Settling out of Court

The reading today, Luke 12:57-!3:17, starts with such important good news if we will heed the warning.  It seems like our Lord is reminding us to try hard to settle any fights we are having with others early (readily ask for or give forgiveness) before we can be judged as obstinate and suffer the consequences of resentment and bitterness prison. This prison comes with much torment (Matthew 18:34), and we will not get out of there until we have paid the last cent of our debt. Really we can not get out of there at all without God's grace. So let's all take the forgiveness route today and enjoy the freedom of our Lord.

Who is the servant?

Our reading today, Luke 12:35-56, is all about being a faithful and wise servant. That is so great because I see women thriving as they serve others. The part I like is the sense of anticipation in verses 35-36 of the master's arrival. It is like an excitement to be properly prepared in every way for his knock. Of course, this is how we are to anticipate Jesus' presence in our lives.

The surprising thing is that the master turns the tables, puts on his apron, and has the servants sit down to eat. He then waits on these "blessed" faithful ones. I keep finding that to be the surprising thing about God. I get to thinking I am doing so much, and come to find out that it was really Him all the time that was working. It was absolutely all His doing. You got to love that kind of Master.

Everybody else does it!

My, the reading today (Luke 12:22-34) sinks way down in my need and maybe yours. It is wonderful how our Lord does not beat around the bush. Take in verse 29; "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. "

So what is the remedy for our fear laden "will we have enough" thinking? After all everybody else is doing it ("all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek"). And what does "seeking His kingdom" mean anyway?

Well, part of the search just turns us inside out. It is not how hard we can work to accumulate and earn this kingdom. (He has already chosen to gladly give it to us.) We see that verse 34 is the jewel, the tip off to true treasure. It tell us that as we give (even if nobody appreciates it), we accumulate the real security, because generosity frees our heart to go back to its Source, it's true desire in heaven. Generosity is a Christian's free ticket into the kingdom of heavenly living. We can afford to be very generous, because we are abandoned to the Source and Provider of very need. 

                     

When He says our name!

It is another fascinating and rich reading today (Luke 12:4-21). I've especially been thinking about verse eight. What will it be like to have our wonderful Lord Jesus acknowledge us before the angels of God? Talk about getting a thrill! Seems like it would be good enough just to see Him and to see His smile of greeting, but then have Him go on and talk about His love for us and appreciation for our relationship.....  Oh My!

It looks like we can take this as a promise as we are obedient to acknowledging Him before people.  "I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God."

Lord, show us how to acknowledge You before others. We know it has to be more than just words. Make our lives a testimony of Your grace and love.

Help for Hypocrisy

Oh my! What do we do with the reading today Luke 11:37-12:3 ? Jesus goes to have lunch with some of the "church" leaders, gets comfortable, notices a critical spirit, and starts "insulting" them all. This goes on for 14 verses!  And when Jesus left, the leaders were totally hostile and intent on tripping him up. This surely does not seem like the way to win friends.

When you take another look, you can see that these Pharisees had been listening to Jesus (and even some to John) and had not evidently been convicted to turn from their sin. So Jesus puts it to them straight. The big lesson to the disciples is, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." (Not having your teaching and words line up with the way you are living.)

Oh this is such a crucial word to us. We all are teaching and leading as younger ones and others are watching. I like this reminder from John Owens.
"If a man teach uprightly and walk crookedly, more will fall down in the night of his life than he built in the day of his doctrine."

Oh Lord, help us to be transparent, and free from the deceitfulness of appearances. Make us Your clear pure light.

Clear Eyes?

The reading today, Luke 11:14-36,reminds me of the variety and richness of our Chocolate Angel experience on Saturday. Toward the end of it, we can learn Jesus' prescription for ageless beauty. Jesus has mentioned the vital need for lamps shining out in the open so people can see where to go. Then in verse 34 He says, "The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear your whole body also is full of light: but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness." I know we have all seen people who are beautiful because of an ageless inner glow and that is most recognizable in their eyes. The fact is that their eyes, the windows to their souls, are clear.

So how do we keep our eyes clear instead of getting "spiritual cataracts". I think it has a lot to do with what we look at and focus on. Out eyes can get glazed and calloused (sort of what we hide behind) if we focus on fears, worries, lies from the enemy. "Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness." However, a focus on truth, love, and our dear Lord brings freedom and clarity and joy that just shines.

Father give us clear eyes so that we can glow more and more with Your beauty.

Shameless prayer

In our reading today (Luke 10:38-11:13), the Lord seems to go out of His way to expand our idea of prayer. The eleventh chapter start with the familiar Lord's Prayer, and we are reminded to seek the expansion of God's Kingdom and then our needs. But then He adds on the fascinating story of man who had company come in late and needed food. So he goes to a friend's house at midnight and yells through the door that he needs not one, not two, but three loaves of bread. The "friend" does not want to get up and help out, but the man keeps yelling at the door. Finally, the "friend" gets out of bed, opens up the house (possibly calming down the now awake children), and gives the persistent (or shameless) man what he is asking for. Can you believe our Lord is saying that we should pray like this persistent or shameless man is asking for help? Jesus goes on to say it will be given to everyone who asks, seeks, and knocks. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit (the best gift) to those who ask Him?"

Lord, help us to be persistent even shameless as we seek you for help.