“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Luke 9

“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” v3-5

Two key takeaways for me with the account of Jesus sending our the twelve (see also Matthew 10, Mark 3): 

1. When Jesus sends out the twelve He wants them to depend solely on Him - otherwise, the Twelve risk seeking fortune and gain for themselves, dependence on self, or dependence on wealthy benefactors.  God wants us to be 100% clear from where our livelihood comes.
2. We are to deliver the message - boldly - and not focus on any outcomes as this will be Jesus' role. 

Our primary job is to love Him and as a result of this to love others - see also Matthew 22:34-40.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with everything - life, family, health, etc. - You have also helped me through dark times and never left or forsaken me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a God.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”

Luke 8

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” v49

We all, from time to time, want to throw in the towel with regards to our faith.  Yet this story (v40-42,49-56) reminds us that Jesus will meet us where we are at to encourage us to keep going and believe. I am also reminded of the story of Job, who never lost faith but whose faith was refined.

See also this post from John Piper.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is always there and always encouraging me through good and bad times! Thank You Jesus - I am undeserving of such a God.  I daily miss the mark and I am often distracted by worry and cares of this world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Luke 8

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. v47

Once again we have another event that is accounted for in all of the Synoptic Gospels.  While Luke's version does not include all details of her mindset, both Matthew and Mark include the following:

She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Matthew 9:21

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Mark 5:26-28

I am reminded of scripture that talks about the power of even a little faith: 

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20  

See also Matthew 13:31-32.

We must move from wanting to believe to believing, and then acting on that belief to take the time to grow closer to God.  If we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond my imagination - my cup overflows!  Thank You Jesus - I am undeserving of such blessing.  I daily miss the mark and I am often distracted by worry and cares of this world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Luke 8

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. v26-27

The account of Jesus restoring a demon-possessed man is in all of The synoptic Gospels.  The differences in the accounts in each leads some to question the legitimacy of the Bible as a whole because of the inconsistencies throughout the Bible.  Yet this post I believe adequately dispels this notion of how this particular account and its inconsistent representation in each of the synoptic Gospels undermines the Bible.

The Bible is perfect.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God is always with me and who provides me with Your Word is a tremendous blessing and a gift - thank You Jesus! I am undeserving of such a blessing and a God who would provide such a blessing.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Luke 8

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” v25

There are going to be periods in our life where we question whether God exists or whether He cares about us - see John 16:33 where He tells us "in this world, you will have trouble".  In the Garden of Eden, after The Fall, God promises Adam and Eve, and their descendants, a difficult life.

Yet we can always find our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ - who is always with us.  See Matthew 1:23.  God will never leave or forsake us, and He is with us until the end of the age. 

That said, the next question many will have is - where is God?  

God is in the Bible - You will find Him (John 1:1).

God is in the church - in the fellowship of believers.

We have the Holy Spirit. 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has made Himself known to me and blessed me - my cup runs over.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings and such a God.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Luke 8

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” v21

We are called to love God before anything else (see Exodus 20, Matthew 22:34-40).  We are called to read and study the Bible, to pray, to serve, etc. We need each other - brothers and sisters in Christ - to do this...to support, encourage, and hold each accountable in our efforts - because it is difficult.

Therefore, while we might have earthly family - it those who help us in our walk who are most important - regardless of whether they are blood family or not.

Those who help us put God's word into practice - who help us walk the walk - are out mothers, brothers, etc. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with brothers and sisters in Christ who support me, encourage me, pray with me and for me, and hold me accountable.  Iron does indeed sharpen iron.  Thank You for providing me with such "iron" and people in my life.  I am blessed.  Yet I am undeserving.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses for Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

Luke 8

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them. v18

I posted about Mark's version of these words back in December.  I reviewed John's Piper's commentaries on these words - Part 1 and Part 2. The importance of hearing is once again front and center.

From Piper's commentary on these words from Luke 8.

"Listening - hearing - is a high calling in the Christian church because your salvation hangs on it (verse 12), and your fruitfulness hangs on it (verse 15), and the spread of the light in the world hangs on it (verses 16-17), and in the end the glory of God hangs on it (Matthew 5:16). So (verse 18), "Take heed how you hear."

My salvation, fruitfulness spread of light, AND the glory of God through me hang on my ability to HEAR.  I focus on DOING (and the shame of NOT DOING) but instead I should focus on my HEARING.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has given me life and life to the full!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  I worry, I am distracted and I often fail to hear You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.