"But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life."

Luke 21

"But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." v18-19

Paul and his companions preached:

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God". Acts 14:22

No doubt we will have hardships - many times because believers choose to enter through the "narrow gate" (Matthew 7:13-14).  Some of these hardships will be physical pain/suffering and others emotional pain.  We must be prepared to endure as Christ provides life - eternal protection and salvation.  Live life with the end in mind...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great...great for reasons beyond my explanation.  Great to me because You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You suffered and died for me.  I am not worthy such a sacrifice.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my disobedience to be bold, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and for my many other sins that I commit daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn towards You and away from my sins.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. "

Luke 20

"“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. " v46-47

All believers in Jesus must be careful not to try and act righteous outwardly despite an inner heart condition that is sinful.  We must be humble and acknowledge the need for Jesus just as much as anybody else and then we must ask Jesus' forgiveness and ask Jesus to help us turn towards Him and become more like Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are indeed pure, holy, and blameless.  I certainly am not and I acknowledge I need You .  You are the only One who can forgive my sins and help transform my heart and my life.  You bless me beyond what I deserve and I thank You Jesus but I need You to forgive me for my lust and my selfishness.  Help me be the man You intend for me and help me turn from such sin and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Luke 19

Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. v48

Jesus is power...he is the Messiah, creator of the universe and all of its inhabitants and everything in the skies above and depths below.  As I posted yesterday, Jesus demands our attention and priority.  The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus upon his arrival in Jerusalem but because everyone "hung on His words" their plans were thwarted.  Jesus ultimately was murdered by the Jews but it is because Jesus' willingly submitted to His Father in Heaven who gave up His one and only son...for us.  

I need to recognize the power of Jesus and crave a relationship with Him...daily and more often than that.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed power.  There is no power like You.  I need no other God but You.  You are the source of all and I need nothing else.  Thank You for Your love and blessing despite my sin...my impatience, my lust, anger, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn towards You and away from my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"'But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Luke 19

"'But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’” v27

Jesus demands total obedience, total trust, and total dependence.  We are NOTHING without Him, our creator and our God.  There are areas of course where I am disobedient, lacking in trust, and not dependent (I depend on myself).  I am must humble myself and throw myself at Jesus' feet in ALL areas of my life!  Short of such total devotion, I face destruction at His whim.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You ARE the creator, all knowing and all powerful with regards to my life.  I am at Your mercy.  I know You demand all of me...yet there are areas of my life that I hold back.  Thank You for Your love and mercy but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me love turn towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Luke 19

“Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” v8

When we truly encounter Jesus' love we are drawn to take bold action just so we can demonstrate to others this love....the key here is moving from just being drawn to boldness but to BE bold and to ACT out this boldness.

I desire to BE bold just as Zacchaeus is bold as described here by Luke.

My Prayer: Lord, You are nothing but bold...Your boldness to submit to Your father's will to demonstrate Your love for me is nothing short of the most amazing bold act of all time!  All for me!  Particularly amazing because You know all about me...my lust, my selfishness, etc.  Thank You that You love me despite knowing everything about me...sin and all.  Please forgive me for these sins Jesus and help me turn from these sins towards You...towards Your holiness and transforming power.  Please transform my heart and my life Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me be more like You.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Luke 18

“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” v27

I often overlook God's power.  I struggle with various aspects of my day to day life yet what I forget is that I can turn it over to Him.  He will not only give me peace but He - if it is His will - can do anything!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are all powerful - You created the heavens and the earth and all of its inhabitants.  You rose from the grave, defeated death and You continue to work miracles daily.  You are a great God...yet I don't turn over all of my life to You.  I am not worth the love You have for me yet You love me anyway, knowing everything about me.  Thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me weakness and lack of trust.  Please help me turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18

"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” v14

There is ample mention in scripture for humility.  The most striking discussion of humility comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." v3

Humility is a critical step in your faith journey and one which must be acknowledged daily...it leads to a total dependence on and desperation for Jesus Christ. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed worthy of my worship...perfect in every way and not in need of anything or anyone to make You complete.  You are not only complete but also pure, holy, and blameless.  And You know everything about me, sin and all, yet You still suffered and died for me, and You love me.  Amazing.  Because I continue to be selfish and quick to anger I am worthy of such love.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.