Friday, December 10: Luke 9- Jesus' way of authority and power

I have been thinking and teaching about the authority we have in Jesus lately, so that idea is on my mind. As I came to this chapter, rich in meditation points, my thoughts were captivated by the authority Jesus gives to us as disciples. Allow me to string some vignettes from this chapter together.

Verses 1-6: When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: "Take nothing for the journey--no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Jesus gave His disciples both power and authority to drive out demons and heal people. Then He sent them out to preach and demonstrate the kingdom of God.  However, this authority and power was not a means to personal gain.  They were allowed to take not bag or food. They ate what people offered them and they had no bag to collect gifts along the way…

Stop number two: Verses 23-25 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Denial of self for the sake of the kingdom is a Jesus principle. I had this image. If I am carrying ‘my cross’, then I don’t have the ability to carry much, if any, worldly stuff. It seems Jesus is saying in the latter two sentences I can seek to gain life or worldly stuff… by inference not both.

Last stop, Verses 9:51-58: As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

Quick thought… authority and power are not meant to harm people, even those who reject us and, likely by extensions, even those who seek to harm us. I recall Jesus said, “We’re to be turn-the-other-cheek people”. (Mt 5:39)

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

These last two verses reiterate that following Jesus is not about bettering our lives (living more fancifully) in this life. In fact, it might call us to be itinerates, on the move for Jesus, which suggest we need to live (i.e. travel) light.

So where did the Spirit take me with all this? I am wondering about the using of my money and resources.  Accumulating stuff… is that the way of Jesus?

Lord, this is not a comfortable thought.  In fact, it is a difficult challenge. Christmas is not far off and so much of Christmas is driven by commercialism and stuff.  It is too late for this year but I wonder if there is a better way? A more ‘Jesus way’.

Lord, I can feel the internal struggle within me even as I pray this prayer and conclude this time of reading and meditation… Give me strength to get real with this word from You. Amen.

 

 

Thursday, December 9: Luke 8- An everyday story explained

Traveling through an agrarian society, Jesus told a farming story about scattering seeds. Jesus’ story described an occurrence every farmer immediately related to and understood. Scattering seed is part of a farmer’s life.

Later Jesus explained to His disciples the spiritual lessons of the story.  Jesus’ words speak volumes. This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop (11-15).

As farmers of the word of God, not everyone we speak to will accept Jesus’ teachings and enter the kingdom. The devil snatches the word from some so that they may not believe and be saved. Still others seem to get it but the next thing we know they have disappeared and returned to their former ways and lifestyle of unbelief. Others, like the disciples in the boat, see the waves and storms of life but instead of calling to Jesus like the disciples, these people slip back into old ways and forego Jesus and the way of Jesus. But those who do believe produce a bumper crop of faith.

Some thoughts float through my heart…

(1) Sow seeds, that’s my job. God determines the increase. Not everyone will believe my testimony to Jesus but I am responsible to sow. I cannot tell what kind of soil they represent.

(2) We have an enemy don’t forget that. But we also have a defense…the armor of God… read Ephesians 6.

(3) Old patterns die hard… persevere with Jesus, pay attention to your faith and work at it.

(4) Call out to Jesus when you are in trouble. I love the song Angelo has introduced to our worship, ‘Whisper His Name. Whisper, Call, Shout His name and Jesus will come to you’. (listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmfciUd_Vfw&feature=related). We don’t have to live life alone. We have a Savior who not only forgives our sins but Who is also there to rescue us when we hit problem patches, like the disciples in the boat turn to Jesus, when you are in trouble.

Well, now I have to chew on all this…

Lord, I have feasted at Your word.  Please help me to take time with it, to apply it and to take it deeply into my life… In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, December 8: Luke 7- Unfolding understanding

The last few years of reading the Bible and writing my thoughts has produced a treasure of new insights for me. I suspect it has to do with the intentionality of my morning devotion time. Today is another case in point. The punch line or result of the healing of the woman from Nain’s son is that people were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people" (16). Recognition began to dawn on the people that Jesus was special. He was a prophet. And prophets are people send by God and speak and act for God.

Reading this, I realized that the people had made a significant step toward fuller understanding of who Jesus was.

Believing in Jesus often involves a process as our minds and thoughts are challenged and changed from disbelief to belief, depending upon a person’s starting point.  Do they believe in a god at all?  Do they have any kind of religious background, any monotheistic religious background, etc.? The journey to belief may be long, dotted with many intellectual, experiential or theological hurdles.

Jesus gave people time. He allowed people’s thinking to grow and evolve. He was satisfied, in the account above, that the people had made the step to believing He was from God. Oh, they didn’t have full understanding yet about His divinity or His atoning death but they had made a significant step toward true understanding.

I began to think, do I give people time to believe? Do I let them make small or large steps in understanding and allow God, the Holy Spirit, to work in their lives, changing and transforming their thinking?  Or do I give up on people because they don’t ‘get it’ quickly or completely right away? I need to think about this some more and more deeply.  There is a kernel of truth here that should impact my witness to Jesus….

Come, Holy Spirit, bring Your wisdom. Teach me the way of Jesus.  Teach me to better share my faith in Jesus… Teach me, O Holy Spirit, that I might lead people to faith in Jesus and in the Father who sent Him. Amen.

 

Tuesday, December 7: Luke 6- Being watched.

As I began to read this chapter, I found it interesting how closely Jesus’ life was scrutinized by the Pharisees. Here He is walking with His disciples and the Pharisees are walking with Him, watching His every move. In fact, the chapter begins with two Sabbath stories where Jesus is being hounded by Pharisees. I get the impression they were watching His every move; one small misstep and they were ready to pounce, “Got ya!”

But it wasn’t only the religious leaders who were watching Jesus. Verses 17-19 reveal how those in need were watching Jesus, hanging on His every word and looking for any opportunity to engage Him or just touch Him. He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

I spent a few moments trying to feel what it was like to live in the ‘fishbowl’ that Jesus lived in. Some were trying to catch Him in a lie or mistake and others were desperately trying to get a healing from Him. Still others, hungry for truth, crowded around so they could hear every syllable He uttered. It must have been exhausting to be ‘on’ all the time.

Now I am no Jesus, but my wondering shift to my life (our lives). We, too, are being watched and our faith is being scrutinized by others. Some want to catch us in a misstep… “Some Christian you are,” they are dying to say or at least think. Others watch us to see, if in fact, our life is different because we profess Jesus. Some people might think that because we are ‘religious,’ we might be able to speak a blessing upon them. Whatever their reason, people are watching…

Lord, I surrender my witness to You. I pray that my life is a credible witness to You and that people will see a difference in the way I live and that my living and my words in all situations would be honoring of You. And, Lord, when I do fall short of Your ideal, I not only ask You to forgive me, I pray that my mistakes do not bring reproach on Your wonderful name. To You Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be the honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

 

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Monday, December 6: Luke 5- Staying connected with the Father

In the back of my thoughts, as I was reading this morning, is Luke’s emphasis on Jesus as the prototypical Spirit-empowered man. I believe I have mentioned already that Luke, more than any other gospel writer, emphases that Jesus operates in the power of the Holy Spirit (which is the same Spirit God will give to the church in Acts, Luke’s second volume). With this in my thoughts, two comments about Jesus’ life jumped out as me as I read. It was as if they were highlighted in yellow as I read.

The first is verse 16, But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Jesus needed and made connection time with His heavenly Father. Jesus’ life was incredibly busy. Like a rock star or celebrity of today, Jesus was hounded by paparazzi, people pushing to get near him. They didn’t want a photo.  They wanted to be healed or if they were skeptical of Him, like the teachers of the law, they wanted to catch Him in a compromising situation or giving a compromising quote. The gospels picture Jesus as one who had scant time to Himself. So, apparently Jesus made time to be alone with the Father in prayer. He would disappear, other verses suggest this was sometimes (often?) at night, when others slept. Whenever it was, Jesus pulled away from the crowds and even His disciples to pray.

This speaks to me.  If Jesus is the prototype spirit-empowered man and He needed to recharge His life by spending alone time with the Father, then I (we) would be wise to learn that life-trait, too, if we want to be His disciple and want to live Spirit-empowered lives.

‘Act on this’, nudges the Holy Spirit…

The second sentence, that seemed to be highlighted, comes at the end of the next verse which reads, One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick (17). The inference of this almost incidental sentence is that the power to heal was not always with Jesus and Jesus knew the difference.

The fact that these two verses are side by side causes me to think that they are related. Since Jesus maintained a close relationship with the Father, it was through His communion with the Father that Jesus knew who and when and even how to heal. Admittedly, this moves beyond the actual wording of the text but it seems a reasonable deduction from the text.

Again, the Spirit nudges, ‘Stay connected with the Father and keep your Spirit-ears open for the direction of the Father. When you do this, you will be living the Spirit-empowered life.’

O, God, thank You for the Holy Bible, Your word. Thank You that You continue to speak through it today and that You will speak through it every day until Jesus returns and we live directly in Your presence. Continue to shape my life as I spend this time with You each day. And, Lord, help me to be attentive to You throughout the day, listening for Your voice, Your direction and Your leading so that I might be available to You in order to bring Your kingdom light to anyone You want. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Saturday, December 4: Luke 4- Overwhelmed

I am overwhelmed this morning as I read this chapter. There are too many thoughts, too many ideas, too many devotional stops along the way.

I am overwhelmed by Jesus and His greatness, the magnitude of His spiritual strength, His power, His message and His forthrightness.

40 days in the desert without food and the text simply says He was hungry (2). He battles the devil with scripture.  Jesus, the Word, spoke the word accurately and forthrightly in His combat with the devil. I notice in this section that it says, When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time (13). The devil is a wily enemy, who looks for opportune times to attack and to bait us into failure.

I am reminded as I read this that I must always have my guard up against the schemes of the evil one.  I must immerse myself in scriptures so that, like Jesus, I will have the Word as a defense against attacks.

I am struck by the strength with which Jesus emerges from the desert. Luke highlights that Jesus returned… in the power of the Spirit (13). (Throughout Luke Jesus is the prototype for the spirit empowered believer, which the church realizes in Luke’s second volume call Acts). And the power of the Spirit means power in proclamation and demonstration, which sometimes elicits faith-filled responses and sometimes rejection.

Talk about being overwhelmed, I was listening to Jesus’ self declaration as Messiah by reading ‘Isaiah 61’ and then declaring, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (21). For me this morning, listening to Jesus speak that, was a moment for the ages. Jesus sat there and said, ‘That scripture is about ME!’ Jesus had absolute clarity about who He was and what He came to do.  The remainder of the chapter is living out that declaration… through healing, casting out demons, and preaching in the towns and villages of Judea.

This morning I have been overwhelmed by Jesus! Following my reading, I sit for a few moments catching my breath, marveling at who Jesus is.  I am marveling, also. that He has called me to live under His grace and authority.  Also to point people to Him so that they, too, might believe and surrender their lives to His lordship.

O Jesus, today in Your word was a powerful time. I saw Your strength, Your power, Your conviction, Your focus on Your call. You are the prototypical spirit-filled man and God in human flesh and I worship and adore You. Tomorrow morning I will gather with Your community and worship You and I will dine at Your table, I will listen to Your word and speak with You through prayer. O, Jesus, thank You for opening my eyes to who You are and for inviting me to worship You. I love and adore You, Jesus, together with the Father and the Spirit. Amen.

 

Friday, December 3: Luke 3- Honest with self

From what I read, John would never pass Dale Carnegie’s course, How to Win Friends and Influence People. John’s appearance was rough and tumble and his words straight, seemingly with an edge to them. Assuming this morning’s reading is representative of John’s preaching, he certainly didn’t soften his blow: John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them (7-18).

You wouldn’t hear that at a political rally!

Yet people came.  They were honest about their shortcomings, failures, lifestyles and sins.   They accepted John’s call to repentance and baptism for repentance. It is their honesty with self that connected with me. Jesus’ call to repentance requires the same self-honesty. To accept a savior a person must admit she/he needs help!

Lord, I need help. I needed help years ago when I first came and asked You to save my life and I need help today. I pray and work and try to live my life for You. Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I need and desire Your saving love and grace regularly. Help me Jesus to live a life worthy of Your name. Amen.