For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 12

For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. v30-31

As a follow up to yesterday's post on money and wealth, today my reading continues in Luke 12 with Jesus words on worry - that we shouldn't!

I worry about all kinds of things - money, health, kids, etc.  God has certainly helped me with worry and I am grateful - but there is more room for refinement here!

I do love Jesus words in v30-31, which I have highlighted.  We should not "run after all such things" because our Father in Heaven knows what we need and if we seek His kingdom, [they] will be given to us!  Comforting indeed.

With regard to worrying about kids, which is much of my worry - God has helped me learn that I should focus on MY relationship with Him first and foremost and He will best direct me about how to direct and help my kids.  God comes first.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an awesome God and You have helped me enormously with worry - thank You Jesus - yet I know there is work to be done because I continue to worry.  Please forgive me Jesus.  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.

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” v21

The Parable of the Rich Fool (found only in Luke) starts with a man asking Jesus to help him gain a share of an inheritance (presumably because he is not either entitled or in-line to receive a portion).  Jesus responds with the parable which contains a warning that we must be prepared for Satan to grab hold of our soul should we worship wealth and money.  In the warning, Jesus contrasts focus on wealth and money versus being "rich towards God".  

John Piper has a great post on these very words.

Jesus, please help me avoid focus on money and wealth and help me a good steward of the blessings You have entrusted with me. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an awesome God and You have always met my needs - I need not worry.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving because I do worry - about money and about my kids, etc.  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. 

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Luke 12

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. v4-5

Jesus continues to warn us about our focus on "external cleanliness"; and His warnings extend to our behavior which we may falsely believe is "hidden" for "[t]here is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known" (v2).  

We are to fear God - yet at the same time, we are comforted if we do - this double edge sword is explained further by John Piper. He writes that we should "[f]ear the prospect of becoming proud, and arrogant, and self-sufficient, and drifting away from the living God in a kind of hard-heartedness. So fear functions as a preservative. We don’t want to run away from God. Don’t be presumptuous. So there is that aspect of fearing God."  In His commentary, Piper goes on to end with: "Jesus died for us to provide a place where we could enjoy the majesty of God with a kind of fear and trembling and reverence and awe, but not a cowering fear."

God and His refuge is with us always - and we have the Holy Spirit, The Word, the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who provides refuge from the troubles of this world - we just need faith in Him and to draw and stay near to Him.  Thank You Jesus for providing us refuge!  I am undeserving of such blessings and refuge - I daily miss the mark and often stray from 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.

Then the Lord said to him, Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 11

Then the Lord said to him, Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. v39

Jesus is admonishing the Pharisees for their focus on external cleanliness/behavior (vs spiritual purity), lack of compassion for the poor/those in need, and for the harsh treatment/death of prophets over the course of history (Old Testament).

Jesus wants us to be clean/pure spiritually, to have love/compassion for everyone (love others as yourselves), and to honor those sent by God - of course this includes Jesus Himself!

Much of the focus of this messages dovetails messages from posts over the past few days, including yesterday and Friday regarding how we fill ourselves with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit vs influences of the world.  We need to avoid leaving our house empty for the dark forces of this world to fill the void.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided Your Son, The Holy Spirit, Your Word, The Church, my family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ - all of whom support, encourage and hold me accountable during my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.

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

John Piper encourages us to use our eye to value God for who He is and to treasure Him.  We must value God as infinitely more valuable than anything on earth - otherwise we are prone to allowing darkness and sin to overcome our body.  I am reminded of a post from a few days ago on filling our lives with Jesus vs earthly influences.  We cannot remain "empty" of God - again, otherwise darkness will fill the void.

Jesus, please help me be filled with Your Greatness, Love, Mercy, etc.  Help me feast on the Word of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who daily gives me live...to the full - thank You Jesus!  My cup overflows.  I am undeserving of the rich blessings You pour out on me.  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.

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here. v32

The Book of Jonah tells us the story of a prophet commanded by God to go to the sinful city of Nineveh and preach to the inhabitants to repent of their wicked ways. Jonah refuses and runs from God - in his arrogant opinion he does not believe those in Nineveh deserve God's grace.  It's certainly not our job to judge others as God alone is judge.

Yet we know the rest of Jonah's story as He is swallowed by a giant fish after he flees God - and God rescues Jonah.  Jonah then goes on to preach to Nineveh as God requests and the city is spared from God's wrath.  

This is a great story of redemption - not just Jonah but also Nineveh...and all of us.

We all have regret and shame over sin in our past but God will still use us and He loves us. 

I am so thankful that God sent His One and Only Son.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great and gracious God - thank You for sending Your Son Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love.  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.

Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.

Luke 11

Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. v26

Our spiritual state is always under attack from the dark forces of this world - just as we may feel "clean", "blessed", or "filled" we must be on guard against apathy as we should be daily and vigorously seeking Jesus.

Check out this commentary which encourages us to avoid leaving our house "empty" (in reference to v25) - the commentary recommends that we be filled with the Word and the Spirit lest to avoid being overrun from Satan's influences.

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

There is power in being filled with the Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:31

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 and You have filled me with blessings and fruits of the Spirit!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  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.

“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11

“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” v1

I too desire to grow in my prayer life - and this post from DesiringGod.com struck me.  Any feelings of a spiritual desert may be due to my weak prayer life.  Help me God...to pray for more needs, more often, and with more focus and desire for You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, I love You - and I need You...desperately...daily...and all day.  I am grateful that You are always with me and You will never leave or forsake me.  I am undeserving of the rich blessings You pour out for me.  I daily miss the mark and I neglect my time with You, in study and prayer.  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.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “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

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “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.” v40-42

I am often distracted by the world - by my own comfort, by cares and concerns of the day, etc.  I needed to read this...and I need reminders of this often.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are the love me...despite that I daily miss the mark and far too often distracted.  Thank You Jesus.  I am completely undeserving.  Help me overcome my sin and turn 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.

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” v29

We often look for ways to excuse ourselves from doing something we know we should be doing - such is the case with the expert in the law that questioned Jesus.  Perhaps the expert in the law had someone in mind that he would gladly help but there may be others less desirable to help.  Jon Bloom over at DesiringGod.com gets at this with this post.

It does not matter whether there are difficult people or difficult relationships in our life or whether someone appears to be unlovable - this is not a judgement we get to make as all are worthy of God's love and we should extend this love to all...not saying I do this but I strive to do this - and with God's help I can.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You love me - and You love me despite my sin and despite the fact that there are many occasions (more than I like!) when I know I am unlovable - thank You Jesus for Your love - the greatest gift of all time.  I am undeserving of such love as I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me for failing to be bold in my faith, unashamed in my faith for my other sin.  Please 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.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Luke 10

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. v19

Jesus gives believers the same power that raised Him from the dead - the Holy Spirit.  With Jesus, we must remember that we have power - yet at the same time we must remember that this power exists for His glory.

This is why Jesus tell us to despite our troubles (that we WILL have), we should take heart, as Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gives us as believers power - thank You Jesus!  I have seen this power in my life and in the lives of others - amazing.  Thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking us and for giving us help to overcome our troubles and to overcome the sting of sin and death.  I am undeserving of such blessings.  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.

He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Luke 10

He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. v2

Here Jesus goes beyond the twelve disciples to send out seventy-two.  The essence of the plan is to create not just new believers but disciple makers who can in turn create new believers, and so on.

This post I believe is useful in pointing out a simple, three-point plan for disciple making - based on Luke 10:1-9.

Another broad implication is that we must grow ourselves so that we can equip others to be disciple-makers.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, who has grown in my heart and life and I have seen the fruit myself - thank You Jesus!  Yet I know there is more growth - I am unfinished and further refinement and growth is due.  Please forgive me for letting my foot off the gas and for daily missing the mark.  Help me 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 or me today and every day.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” v62

Jesus is talking about the cost of following Him.  Indeed there is a cost - He does not guarantee a life free of trouble.  On the contrary - we WILL have trouble (John 16:33).  John Piper expands on the cost of following Jesus.

Yet, Paul reminds us of the "surpassing worth" of following Christ:


But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worth more than anything I or anyone else can ever attain for ourselves.  You adopted me as Your own and died for me so that I could have life - freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  You are the most amazing gift of all time.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  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.

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Luke 9

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village. v52-56

There will always be those who spurn the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Bible is replete with such people.  We must keep in mind that as I posted a few days ago, faith is a gift from God, so God allows or it is by His plan that some choose not to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  We are not to judge these people - this is God's role - but instead to love these people and in some circumstances to move on in "our mission".  God wants us to be the messenger and we can leave the rest to Him.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am grateful that You put others in my life to share the Good News with me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love.  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, energy 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 he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Luke 9

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen. v34-36

This would clearly be a bit un-nerving so we can appreciate how Peter, John, and James did not tell anyone - yet this does not make what occurred any less remarkable.  God "appears" to Peter, John and James.  We must recognize that Jesus makes Himself known to us daily: in His creation, in the Bible, through others, via the Holy Spirit.  When we fail to see Jesus in all things we become numb to who He is - we must be more aware, perhaps a better listener for Jesus - to have "ears for hearing".

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:15-17

Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 11:15 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - I see Your Presence in all things and I am amazed!   You bless me beyond what I deserve! I am undeserving of such a life.  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. 

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Luke 9

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. v24

We may all have plans and desires for our lives but those plans and desires must be aligned with God, otherwise we end up serving another God and such a life leads to destruction and damnation. 

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

Therefore, our focus should be an identity and purpose found in and through Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You have given me life, and life to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a life.  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.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Luke 9

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” v20

In Matthew, this same account includes not just Peter's response to Jesus' question but Jesus' response once Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah:

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  Matthew 16:17

We should all be aware that faith is from God - and Him alone.  I can share the gospel but God gives me the words and He works through me - I am the instrument of His hand. This is also part of my comments from a couple of days ago.

See also faith is a gift from God. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus what a great God You are - You gave me faith to accept You as my Lord and Savior and You continue to grow in my heart and life - 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. 

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14/So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:32-34

Luke 9

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14/So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:32-34

This time, the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand in all of the Synoptic Gospels (see Matthew 14 and Mark 6) plus in the Book of John (John 6).  Of note today is how two of the accounts in Matthew and Mark make note of how Jesus felt "compassion" for those following Him.  Even though He was likely tired and/or perhaps feeling like He would rather focus on Himself (I know I feel like this on long or rough days) versus on others.

Jesus never said no to an opportunity to serve.

We have to remember that Jesus tells us to love God and others - these are the most important commandments.  It's implied that we are to love ourselves less (self-esteem is a separate issue/question) - see post from DesiringGod.com here.

In fact the Bible tells us to deny oneself.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus what a great God You are - You are always available whenever I call and You never refuse to hear and answer my cries.  It may not always be the answer I seek but You are always there - 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.

“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.