All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.

Luke 21

All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. v4

Jesus wants us to be cheerful givers, but here Jesus challenges us to give to the point where it makes us uncomfortable.  As Jesus does this, he prods me on the topic of comfort and how easy it is to remain comfortable in my faith.  As the DesiringGod.com team points out, we too often idolize convenience and comfort over God; however, Jesus rejected convenience and comfort and instead instructs us that only a few will pass through the narrow gate to God's kingdom. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has freed me from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I am selfish and lazy - 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.

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. These men will be punished most severely.

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. These men will be punished most severely. v46-47

At this point in Jesus' ministry, He is becoming more sharp in His descriptions of the Jewish leaders seeking to trap and arrest Him (see v20-44).  The description in v46-47 applies not just to the Jewish leaders but to us as well because Jesus is talking about pride and we all deal with pride issues.

We must be humble.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great and awesome God and for me and all of Your children, You humbled Yourself becoming like us in every way then You went to the cross for us - dying a gruesome death...for us.  Thank You Jesus - I am in of awe of You and I love You.  Yet I am undeserving for what You did and what You continue to do for me daily.  I daily miss the mark...with my harsh words and actions towards others.  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 teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Luke 20

The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. v19

Although many of Jesus' words and teachings were not evident to His disciples (see also post here), they WERE becoming more evident to the Jewish leaders whose selfishness and hardened hearts could not be overcome - Jesus had to be turned over to the authorities and crucified.  The law HAD to be fulfilled.  John Piper writes SO eloquently that God's love for His One and Only Son was the only remaining obstacle between God and our salvation - so Jesus HAD to die for us.

From this, I believe a challenge for us as believers exists to avoid the hardened hearts and selfishness that prevent us from being who God intends for us.  We must go to God daily, and serve Him and others.  We must deny ourselves and glorify Him (not ourselves) as this is why exist. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me more than I can ever imagine - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love - I worry way too much!  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.

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

In v45-48 (see also Matthew 21 and Mark 11) Jesus enters the temple courts in Jerusalem and is angered by those selling merchandise - and He quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, admonishing those who have led Israel astray.

Although the Jewish leaders did not see it at the time (see post yesterday), Jesus is the Promised Messiah (as prophecized by Isaiah, Jeremiah and others). For those who see Jesus as Lord and Savior, we must "hang" on Jesus' words in the same way that those who initially followed Him.

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

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I desire to hang on Your Words - all of them and every day...and ideally all of the time.  Your Words feed me and sustain me, save me, encourage me, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your Words and Your Salvation.  I worry.  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.

If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Luke 19

If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. v41

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, it is only fitting that I am reading about how Jesus enters Jerusalem as King (v28-44).  The "whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen...and...[s]ome of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"  While it is not clear whether Jesus was specifically talking to the Pharisees (see also Matthew 21, Mark 11, and John 12) as He continued on His way into Jerusalem, Jesus began to weep for those He knew would not accept Him as King of Kings and as the Promised Messiah.

Another example of (1) how much Jesus loves us - He weeps over us, (2) how faith is a gift from God.

My Prayer: Thank You Jesus for Your amazing love for us!  We are an undeserving people - all of us!  Please forgive me for my lack of compassion for others - I often fall down here.  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 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 is light, love, grace, etc. - ALL good in that we need these in our lives.  We need truth, we need love, we need grace, etc. as we all sin!  Yet at the same time, Jesus is judgement and this judgement, for those that reject Him, is eternal damnation.  Harsh - yes!  Nonetheless this is the judgement awaiting those who refuse to submit to Jesus.

John Piper has a great post on how he responds to the "horrifying sayings of Jesus".  Piper gives us 10 ways we can respond - and #10 is key: "We are moved, in all our imperfections, as forgiven sinners, to move into the lives of rebels and warn them of their condition, and commend the work of Christ to them, and endure their derision, if by any means we might save some".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, full of love, grace, truth, etc. and I know Your love, grace and truth as I experience these things daily - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings. I know there is more I can do to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to others - 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.

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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

In contrast to the rich young ruler in Luke 18 who went away sad, recognizing that he could not have both salvation and love/idolatry of his wealth, Zaccheus was willing to give up his love of money in return for salvation.  Note that Zaccheus did not give up ALL of his wealth but 50% of it.  The rich young ruler, in contrast, was asked by Jesus to give up all of his wealth to have eternal life.  The difference between the two from Jesus' perspective was their heart condition and views on wealth. Zaccheus did not place his wealth above God (or even at the same level of God) but the rich young ruler did.  Heart condition matters.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with treasures that surpass earthly profit.  You are worth SO much more than gold or silver - and You bless me with faith, Your Word, the church, my brothers and sisters and Christ - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings.  I daily miss the mark - I often seek to bring glory to myself.  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.

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” v39

We must be like the blind beggar for whom Jesus restores his sight.  The beggar is unabashed about his faith that Jesus can restore his sight and likely that Jesus can do anything.  We must have such bold faith - unafraid of what others think and bold in our believe that Jesus can do anything for those that have faith.  We must be prepared to accept Jesus' response - there is no guarantee that Jesus will respond in the way(s) that we hope but we must remain unabashed and bold.

 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is able to do anything and has already created the Heavens and the Universe and died for my sin so that I could have freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and 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 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 disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. v34

On the heels of my recent post on arrogance comes a post on wisdom, where wisdom comes from, how to achieve wisdom, and the blessings of possessing wisdom. Here in Luke 18 Jesus predicts His death for a third time yet "[t]he disciples did not understand any of this", as the "meaning was hidden from them".  The MacArthur commentary suggests that perhaps the disciples were too focused "with other ideas about the Messiah".  I can't tell for sure why the disciples did not understand Jesus, but one thing about which I am certain is that wisdom comes from God, and that you cannot possess wisdom outside of God.

See this awesome post from John Piper on wisdom and my other posts on wisdom. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth, Wisdom, Light, Love, etc.  I seek You and all of who You are - You are an awesome God who is so full of love and grace for me - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I worry.  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.

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke 18

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” v29

In v18-30 (also in Matthew 19 and Mark 10), Jesus engages in a conversation with a wealthy man (ruler) seeking to enter the Kingdom of God.  The wealthy man is looking for what he needs to do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus engages with the man who believes he is in good shape early in the conversation when he tells Jesus that he is already following the commandments indicated in v20.  Yet he stumbles when Jesus confronts Him with a challenge (sell everything that He has) that implies He is not following the most important commandments as Jesus describes in Matthew 22:34-40.  You see, the man loves his money and possessions more than God and this is the problem.

We need to love God - first and foremost - above everyone and every thing.

See also this great post from DesiringGod.com.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has paid the ultimate price for me - You suffered a gruesome death...for me.  I can't even fully grasp this yet I know this is true.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I gossip, and I worry, among my many, many sins...please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin.  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 Jesus called the children to him and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. v16

Luke 18

But Jesus called the children to him and said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. v16

John Piper offers great teaching and encouragement on these verses in Luke 18 (v15-17).  I am reminded of my role as spiritual head of the household and that I should be taking time to instruct my sons on scripture.  I need to do more!

Jesus - please help me be effective as spiritual leader of my household!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are my Heavenly Father as well as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for making time for me and for paving the way for me to have salvation, life to the full and so much more...! 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.

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

I need reminders often about arrogance and how dangerous it is.  I am afflicted with this sin and although God has refined me in this area more work is to be done.  Arrogance causes people to stumble in their faith or block it entirely.  It also harms others who are hurt by the words and actions of those dominate with their arrogant attitudes.  

Jesus - please help me remain humble.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that has helped me see the foolishness of my arrogance - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of a God who loves me so much that You would die for my sins and love and save me despite my sin! I daily miss the mark and need You badly!  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.

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

Luke 18

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. v7-8

Today's verses give me great encouragement because there are many things which I pray about often - and in this parable Jesus gives me cause to persist in my prayer and to remain encouraged that God hears my prayers and that He responds.  I must have faith and be at peace.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who does hear my prayers and responds with goodness, justice, grace, love, etc. - thank You Jesus for always being available to me in prayer and for me to cry out in my need.  I am undeserving of a God who loves me so much! 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.

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

While the focus of v20-37 is Jesus' response to when the Kingdom of God will come (and whether the Kingdom of God is present or future), I am choosing to focus on v33 specifically.   

John Piper does a great job explaining how the Kingdom of God is with us now as a "fulfillment" but is yet to come as a "consummation".  

In v33 I am reminded of my tendency and desire to be "in control" and this conflicts with God's desire to own our heart and life.  He is in control. We need to recognize this and submit to His authority over all and specifically our lives.  Once we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, we can find peace that He will fight for us.

Read Exodus 14 and specifically Exodus 14:14.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who IS in control and that is a glorious thing!  I can do and have no good things without You Jesus and I need You desperately in my life - You have transformed my heart and life and I am blessed by You daily.  I am undeserving of such love and 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.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

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?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” v17-19

Once again, I lean on John Piper to gain a deeper understanding of this passage in Luke where Jesus heals 10 lepers. Jesus rightly asks the question about how the other 9 lepers completely miss the point of Jesus.  The point of course being that it's not about what God has done for us or gives us but instead that Jesus is God and our focus should be on WHO Jesus is not what He has done for us.

Piper uses Romans 8:32 to further illustrate

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.  Romans 8:32

There is also James 1:17:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

See also posts on [apart from God] "no good thing".

We must take the time to get to know the greatness of God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have given me many great blessings most importantly You gave me Your One and Only Son Jesus that He would live in my heart and life as my personal Lord and Savior!  Thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  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.

We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.

Luke 17

We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty. v10

John Piper this morning helps us better understand how Jesus increases our faith through the messages of Luke 17:7-10.  

Piper explains how Jesus, in the previous verse (v6), Jesus emphasizes "that the crucial issue in accomplishing great things to advance the kingdom of God is not the quantity of our faith, but the power of God....By referring to the tiny mustard seed after being asked about increased faith, he deflects attention away from the quantity of faith to the object of faith. God moves mulberry trees. And it does not depend decisively on the quantity of our faith, but on his power and wisdom and love. In knowing this we are helped not to worry about our faith and are inspired to trust God’s free initiative and power."

In the following verses, Piper explains how, in v7-10, we are never deserving of thanks from God but instead we will always be a "debtor" to Him.  He then explains how "[w]e never move beyond the need for grace.

Our faith should be increased by our understanding that we are dependent on both God's power and His grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - I have seen Your power in my life and in the lives of others...and I see Your grace daily!  Thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of what You have done in my life and for the grace You dispense daily.  I daily miss the mark with my words and actions.  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 Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

Luke 16

But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. v25-26

A stark warning indeed from Jesus who teaches from yet another parable - The Rich Man and Lazarus!

John Piper does a great job examining how our heart needs to change to receive Christ to avoid the fate of the rich man as told in this parable. Piper warns us on the love of money and materialism.  I think how we spend our time is also critically important because selfishness and our own comforts and desires also prevent us from loving God.

Piper puts it this way: "[t]o recognize and receive Jesus for who he really is, we have to will to do the will of God, namely, pursue the glory of God above all other pleasures in our life". 

Key here is that we have to WILL to do the will of God with the definition of "will" being:  "intend, desire, or wish (something) to happen."

This goes to the topic of spiritual formation - and Dallas Willard indicates we need vision, intention, and method for this.  Method involves practice of the spiritual disciplines, including study, prayer, worship, service, etc.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has given me faith and transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!   I am not worth such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me turn from my sin towards You and love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love.  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.  

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

This morning, commentary from MacArthur helps shed light on how Jesus is illustrating the importance of both the Old and New Testament teachings.  MacArthur writes: "[Jesus] neither gives or a new law nor modifies the old but rather explains the true significance of the moral content of Moses' Law and the rest of the OT".  MacArthur points to Matthew 5:17-19 and Colossians 2:16-17, and further writes that Jesus fulfills the law in all its aspects, including the moral, ceremonial, and judicial law.  "All [of] the ceremonial requirements of the Mosaic Law are fulfilled in Christ and are no longer to be observed by Christians.  Yet not one jot or tittle is thereby erased; the underlying truths of those scriptures remain"[.]

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - what an awesome God You are that You provide Your Word, Your Son, the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. - all for me.  And You died for me - a gruesome death - that I may have life...and to the full.  Thank You Jesus for setting me free from 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.

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Luke 16

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. v14-15

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager of course is about money and Jesus warns us not to idolize or "serve" money (v13).  We are encouraged to be good stewards of the blessings God places in our hands.  John Piper encourages us to see how Jesus encourages us to do good with our money for the purposes of God's glory.

We must, just as the shrewd manager did, turn from our ways of waste (of our time, treasure, and talents).  See also John Piper: Calling All Clay Pots.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You are SO full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace.  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.

My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.

Luke 15

My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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. v31-32

The Parable of the Lost Son triggers thoughts of my own reaction to the state of faith of my oldest son Zach who has yet to definitively affirm Jesus as His Lord and Savior.  I am not angry or frustrated by nonetheless concerned and prayer that Zach accept Jesus as His Lord Savior.  Yet I am reminded that we all have our own unique path to God.  I did not come to Jesus until my early thirties and even when I did I was more of a cultural Christian until perhaps 10 years ago or so.   God is in control and faith is a gift from Him.  My role is to shepherd and guide Zach to Him and let God do the heavy lifting - and to be in prayer.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who brought me to faith - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of all that You have done and continue to do for 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.

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

Jesus, in responding to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who criticized Him for "welcom[ing] sinners and eat[ing] with them" (v2), encourages us to reach out to those in need.  We must recognize that we are ALL guilty of sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and share this in common with everyone.  It is THROUGH this common bond that we must reach out and serve those in need.

Jesus - please help me be compassionate, see the needs, and meet the needs of others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of compassion, mercy and love for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving 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.  

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

Similar to yesterday's post on humility, Jesus speaks on the cost of faith.  First He addresses those who put earthly worries and concerns ahead of Jesus - The Parable of the Great Banquet (v15-24).  In this parable, Jesus warns us to beware of the "excuses" we place in front of our faith - I am guilty of this as much as anyone.  We often explain away or justify why we don't do this or that as Jesus commands us.  I am deeply convicted on this teaching.

Jesus then pivots to the cost of being a disciple (v25-34).  We are to place God first, above our earthly relationships (v25-27), and give up everything (v33).

There is indeed a cost - Jesus refers to this in John 16:33 where He says "[i]n this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world".  

Yet we should be encouraged by Paul's words on the surpassing worth of Jesus:

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, 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: Jesus, You are an amazing God and worth it all - the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus for the many rich blessings You pour out for me.  Yet 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.

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

Humility is critical for believers - the two most important commandments (see Matthew 22:34-40) focus on love of God first then love of others.  God wants us to love others, to snatch others from the fire, and to ensure that as many of His children are saved as possible.  Jesus words on this subject are further clarified in v12-14 where He explains how we should be focusing on glorifying God and eternal rewards vs gain in this life.

Lord Jesus please help me be humble.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who I know has saved a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a gift but nonetheless grateful!  I daily miss the mark and often neglect my relationship with You by focusing on my own comfort.  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 fro me today and every day.

There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

Luke 13

There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. v28

All are deserving of God's love and mercy - for we all sin.  However, just as Jesus indicates, not all will either accept the invitation to join God's kingdom and many have not heard the Gospel.  I must at every opportunity, share the gospel and be a light.  I must snatch others from the fire.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who snatched me from the fire - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving...I make judgements about who can be saved - these are not my judgements to make!  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 Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Luke 13

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

 

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” v18-21

This commentary offers great insight into how we should be encouraged by how often faith - even in small steps - results in God-sized impacts.

"Small beginnings; profound, extensive results."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You this morning for this encouraging reminder of how small beginnings in faith produce profound, extensive results.  I often feel discouraged that I am not doing enough - perhaps I am not (please forgive me when I don't!) - so thank You for encouraging me regarding the small but significant steps I do take.  Thank You for Your love.  I am undeserving for Your love - I daily miss the mark.  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 three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?

Luke 13

For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? v7

Once again, Jesus preaches on the command that we are to be fruitful and productive with the time, treasure, and talents Jesus entrusts to us.  We exist to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides for all of my needs - apart from You I have no good things.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of all the blessings You pour out for 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.

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Luke 12

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. v51

It may seem contradictory that Jesus - the Prince of Peace - came to bring division.  Yet as we look closer we find that Jesus is referring to the absolute nature of God.  There is nothing less clear about God - that we all need a savior and Jesus is that Savior.  Once a believer gets to this point, he/she answers the call to Be Holy and to be "set apart" from the world.  This will create discord in many earthly relationships but we must remember the primacy of Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You came to die on the cross to save me from the sting of sin and death - the greatest gift of all time - 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 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 accept Jesus 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.

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

This morning - a sobering message about how we are to use the gifts God has entrusted with us, including the knowledge we have of Him.

More on this from DesiringGod.com: 

Have You Buried Your Gifts?
We Are Accountable for What We Know 

Jesus, help me be in action using my gifts and my knowledge for His glory.

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. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who HAS given me much - thank You for how You have blessed me - yet I am undeserving.  I often am not using my time, treasure and talents for Your glory, and of course I have other sin - 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.