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

Luke 16

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

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and full of patience for me.  You pursued me and were patient with me and You continue to be patient with me.  I am not worth such love and blessing, and patience.  I am not patient with others and for this I am deeply sorry.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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

Luke 16

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

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

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

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

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God full of an immeasurable amount of patience.  I am not worthy of such patience - I am certainly not patient with others.  Nor do I serve my earthly masters with humility.  Thank You Jesus that You love me anyway, but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me...help me love You (and others) with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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

Luke 16

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

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

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

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

Luke 15

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

...

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

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You knew everything about me yet You continued to pursue me and bring me into Your kingdom.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such love, blessing and effort.  I am judgemental either with my thoughts, words or actions.  I know this is sinful so thank You for your love despite my sin.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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

Luke 15

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

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You came to save me...the one lost sheep among the many whom You already had under Your care.  That You suffered and died for me is just amazing...particularly because You know everything about me...sin and all.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth all of the love and blessing You provide Jesus...I continue to be selfish, prideful, quick to anger, harsh with my words, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

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

Luke 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luke 14

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

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

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God full of patience and second chances...Your love knows no boundaries.  Jesus, I am not worthy of such love and blessing because I am lazy, impatient, full of pride, selfish, etc.  These sin continue to plague me.  I am deeply sorry Jesus.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.