Too Good to be True?

What excitement there is in our last reading in Luke today (Luke 24:28-53)! The two guys, who just had their world turned around recognizing Jesus breaking the bread at supper, hightail it back to Jerusalem to tell the others. And right in the middle of "It is true! The Lord has risen" commotion, Jesus appears. And what does He say?  "Peace be with you."   Whoa, I'll say. The friends are so startled and frightened that He invites them to touch His hands and feet to prove He is not a ghost.

Then comes the phrase that I love; "they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement".  It is just too good to be true!  But the wonderful news for all of us is that it is true. He is alive!!!  (My, I could run exclamations to the end of the page :).

Our sweet Jesus ate fish in front of them to prove it to them physically, opened their minds on the scriptures about Him to explain it to them mentally, and then said to wait in Jerusalem for His gift of the Spirit so they could explain this Good News powerfully.  What more could He have done?

Let us respond as they did; " Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem (or our places) with great joy.  And they stayed continually at the temple (or His presence), praising God."

Burning Hearts

Yes!  We are to one of my favorite accounts in the whole record (Luke 24:13-27). Can you get the picture? Jesus - Jesus has just triumphed over sin and death and accomplished the mission He came for. He's got to be one happy and excited person. And He comes upon these sad faced two guys talking. He plays along with them and asks what they are talking about. They just look at Him and here is their answer; "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" Can you imagine! And still Jesus doesn't let the cat out of the bag, but says, "What things?" He listens while they go on about how He was killed and they were hoping for help and its been three days and some women said His body was gone and that He was alive.

Now its Jesus' turn to talk. He starts like my Daddy (who was a wonderful teacher) would have started. From their beginning. He starts with Moses and the prophets explaining how what has happened has been the plan all along. My..... Would not you have loved to have been there hearing the truth starting to light fires of new hope in their hearts?

Do that for us, Lord. May Your truth and grace give us all the fires of hope we need for this day. Give us burning hearts of love for You.

Unending Life and Love

That awful day finally ends when the Creator of the universe is crucified by His creation (Luke 23:44-24:12). But Love does not end. Jesus has meant so much to the women that they follow His body all the way to the tomb and then even go home and prepare spices and perfumes. He has meant so much to the women that after the mandatory day of rest, they come "at early dawn" on Sunday with the spices. The good news is that they weren't the first there. It seems like the Father was so excited about this event that He had not even waited for the sun to show up. The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, and we hear the two angels speaking those wonderful words, "He has risen".

And to think that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead "will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you" (Romans 8:11). This is over the top!

Praise God for His unending life and love.

A Holiday in Paradise

Did you notice that in the midst of all the frenzied dance of evil in our reading today (Luke 23:18-43), there is one person who gets it? It is certainly not the demanding screaming crowd that just traded a savior for a murderer or the lamenting but misunderstanding women following and surely not the constantly mocking soldiers and religious leaders (who thought they had control now). It is not the abusive criminal hanging by Jesus who is despairing of life and any last chance.

But the other man. The criminal hanging on the other side. He still feared God and realized that he had done wrong and deserved this cross. And he knew something of Jesus ("But this man has done nothing wrong").  He still had some hope ("Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.").

This solitary mostly unknown criminal was rewarded with the words, the ticket, to a holiday better that he ever could have dreamed of.  Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Lord, help us to get to know You and never give up hope in Your saving grace.

Words of Life

In Luke 22:66-23:17 today, Jesus does come out and confess Who He is.  "And they all said, 'Are You the Son of God, then?' And He said to them, 'Yes, I am.' " And it sounds like this admission is the ticket to accomplishing the Father's will. "What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth." The good news is that the Father's will ends up (as we remember this week) in accomplishing resurrection and eternal life availability.

So I am again impressed with the power of our words. They do have the power of life and death.

Let's use our words this week (whether we feel like it or not) to bring hope and health and strength and life. It is what Jesus did.

 

Love in a Darkness Descent

Oh, how quickly darkness and trials descend on our Lord and His friends in today's reading (Luke 22:47-65). In just a few hours Jesus is betrayed by a close friend, arrested, deserted by most of the group, denied (not once, not twice, but three times) by His closest friend, mocked, beaten, and repeatedly insulted. As He told the persecutors: "this hour and the power of darkness are yours."

How does Love respond to this attack? The friends were ready to defend and used that sword Jesus had suggested in verse 36. But He says, "Stop! No more of this." Love is going through with God's will do matter what the cost.

And wouldn't that have been enough?  But no, Jesus has to pause and do it one more time. The victim of the sword, the head persecutor's slave, has just lost his right ear. Compassion still reigns and our gracious Lord "touched his ear and healed him."

You have to adore that kind of love.

Lord, help us to know the real You and fall hopefully in love.



 

The Thrill of God's Will

The evening is proceeding as usual in today's reading (Luke 22:24-46), as Jesus walks over to His normal camping place in the garden with His followers. But when He gets there He says something different; "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." And going a little farther, that is just what He does. But His words are sounding even more strange; "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
 It is then that the Father's will starts becoming evident as an angel appears from heaven to strengthen Jesus. I think in the crisis of the moment we often skip over that part. But an angel coming down in answer to prayer is a big deal! As Jesus went on to sweat blood in agonizingly fervent prayer, I know that angel from His Father was a huge encouragement.


I'm thinking that angel answers to prayer can be quite thrilling as we remember Who they are from. Let's not underestimate the possibilities of God's grace to answer prayer and get us through hard times.


Look out for the angel!










 

The Best is Yet to Come

We've come to the to their last evening together in our reading (Luke 22:3-22:23). And as our Lord is approaching the cruelest suffering (physical, mental and spiritual) ever, we have no hint of rushing about, anxiety, or fear as the friends gather for supper.  "When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table." In this critical moment Jesus reveals His heart of love for others. "And he said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.' "   He is so wanting them to be prepared for the next hard step of suffering, and to know that it is not the end. Actually, the best is yet to come. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." 

It was hard for them and is often hard for us to believe that the Father will use all these things for the good of His children. 


Lord, give us faith to believe You and know that the best is yet to come.

Earthquake Instructions

I am so hoping that you are greatly encouraged by the victorious reading today (Luke 21:20-22:2). It is so real!  Who cannot listen to the news and hear "men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world"? The word in Luke is that the "powers of the world will be shaken" and that has to produce one big earthquake. So what is the response of many? It seems to be fear and hiding. And maybe even escape into "dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life" (verse 34).

But the word to us is: "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." We are encouraged "to keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." We can stand on God's truth and promises. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." I believe He is calling us to that.

I woke up this morning with the song in my head, "Jesus has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won, He has risen from the dead.  And I will rise when He calls my name ...."

He is calling your name ladies.

Let's rise to meet Him.

Beware of.........

Today's title doesn't really sound like good news, but Jesus loves us so much He wants us to experience the rewards in our life as opposed to what verse 47 calls "greater condemnation". And even though the beware warning is about the scribes in today's reading (Luke 20:45-21:19) , it had some aspects that surely spoke to me.

I'm thinking I sometimes get this "scribe spirit"  and start focusing on whether this "long robe" or that outfit will be liked by others or how those cute shoes are just what I need for satisfaction. Or some days it might be how fun it is to be asked to be on this committee or be recognized as valuable for that service. I, like them, love the greetings of friends and appearing like I've "got it together". My compassion for the lowest at times seems woefully lacking and why did I have to bring up all those latest and greatest accomplishments of the children?

God knows that getting free from this bondage of always looking good would end in true satisfaction. Maybe I'm more sensitive about this as my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law are coming today to stay with us a while. But whatever is going on, if we thank God for the situation (however humbling), He does give grace to free us from this "scribe spirit" and raise our sights to pleasing Him first.

Thanks you Lord for Your warnings and grace.

The Wonderful Teacher

Doesn't it tickle you to see Jesus shine as a teacher as He does in today's reading (Luke 20:19-44)? The furious scribes and chief priests were trying trying to trap Jesus again into saying something they could condemn. But He answered their tricky question with an object lesson invoving a denarius and the wise, "Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  Such an excellent lesson actually shut them up. ("And astonished by his answer, they became silent.")
Then the Sadducees also come with a tricky question and Jesus told a story that resulted in their response of  ' "Well said, teacher!"  And no one dared to ask him any more questions.'

What a gift it is that we have a generous supply of Jesus' lessons today. Maybe we can be a little quieter and listen more to our wonderful Teacher. Let's hear Him speak in our hearts through others, His word, songs, nature - really anyway He would like to.

Speak, Lord, we're listening.

Who are You?

It was a regular day and Jesus was at "church" teaching a class to His fans (Luke 20:1-18). In storms the scribes and elders like police demanding to know who gave Him the right to talk like this. Boy, they sure did not know Who they were talking to. Anyway, check out His amazingly wise response in verse 4. It is like He was trying to reveal if they were being honest or just trying to take over. It soon became obvious that Jesus had won this round. 

The whole thing reminds me of some of my demanding  questions of God. I would be wiser to remember Who He is. It would be good to remember something like God's response to Job in Job 38:4. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand."
Remembering Who He is puts things in a better perspective.

For Crying Out Loud!

Jesus does make it to His final approach into Jerusalem in the reading for today (Luke 19:28-48). And my, this visit starts off so right and good and the way things ought to be. The whole crowd that has gathered in His journey of three years "began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen". They are making such a ruckus that the nervous Pharisees tell Him to shut them up. Don't you love the next verse! "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Where Jesus is, it is right to have praise. Where there is praise to God, He is present. Praise and Presence go hand in hand.

Let's make this a day of praise.
(Also be sure and check out  the clue in verse 42 about what things make for peace.)

Is It Worth the Risk?

Jump into this fascinating story in Luke 19:11-27. In it Jesus tries to tell His friends what this kingdom of God will be like since they are getting close to Jerusalem and are expecting it to appear at any minute.

So Jesus describes a nobleman who upon leaving for trip, gives his servants some assets to invest for him. They do a pretty good job except for one who is afraid he will mess up and hides his provision. On his return the ruler calls the servants to reward them for their good job. However the fearful servant just gets his little provision taken away, and it is strangely given to the most productive guy. This is not at all our idea of fairly helping everyone in need. When questioned about giving more to the man who already has the most assets, the ruler says, "That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag." (The Message)

Lord, make us risk takers for you. All we have is Yours anyway.

The "wee little man"

One great wonder is how God can reveal that the delightful childhood stories such a "wee little" Zaccheus ( Luke18:31-19:10) really do have rich truth for all of us.

Remember how Jesus, the Son of God, was just passing through Jericho when His attention was arrested by a short guy in a tree. But this wasn't just a curious bystander. This was a chief of those rich hated (often thieving) tax collectors. Can you believe this Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus so much that he scrambled up a sycamore tree like some child would do? That seems to me to be a big point of this story. He was willing to do whatever it took to see and know the Lord. He was humble.

And how Zaccheus was rewarded! Jesus interrupted the whole trip to go to his house. Then when Zaccheus revealed his heart by committing to give away over half of his possessions, Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house". Can't get much better than that!

Lord, help us "wee little" women to see You today. May we do whatever it takes.

Who Reigns?

The Pharisees are trying to find out when this kingdom of God is coming in today's reading (Luke 17:20-18:8). Jesus' answer must have surely puzzled them;  ".. the kingdom of God is in your midst."  Hmm. Sadly they did not realize that they were talking to the King Himself.

Jesus gives another clue to the kingdom of God coming when He says,  "Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it" in verse 33. Giving over charge of our life to the King of Kings definitely enables His reign to come. So instead of getting terribly focused on how close to the end it is or about all the signs and calamities happening around us, we need to remember Jesus' bottom line in verse 8.  "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Lord, increase our faith. May You reign in our hearts.

Amazing Love!

The disciples in the reading today (Luke 17:1-17) ask Jesus the same thing I feel such a need for. "Increase our faith" is what they say. Jesus answers by the mustard seed story which shows the power of even a tiny bit of faith (so we would desire this faith even more). But then He lets them know by another story that they should consider themselves as unworthy slaves.

So what's the deal? Aren't we princesses in the royal family? That is true, but it is not where we started. We began as God's workmanship, intricately woven by Him in our mother's womb. Then we all took a sin inspired trip over to the enemy's camp and had to be bought back by our Savior with the highest price ever paid (His blood). So we are God's property - twice. That makes us slaves that have been bought with a price that we could never ever be worthy of no matter how hard we worked all our lives. And then for Jesus to elevate us to the position of His princess-bride . It is nothing short of amazing love!

When God says"Yuck"

Our Good News comes today from Luke 16:14-31. The Pharisees are belittling Jesus' perspective on wealth (since they loved it). They could not believe that God did not view wealth and fame and looks and talent and abilities and strength as highly esteemed as they did. In fact the Jesus says,  "What people value highly is detestable in God's sight."  Wow, strong language!

So what does God value? The story of the rich man and Lazarus lets us know that helping the needy (even the sore-infested, starving, licked by dogs and dying needy) is what He finds valuable. It is really what the world would say "Yuck" to. It seems that our perspective easily gets turned backwards. 

Lord, help us have more of Your perspective. You came to a very needy world. Many don't know it, but we are all needy.Thank you for coming. Let us be more like You.

A Elder Sister?

Today's reading (Luke15:25-16-13) ends the Prodigal Son teaching with the illustration that comes so close to home for me. I am an elder sister and have far too often acted like this brother. How good it is to be reminded that the Father says, "Son (daughter), you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours."

Father, help us to remove our gaze from the brother or sister that may be unworthy in our eyes to get the recognition and celebration. Help us to consistently rejoice in our relationship with You. Your love and provision is way more than enough.

Be a grateful elder sister today.

A Glimpse of the Father

In our last reading of this week, Luke 15:5-24, we have the privilege of a little glimpse into heaven. Verse 10 says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." And nobody is rejoicing anymore than the Father.

So Jesus tells a story - one very familiar to most of us - the prodigal son. If you read if from a father's perspective, how much grief it would have caused to see that hear of that beloved younger son wasting the hard earned wealth of the father and the precious gift of life. The most touching verse has to be the description of the now repentant son's homecoming." So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Can you see the Father looking out from heaven for sons (and daughters ) to turn and start their way back home? Can you hear the rejoicing as the Father runs to meet them? Can you almost feel that hug and kiss?


Our Father in heaven, You are holy,You are love, You are life, You meet our every need. Thank you.