“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Luke 10

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” v23-24

Jesus knows that there are many who will not hear the message that is given to them through the gospel of Christ.  You must first acknowledge a dependence on God...for all things.  First and foremost is for forgiveness of sins.  We are unclean by nature by cleansed in His eyes and made new again - reborn in Christ.  Not all of those who hear the gospel of Christ acknowledge a need for Christ and hence do not accept Christ as their savior and will not experience the fullness of Christ in their life and in eternity.

In Luke 10 you can see that head and heart understanding of the Word is important as is doing of the Word - doing what God says...

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” v36-37

My Prayer: Lord, I KNOW that I am dependent solely on You for all things...first and foremost to cleanse me of my sins and to give me new life in You where I have freedom from sin in that if I truly turn from sin I am transformed to be more like You Jesus.  I desperately seek You and this transformation.  I have seen Your power in my life and desire You to run throughout my life.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, prideful, etc.  Thank you that You love me Jesus but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

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.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” v19-20

God is certainly almighty and I have witnessed His power in my life as He has transformed my heart and blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I must recognize that I have this power daily and in every moment.  It is for more me to believe in this power, have faith in this power, to call on this power and of course understand that this power is for His glory not mine.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of love, compassion, kindness, mercy...all of the fruits of the spirit.  You are not only my Lord and Savior but also the God whom I desire in my heart and my life - the one whom I strive to be more like.  I desperately need You Jesus because I am broken...full of sin.  I am prideful, lazy, impatient, quick to anger and slow to listen.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from this sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Luke 9

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" v23-25

Worldy and earthly influences surround me, yet Jesus asks me to deny myself these earthly urges...this includes physical urges of food, etc.  Pleasure seeking above God is disdained.  I KNOW I am guilty of this.  It is OK to partake of many things but NOT if it is in conflict with God's will for me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You provide much for us to enjoy as You love us.  Yet I abuse these gifts because I am selfish...I seek out my own pleasure above Your glory.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

...he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.

Luke 9

...he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. v1

With our belief in Jesus Christ, we also have the Holy Spirit that provides us access to the same power that the disciples had received from Jesus when He sent them out.

Jesus refers to this after His resurrection:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you"....Acts 1:8

This power is of course for God's glory.

...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Then again we exist to glorify God

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

So I must recognize that:

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength". Phillipians 4:13

I must also recognize that this power with which I have access is for the glory of God and God expects much from us on this.

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 12:48

My Prayer: Lord, You are the only power I need in my life because I know all good and glorious gifts come from above...from You.  You provide for all of my needs I will never be in want.  I know You love me Jesus - what a great God You are!  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, impatient, selfish and these are just a few my sins!  Thank You that You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me!  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 8

Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. v56

What is interesting in Luke is how Jesus instructs those who witness His power firsthand:

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. v38-39

In the above verses, Jesus tells the demon possessed man to talk about what God had done for him.

Yet Jairus and his wife were told in v56 not to tell anyone what happened.  To me this says that Jesus knows that some are equipped to spread the gospel of Jesus and some are not.  Some will not do so in a way that truly speaks of the power of Christ.  This is the case of Jairus and his wife.  I would imagine Jairus' daughter would be in a different position.

This is NOT to say that we should NOT spread the good news of Jesus Christ...of course we are!  Yet we are also commanded not to "...misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Exodus 20:7).

When we talk about Jesus we should truly speak of the power in our own life...our heart condition matters when we speak about Jesus.  If we don't believe and love others as He loves us our testimony won't matter.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are truly almighty and Your hand is all over my life in only good ways...You have led me through dark valleys to the highest peaks of joy.  You have blessed me and continue to bless me well beyond what I deserve.  I continue to be selfish, lazy, angry, harsh, etc.  Thank You that You love me 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.

“My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Luke 8

“My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” v21

I have often thought of my brothers and sisters in Christ to be those who go to church...but Jesus' words here in Luke cause me to question whether I need to go further with those whom I should associated...I must be doing life as Jesus intends...these are my brothers and sisters in Christ.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are holy, pure, and blameless and You provide Your Word and Holy Spirit to me to help guide me....and so much more...without these I would be lost.  You are a great God.  I love You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth the love and blessing You provide.  I am full of anger, impatience, pride, selfishness, 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.

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."

Luke 8

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." v17

Who I am in all facets of my life - whether in public or private - matters.  Certainly God knows who I am and I am accountable to Him for my life.  Additionally, it is very difficult - to say the least - to hide your true character from others and God calls us to be a light:

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 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.” v16-18

I am called to be a light...I must seek God's help to transform both my heart and my life so that I can better reflect Jesus to others and of course then draw others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your life on earth was pure, holy and blameless...yet You gave up Your life willingly (and suffered greatly in the process!) for me.  You call me to draw others to You through my own life and sometimes I do but many times I don't.  Jesus, You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, quick to anger, prideful, impatient, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin.  Please not only help me overcome this sin but transform my heart and my life.  I seek to be more like You so that I can glorify You through my life and bring others to You.