Have a Good Trip

We are going on a little trip. So I am thinking about washing and packing and who will feed the animals etc. etc. In Luke 8:-9:6 Jesus sends the twelve on a trip. But He tells them to prepare quite differently.

He tells them to take nothing. He even spells it out: no bag or food or money or extra clothes. Hmm...  How he does have them prepare is to give them power and authority and purpose. 

Their equipment is power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Their purpose is to "proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick". Sounds like an exciting trip!

What would happen if we go on our daily "trips" well prepared with the "equipment" of the Holy Spirit and the purpose that God has revealed to us. Sounds pretty exciting!

Have a good trip!

Light in the Darkness

Fear ruled the country of the Gerasenes. It even sounds rather dark (Luke 8:26-39). Jesus had just delivered the notorious tomb-haunting mad man from a mob of demons, and the people were shocked and scared. The demoniac was now sitting calmly in decent clothes and making sense.

However, when those who had lost their pig multitude to the demons spread the news abroad, the whole countryside came and asked the Light of the World to leave. "They were gripped by great fear". It had been too much change - way too fast for their darkened eyes.

The healed man also wanted to go with his Savior. But Jesus told him to "go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you". So off he went "proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him".

Hmm...  Usually, Jesus told those He healed to keep the news quiet. But in this country that is "gripped with fear", the people needed to hear.

It sounds like the situation that we often find ourselves in. Where fear abounds good news is the light in the darkness. Let's ask God to "open a door to us for the message" (Colossians 4:2-6) so we can share what Jesus has done for us.

"Where Is Your Faith?"

It's time to move on. Jesus and the guys climb into a boat and start to cross the lake. But our Lord falls asleep right before this terrific storm catches the crew and starts to capsize the boat. The panicking fishermen wake up Jesus crying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

The Lord of Creation then commands the wind and the waves to quiet down and they do it. And in the stillness Jesus asks a revealing question: "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:16-25)

Could these experienced fishermen have been trusting in their own ability to handle the storm? It seems like I often wake up to the need to pray when that is "all we can do". What if prayer became the first resort instead of the last resort? 

Father, make us people of prayer.  Help us to keep our faith in You.

A Good Mystery

Who doesn't like a good mystery? The neat thing about a mystery is that you get clues that enable you figure out the answer - sort of participate in the story. It surely draws you in and makes you feel even valuable.

In Luke 1:1-15, Jesus says,"To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables ..." And the story or mystery we can possibly understand is that of the "Sower and the Seed" or "How God's Word Can Work in Our Hearts".

Jesus reveals in this story that there are four heart conditions that people can have:

• The road hardened heart where God's Word is snatched away by Satan before it can penetrate.
• The rock strewn (possibly bitter) heart that won't allow joyful new truth shoots to grow deep enough roots. They will wither in drought-like temptation.
• The thorn infested heart that steals the time and provision for new growth in order to support worrying about tomorrow, making money, or having fun. 
• The good honest heart that hears and sticks with the Word until there's a harvest.

As I solve the mystery of how God's Word is faring in my heart, I will know better how He'd like to work to make me more fruitful. Fruit-bearing means new life that never ends!

Truth Triumphs!

What a movie Luke 7:36-40 would make! It opens as the town harlot slips into the wealthy dinner party and just falls apart at the feet of the popular new Teacher. Her tears rain down on those calloused dirty feet, and her hair is loosed to dry them. She smothers these same feet with kisses and soothes them with the most expensive fragrant oil. Her love for the Teacher seems to know no bounds.

In sharp contrast, the dinner host is scandalized as Jesus allows such a display by this audacious brazen woman. He even thinks Jesus must be a fake prophet since He surely doesn't know what is touching Him. 

But now the Teacher, our hero, speaks up and truth shouts loud and clear. Jesus reminds the host, in a little story about money, that people who are forgiven the most are the most grateful. And He proceeds to expose this host as inadequate and ungrateful, while the broken woman is full of thankfulness and faith resulting in her salvation and peace. 

Truth has triumphed! Good prevails. And the best news is we grateful, forgiven sinners also win. He has given us salvation and peace!

Blessings Await!

Doubt has set in for the former "Thunder in the Dessert" John. He is day after day in a dismal dungeon vaguely remembering Jesus' baptism, the dove, the heavenly voice. So he begins to wonder, and sends messengers to Jesus to ask, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?"  (Luke 7:18-35)

Jesus doesn't script a pep talk or an elaborate defense of His ministry for His friend John. He just says,"Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard". And that is plenty - miracles, healings, good news abounds. But Jesus adds one vital promise: "And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed." This is huge for him and for us.

When we are serving Christ and we we seem to get the raw end of the deal, how do we respond? When prayers I offer for others get answered, but those for me are ... waiting, what am I thinking? Am I going to be offended at God when my state seems like a dismal dungeon? 

Blessings are promised! God's kind of blessings await my repulsing "poor me" and doubt temptations.

Lord, help us to reject satan's sick offer of offense at You. May we "bless the Lord at all times". (Psalm 34:1)

Understanding Authority

Jesus asks, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" That is one good question! And I hear Jesus asking that of me.

In Luke 6:46-7:17 there is one man who knew how to obey. He describes himself as "placed under authority with soldiers under him". He says: "I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Simple! And that seems to be why he understands Jesus and knows He can "but say the word, and my servant will be healed." You see this obedient captain's beloved slave is very sick, but he only asks Jesus to speak the word from afar to effect healing. He understands authority.

And Jesus marvels. He says to the crowd, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 

Lord, help us to understand Your authority and obey. We look forward to Your gift of faith.