyone except Jews, which failed to carry out the work of evangelism and discipleship that Jesus called us to. BUT there were men who went forward boldly and preached the Lord Jesus to the Hellenists, who were gentile/non-Jews, and we see that the hand of the Lord was with them and people were getting saved and following Jesus.

If we go on further in this section of Acts 11, we read, “The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:22-26)

Barnabas was sent, being full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, he went and used his gifts to exhort them in their faithfulness to the Lord with STEADFAST PURPOSE. We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS. We have purpose and good works to do that our Father has prepared for us to walk in, but we have to be faithful to exercise the gifts His Spirit has empowered us with to carry them out. In essence we’re given gifts to give to others and by doing this we’re serving God and bringing Him glory.

One person doesn’t have all the gifts, we are many members of one body, just as it says in 1 Corinthians 12. We may not be gifted in one area but someone else is, and someone else might not be gifted in another area but you are. That is the beauty of it, one sows and another waters, but the work gets done by one Spirit. Barnabas was a great example of this when he came to Antioch and used his gifts to exhort the church. He got there and served, but in realizing what they needed, he went to Tarsus and brought back Saul (who would later go by Paul) to teach with him in Antioch for a whole year. He knew his giftings were more of a one-on-one discipleship gifting and that Paul was gifted as a church planter and Bible teacher. Barnabas wasn’t afraid that Paul was going to somehow take the spotlight or anything like that. He had the good of the people in his heart and mind and being full of the Spirit and of faith, he left and came back with a brother who could come alongside to better serve in an area that was needed.

The result was a growth, equipping, and maturing of the believers there. They were called Christians, or “little Christs”. Don’t you just love that? It reminds me of when you see a child and their parent and the child resembles the parent so much that you might say that child is their parent’s “mini-me”. We are Christ-like as we grow in His grace and knowledge, moving from glory to glory while being made more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. We should become so that others looking at us see the resemblance of Christ in us. How can we become more like Christ when it comes to the gifts? We need to use them, be operating in them, just as Jesus did and just as we see in the great cloud of witnesses we read about in our history who ran their race with endurance. (Hebrews 11-12)

I exhort you, my friend, to fan into flame the gift of God and not neglect to use the gifts the Spirit has given you so you can walk in the good works He has prepared to bring Him glory (1 Timothy 4:14-15; 2 Timothy 1:6-7).

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In the beginning of Matthew 4, we read about the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I’ve written a deep study of this portion of scripture in the post Where the Spirit Leads, but today we’re going to focus on the aspect of resisting the devil and the example Jesus gave us to doing it victoriously.

James 4:7 tells us to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Most of us understand the concept of submitting to God and His will in our lives, and we want the devil to flee from us, but how do we practically resist the devil?

First off, I do think it’s important to remember and understand that as followers of Jesus, we WILL face trials and temptations. Jesus told us that in advance - “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And throughout the New Testament there are many encouragements for WHEN you face trials. So when we account for the fact that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us, it’s not a matter of if we’ll need to use this practically, it’s a matter of when and being ready to do so.

When Jesus was approached by the devil in the wilderness, His flesh was extremely weak from having fasted 40 days. The devil has a sneaky way of trying to pick us off while we’re at our weak moments. However, Jesus was successful in resisting the devil and the devil did leave Him. So, let’s make a list of the things Jesus did that we can learn from and use practically in our own resisting of the devil:

Jesus submitted Himself to the Father by the Spirit’s leading in fasting and being in the wilderness. While He may have looked weak, He was indeed strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)
Jesus only replied with scripture and rebuke as He was tempted by the devil. There was not a discussion with the devil no matter how hard the devil tried to keep a deceitful conversation going.
Jesus had scripture memorized and it was memorized in context. The devil even quoted scripture to Jesus, but he used it out of context to deceive and tempt Him. Yet, because Jesus had memorized scripture and had memorized the context of it, He was not deceived by the scheme.
Jesus did not waver in His way of response and weapon of choice. Even though the devil was trying to tempt Him several times in His physical needs, His pride, and His resolve, Jesus kept using the same weapon, which was the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. He didn’t find different ways to fight the different angles of attack, He used the same weapon over and over again because it’s powerful and effective.

These are practical things that our Savior, who lived life here on earth and can sympathize with us as our High Priest, has given us by His own example to follow. It may sound a bit overwhelming, but if you’re spending time everyday in the Word, just spend a little extra time daily memorizing scripture. It doesn’t have to be a marathon either. My kids and I memorize a chapter of scripture each school year and make up songs to go with it. It takes us 9 months to slowly and steadily memorize little chunks at a time, but it sticks. Last school year we memorized Hebrews 11, and now I can walk up to my kids and randomly say, “Now faith is the assurance” and they get a big smile on their face and start singing our Bible verse songs through that chapter.

And I do want to make a quick mention that Jesus didn’t memorize Bible references (not that memorizing references is bad, but they didn’t have references like we have today in the scrolls back then). The most important thing is that Jesus memorized the content and context of scripture. So, if you have a hard time memorizing references, don’t fret so much as long as you’re memorize the content and understand the context of the scriptures.

When we are being tempted, we need to recognize when it’s the devil. We can only do this by being so immersed in the Word of truth, that when lies and deceit come our way, we can spot it instantly and start swinging our sword of the Spirit in defense. It’s kind of like when we look at the moon. It is pretty and bright in the night’s sky, but from afar it still just looks like a tiny white ball in the sky. But if you take the time to get out a telescope and look at the details and craters upon it, the more magnificent it appears. Then if you’re later talking about the moon during the day, you’ll better remember the details of looking through the telescope and have a better picture of it in your mind’s eye. The Word of God is a powerful weapon, but if we aren’t reading and memorize it, it will seem much less like a sword and more like a dagger during our battles. The more we know the Bible and memorize it, the better equipped we’ll be to use it in our battles.

Lastly, just as Jesus didn’t, we don’t need to think up a bunch of different ways to fight the devil. Even when fighting the spiritual warfare as the devil used the Pharisees in Jesus’ day to attack Him, Jesus used scripture over and over again. Pastors and Bible teachers are amazing people of God, and God uses them for His purposes, but they don’t replace our own reading and memorization of scripture. Jesus would go to synagogue and listen to the readings of scripture and spent time meditating on it and praying to the Father. How much more are we able to read and meditate on the Word when we have our own Bible readily available to us? The Word of God is living and active and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that we may be equipped (Hebrews 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

As you move forward, either in your current spiritual battle or in future ones to come, I want to challenge you to memorize Bible verses just as Jesus had and see what difference it makes in your walk with the Lord and in your effectiveness to resist the devil in battles.

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When you hear or read John 3:16 as a reference or start to hear or read, “For God so loved the world…”, what comes into your mind?

I’ll admit, that with this being the most cited verse growing up, in all the church camps and bible studies I went to, it unfortunately had become rather mindless to recite or read, as if simply tapping into the rote memory of it, all while passing over the comprehension of it.

As I grew into adulthood and into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus, I started to relook at that verse and slow down as I read it to let it sink in better. And wouldn’t you know it that many, many years later, as I recently read over it again, the living and active Word of God has jumped out with a fresh look again.

When I read Spurgeon’s commentary on this verse, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), he had outlined a few things: This one verse outlines God’s love for us, His gift to us, His Son, and hope for our souls. This really got me thinking through this, the life of Jesus, His purpose for coming, and how it relates to us and our life and purpose.

Jesus was sent by the Father on a mission of redemption, He lived a sinless life, He died a brutal death, and He was raised to life to live as our King and High Priest. So in short, He was sent by God, He lived, He died in His flesh, and He was raised to life.

We, being dead in our trespasses, have been raised unto new life in Christ, are called to crucify our flesh daily, can live an abundant life in Christ, and have been sent on a mission as His servants to labor in the good works He prepared for us. So in short, we were raised to new life, we die to our flesh, we live for Christ, and we’re sent by God.

Did you catch that?

Jesus = sent, lived, died, raised

Us = raised, die, live, sent

We are following the same things that Jesus did, except that we couldn’t do it in the same exact order because of our sin separating us from God. It was God’s immense love, in which He SO loved us, that He worked out a way of redemption that not only covered us, He forgave us of our sins because Jesus had taken the punishment and satisfied our just God, but additionally so that we would be able to walk in Jesus’ footsteps that leads us to the Father, where He was sent from in the first place.

He went from being in heaven with the Father and living perfectly to becoming sin on the cross as He paid the price to cover the cost of our redemption. We go from being buried in sin to being redeemed, getting closer and closer to perfection the more we walk with Jesus, to eventually ending up perfect in Heaven with our Father. Jesus, Immanuel, God with us – He came down to be with us, while we were still sinners, in order to make a way to bring us up with Him where He is in perfection. Jesus paved the way as He came down and we only need to follow Him along our way to the Father in Heaven. We don’t need to reinvent anything, we just need to follow the pattern our Creator gave us in Himself.

Where are you in this life cycle?

If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you’re definitely raised as a new creation in Him. Only you and the Lord know whether you’re dying to your flesh the way Jesus calls us to, living in the abundant life that comes from abiding in His word, and walking in the upward call in which He sent you. I encourage you to make time to sit before the Lord and together access where you are in your spiritual life cycle. Are you on track with abundant living and mission mindedness? Have you grown stagnant? Now is the time to revive that weary or complacent soul and be renewed and refreshed in the God of your salvation! Rise and make the best use of your time in these evil days while you still have breath in your lungs on this side of eternity.

If you’ve not yet placed your faith in Jesus, surrendering your will and life to Him, TODAY is the day. Your day of salvation awaits you. Do you see Christ following friends, family, acquaintances, and co-workers, that go through the hardships of life yet have a joy and peace about them that you just can’t understand? It’s because they have new life, they die to their natural tendencies of pride, hate, deceit, fear, etc by the empowerment of God’s Spirit. They live for the God who loves and created them, and they’re on a mission doing the things God has prepared for them to do. You too can experience this, which comes from having a personal relationship with God. He loves you SO much, and He is waiting for you to turn away from sin and to Him because He has the gift of His Son and is ready and willing to give you a new heart, forming you into a new creation in Him. Talk to God today, confess and acknowledge that you’ve not kept all His commands perfectly, and ask Him for forgiveness and to come into your heart. I guarantee this is one decision that you’ll never regret making.

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Being in the recording studio and going through the creative process was an incredible experience, one that God completely protected – as it felt like being in a bubble that the enemy wasn’t allowed to pop. Now that I’m home and the recording is all completed, but yet with more work ahead leading up to the release of this album, some feelings of doubt have come in little waves.

Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to release this and I’ve been working on it for years through ridiculous physical battles of chronic illness, in which the Lord has met me through it all, but as the release is getting closer and closer to reality the doubts have crept up. Doubts such as: What if this fails? Am I sure I heard God correctly? Did the album really turn out as good as I feel it did? Is God going to actually take me further in this music direction? Am I going to be up for whatever doors God opens?

The Lord brought me to Gideon in this, just not in the typical way we usually see this piece of history in.

As Israel was facing oppression from the Midianites, and had been for years, it had brought the people low and they called out for help to the LORD. God heard them and sent a prophet to tell them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land.” (Judges 6:8-9)

Pain, suffering, and oppression has a way of bringing people to their knees doesn’t it? But God had a purpose for giving Israel into the hands of Midian and it was made clear when they cried out to Him for help. They had learned surrender and dependence by what they suffered, and it softened their hard hearts to be repentant and ready for the work the Lord had prepared for their nation.

Gideon was called by God a “mighty man of valor” and told that the Lord was with him, but he too had doubts. He mentions the prophet’s words and felt like the works of old were stuck the past, wrongfully deducing that the LORD had forsaken them. And isn’t this the way our frail and sin-flawed human minds work pretty often? In our spirit we want that mustard seed faith, but in our flesh, we want to see in order to believe and we fail to hope because of our unbelief. “Immediately [he] cried out with tears and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

As the angel of the LORD had come to Gideon, he didn’t greet him how Gideon saw himself or even as he currently was; he greeted him as God saw him, a mighty man of valor whom God was with. The only thing that was standing in the way of Gideon walking in that strength and valor, was Gideon. That greeting seemingly went in one ear and out the other because Gideon didn’t reply concerning himself and the attributes he’d just been described by, he went straight to the unbelief and accusing God of forsaking them.

BUT GOD, in his beautifully kind yet straight to the point manner, didn’t even entertain the false narrative that Gideon had just presented. He instead refocused Gideon on the task at hand and “the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” (Judges 6:14)

WOW! God already saw Gideon as equipped, knowing He would equip him, and He tells Gideon to operate in that might to save Israel. And don’t miss this… God didn’t try to reassure or convince Gideon by explaining His game plan of HOW He would use him to save Israel; God’s only provided rationale to Gideon is that HE is sending him. Isn’t that incredible?!

I know that the LORD has used my battle with chronic illness to strengthen and equip me for His purposes and my good. I honestly feel a bit sheepish that after seeing the things He’s done in my life, even just over the last year and half in which He’s miraculously healed me of many illness symptoms, that I could possibly doubt the things He has for my future. I mean I went from being a regular wheelchair user to running after He healed me last year, and yet my flesh still reared its ugly head in doubting the plans and works my Good God and Father has for me.

We don’t have to be an expert at something or have every aspect perfectly planned in order to walk in the good works God has prepared for us. Besides, if we did, they wouldn’t be the works HE prepared for us, now would they? We only have to be willing to step over our doubts and unbelief, trust that God will do as He says, and follow through with the call, simply because He has sent us.

We have two choices when faced with a call from God:

Be filled with fear, doubt, unbelief, and inward focus on our inabilities, which leads to a crippling of our walking in those good works.

OR 2. Be filled with love, faith, belief, and an upward focus on God, knowing He is able to do far more abundantly than what we ask or think.

So, my friend, where is God sending YOU today and how will you choose to respond?

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As I celebrate my 15th wedding anniversary today, I am reminded of not only the wonderful man that God joined me with as one flesh, and God’s amazing grace in bringing us together, but I’m also reminded of my Bridegroom Jesus, the perfect husband to His Bride, the Church.

It doesn’t take being married here on earth to understand the role and relationship of Jesus in our lives though. Just as He joined the very first couple together as one flesh, our great, great, great grands Adam and Eve, as a picture of unity, Jesus desires to be one with us the way He is with the Father. His High Priestly Prayer shares His thoughts and desires about this unity so beautifully:

“I do not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me…I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-23; 26)

Jesus desire for us to be one with Him and the Father is two-fold, that we would believe, knowing He was sent by the Father, and know the Father’s love for us, that it would be in us. 1 John tells us that God is love, and He wants love in us, which will be evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. (1 John 4:7-8; Galatians 5:22)

In this desire, Jesus demonstrated His love toward us by laying down His life, being the Good Shepherd as He protected us from the wrath of God and restores our soul. He has gone to prepare a place for us, of which we cannot not even imagine what God has prepared for us, who love Him (John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Today, whether you’re married, dating, or single, I encourage you to read though on your own and meditate on Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, as you think on the personal ways Jesus has been your Bridegroom, and thanking Him not only for past blessings but also for those which are to come.

JOHN 17 (ESV):

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

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Father’s Day is just around the corner and has got me thinking about my Heavenly Father. He is the best Daddy to all His children and He gives good gifts to us, blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). Even those who don’t have a Dad present in their life, He is the Father to the fatherless, and will never leave or forsake us. (Psalm 68:5; Deuteronomy 31:6)

As I think on the good gifts that He has given, the main things that stand out to me are His unconditional love, physical life, abundant life here and eternal life to come through salvation in Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit whom indwells those who have believed in and follow Jesus.

In the beginning, God created us knowing we would fall and need saving, yet He still created us because of His immense and unconditional love for us all. As a parent, I know how disappointing and hurtful it is to watch my kids sin, both in general and against me, but I can’t even grasp what that would be like coming from a place of perfection. When I am sinned against by my children, sometimes my reaction is to sin in my anger. But God, being perfect, holy, loving, and long suffering, didn’t react in a rage and destroy us. He chose to redeem us instead.

That fact alone is amazing to me. I don’t feel worth saving, but He says and has acted otherwise. In our sin, we’re not worthy of anything, yet God sees us as the broken people we are, who were made in His image and in need of a Savior. As Jesus took whippings, had a crown of thorns pressed into His skull, walked down that road bearing the cross upon Him, received the nails in His hands and feet, and hung there on that cross as people looked on and mocked Him; He thought of you and me and felt love. There was never an ounce of regret in His decision to follow the Father’s will to the cross and spill His blood as the redemption for our sins. And the Father was pleased by His sacrifice, knowing it would reconcile us to Himself in a right relationship with Him.

When Jesus told us He came to give us life, it wasn’t just eternal, it was to give us abundant life as well here and now. Eternal life alone is more than generous considering we could never cross the chasm separating us from God that our sin has created, yet He not only provides Himself as the way but also is sanctifying us to be more like the image of Jesus that mankind has fallen from. He has given us His word, which is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that [we] may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He has given us access to commune with Him, being united with Him and the Father by the Spirit. We get to experience, even now before we are glorified, unity with the Godhead as reconciled people unto our God. That is such a beautiful expression of His love toward us!

The Father gives us the Holy Spirit Who convicts us concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement and guides us into all truth. The Spirit has sealed us, and the guardianship of the covenant of the law has been replaced with that of grace through faith, making us children of God, by Whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”, bearing witness to our place as children of God (John 16:8,13; Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 3:25-26; Romans 8:15-16). It’s according to the Father’s glorious riches that He grants us strength through the power of Holy Spirit to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19). The Spirit truly is a good gift from our Father of lights, who gives good and perfect gifts (Luke 11:13; James 1:17).

I may not know the details of your relationship with your earthly father, but regardless of whether it’s great, horrible, or non-existent, I can tell you with complete confidence that your Father in Heaven loves you, literally to death (of Christ), and He thinks good things towards you and has good plans for your future (Jeremiah 29:11). He has given us a living hope in Jesus and He will one day soon send Jesus back for us, the Bride of Christ, to live in the place He’s been preparing for us (John 14:3-4).

Today and everyday, let’s take comfort in and heed these Psalms, as we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of God:

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! (Psalm 34:8)

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:3-5)

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I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

This section of scripture was the passage that I was taught inductive bible study on and that later led to writing the first song I ever recorded in studio, Here I Am (Send Me). I wrote this song based on Isaiah’s vision of God in the heavenly temple and the words of Jesus in Matthew 9, that the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

As I look over Isaiah 6 now, it resonates even more today than it did when I first studied it considering the world is growing more and more evil as we live in these end times and move closer and closer to the end of the age.

As Isaiah’s vision begins with him seeing the Lord on the throne, we see seraphim standing above Him and calling out to one another that the Lord is holy and the earth is filled with His glory. There are angels in heaven that literally live to worship God and can’t help but proclaim the truth of His holiness and glory. It makes me look inward and ask, “Do I, who have God living INSIDE of me, worship Him with such fervency and adoration the way those seraphim do?”

I know that it may seem impossible to match the worship of those angels, but as we move further into the passage, we see Isaiah’s response. God speaks and the foundations shake and the house fills with smoke. If we look back in the Old Testament, we can see examples of this in the earthly pattern and even prior to the tabernacle, as well as future heavenly happenings.

When Moses was at Mount Sinai after God led them out of Egypt, it says, “Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.” (Exodus 19:17-18)
When the tabernacle was first erected under Moses, it says, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35)
When Solomon had built and dedicated the temple and brought the Ark of the Covenant into it, it says, “…and when the song was raised with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, “For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” (2 Chronicles 5:13b-14)
We will see this in the future again as it states in Revelation, “and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one could enter the sanctuary…” (Revelation 15:8)

In seeing the LORD, Isaiah said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5) Upon seeing the LORD, Isaiah may have had a quick remembrance of the history from Exodus 19, when God tells Moses to set a boundary around Mount Sinai that He had descended upon, and told Moses to “warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish.” (Exodus 19:21) which caused him to cry out “Woe is me!” because he would have known the LORD’s word to Moses and the outcome of breaking through to the LORD.

I love his heart in this though, because in seeing the LORD, he immediately is aware of his own iniquity and depravity of people and he CONFESSES it to God. In light of a perfect and holy God, we fall way beyond short of whatever pedestal we may have ourselves on or others have placed us on down here on earth, and it should cause a fear and trembling in us. The question then becomes, are we coming before our holy God regularly, being broken and recognize our iniquity unto confessing and repenting of it?

The very next action wasn’t that of Isaiah, but of a seraphim who flew to him and touches his mouth with a burning coal from the altar saying, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:7) Refining is done through fire, and in our lives, our Redeemer Who atoned our sin and took away our guilt is loving enough to refine us through it. Once we are atoned and have a clean conscience, there should be an even further response from us.

Immediately following, Isaiah heard God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” and he rises to the call and answers, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) He had just been cleansed and atoned for and was ready and willing to serve.

Then about 700 years later, Jesus tells His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

The mission of God has been and remains to seek and save the lost and we, as his followers, are ones He calls, equips, and uses to carry out His work of reconciliation. The big question is, are we hearing, accepting, and walking in that call? Sometimes we can let those calls go to voicemail but God has works He has prepared specifically for YOU to walk in. It doesn’t matter if you feel equipped, HE will equip those whom He calls, you just have to be willing to accept the call and walk in it, not by your power or might, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). I encourage you, spend time sitting in the presence of our King, the LORD of hosts; being broken before Him, cleansed by Him, and listen and obey His calling in your life; being quick to answer with “Here I am! Send me.”

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I have been reading through 1 & 2 Timothy and some things really stuck out to me (bold emphasized) as a need to repent and change.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything….Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene…So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:3-7; 14-17; 22-26)

In our current world, seemingly driven by media and social media, it’s very hard to not get entangled in what’s going on around us. Don’t get me wrong, being aware of current events isn’t inherently wrong. However, nowadays it tends to closely ride a border between being up to date on current events and being obsessed with what’s going on, or thought to be going on, and goes beyond conversation and instead leads to quarreling because everyone online has a different opinion about it (ignorant controversies).

If soldiers don’t get entangled with civilian pursuits, because their aim is to please the one who enlisted them, then we as spiritual soldiers in God’s army shouldn’t get entangled in the world’s pursuits because it takes our focus away from the One whom we serve and often to the detriment of His Kingdom’s work.

I’ve honestly had to step away from social media completely in regular intervals in order to not get entangled in it, because I was finding myself getting wrapped up in the comment sections of trending posts. I was frequently tempted to write my own comments but nothing I wanted to write was coming from anywhere other than my flesh reactions to other’s comments. There is a time when certain conversations can be had on social media, but more times than not, if it’s of real value it isn’t being found on social media. How often do people write comments in the heat of a moment, having less restraint because they’re not looking into the eyes of a person as they type it? It happens all day long throughout the time zones, yet the posts that trend are often trending because of quarreling about words, which we clearly read in Timothy, does no good but only ruins the hearers, and leads into more ungodliness, spreading like gangrene (much like controversy going viral these days). Do we really want to be a part of that?

In reading through those things, I wasn’t being edified and uplifted through it, and I was certainly not thinking upon things that are lovely, commendable, and worthy of praise through them (Philippians 4:8). I realized it was time to repent and cut out the perusing through FB. I want to present myself to God as approved and have no reason to be ashamed of how I’ve spent my time as His bondservant. I want to pursue the things of God, not being used by the enemy to further quarrels, which will definitely not lead people to God and but rather into ungodliness.

If you find yourself getting entangled in social media, losing time in quarrelsome and irreverent babble and ignorant controversies, I want to encourage you to do as Jesus instructed us: If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away (Matthew 5:29a).

I understand that some people can’t exactly just close their social media accounts, especially if you have a business and need an online presence or have family that lives far away and that’s how you can keep up with pictures of the kids and grandkids, but there are other ways to “tear it out and throw it away”.

You can delete the app from your phone and have to go on a computer to access it so it’s not a mindless trap, but a purposeful action and intent. You can even set a sticky note with Matthew 5:29 on it near your computer so it serves as a reminder when you do get on. You may even want to add in this verse too: Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2).
You can set a rule for yourself to only check in with family and friends’ posts so you can keep up with them, but not get caught up in the mindless scroll and the quarreling and time wasting that comes from it.
If you have a business, you can schedule your posts and only interact with the business side of things as needed, avoiding the main feed altogether.

I’m sure there are other ways that could work for you, but the important part is having a pure heart before the Lord and having your actions aimed at pleasing God, who has prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

My fellow Christ follower, I pray that you will be a good soldier of Christ Jesus and present yourself to God as one approved, having no need to be ashamed. He is coming soon, my friend!

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Memorial Day is coming up and it is important to remember those who have selflessly sacrificed for our freedom here as Americans, not becoming calloused to the ultimate sacrifice of their lives that they gave as they served.

I can only imagine a man, being a husband and father, in battle tirelessly fighting and facing fatigue of his body feeling as though he could barely go on, yet his mind being steadfast and purposed to continue to fight for the sake of his wife and children, and countless others back home. As he sees the battle progressing, he takes a minute to gather his thoughts, thinking over the precious memories with his family one last time, before running into a rain of enemy fire that would ultimately save lives and liberty, but would come at the price of his own life.

Similarly, as Christians, it’s important to not become calloused to the sacrifice that Jesus gave of Himself for us. Our great God, whose persons are Father and Husband to us, battled tirelessly with death, being utterly fatigued while slowly suffocating on the cross, yet His mind was steadfast and purposed to continue on for the sake of His bride, His Church, to be able to pay the penalty and offer the gift of abundant and eternal life and liberty in Him to all who would accept. His life was the most costly of all, and He willingly gave it up for us because He loves us that much.

We know that He rose on the third day, and that our Bridegroom, King, and high priest is alive, He’s preparing a place for us, He’s interceding for us, and He will rule on earth one day soon. So while we don’t remember His death as being the end, we do remember what He sacrificed, His broken body and blood poured out, through the act of communion, which He instituted during the last supper Passover meal with His disciples before He died.

“Now as they were eating, Jesus broke bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)

Jesus, as the leader of the Passover feast with His disciples, would have said this blessing before breaking and eating the afikomen bread that He introduced as His body broken for us (Afikomen means “that which comes after – that which makes things complete”):“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth the bread from heaven”. He then would have said this blessing before drinking of the cup of Redemption, which He introduced as His blood poured out for us, “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.” Nothing else would have been eaten after this, and just as it was completing all that would fill their appetites that night, it reminds us that we need not look any farther than God to fulfill us.

“The Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took break, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

With COVID, I’m not sure if you’ve been able to take communion at your church, but if you have not, I encourage you to get some crackers and juice and spend time either alone or with family and partake of that sweet experience with Him. There’s nothing magical about the physical elements, they don’t magically transform into His actual body and blood, but they do serve an important reminder, that Jesus Himself instituted, to remember His sacrifice with a physical involvement. God knew how our human senses play a part and how sweet it is to commune with Him in this way until we can partake together with Him in His Father’s kingdom.

I want to share a communion song with you that I wrote after my family and I moved up to Northern California in 2015. We had just bought our house, but all our belongings were in storage in Southern California. My husband had flown down to pack up a moving truck and bring all our stuff up and I was camping out in our vacant house with my kids. I had just put them to bed and was sitting alone in the living room in a camping chair and I got out my guitar to just sit and worship. After playing some worship songs, I started just playing and singing from my heart to God and this song is what came out of it.

The night before Jesus died, He said that He won’t drink again of this fruit of the vine until it’s with us in His Father’s kingdom, and the last words of Jesus in the Bible are, “Surely, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20). With this in mind, let’s remember Him, seek Him, and live with Him reigning in us as we await His soon return.

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As Pentecost approaches, it got me thinking about the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. There was a period of time between when Jesus ascended to heaven and Pentecost. Before ascending, Jesus had given them the commission to go into all the world and make disciples, telling them that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, but I want to focus on His instruction to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come. (Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4-5)

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

This phrasing to be clothed with, endyō in the Greek, is a powerful word when we also see how it is used in other context throughout the New Testament. This is the same word used in the parables Jesus told of the king and his son’s wedding feast and the prodigal son. The man who was found without being clothed in wedding garments was cast out; and the father of the prodigal son gave the command to clothe his returned son with the best robe. Even further, we see this word used by Paul in 1 Corinthians, “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…For this perishable body must put on the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50;53)

Again, in Ephesians we are told to put off our old self and instead to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Lastly, not in lack of references, but in better understanding the context, in Galatians it says that “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

When Jesus gave the command of the great commission, He fully meant it, but He never meant for us to do it on our own or in our own strength. It was always intended while being clothed with power from on high, which comes through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father.

As we jump ahead after the disciples are first baptized with the Holy Spirit as He came upon them, we see Peter preach an incredible, spirit-filled sermon that resulted in thousands being saved. The references that he used to the old prophesies and Psalms that an unlearned fisherman like himself wouldn’t have studied under, is absolutely and undeniably the Holy Spirit at work in and through him. We have the advantage of seeing Peter before he was empowered, seeing his mistakes play out throughout the gospels; one of his biggest being denying Christ 3 times. He wasn’t an eloquent guy, yet with the Spirit upon him, he spoke eloquently and clearly and was able to lead with godly boldness that would be effective instead of the disastrous outcomes of his worldly boldness we previously read about. The Spirit even ended up working miracles through him, such as the lame beggar he told to rise up and walk, and who was healed through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Let me ask you this…do you think you could ever do the kinds of things Peter and Paul did? Does it feel like those were works of old that have faded away in modern times?

I think sometimes as Christians we get into the bad habit of putting people in the bible on pedestals or having the perspective that Holy Spirit doesn’t work that way anymore, and that can severely hinder our walk and our faith. The same unchanging God and Spirit who worked through the people of the Bible then, can and does still work in His servants today. I think the main hindrance is that we generally don’t actually believe it can happen or we at least don’t look with expecting faith.

Now, I am not saying you just need to “name it and claim it” type thing, that is not biblically supported. However, I have witnessed great things done when I have let my natural minded guard down that is perfectly content to only operate in the natural realm, and instead been open to let the Spirit work and move in the spiritual realm and it. is. awesome!

I want to encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and carefully constructed schedules. Pray for a fresh overflowing with the Holy Spirit every morning, and ask Him to open doors and opportunities, being willing to walk in whatever works He’s prepared. I promise you, it will be incredible and you’ll be blessed as you serve. At first, you’re most likely going to feel crazy, I know I did when the Holy Spirit would tell me to say something to someone or do something not “normal”. But the more you exercise that faith muscle, the more quickly you’ll respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and the more you’ll experience the types of things we read about in the Bible.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit is WITH you because He is everywhere, but if you have accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit is IN you. If you ask for Him to baptize you, He comes UPON you and empowers you. The Holy Spirit is a gift that is obtained simply by asking, just as Jesus said, “If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)

This Pentecost, let’s be stirred to not only have put off our old self and put on Christ, but to also be daily clothed with power from on high.

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I’m going to be transparent with you, lately I feel like I’ve been in a spiritual desert. I’ve had these seasons before but this one seems particularly dry.

As I was reading back through some of my past blog posts of things the Lord has shown me, a couple points really stood out to me. First was from the post Where the Spirit Leads, and the fact that the Spirit does indeed lead us into the wilderness sometimes but it’s always with our good in mind. When the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness it was with full awareness that He would be tempted by the devil, but that it would be used to equip and strengthen Jesus as He was about to begin His ministry. (Luke 4)

As much as it feels better to think that God would never lead me somewhere knowing I will be anywhere near the devil and a place for him to tempt me, it really has its refining purpose and I need to trust and take God at His word that He is working ALL things for my good, resisting the devil and his temptations knowing he will flee. (Romans 8:28; James 4:7)

The second point was from the post Trials. Temptations. Does God give us more than we can handle? And the sweet remembrance of the truth that yes, we absolutely go through life not being able to handle much if anything. However, that the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us gives us the power and ability to resist temptation and He provides a way of escape from every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). The real question is whether we decide to listen and obey or quench Him.

What about you? Does life feel like a wilderness or desert for you right now? What are you doing to get through it?

I have learned in the past that the only way to get through a desert is to get drenched in the water of the Word, even if it seems like a mirage, it IS going to accomplish God’s goal in its going out. It may not feel like it’s quenching that thirst in the dryness, but if the word is cut out entirely, true spiritual dehydration will set in and that is way worse!

Having neurological conditions that cause my nerves to send and receive signals incorrectly, I have learned not to trust my feelings. I have to look beyond pain to know if I am experiencing something that needs immediate medical intervention or if it’s just my feelings interpreting the wrong information. On this same principle, we cannot trust our emotions or feelings of whether or not we feel close to God and interpret that as reality. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9).

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you cannot be any closer to God on this earth than Him dwelling inside of you, but you can feel closer or farther at times. If you spend all your time chasing the feeling of being close to God, you’ll end up lacking in depth of relationship. Take a marriage or parent-child relationship for example. You love your spouse/parent/child regardless of whether you’re happy, sad, angry, hurt. Nothing changes your love for them, but a lot of things can change your feelings and emotions at any moment in time. If you based your closeness with them on whether you felt the feeling of love like when you give a great big hug, you’d likely conclude you aren’t in a close relationship, and you’d be right if that was the only thing you’re seeking to be fulfilled in. However, you know that closeness is found in the fact that you’re in the relationship and spend quality time together.

In the same way, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we have been brought into that perfect union shared between Father, Son, and Spirit. We don’t need to feel close to be close, we just need to spend quality time together with God, being still before Him and being surrendered to let Him do His work in us.

We were made with emotions, they’re not inherently bad, but they’re not supreme or to be the basis of our relationship because we know our hearts are deceitful. If we just keep pressing in, being faithful and fervent to spend quality time with our Savior, we will eventually leave the season of desert and enter a new season. Those seasons of rainforest, where you always feel drenched with God and can feel Him in a strong way are blessings in those moments. But don’t get caught up in trying to savor old blessings or turn away from seeking Him. He has new blessings for us, we just need to keep looking forward and run our race through whatever spiritual terrain we find ourselves in and He will bestow them upon us in His timing and way. Jeremiah 17 goes on to say in verse 13, “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You shall be put to shame; those who turn away from You shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.”

I’ll leave you with a verse that is a comfort to me during dry seasons and I hope it encourages you:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

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With Mother’s Day this coming weekend, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ mother, Mary. The gospel’s don’t mention a whole lot about her, but what they do mention paints such a sweet image of whom God chose to bear His Son.

Based on the gospel of Luke, we know that Mary was young and betrothed, or what we think of as engaged nowadays, when the angel Gabriel visited her to give her the message that she would be the mother of Messiah. We can see a few distinct characteristics about her just from that encounter with Gabriel.

“She was visited by Gabriel and he said to her, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God…And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (whole context in Luke 1:26-38)

She was favored and found favor with God.
The Lord was with her.
She was pure, both in heart and physically.
She had faith and was obedient.
She was humble and willing to serve God.

I don’t know that she fully quite understood all of what this meant, but after she visits her relative, Elizabeth, we see her praise burst forth from the abundance of her heart as she rejoiced in God (whole context in Luke 1:46-56). She’s filled with so much joy that her heart just leaps out, uncontained and unrestrained with joy, expressing that her soul magnifies the Lord. She recognizes that she’s but a humble servant, and yet generations will call her blessed for the work God had called her to, of giving birth to and raising the Son of God. In this song of praise, she ends by acknowledging her Son’s role as Messiah in verses 54-55 saying, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

As we read about the birth of Jesus, I can’t help but wonder what Mary was thinking and feeling through it all. Traveling while pregnant is hard even in the conveniences of today, but back then? Whew! Not to mention, Mary was young and still a virgin, and while she likely witnessed the birth of John the Baptist as she was visiting with Elizabeth, would that have prepared her for her own birth that she now faced in an animal stable with only Joseph who she had not been intimate with yet? Was she disappointed? Was she sad over the circumstances? Was she scared? Was she embarrassed? Those things aren’t recorded for us, but I can imagine those feelings stirring in her mind. I wonder if she played the truths of Gabriel’s message over and over in her head to comfort with self-talk, “I am favored by God, He is with me, I am His servant, nothing is impossible for God” as she worked to birth our Messiah into this world.

The thought had crossed my mind that she might feel sad after giving birth because she had to swaddle Jesus and lay Him in a manger instead of a crib that her carpenter husband may or may not have already made back home; but as I thought on this more I came to think, “Would I be concerned with anything else as I starred into the face of Jesus, the Messiah?” Probably not. I bet she was filled with awe and wonder, and even curiosity on thinking that this little baby, her Son, was indeed God. And even more so less concerned when shepherds then come find them and share their story of the encounter with the angels and all that they were told. Seeing these strangers come, leaving their whole livelihoods of flocks in the fields, to chase after the One whom the angels spoke of. It says that Mary’s response was that she “treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

The next awesome thing about Mary, is that her and Joseph were obedient to keep the law. This is super important because Mary wasn’t just chosen to carry, deliver, and keep Jesus alive to adulthood. She had a work and call to keep the law of God and teach Jesus to do the same. If Jesus would not have been circumcised on the eighth day or the sacrifice offered because He opened Mary’s womb as her first son, the law as it concerns Jesus’ full keeping of it would not have been fulfilled perfectly. In the faithfulness to fulfill the law with Jesus as a baby, Mary also witnessed the blessing of yet even more prophecy being fulfilled by the experience with Simeon and Anna at the temple (whole context in Luke 2:22-38).

As she raised Jesus up, it was when He was 12 and the incident of Him being missing for 3 days, that we see a shift. When Mary and Joseph question Jesus and He responds with, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49), it is then and onward that some things that Jesus said were going over her level of understanding. Every parent has troubles raising their children, but Mary’s trouble wasn’t that her child was being a typical “tween”, it was that her parenting couldn’t be perfect to match the true perfection of her Son. And yet, again we see that she “treasured up all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51b) She showed wisdom even in the lack of her understanding because she had purposed long ago when Gabriel first came to her, that she was going to walk in faith and humility as the servant of the Most High.

I won’t go into all the details of the wedding at Cana where Jesus turns water into wine, but the brief interaction of Mary here is definitely worth mentioning because she shows a tremendous amount of faith. She goes to Jesus and she tells the servants to do whatever He tells them. She’s absent from mention for the rest of that story, but God used her to save the couple and their family from a lifetime of shame and begin the miracles that Jesus would perform, all because she had faith and wasn’t afraid to go to Jesus with the problem.

Lastly, Mary was there at the cross as Jesus died. She saw the death of her Son and Savior, up close and personal. She is the only person who is the closest to understanding how the Father must have felt seeing Jesus dying on the cross. What a bittersweet moment if she truly understood the gravity of His role on that cross. The Son who kicked in her tummy and opened her womb, was the very Son who was taking the penalty for her sin allowing her to reconcile with the Father. I can only imagine how sorrowful yet how loved she must have felt when looking up at Jesus, not even bearing the resemblance of a man at that point, pushing up from His nail pierced hands and feet to get enough breath to tell His disciple John to take Mary as his mother and look after her. He was slowly suffocating and yet His mother’s wellbeing, both her spiritual and physical wellbeing, was important enough to make arrangements for from the cross He hung on.

And it wasn’t just Mary’s wellbeing He cared for, but that of the entire world. We were the joy set before Him as He endured the cross and despising the shame, knowing His purpose and mission and therefore setting His face like a flint, awaiting the near vindication of His resurrection on the third day; that in Him we would have life and have it abundantly (Hebrews 12: 1-2; Isaiah 50:7-8; John 10:10).

If you learn anything from Mary, and the short mentions of her in the Bible, may it be to walk in humility and purity with God as His servant, open and willing to do whatever it is He asks of you, having full faith in His promises, and in the end, find yourself broken and surrendered at the foot of His cross as He cares for you.

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As this is my first year in trying my hand at gardening, but definitely not my first year in experiencing weeds, when I came across this quote by Tozer, it really stood out to me.

“All things as they move toward God are beautiful, and they are ugly as they move away from Him.” (A.W. Tozer)

When I consider my little seedlings versus weeds, I see many differences. However, the main difference is that weeds are rather ugly and don’t serve a purpose in my garden. As my seedlings grow, they sprout cute little leaves and I know that they will eventually yield edible food for my table. The difference in these two is what is sown. Weeds will yield weeds and vegetable seeds will yield its kind. Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will they also reap. For the one who sows to their own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” To which begs the question…what am I sowing? Because that will be what I reap.

I don’t know about you, but if I get out of habit of reading my Bible daily, I become a grumpy pants complainer. I find myself viewing life from a negative lens and realize that I’m really not looking too far past the nose on my own face. That in turn more times than not ends up sowing weeds in how I treat others. But when I run to Jesus and soak up the truth of His word, letting it wash over me and really seep into all the crevices of my broken self, I’m refreshed, renewed, refilled, and ready to respond like Him instead of react like sin nature me.

When we move towards God, abiding in Him and His word, we are being shaped into the image of Jesus, who is beautiful! But the more we move away from Him, sowing to our flesh, the more our flesh nature grows stronger and pops its ugly head out without any regard to the ways of the Spirit.

When you think about all the aspects of your life; your family, your work, your ministry, your hobbies…what are you sowing? Is it rooted in the things of God and therefore beautiful? Are there any weeds popping up in your garden? You may need to sit a bit to evaluate what is being reaped and therefore what you’re sowing.

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12)

In life we are either moving toward God or away from Him. Are we aware of this movement and the direction we’re headed? Allow me to step out of the garden metaphor and over to the sea real quick. I feel like sometimes life is like being in the shallow of the beach shore. We are in the water, waves of life are crashing against us, sometimes we’re riding those waves easily on a boogie board and other times we’re sucking sea water trying to catch our breath. But regardless, if we’re not paying attention and stop looking towards the lifeguard station we entered the water at, we’re going to drift over time. Before we know it, we could be a mile down the shoreline. Jesus is our beautiful lifeguard seated on His station of the heavenly throne at the right hand of the Father and we need to keep our eyes on Him or we’ll be moving away from Him in the sea of life. Just like that slow drift in the water, we may not see right away the effects of the weeds we’re sowing until they have sprouted and are choking out our good seeds’ growth. We must be mindful of the state of our hearts before God if we’re to ward off growing weeds, which honestly can sometimes feel like a tiresome and daunting task day after day.

I do want to iterate one thing real quick before moving on, especially in light of the false gospels and prosperity doctrine in our culture. We are indeed justified by our faith in Christ Jesus and it is by grace we have been saved, not by our works that we are saved. But the Bible does talk about faith without works being dead (James 2:14-26) and that we’ll know true from false teachers by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20), so fruit is worth being mindful of. I love the way the documentary American Gospel put it…good works is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit that comes from abiding in Jesus. It’s from our root of salvation in Jesus that by the Spirit dwelling in us, we are producing the fruit of the works we were created for and that He prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). I would never want you to finish reading this devotional thinking that you must try to work hard to produce good works in your life. Just as a tree doesn’t strain to produce its good fruit in season, it simply gets watered and fruit naturally comes; so we too need not strain to produce good works, we simply just abide in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to give us gifts as He wills that will produce the good work fruit in our lives that was prepared for us.

Galatians 6:9 continues on to say, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” If I grew seedlings indoors but got discouraged waiting for them to germinate and just gave up and threw them in the trash, I wouldn’t be sowing seeds for my garden, I’d be sowing impatience and I’d never yield the edible fruit I want. Thankfully, God will never give up on us, as the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and the One who will complete the work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). If we are to be imitators of Jesus as He calls us to be, then we too should press on in the good work we’re called to, knowing that in due season we will reap what has been sown, and using our swords of the Spirit to de-weed our hearts.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

If you have put your faith in Jesus, you are a beautiful new creation in Christ, being sanctified as you grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. Don’t let the flesh have its way in growing weeds. Instead, make Psalm 139 the prayer of your heart today, and let the Lord point out and pull up any weeds that may be growing in the garden of your heart, and sow the seeds that He desires which will lead you in the way everlasting.

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When I was younger and heard the word “persecution”, I used to think of places like China, or of people like the apostles being stoned or hung upside down on a cross. Now, in the face of changes even here in America, it is becoming more of a reality just in a different way for now. While in America we as Christians are starting to really face social and political persecution, I believe it is only a matter of time before it gets worse, and no one will be able to ride the fence or be lukewarm. All will have to choose to either follow and obey man or follow and obey God and face intense persecution and possibly death.

Does that sound scary to you? In one sense, yes, God made us with a desire to survive, but in the other sense, our spirit should yearn for God so much that we forsake our flesh, and all the fear that comes with it, and purpose in our hearts to follow and obey God at all costs, knowing that we will face persecution just as Jesus warned us in Matthew 10. I encourage you to spend some time in Matthew 10:16-33 and let the Lord minister to you through it.

In America, we have been spoiled to be able to worship God freely in buildings, homes, parks, anywhere we want, and to have that right protected under the constitution of our land. But have we actually taken advantage of this freedom fully or have we as a whole grown content with doing church once a week or less? If we are truly being the church, the body and bride of Christ, we must be abiding in Him every single day and walking as a body the way Christ designed, not as America has designed. How can we know what God’s will and design for His church is and how can we pursue it even as persecution is ushered in?

In Acts 2, we see after Peter preached the sermon at Pentecost just how the early church was operating and thriving. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

When you read this, don’t you get a longing desire to be part of it? Jesus designed us to be in community as His church, to be doing life together, not just meeting for an hour a week to scarf the meat of the Word like a snack and then scatter. It is important to abide in Jesus on our own, in an individual relationship with Him, but He also highlights the importance of being among fellow believers, not just in the studying His word, but also in praying together, communion and sharing meals together, and in fellowship together.

COVID has changed a lot, but it shouldn’t change how we live as the body of Christ. And as persecution comes and worsens, it won’t be a decision on whether or not to go to church in person, or whether or not to post a bible verse on social media, or whether or not we should voice support for marriage the way God designed it or for protection of children inside and outside the womb, or share the truth of the gospel in love with those we meet. I believe it will become a matter of there is no church building to meet at and you’ll need to meet in homes, you won’t have the ability to post bible verses or biblical perspectives on social media, the law will have changed to become the complete antithesis of a biblical worldview so much that voicing your biblical views or sharing the gospel may land you in jail or at minimum with a lawsuit that you can’t afford the judgement of. But that shouldn’t cause us fear or worse, to give up and fall away.

A little further in Acts, we see the disciples coming before the rulers and were threatened and told not to preach in the name of Jesus, and Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right to in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) and they were arrested again and warned over and over not to preach Christ. Yet again and again, they continued in their mission and responded that they “must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). When Stephen was brought before the counsel with false allegations, he too spoke the truth in love boldly, even though it ended up costing him his life. (Acts 6-7) And when Paul was sought to be killed in Damascus, he wisely fled through a window in the wall, but only for him to continue in the mission Jesus called him to. He was later arrested, beaten, plotted against, and brought before high ranking officials, yet he didn’t deter from that upward call of God in Christ Jesus, he was faithful to follow and obey Jesus no matter what circumstance came his way, even his eventual death.

How did these people, those in the bible and those we have read about throughout history such as Corrie Ten Boom and her family, Gladys Alyward, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, and so many others; how did they all manage to stay so strong and on course in their race throughout such intense persecution? This quote by Spurgeon sums it up well, “He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

If we do what Jesus told us, to take up our cross daily, follow and abide in Him, and pray without ceasing, we will truly understand and live as though our days are numbered and as bondservants to the Lord God Almighty who is coming any day for His bride, the church. We will be able to do as James says and count it all joy when we face these various trials (James 1:2-4) and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus, just as those in the early church did, not ceasing to meet with one another and teach and preach Jesus (Acts 5:41-42).

Just as Studd put it and Pastor Chuck Smith used to say, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” (C.T. Studd) May you live in the abundant life of abiding in Jesus and upon your passing from this side of eternity to the next hear Him say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant”.

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As we’re in tax season, the account of when the Pharisees and some Herodians tried to trap Jesus with the question on whether or not to pay taxes to Caesar comes to mind. They came to him saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” And our discerning Lord asks them why they put him to the test and asks for a denarius, which was a coin with the value of a day’s wage for a laborer, and asks them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” to which they responded that it was Caesar’s. Jesus wisely replies, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”. (Mark 12:13-17)

As these Pharisees seek to butter Jesus up in stating that He is true, they actually end up uttering falsehoods in their ignorance of Jesus’ character and who He actually is. While the English translation here says “do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances”, the original Greek text actually implies that they’re saying Jesus doesn’t care or take concern towards others because He doesn’t show a partiality on the basis of outward appearance. This shows their hearts, probably more than they realized, because they were upset that He didn’t show them the reverence that other people did, and by this they assumed He just didn’t concern Himself with others. This couldn’t be farther from the truth and could be a whole other devotional, but the point isn’t necessarily to focus on this accusation, but to point out the state of their hearts and minds. They were outward focused on both appearances and actions, such as paying taxes.

The big question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” This actually isn’t even the main point of focus in this devotional either, but it brings about a question of where our focus is. You see, in light of all this pandemic, the question has been, “Is it legal to meet as a church body, or not? Should we meet in person, or should we not?” But is that really the question or focus we should have?

Jesus responded wisely, and in proper focus that while yes, render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, we should be rendering to God the things that are God’s. If we get so focused on rendering to Caesar that we neglect to render to God the things that are His, where does that leave us? Definitely not in a place He wants us to be.

What if we instead focused on asking, “What does God want us to do and render to Him?” We don’t even need a second should or should we not follow up question to that because the answer to God telling us what to do should always be “Yes, Lord, Your will be done!”

While the question “What does God want us to do?” is rather general and in some areas of specifics cannot be easily answered in one bible verse, there are things that scripture does tell us what He wants us to do, such as going into all nations and making disciples, praying without ceasing, giving thanks, stirring one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet, praising His Name, loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors. In the specifics, He is faithful to answer us when we seek Him, knowing that as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us and that as we make our plans, He guides our steps when we allow Him to direct us and follow the promptings of His Spirit over our feelings or opinions on things. (Matthew, 28:16-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 10:24-25; Mark 12:29-31; James 4:8; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 16:3)

How do we render to God the things that are His? Well, in the very foundation, He created us, formed us, redeemed us, and called us by name, so we are His. Therefore we should render ourselves wholly to Him as living sacrifices. (Isaiah 43:1; John 17:8-10; Romans 12:1-2)

If we had a servant, which can be hard to imagine in our culture today, so instead let’s say our child who is an employee in the family business. If our child is working in our family business, they as our employee and child should want to do their job to the best of their ability, seeking to please us as their boss and parent, working for the growth of the family business. If we have placed our faith in Jesus, receiving Him as our salvation, we are choosing to become His bondservant and have become children of God adopted into His family (Galatians 4:5). God’s family business is redemption and reconciliation in which we are to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). Our best is to be daily being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit in order to be poured out, doing the works He has prepared for us, all for the glory of God and to grow the Kingdom of Heaven because it’s the Father’s will that none should perish but that all would come to repentance (Luke 11:13; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Peter 3:9).

Yes, tithing can be part of this as well, offering and sacrificing monetarily to God to use as He wills, but I’m not going to go into that in particular area right now. If you’re interested in how God feels about tithing, which is the one area He even says to test Him in, you can read and study about that in Malachi 3:6-12.

So yes, pay your taxes in accordance with the laws of the land, but most importantly, render yourself to God. Live with open hands for Him to pour into and take from, being a vessel of honor in which He is free to use however He chooses. That abundant life comes from abiding in Him, crucifying your flesh daily, and letting Him carve out the things in you that are not of Him and filling it with Himself in order that you may be a cup that runs over, pouring out and touching others.

So today, purpose in your heart to render to God the things that are God’s. Render yourself to Him daily.

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Have you ever read through Ephesians 6:10-18 on the whole armor of God and thought, “That seems like a lot of work to put on” and maybe feels impossible to do every day? Let’s break it down a bit because it really is an important part of our life and not one that we’re expected to do on our own.

Before we look at the details of the armor, it’s important to remember these two things written in verses 10-12:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

We are told to be strong in the LORD and in the strength of HIS might. I think sometimes I tend to give myself too much credit in my mind as if because I’m saved, I am somehow in and of myself better able to handle things in this life. However, we can’t handle much, if anything, on our own and we aren’t just being told to be strong, but to be strong IN THE LORD and in HIS MIGHT. We do that by putting on the full armor OF GOD in order to stand. So really, step one is ridding ourselves of self-reliance and being dependent on what God gives us in order to be strong and stand against the schemes of the devil.
We have to remember that this battle isn’t physical at all, it’s all in the spiritual realm. This may seem a bit unfair to us because it’s not like we’re angels that can see into the spiritual realm like it’s the physical. However, the odds are completely loaded in our favor because greater is He who is in us than he who is the world (1 John 4:4), so we’re able to fight successfully with the equipment and equipping God gives us. If we lose focus of this fact though, we can be left spiritually naked in battle and end up fighting the very people whom we’re supposed to be showing God’s love to. It’s a spiritual battle that needs spiritual armor and spiritual weapons.

The Whole Armor of God

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (v.13-18a).

God gives us this armor freely, but we are required to take it up and use it in order to be effective in standing firm.

We have the belt of truth that holds up our pants so to speak. When the soldiers back in the day used to go to battle, they would gird up their loins (which let’s just be real, the tunics were like dresses). So they had to belt these tunics in order to fight and it would keep them from tripping. Truth keeps us focused so that we are not deceived and tripping, or falling into deception and sin. When we hear something that’s not true, we’ll be girded and ready with the truth, who is also the way and the life, Jesus.
We have the breastplate of righteousness, that covers our major internal organs, namely our heart. Our heart is deceitful in itself and our emotions can often mess with us, reminding us of our past failures that turns our stomach in knots and makes us want to curl into a ball of shame. As new creations in Christ, we don’t wear our own righteousness though, we are robed in Christ’s righteousness. We can stand tall in His righteousness in our battle position knowing that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.
We have our feet with shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. We are ready to march into any battle knowing our shoes will not wear thin, because the gospel is for us the same yesterday as it is today as it will be tomorrow. We have a hope and are ready to give a reason for that hope to everyone we come in contact with. And as we go throughout battles, it’s our God of peace who gives us His peace.
We have the shield of faith in which we can extinguish ALL the flaming darts of the evil one, that we are told to take up in ALL circumstances. If you’ve ever seen movies of old Roman soldiers, they used to carry full body shields that they could stop, plant down, and take cover under as enemy archers would send over a sea of arrows at them. We too have a shield, our faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen, and with which it is impossible to please God without (Hebrews 11:1,6). Our faith is powerful and even with only as much as of a mustard seed, could we move mountains, then how effective it is against the lies the enemy shoots our way (Matthew 17:20).
We have the helmet of salvation. Our minds can often lead us into trouble if we over think and try to rationalize everything to death. The enemy is an excellent liar, mixing the perfect amount of truth with lies that it becomes a concoction of possibly an undetected deceit. We can know that we know that our salvation is 100% secure in Christ. No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee Who has sealed us (John 10:28-29; 2 Corinthians 1:22).
We have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. If you’re in a battle, would you ever put down your sword? Me either! I’d be gripping that thing so tightly and taking it with me everywhere. The same should hold true for our spiritual sword, which is both an offensive and defensive weapon. We have to realize too, that the devil tries to use the word of God against us sometimes, but it’s done in deceit. Satan will twist and add to and take out things from God’s word in an attempt to sword fight with us, and when he’s that close it’s often very personal, just like it was with Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). Being a Berean, actively seeking the truth and testing every spirit, being prudent in attention to using your armor in conjunction together is essential (1 John 4). This sword is sharper than any two-edged, and can not only fight against the enemy, but God uses it to do surgery on our hearts, cutting away sin from us on the battle field (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
We have prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT. Prayer is often times regarded as a last resort option, but it is a powerful weapon that we should use in conjunction with our swords. Prayer for ourselves, prayer for the saints, prayers for others. The really cool thing about prayer too is that you can help fight spiritual battles all over the world. We can pray anywhere at any time. Prayers are like targeted missiles that the enemy can’t do anything about. We can be paralyzed or unable to talk and still offer up prayer and supplication in our hearts to God.

This section ends with a final word of instruction. “To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” (v.18b) We can’t dig a hole and stick out heads in it or just wear our armor and chill at home forever, we have to keep alert with all perseverance. Not to mention, we have a promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, but since when do gates move? That means we, the church, can’t be stuck in a building all the time, we have to get out and storm those gates, knowing we will be victorious if we get out there and fight. (Matthew 16:18)

My dear friend, the harvest is so plentiful, but the laborers are few and God is calling, “Whom shall I send?” Will you respond like Isaiah with, “Here I am, send me!”?

I encourage you to pray for the saints, keep alert, persevere by moving beyond the walls of the church building and fulfill your ministry of reconciliation, and always wear the full armor of God that you may be able to stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

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I have heard Christians who have been saved for a while say that the gospel message is for the unsaved and insinuate that they no longer need to hear it since they are saved. Yet Jesus is our salvation and He said He is the Way, Truth, and Life and no one comes to the Father apart from Him.

I think of it more like this: when we hear the gospel and receive salvation, it’s the first breath taken as a new creation in Christ, just as a baby would breathe air for the first time outside the womb. Would that baby no longer need to breathe after taking their first breath? That may sound silly, but with Jesus being the Way, Truth, and Life, then when we get saved, that’s only the start of the journey on the way to seeking and abiding in truth and having abundant life, eventually eternal life in heaven with Him.

The gospel is at the root and is the central theme of the love letter that is God’s word. It was His plan for reconciliation before He ever even created us. Think about these questions:

How can we grow in our understanding of God’s love without the gospel? (John 3:16; John 15:13; 1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8)
How can we understand how God sees sin and not grow complacent about our sin without the gospel? (James 1:15; 1 John 1:8-10; 1 John 2:2)
How can we understand atonement and not live as condemned without the gospel? (John 3:17; Hebrews 9:13-14; Romans 8:1)
How can we follow Jesus’ command to take up our cross and follow Him without the gospel? (Matthew 16:24-26)
How can we work out our salvation with fear and trembling without the gospel? (Philippians 2:12)

These quotes from Spurgeon and Tozer say it so well “We have an unchanging gospel, which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay; but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah.” (C.H. Spurgeon). “Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God…the cross that saves them also slays them” (A.W. Tozer).

The gospel message is the theme of the love letter God wrote to us, and the act of sacrificial love that we are to emulate as followers of Jesus in order to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). If we leave the gospel message at the start line of the race we’re running, how can we expect to focus on the One who the gospel message is about? Jesus will forever bear His scars, so we should daily remember and be thankful for the sacrifice He gave to get them. (Isaiah 49:16; John 20:27; Revelation 5:6)

When we stop and consider the parallels between Jesus and the things we read about in in the Old Testament (just as He opened the scriptures to His disciples on the Road to Emmaus and opened the minds of His disciples to understand the Scripture – Luke 24), we too can gain not only a deeper understanding of God but also a deeper love for Him as we continue to dig into the gospel message. The more we grow in the grace and knowledge of God, the closer and better our relationship with Him gets.

When Jesus yelled out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? that is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46), that was the one moment in time that He ever experienced separation from the Father as He became sin in order that we might become the righteousness of God. We ourselves have never experienced complete separation from God since the Holy Spirit comes alongside all, regardless of whether He dwells within and upon them. The only humans who will experience the agony of truly being forsaken and separated from God are those who do not accept Jesus as their salvation. When He resurrected and told us, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) He had just experienced how truly teeth gnashing it was to be separated from God and He lovingly reassures us that as His followers, we will never experience that agony. Selah - Pause a moment and really think on this.

Meditation on this truth should not only create in us an overflowing desire to share this truth with others (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), but also invoke a heart of gratitude and worship. To fall at His nail scarred feet and weep at His sacrifice, not just tears of sorrow and repentance for our sin that put Him on that cross, but tears of joy for the sacrifice He made on our behalf and the hope we have in Him. One who has been forgiven much, loves much (Luke 7:41-50) and if the only sin we ever committed was one white lie, it would still be deserving of death, our eternal separation from God (James 2:10; Romans 6:23) and yet we know we are guilty of much more and have been forgiven.

This Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and the rest of our lives, resolve in your heart now to daily look on the cross of Christ afresh and worship God in full surrender. He is worthy!

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When I read about how the people of Israel welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on what we know as Palm Sunday, and then less than a week later were crying out to crucify Him, I often find myself in a place of pain and anger, but also confusion and pride.

Pain and anger seem to be the natural, even righteous response to reading about the chosen people going from joy and adoration to quickly turning to hatred towards Jesus, the Messiah, my Lord. It’s the confusion and pride that I find in myself that I wish to eradicate.

If we are reading the Bible and how the characters did and said bad things, hypocritical things, hateful things, and our response is to be confused and feel as if that’s them and that we would never behave in such a way, we are fooling ourselves and it’s rooted in pride.

Pride was the very problem that caused the people of Israel’s response, their pride in thinking they knew best and expected Jesus to be the Savior they wanted in overthrowing Roman rule over them. Had they listened to His words, studied the Scriptures, and understood that His mission was to be the Savior they needed, to save them from their sin and not Rome, do you think they would have had such a quick turn from yelling “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him”? (Matthew 21:9; Matthew 27:22-23)

The people in the Bible were people just like us and we are not immune to the fleshly failings they faced. If you’re like me and find yourself taking that perspective as you read and study through the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, it’s time to take those thoughts captive and surrender that pride at the foot of the cross we put Jesus on. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

How can we prevent that pesky pride from popping its evil head up? It’s much easier to act justly, love mercy, and walk in humility with our God (Micah 6:8) when we stop measuring others by the standard of us, and instead measure by the standard of perfection we find in Jesus. When we study the failings of the people in the Bible, we need to mentally keep them in the place they are there for, an example of failing flesh that we can relate to and utilize as a warning (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11), remembering that we desperately need Jesus everyday of our lives. Otherwise, we are using them to bolster our pride instead of seeing the depravity in our own lives.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

When we rightly use Jesus as our standard, not other people, we quickly realize and remember that we ALL fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), none of us is righteous (Romans 3:10) of our own self and we ALL deserve death (Romans 6:23) but that God’s love and costly gift of Jesus is the only thing that allows us to stand righteous before the Father (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21) as a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

So as we think on Palm Sunday, take a look on how we will be worshipping in heaven and the parallel of Jesus' first coming versus our heavenly worship:

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the thone and around the the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God” (Revelation 7:9-11 - emphasis added)

Let’s join in the celebration and adoration of our King of kings, for who He truly is and not what we think we want Him to be. Only then can we worship in spirit and truth in proclaiming His praises. Maranatha!

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day…a day late!

I know most of the decorations surrounding St. Patrick’s Day tend to include leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows, often met with a meal of corned beef and cabbage, but there is so much more to this holiday than most people realize and such great application we can learn from Patrick.

Patrick, born in Britain, was kidnapped at the age of 16 by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. Although Patrick was raised in a Christian home, he didn’t make the decision to make Jesus his Lord and Savior until after he was living in slavery. In his autobiography Confessions, he wrote, “…the Lord opened my senses to my unbelief, so that though late in the day, I might remember my many sins; and accordingly I might turn to the Lord my God with all my heart.” As a slave, Patrick was given the task of a herdsman. It was through tending the flocks day after day, that he would pray frequently and his love and fear of God grew strong and his faith grew, even earning him the nickname “Holy Boy” among the other slaves.

Through a series of dreams, Patrick was led through an escape at the age of 22. He returned to Britain and became a priest and bishop, to later heed the call to return to Ireland, selling his title of nobility in order to leave and share the gospel to the Irish people, even the very ones who enslaved him. He later wrote, “So at last I came here to the Irish gentiles to preach the gospel…and should I prove worthy, I am ready and willing to give up my own life, without hesitation for His name.”

Patrick’s heart and mission for the Irish people was full of opposition and attempts on his life, yet he wrote, “As everyday arrives, I expect either a sudden death or deception or being taken back as a slave or some other such misfortune. But I fear none of these, since I took to the promise of heaven and have flung myself into the hands of the all-powerful God, who rules as Lord everywhere.”

Patrick journeyed throughout Ireland for the rest of his life, sharing Christ ever so faithfully until he died on March 17, around 461 AD. Even as we had talked about in last week’s devotional, Patrick understood his days were numbered and used the time he had to be used by God, making his life a living sacrifice in his service to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the people of Ireland. The Irish were known to the British as barbaric and not worthy of sharing the gospel with, but Patrick knew the heart of God was for these people and that Jesus had come that ALL might be saved and that God’s will is that none should perish but for ALL to come to repentance. (John 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:9)

As we move from the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day moving into Palm Sunday and Easter, may our hearts be stirred to love people so deeply even to the point of forsaking our own desires, our own reputations, and even our own lives in order to fulfill the commission Jesus gave to make disciples of all nations.

God stirred Patrick to love and share the gospel with the Irish. Who has God stirred your heart for to share the gospel with?

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If you’re in an area that is affected by the Daylight Savings Time change, you’ve probably been seeing social media posts about how we’re “losing” an hour. This concept of time is rather interesting if you really think about it. Time has been going since the beginning when God created everything. It seemingly starts off slow when we’re children and then seems to go faster and faster as we grow older. Yet, we’re not ever really losing or gaining time because we all get the same 24 hours in each day.

However, how we spend our time determines a lot, which can be a loss or a gain in the grand scheme of life.

Think about your average day spent, with all the routines you have, all the responsibilities you have. Is there time in your day that is carved out to spend with Jesus in His word and in prayer? It’s important to remember that while God has good plans for us to give us a hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11), we’re not promised tomorrow or a definite lifespan here on earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16) Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass (Job 14:5)

What then are we to do with our lives and the days, hours, minutes, and seconds that we do have breath in our lungs?

We were created for a purpose, to worship God. For some, when you read worship, you immediately thought singing praise songs. That is definitely worship, but if we look in the Bible, that’s not the only form of worship.

In the Old Testament, God had prescribed the ways He required the nation of Israel to worship Him through the prescribed sacrifices. However, when Jesus came and fulfilled the law, He said in John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

What does worshiping in spirit and truth look like? Paul explained it like this: I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

Instead of animal sacrifices of the old testament covenant, Jesus paid the final sacrifice for atonement of sins and we now offer up ourselves as a living sacrifice in worship. This means that every area of our lives should be worship. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16-17)

In light of our limited 24 hours of time that we receive when we wake up on any given day, are we living as if our lives, the entirety of our lives, are a beautiful and fragrant offering to God? So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Think back over your average day. What could you rearrange in your daily routines and schedules or be more mindful of in seeking to be a living sacrifice to God with the limited time you have left on this earth, being worshipful in all that you do?

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As Americans, we’ve come to celebrate Women’s History Month in March. While we look back on the great accomplishments of women in American history and honor them, we as Christians can look back on the people in the Bible and not just look at their accomplishments, but more importantly learn from them and apply the spiritual truths to our lives.

When I think of a great woman in the Bible, Esther is one of the first women who comes to mind. This young, beautiful woman is often remembered for her bravery when she was queen, but if we look back even before she was queen, we see a strong young woman who had been carried away as a captive and was an orphan, living with her cousin.

Yes, she ended up living in the lavishness of royalty, but what it took in order for God to raise her up took immense amount of strength and trust in God. To be taken as a virgin in order to be in the king’s harem was to be taken as property and used for the king’s pleasure with the possibility of becoming queen. She had to trust that God was with her, would keep her, and would give her the grace to get through whatever it was she would face in this new season of her life.

When she was in the midst of facing possible death for breaking the law in order to go before the king unsummoned, what she did gives us a beautiful example of what we too can do when faced with hardship.

“I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16b)

She fasted, she denied her flesh in order to strengthen her spirit in the LORD and seek His favor upon her as she set out to do something God had called her to, although against the laws of man. And YET, she knew she may perish doing the will of God and she was content with that.

This reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they too were faced with obeying God or man. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

Now we know that God doesn’t always deliver us from the hands of men, as we see from those who have died as martyrs. As the apostle Paul so eloquently penned: “As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21) If we truly believe that to live is Christ and to die is gain, then what does it matter if we live or die, so long as we are walking in the good and perfect will of God.

Just as Esther trusted God, even unto death, and was called for a specific purpose, you too are called for a purpose. Will you trust God and be willing to be used “for such a time as this”?

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The book of Job opens and we see that he was a man of great wealth, but more importantly a man of godly character. Even to the point that God Himself points out Job to satan saying, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”(Job 1:8)

We see in the very next verse that satan responded in his usual way, accusing Job’s motives plus an idea to try to prove God wrong. And yet, when Job faced the destruction of property, wealth, and family members, it says, “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:20-22)

This really challenges me and gets me thinking. I thrive on routines and schedules, and yet God has allowed my chronic illness to undo my comfort and dependency in just that area. He has been teaching me steadily and regularly that I only need to be dependent, in ALL things, on Him, my unchanging and faithful Abba.

What is it that you are currently facing? Health crisis of you or your family? Joblessness? Cut in hours or pay? Fear? Anxiety? Depression? My dear Christian friend, I can guarantee you that no matter what it is, God is using it for your spiritual good. (Romans 8:28) That knowledge alone won’t necessarily make your emotions magically calm or make you want to proclaim like Job, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” but you know what will? Focus your mind on the Prince of Peace who promised to give us His peace and rest, give thanks to God, and think on good things.

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock (Isaiah 26:3-4) Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 - emphasis added)

…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6b-9 - emphasis added)

The other thing that sticks out to me is that Job worshiped. We don’t see him singing praise songs, dancing like king David, or worshipping in ways that we usually think of today. Instead it was his heart aligning with God, being fully surrendered to God’s will regardless that he had lost everything, and blessed the name of the LORD. His heart was full of worship to God not in light of his situation but in spite of it.

Circumstances can never be the driving force behind our worship, otherwise our worship is not truly rooted in unconditional love for God. Every day and all the time is a good time to worship God because He is good all the time. His goodness doesn’t waver, His faithfulness doesn’t waver, His love is steadfast and unending, so in spite of our circumstances and in light of HIM should we worship and His praise continually be in our mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

What about when we’re in so much despair we just can’t even talk? We can make it our heart’s prayer like David in saying, “O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.” (Psalm 51:15) but we also know that “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18) and that “likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26). Jesus promised to give us rest IF we come to Him. “Come to Me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 - emphasis added)

Who knows if what you’re facing today wasn’t preempted with God saying, “Have you considered my servant, {insert your name}?” Regardless, the challenge to you now is, do you believe God’s promises are true and will you come to Him and receive them?

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