"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.

"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?"

Luke 18

"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?" v7

Prayer works.  God listens...always...He responds...always.  What His response will be is a mystery because only God knows but God does love us and prayer does work...the response will always be perfect because God's will is perfect.  I now have a new perspective on prayer.

Paul encourages us to pray continually:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My Prayer: What a great God You are that You are always available to hear all of our prayers and You always respond and Your response is always perfect.  You suffered and died for me yet I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am impatient and lazy.  I am selfish.  Thank You for Your love despite my sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it."

Luke 17

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." v33

I have a new perspective on this passage that shows up elsewhere in terms of humility and what it means to follow Jesus.  We must live life with the end in mind so when Jesus comes again we will be ready to brought home to Him.  Bring ready means "losing one's life" or "not submitting all aspects of your life to Jesus".  I pray I can lead a life of readiness.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a just God, full of compassion, mercy, patience, etc.  You have blessed me with patience, compassion, mercy, etc. well beyond what I deserve.  I neglect You and pursue other matters - work, leisure, etc.  This is sinful and I am deeply sorry Jesus.  Thank You that You love me anyway 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.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” v17-18

Everyone who has Jesus as their Lord and Savior, despite there circumstances, can truly say they are blessed.  Jesus wants us to be mindful of this - we are to demonstrate Jesus' love to others and this requires us to acknowledge what Jesus has done in our own lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, like the one leper who jumped for joy and returned to thank You for the blessing of his healing, I too am thankful for the MANY blessings you have provided.  I can go on and on about these blessings but suffice to say that I am not deserving of such blessings.  I exist to glorify You yet many times, even this week, I exhibit anger or impatience, or pride.  These are sins and I know You love me anyway Jesus so thank You.  Yet I need Your forgiveness so please forgive me Jesus and 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.

"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Luke 17

"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” v10

We exist to serve and glorify Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  We must acknowledge our need for Jesus and focus on servant leadership in all of our activities and constantly push ourselves to continue to serve Him.  Yet this is not our nature.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God worthy of worship.  You suffered and died for me knowing everything about me yet You were willing to lay down Your life for mine...so that I would have freedom from sin and eternal life.  I am not worthy of such rich blessings.  I do not serve as You desire me to...I chase my own comfort far too often.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” v31

Last week I posted my thoughts about the extent to which God has patience for us.  Again here in Luke 16, my thoughts are confirmed that God does not have unlimited patience.  God may pursue us and be patient as He does, but we must respond in the affirmative with a decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  If we don't, God does not guarantee that He will pursue You indefinitely.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and full of patience for me.  You pursued me and were patient with me and You continue to be patient with me.  I am not worth such love and blessing, and patience.  I am not patient with others and for this I am deeply sorry.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway 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.

"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law."

Luke 16

"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law." v17

Thanks to help from my John McArthur commentary, it is more clear to me that the Old Testament is still intact even though we have a new covenant with Jesus Christ:

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it." v16

The question for me is the extent to which the Old Testament applies.  For example, in Exodus 20 God gives Moses the Ten Commandments.  The two most important commandments are indicated in Matthew 22 as:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matthew 22:37-40

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God full of an immeasurable amount of patience.  I am not worthy of such patience - I am certainly not patient with others.  Nor do I serve my earthly masters with humility.  Thank You Jesus 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 (and others) with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts."

Luke 16

“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts." v15

Jesus in this chapter of Luke is telling the Parable of the Shrewd Manager and his takeaways focus on us being good stewards of this riches God has given us.  We are to use the riches for His glory.  It is OK to enjoy the fruits of our labor but we must focus our hearts on Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and You have blessed Lisa and myself beyond what we can imagine.  Our resources are not of our doing but of Yours and Yours alone.  You have entrusted us with much and we have made mistakes with these resources Yet You have continued to bless us.  Thank You for your patience.  Forgive us for our sins with money and help us turn from these sins.  Help us focus our hearts on glorifying You with our money.  Help us love You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” v10

...

"But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” v32

As I read these parables I not only get the importance of saving ALL those who are lost but also not applying judgment to those in terms of saving who is worth saving once they repent?  I often judge people either implicitly or explicitly by not pursuing them.  This is wrong...I need to pursue as many lost souls as possible.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You knew everything about me yet You continued to pursue me and bring me into Your kingdom.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such love, blessing and effort.  I am judgemental either with my thoughts, words or actions.  I know this is sinful so thank You for your love despite 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.

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Luke 15

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." v7

In the same way that Jesus came to earth to seek and save the lost, we are to seek and save the lost...this means we must go outside of our comfort zone to BE with the lost...this is something I fall down on...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You came to save me...the one lost sheep among the many whom You already had under Your care.  That You suffered and died for me is just amazing...particularly because You know everything about me...sin and all.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth all of the love and blessing You provide Jesus...I continue to be selfish, prideful, quick to anger, harsh with my words, etc.  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.

"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."

Luke 14

"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." v33

Jesus wants us to submit all aspects of our lives over to Him...we are trust in Him completely...not in our own powers, not in the powers of others, and not in the power of things, status, etc.

I think of the rich, young ruler who would sell everything he had to follow Jesus: 

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:17-23

I know for myself I struggle to give up control of my career over to Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God worthy of love, worship, trust, and obedience.  You have created all things, You have blessed me beyond what I deserve, and You are all knowing and all powerful.  You suffered greatly, then died...for me!  Then You rose from the grave defeating death and giving me freedom from sin and the gift of eternal life....all for me if I accept You and believe in You, and have trust and faith in You as Messiah.  Yet I know there are aspects of my life that I have not turned over to You Jesus.  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.

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Luke 14

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” v23-24

I've had wise Christians tell me that the Lord Jesus' patience is not unlimited...yet I really could not follow this without a scripture reference.  While I am not 100% certain here...this verse in Luke does imply that the Lord indeed does not have an unlimited patience in that those who hear the true word of God yet refuse to respond and accept Him will at some point be too late to be accepted into the Kingdom of God.

The question of course is when does this patience run out? 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God full of patience and second chances...Your love knows no boundaries.  Jesus, I am not worthy of such love and blessing because I am lazy, impatient, full of pride, selfish, etc.  These sin continue to plague me.  I am deeply sorry Jesus.  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.