"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 14

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” v13-14

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve:

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

In the same way we are to be a blessing to others...to serve.

This is something I think we need to be more mindful of...to serve others.  But not to be repaid as Jesus says, but to glorify God and for heavenly riches.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You don't need to serve but You want everyone to be part of Your kingdom so You serve us so that we can depend on You, follow You, model You, etc.  How great You are!  I certainly am not deserving of such love and blessing - I am impatient, quick to anger, selfish, harsh with my words, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me and 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 14

"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” v11

I often think of myself as humble...yet in the workplace I strive for recognition and status, believing that I deserve more recognition and status...how sinful! As I read yesterday, I must focus on serving others, primarily the Lord Jesus.

At work, I must serve my earthly masters...

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 1 Peter 2:18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and in need of nothing...yet You came to serve.  How great You are and so full of love!  I am not worthy of Your love and blessing.  I seek glory for myself...I know this is wrong.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn from such sin and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Luke 13

"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” v30

Clearly the measures that are typically used on earth don't concern Jesus...wealth, power, status, accomplishments, etc.  Jesus cares about how You are serving and glorifying Him for that is why we exist.

Another verse earlier in this chapter is relevant for me today:

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." v24

Earlier in Luke is also very relevant:

 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You certainly went through the narrow door and denied Yourself...all for me.  What a great God You are!  You continue to love me even though I am quite unworthy!  I am selfish, lazy, prideful, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  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.

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Luke 13

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. v17

I am often confronted with truth...either in the Word, by a sermon, or on other occasions by brothers and sisters in Christ.  The question is whether I accept the truth or do I run from it...as do those described here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  I KNOW no one comes to the father except through You.  And You provide like no other person or way can....I need not have any reason to seek other Gods.  Yet I do...my own powers, other pursuits, etc.  Yet You still love me and bless me.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  Please forgive me for turning from You.  Please 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.

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Luke 13

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” v8-9

Jesus is indeed patient beyond what we deserve but it is my understanding that His patience is not unlimited and that all sin is punished either now or in heaven.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God, full of patience and second chances for me.  I am not worthy of such love and patience. I am impatient myself, also lazy, quick to anger, slow to listen, and full of pride.  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Luke 12

"I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” v59

I know that I am to be prepared for no one know the hour of Jesus' return.  Being prepared for Jesus' return of course means accepting Him as your Lord and Savior.  It is also means committing to get to know Him better every day...through prayer, study, and reflection.  It also means action - doing what the Word says.  From this verse in Luke today I am reminded that we must also have a healthy fear of Christ in that his patience is not unlimited and we will all be held accountable for our actions or lack thereof...regardless of whether we have accepted Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God...full of love, mercy, kindness, patience, generosity...etc.  Of course all of the fruits of the spirit are present in You.  You are worthy of my worship...yet I am not worthy of You love...I sin - I am impatient, quick to anger, slow to listen, critical of others, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  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.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Luke 12

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." v48

I know Jesus has entrusted me with much...financial resources, spiritual gifts, etc.  The question for me is the extent to which I am using these gifts for His glory.  One area where I know I am not glorifying Jesus as I should is with my attitude at work.  I am to submit to my masters:

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 1 Peer 2:18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You have blessed me...abundantly!  You have provided me with a job, resources, health, family, friends, etc.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I often have a bad attitude about work, at home and elsewhere I am quick to anger and slow to listen...I am prideful and impatient.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  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.

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Luke 12

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” v40

I have often read about how our days are numbered and how we must never relent in our obedience and service to Jesus Christ.

We must also never stop running.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You will return because "no word of God will ever fail".  You will return...not only because You have said so but also because You love all of Your children and will rescue us.  What a great God You are.  You don't need us but You suffered and died for us...knowing full well that sin and our worship is but "filthy rags".  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I am impatient, prideful, arrogant, slow to listen, and quick to anger...among my many sin!  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Luke 12

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" v22-26

I worry often...about whether I am in the right job or whether I am being a good enough husband or father or even whether I am playing tennis well!  How foolish...and sinful!  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You provide for ALL my needs, physical and emotional and I know that it is through You that I can find rest, peace and contentment.  Yet I sometimes or often look elsewhere...thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my neglect of You and from my looking elsewhere for my needs.  You know best what I need!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Luke 12

"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” v15

I am aware of how Jesus wants us to store up treasures in heaven vs earth:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Matthew 6:19

It is helpful to have additional references in scripture regarding Jesus' teaching.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have helped me recognize that all I need is You for all of my needs, physical and emotional.  You have always provided and You always will.  Thank You Jesus...You are indeed a great God!  Yet as much as I recognize that I need not look elsewhere for my needs, I often do look elsewhere - to food, to accomplishments, status, etc. I am sorry Jesus for my sin...please forgive me 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.  

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Luke 12

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." v7

Jesus wants us to have a healthy fear of His judgement.  He knows all about us, and no sin is hidden from Him.  At the same time, this is an encouragement because He knows all about us and loves us no less.  And if we believe in Him and obey Him, we are saved.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God because of Your love, mercy, kindness, and compassion for me.  You know everything about me, including my sin...yet You love me anyway and of course You died on the cross for me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessing.  I am lazy, I neglect You and pursue earthly and worldly pursuits instead of You...I am deeply sorry and I seek Your forgiveness Jesus.  Please 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.  Help me be the man You intend for me.

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

Luke 11

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” v52

We must have BOTH head and heart understanding of Jesus words.  If we don't understand the absolute truth of the Bible we cannot expect to obey what it says.  At the same, understanding is insufficient.  We must seek Jesus and invite Him into our heart:

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord...Jeremiah 29:13-14

We must also be in action because faith without works is empty.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  James 1:22-24

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are truth and light.  Without You I am desperately lost!  You have rescued me from deep dark valleys and set me upon paths to glorious heights!  What a great God You are!  I am not worthy of such incredible love and blessing.  I am weak.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, prideful and on and on I can go!  Thank You for Your love despite my failings.  Please forgive me 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.

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."

Luke 11

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." v42

Once again, I am reminded of how we are to focus first and foremost on the two most important commands (1) to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, (2) to love others as yourself.  

The Pharisees concerned themselves with external behavior vs their heart condition and love of God. 

God does expect ongoing maturation of our faith:

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God...Hebrews 6:1

...

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

My Prayer: Lord, You provide abundantly and You provide sufficiently...I need look anywhere else but You for all of my needs.  What a great God You are!  I am not deserving of a God who loves me so much that You provide and are full of such mercy, kindness, patience, etc.  I am prideful, quick to anger, impatient, harsh with my words, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  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.

"See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Luke 11

"See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” v35-36

We are to love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  This is the greatest commandment per Matthew 22.  If we do love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, then everything else that Jesus wants including the 2nd greatest command - to love your neighbor as yourself - will flow from our heart as if we are a light on a stand for all to see.

I also think of Hebrews 12:1-2:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am desperately lost without You.  I need You to guide me, to purify me, and to sharpen me.  Lord I am amazed that You love me so much that You would die for me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I am impatient, quick to anger, selfish, prideful, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus.  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.

"And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

Luke 11

"And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” v26

It is only through Christ Jesus that we can free from sin...first, only Jesus can forgive sins.  Second, He desires true repentance and this also is only possible through Christ Jesus.  We can stop doing sin but we may only do another sin - with Jesus we can truly repent and turn towards Him and a more pure and holy life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the only one who is pure, holy and blameless.  And though You were innocent, You willingly gave up Your life for us so that we would not be slave to sin.  You are great and I desperately need You in my life.  I am selfish, prideful, etc. Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  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.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Luke 11

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

God wants to hear from us in worship and in prayer.  When we pray we are to acknowledge His greatness (adoration) and through this our need (confession) given our sins, then we are to thank Him for His love and blessing (thanks) and then finally for our requests for ourselves and for others (intercessory prayer) - see also this reference on the A.C.T.S. acronym guide on prayer.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great in that You are always available for me in Prayer.  You always hear my call and I know You always answer my call.  I am not worthy of such love and blessing Jesus...I am prideful, lazy, and selfish, among my many sins.  Thank You for Your love despite Your knowledge of who I am.  Please forgive me Jesus....help me turn from my sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” v41-42

With regard to raising Zach and Dustin I pray fervently that Lisa and I focus on what is important...matters of Jesus and matters of the heart.  There are so many earthly and worldly distractions...we need not concern ourselves with those.  

I have recently sought God's will about my job, a new job and where He wants me to be with my career.  One thing is clear...I need to submit to my earthly master just as I do to Jesus.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 1 Peter 2:13-18

God also has great plans for me and for this I should be hopeful.

For I know the plansI have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

My Prayer: Lord, You have never let me down.  You have always listened to my prayers and You always answer my prayers.  You always provide.  You love me more than I deserve....I am sinful...I am selfish, lazy, harsh, prideful, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  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.