Lift Up Your Heads

Whew! Things have been shaken up around here. Activities cancelled, postponed, rearranged. Life is just not what it was when December opened. In Luke 21:20-22:2, Jesus is talking about really big weather and government changes. And the good news is that He makes us a promise: "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

"Lift up your heads" runs all through the Christmas season. It has to be partly because of that great chorus in Handel's Messiah. But mostly we badly need to remember. We've got to keep alert and looking for Jesus and His truth and love no matter what changes may occur. 

No matter what we may be into. Jesus goes on to say, "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping."(The Message)

Hmm...  How tragic to let the "worries of this life" cloud our expectation and ability to see Jesus at Christmas time. Maybe the weather changes have helped us slow..... look..... and lift up our heads.

Gaining Life

God places huge value on just hanging in there with Him. Revelation honors those who overcome with their name in the Book of Life and more. (Revelations 3:5)

In Luke 20:45-21:19  Jesus warns of all kinds of trails followers might suffer. But the crowning last verse gives us hope. "By your endurance you will gain your lives." At first glance this seems rather obvious. But we're not talking about grit your teeth, "I'm going to make it through this or else". And we are not talking about doing great deeds for great rewards. The word means "hopeful expectancy". And life here is the "true life of your soul". 

That's huge! My word for this year has been "life". And I have been beyond thrilled with the diamond-like facets of joy and depth and richness in that one word. Life in Christ is worth any cost.

Lord, inspire us with the beauty of life in You.  Thank you that in this holiday season You are just longing to give more "life".

Well Said, Teacher!

What fun is a exhilarating debate! And Jesus is the master. In Luke 20:19-44, the Pharisees send spies with trick questions about paying taxes to Caesar. As they produce the coin with Caesar's likeness, Jesus triumphs. ("Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.")  "Yea, Jesus!"  But the Pharisees - "astonished by his answer, they became silent."

Next it is the Sadducees turn. As they didn't believe in the resurrection, they come with a question from Moses' law about how can remarriages work in the resurrection. Jesus clearly explains how there is no marriage in heaven, and then goes on to prove from Moses' calling the Lord, "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" that these men must have been resurrected. God "is not the God of the dead, but of the living". We have to exclaim with the scribes, "Well said, Teacher". But all those religious authorities "did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything."

Lord, peel from our eyes and hearts the dead crust of familiarity with Your word. Help us to be amazed and thrilled with You over and over again.

Who Is He?

Who is He? It is the most consuming question. In the shocking story Jesus told (Luke 20:1-19), the vine growers surely did not know who the owner's son was. They thought he was just the heir to the vineyard. If they eliminated him they could have the vineyard to themselves. They'd be free to do what they wanted.

But no! He was the owner's "beloved son". One surely due respect. And who can fathom the pain to the owner when the vine growers not only did not respect his son. They killed him.

This is, of course, a prophetic word to the Pharisees. And they knew it. ("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.")

Lord, help us to know You - the real You. You are not an ideal that we try and fail to live up to. You are the love of our life!

Real Thanksgiving

Oh my! Jesus is stirring things up again. (Luke 19:28-48)  He is just coming into Jerusalem (for the last time) and the whole crowd erupts as they begin "joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen". They are shouting, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Notice that this ending sounds like the angel choir's praise to shepherds at the beginning. (Luke 2:13-14) It's wonderful that now this praise and thanksgiving has passed on to people. 

But it is evidently getting out of hand, as some of the Pharisees tell Jesus to rebuke that rowdy crowd. Don't you love Jesus' answer!  "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Lord, give us this same spirit of exuberant thanksgiving and praise. We are so glad You came.

Our Little Things

Great Tuesday to you,

It's coming - that New Year with a chance to make new goals and start agains. But today Jesus is speaking of the little things right before us and in our hands. 

In the story of the Ten Talents, the master commends the slave who is trustworthy with the little provision he had been given. In fact this guy is in for a huge surprise with the gift of authority over ten cities. 

You might think so what. Who wants that? But authority was the shocking thing about Jesus. (Matthew 21:23)  And it can be the powerful quality that God uses in us to defeat the enemy and spread His kingdom. 

I sure want to hear that "Well done" that the slave heard. Lord, give us grace to be trustworthy with the little provision and talents that you have given us. Keep us from fear and hiding our gifts like the worthless slave did. We offer to You our little things and anticipate Your using them in mighty big ways. 

Blessings,

Ouida

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Yea!

Don't you love Zaccheus? He may be rich and a cheater, but he is short and will climb trees to see the good stuff. And his excitement about seeing the Teacher was sure rewarded in Luke 18:31-19:10.

Notice Jesus knew his name, called him down, and announced that He would spend the day at his house. Wow!  Zaccheus is so thrilled that he announces on his way there that he will give half of his stuff to the poor and repay double the penalty to anyone he has cheated. Jesus' reply is that "today salvation has come to this house".

Don't you want to applaud! Yea, for Jesus who "came to seek and to save the lost." Yea, for the little guy who was humble and did crazy things to get help. Yea, for all of us who have a Savior that "rewards those who earnestly seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)