Luke 15
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Luke 15:13-24, “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Take some time to read through all of chapter 15. In this text, we find the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost son (which is highlighted in our focus verses today.)
There are several important things to point out in this teaching. As the son was a long way off, his father saw him coming and it says he was “filled with love and compassion” so he ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him. Now, respectable Middle-Eastern men did not run. Maybe women and kids ran but men did not. Here is this father lifting his robes, baring his legs, and running to his son. This would have been unthinkable. Then, the father embraces his son and kisses him. This probably wasn’t the reception his son was expecting. Remember, the son is ready with his speech that he practiced about being a hired hand. But the son doesn’t even get a chance to finish his speech. The father stops him and says, “Bring the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” The finest robe would have been the father’s robe and here he is asking for the servants to bring it quickly and put it on the youngest son. Wearing the father’s robe was a sign of restored standing in the family. The father didn’t say, “We will work on you repaying the debts or I’ll take you back after you’ve groveled a bit.” Rather, he covered his poverty and his ragged clothes with all the signs of the honor.
Next, the father asks that the fattened calf be cooked in celebration. Keep in mind, meat was reserved for special occasions and the fattened calf would have been for very rare, very special occasions. And all are invited to celebrate the return of the son.
Most of us know that the story isn’t quite over, we have the whole issue of the older brother, and that’s an important piece but I’m not going to unpack it today. For now, let’s reflect on the father and the youngest son. By now, I’m sure you have figured out that the father is God. We are the sons. We aren’t going to get into deep theological analysis of each son, I just want to make a couple points:
· God loves us with a love that is so incredibly deep and intense. We can’t, in our human brains, really imagine it. If you are a parent, you might understand it to a certain extent. But what is hard for me to understand is that God gave up his own son to die for us (John 3:16).
· We have all done things that separate us from God. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) We have all done things that create a barrier in our relationship with God. We might like to rationalize our sins (think well my sins aren’t that bad), the reality is that sin is sin. God sees sin the same, and no matter how big or small in our human way of thinking, it prevents us from being in a restored relationship with God.
· Many of us have had our gutter moments. Regardless of how far away from God we are, God is always seeking us, wooing us toward him. He is like the father in the story, looking out the window – is he close by? Is he getting closer? We call this prevenient grace.
· When we decide to turn back to God, to seek God, God is more than willing to receive us. When we seek Jesus AND decide to say yes to him, he is ready to welcome us into the Kingdom.
· When we ask forgiveness from God for our sins, God freely offers it. It doesn’t matter what we have done, when we say to God, “I believe in you, I believe in Jesus, I want a relationship with you, I’ve been wrong, I need your forgiveness.” Just like the father in the story, God is like “YES! Let’s celebrate. I’ve been waiting for you! Luke 15:7, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
I’ll leave you with this: God is looking out the window, just waiting for you to come home.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for your amazing love. More of you and less of me. Amen.
Luke 14
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Luke 14:7-11, When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Jesus shares a parable about a wedding feast. He speaks of how the guests vie for the best spots, the ones that indicate honor and prestige. But that’s dangerous, Jesus says. For the host may actually find someone more distinguished and ask that individual to sit in the seat of honor. Then, the one who originally worked so hard to gain that seat will have to sit somewhere less important. In the end, they will experience humiliation.
While the advice is wise, Jesus is teaching people to be genuinely humble. Before Jesus, the whole concept of humility was unusual. In Roman culture, to be humble was to be weak. Jesus is saying that to be humble is actually smart. It is more in tune with what God calls us to do. In the end, God is going to settle things anyway. God will ensure that the truly humble person will end up where they are supposed to end up and receive the honor that is theirs. But those who think highly of themselves and place themselves on a pedestal risk the very real chance of being knocked off.
Are you humble? I think that’s an important question for us all to ask occasionally. Do you think you deserve more honor than others? Where does that thought come from?
Let’s close with Philippians 2:1-11. Say this as a prayer…
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 13
New Hope Daily SOAP: Luke 13
Pastor Vicki Harrison
To read this text, CLICK HERE
Luke 13:18-21, Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Jesus gives us two examples of what God’s Kingdom is like. First, he says that the Kingdom is like a mustard seed. The listeners would have been familiar with these little seeds; they were the smallest of all the garden seeds available in Palestine during the time of Jesus. But even though they were small, these seeds could grow into a really big bush or tree. It was actually against the law to plant these seeds in a public garden because they would literally take over and choke out the other plants. It’s amazing that something so little, almost invisible really, became something that took over the whole garden.
Jesus then moves from the garden to the kitchen and says the Kingdom of God is like yeast that a women mixed with sixty pounds of flour until it was all mixed through. Yeast is also really small. Of course, what we know is that the woman would not have used yeast from a little package like we have (that’s a modern invention). In Jesus’ time, when you prepared dough for baking, you would take a small piece of leavened dough (dough with the yeast already in it) that you had been saving, and mix it in the new batch of dough. When the new batch was done, you would take a small piece of the dough from that and save it for the next batch. So picture this: the woman has one piece of leavened dough and she takes it and works it all the way through sixty pounds of flour. That’s a lot of flour!
Jesus puts these two parables together to help us get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. You see, in God’s Kingdom, small things can yield really big results. Tiny seeds can produce a big tree, so big that birds can nest in it. A little bit of yeasty dough can be mixed with flour to make enough bread to feed hundreds of people.
Here are some thoughts about this:
· God’s economy is different. In the world, big things are valued – big money, big jobs, big cars, big houses, big, flashy, noticeable --- these are all things that indicate power, prestige, control. In God’s Kingdom, it’s okay for things to be small. Small, seemingly insignificant things can make a huge difference. Mustard seeds, yeast, loaves & fishes, a random act of kindness, a kind or encouraging word, spending time with God in prayer, offering a prayer over someone else, the widow’s mite, a humble life lived with integrity, sharing our faith story with someone, or our willingness to serve others. Small things that all can yield huge results for God’s Kingdom.
· God does the work but human action is required. In each of these parables, there is human action that was part of the growth. The seed must be planted in the ground and probably watered too. The yeast must be worked through the flour. Although God could accomplish these things on his own, he asks people to invest part of ourselves in his work. Then, God honors that obedience, he honors our effort, our willingness, and our faith, no matter how small and insignificant we think it is and he grows it exponentially.
· Things aren’t always as they seem. God works in ways we cannot see or understand. Science is amazing in that it can show us what is happening under the ground with the seed and what’s going on in that loaf of bread, but science can’t necessarily explain why it happens. In God’s Kingdom, things aren’t always what they seem. This is important: we might not always see God’s power at work, but it’s there in the smallest and most unusual ways, changing and transforming us, guiding us, and leading us closer to Jesus. That adult child who has fallen away from the faith and you pray for them daily - God is at work there in ways you can’t see. The chronic health issue that is so debilitating and limiting - God’s at work there in ways you can’t understand. Your troubled marriage, your difficult job situation, your finances - God has the ability to work in and through them (with your help) in ways you can’t see or understand.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Thank you for how you take small things and make them big. I trust you to take my small offerings and multiply them for your Kingdom. Amen.
Luke 12
New Hope Daily SOAP: Luke 12
Pastor Vicki Harrison
To read this text, go to: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12&version=NKJV
Luke 12:22-25, Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
I have this Scripture hanging in my bathroom. It’s one of those texts I need to read over and over again.
What is it about us and worry? I have struggled with worry and anxiety for most of my life! I finally had to admit to myself that worrying is lack of trust in God. After all, God loves me and God has promised to care for me. He cares for the birds of the fields; certainly he cares for me! This doesn’t mean things will always go my way. Nor does it absolve me of responsibility in life. I still need to work hard and get things done. But I can know that I know that God is with me and God wants to take care of my needs.
For me, I’ve found the antidote to worry is prayer. Pray often, pray fervently, pray sincerely. I go through a visual exercise of giving my worry to Jesus. Sometimes I hand it right to Jesus. Other times, I lay it at the foot of the cross. Then, I have to make the decision to not pick it back up. It takes discipline to give our worry to Jesus; I’ve had to practice this many times. But it’s life-changing. When I give my worry to Jesus, I know it’s in good hands. And worry no longer steals my joy and monopolizes my thinking. I am free, knowing the God’s got this.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Take my worries and cares. I give them to you right now, today. There are no better and stronger hands to carry my burdens than yours. In your name, Amen.
Luke 11
Scripture
Luke 11
Focus Scripture: Luke 11: 2-4 KJV
“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
Observation
What a powerful chapter. Here, Jesus himself reminded us of the power of prayer. Jesus reassures us that audacity and persistents in prayer works. He tells us that if we ask, it will be given to us. He reminds us that we are not an all knowing and all loving God, but we still know how to give good gifts to our children. If we can do this, how much more so can God?
These are powerful reminders of the faithfulness of God, but I can remember times in my life where I prayed earnestly for something believing these promises, and things still did not work out the way I wanted them to. So what gives? That brings us to today’s focus scripture. We all know it well. I assume most of us know it by heart. It’s the Lord’s Prayer. You see, in Luke 11, before Jesus gave us these wonderful assurances about the power of prayer, he first model how to pray for us. He tell us to first pray “Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be your name”. This is to remind us when we start praying that God is in heaven. He has a perspective that we can never have. His ways are not our ways. He sees the big picture. Hallowed be your name. Here Jesus tells us to remember God’s glory in his name. Take time here to remember and tell God through prayer about all the gifts he has given and prayers he has answered in the past. This posture in prayer helps us remember who God is and what he is capable of. Then Jesus tells us to pray “Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. After we have recognized he knows best and sees the whole perspective of the situation and reminded ourselves of his power, we can truly pray that his will, not ours, be done in the situation we are about to address. Jesus then prays, “give us our daily bread”. We often rush right into our request of God when we pray. Notice Jesus only starts asking for things after he took the time to remember and submit to the nature and authority of God the Father. He closes by saying we should ask God to forgive us where we fail him, and to help us forgive those that have wronged us. Lastly, he tells us to ask God to deliver us from temptation and from any evil that may befall us.
You see, the promises of the power of prayer that Jesus makes to us in Luke 11 are all true as they have ever been, but we must remember who God is and submit to his will when we pray. He desperately wants us to pour our hearts out to him and bring him our every request. This illustration of prayer, while speaking to the nature of God, even more so speaks to our nature and our need to focus on God’s nature as we bring him these request so we can trust his goodness and plan for our lives no matter our circumstances.
Application
I believe there are times when we just need to cry out to God and God honors those prayers, but in our day to day prayer lives, I have found so many blessings in following the model our Lord Jesus give us in these verses. In your prayer time today, remember to:
1) Acknowledge that God’s perspective is bigger than yours
2) Remember and thank him for past answered prayers and focus on His power
3) Surrender to His will and abandon your own
4) Ask for what you need through the lens of His will being ultimately done
5) Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and help you to forgive those that have sinned against you
6) Ask Him to give you the strength to overcome temptations that will come your way today
7) Ask Him to deliver you from the plans of the evil one
Prayer
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Luke 10
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Luke 10:38-42, As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
This is a wonderful chapter – please be sure to read through the whole thing.
Our focus verses for today include the story of Mary and Martha. I think we often misunderstand this story. Afterall, the problem with Martha is not that she is busy serving and providing hospitality. Certainly, Jesus commends this kind of service to neighbor many times, notably in the parable of the Good Samaritan which immediately precedes the story of Mary and Martha. The problem with Martha is not her serving, but rather that she is worried and distracted. She is fluttering about, messing with the food preparations, legitimately more concerned with finishing dinner than anything else.
Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality -- gracious attention to the guest. In fact, she breaks all the rules of hospitality by trying to embarrass her sister in front of her guest and by asking her guest to intervene in a family dispute. She even goes so far as to accuse Jesus of not caring about her (Lord, do you not care…?).
Martha’s worry and distraction prevent her from being truly present with Jesus. She has missed out on the “one thing needed” for true hospitality: listening to your guest (especially if the guest is Jesus!) Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.
Jesus’ words to Martha may be seen as an invitation rather than a rebuke. Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. The one thing needed is for Martha to receive the gracious presence of Jesus, to listen to his words, to know that she is valued not for what she does or how well she does it, but for who she is as a child of God.
In a culture of hustle and bustle and over-scheduling, we are tempted to measure our worth by how busy we are, by how much we accomplish, or by how well we meet the expectations of others. We are often Marthas, thinking the busier we are, the more productive we must be. But being distracted and worried often gets in the way of our spiritual walk. Being distracted and worried gets in the way of us listening to Jesus.
When is the last time you sat at the feet of Jesus and simply listened to him? How often do you set aside time to just be still before God? Even Jesus himself made time, in the midst of a very busy schedule, to be alone with God.
We know that God calls us to be listeners of his Word and doers of the Word. But how often do we participate in activities without really soaking up God first? When we do that, we are bound to serve without joy, with pride, for the wrong reasons.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, I want to sit at your feet and simply soak up your wisdom and love. In Your Name, Amen.
Luke 9
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Luke 9:1-6, 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 proclaim 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 shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
I love this passage! Just as God sent Jesus to proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom, Jesus sent his disciples to do the same. He sends them into the villages, into the neighborhoods, into the places where they people were. He didn’t wait for the people to come to them – he sent them out.
They didn’t need a lot for their journey. I’m assuming it was an act of trust. God would provide what they needed. If they were welcomed, they would stay and proclaim the Good News of Jesus. If they were not welcomed, they weren’t to sit around and complain, they kicked the dust off their feet and kept going.
Jesus sent them. Jesus sends us. John 20:21 reads, Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He is sending you. He is sending me. The model is not to sit in a church building and wait for people to come. The model is to go into the neighborhoods, to go into the grocery stores, to go into the schools, the workplaces, the clubs, the bars, the golf courses. You get the idea. We are to go. And we don’t need a lot of stuff – we just need Jesus.
Do you live like a sent person?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help me pay attention to the promptings of your Holy Spirit and live as a sent person. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Luke 8
New Hope Daily SOAP: Luke 8
Pastor Vicki Harrison
To read this text, CLICK HERE
Luke 8:4-8, While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
Today’s chapter is a mix of parables and miracles, truly a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God. We get glimpses of the Kingdom here, the way God always intended his world to be.
Our focus verses highlight the parable of the sower. In this teaching, Jesus says that a farmer goes out to sow seeds but the farmer doesn’t worry so much about where he is throwing the seeds. In fact, he seems to be pretty indiscriminate with his seed-throwing; he is throwing seed everywhere. Some of the seed falls right on the path, where all the people walked and the soil was hard and had been packed down. So the birds ate most of that seed. Some of the seed fell in rocky places (there are lots of rocky places in that part of the world) and while it would sprout, the soil was shallow, and there wasn’t enough root for the plant to survive. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns were invasive and took over. The plants had no real chance of survival there. But then some seeds fell on good soil, which produced an amazing crop - 30, 60, or even 100 times what was sown.
What is Jesus teaching us about the Kingdom of God in this parable? First, I think it’s important not to dwell on the different kinds of soils too much. Often, one of our first temptations is to think, I know someone who is like that soil, and then that group of people are like this soil, and so forth. The soils are important but they aren’t necessarily the main point.
Who is the star of the story? Well, the farmer is OR the one who is sowing the seed. He throws that seed everywhere – he is generous with the seed, throwing it everywhere there is any chance it might take root. Friends, we are the sowers. We are the ones called to throw seed. What’s the seed we are supposed to be throwing around? The Good News of Jesus.
The Good News is for ALL. We aren’t supposed to decide with whom to share our faith. No, we are truly to share our faith, in word and deed, with everyone. This is so important. We aren’t just supposed to share Jesus with those in our congregation or with our friends who are “safe.” We are supposed to be kind of reckless, sharing the love of Jesus Christ, sharing our faith story, telling people the source of our hope, with all kinds of people: those who don’t look like us, those we don’t know, and those we do know. If God has brought us to a certain place, a certain store, a certain vacation spot, a certain meeting, trust that there is a greater purpose. We always should be on the lookout for ways to have spiritual conversations and share the Good News.
I want you to think about your past week. Think about the places you went, the people you spoke to, the things you did. I want you to think about each of those situations. What would it have looked like if you had sowed some seeds at each of those places?
And yet, we aren’t responsible for what happens to the seeds. We are just called to sow. Sow with joy wherever we go. Sow with love. Sow obediently and abundantly. Then, we trust that God will do the rest. Trust God with the harvest. For me, this takes the pressure off…we are not responsible for the harvest.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, I want to be a sower. Help me see where you are calling me to spread seeds. Amen.
Luke 7
To read this text, CLICK HERE
Luke 7:44-48, Then he spoke to Simon about the woman still weeping at his feet.
“Don’t you see this woman kneeling here? She is doing for me what you didn’t bother to do. When I entered your home as your guest, you didn’t think about offering me water to wash the dust off my feet. Yet she came into your home and washed my feet with her many tears and then dried my feet with her hair. You didn’t even welcome me into your home with the customary kiss of greeting, but from the moment I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t take the time to anoint my head with fragrant oil, but she anointed my head and feet with the finest perfume. She has been forgiven of all her many sins. This is why she has shown me such extravagant love. But those who assume they have very little to be forgiven will love me very little.”
Then Jesus said to the woman at his feet, “All your sins are forgiven.”
Please take some time and read through this whole text. There is a lot here!
Simon the Pharisee and the forgiven woman illustrate two different reactions to Jesus. Simon sees Jesus as merely another teacher not even worthy of common courtesy.
The woman, on the other hand, has a radical reaction to Jesus. She reacts with great sacrifice (pouring out the expensive perfume), and undignified affection (wiping his feet with her hair). The woman’s reaction flows out of her profound recognition of Jesus forgiveness of her great debt. She is so very, very thankful.
Simon’s reaction comes from the fact that he does not believe he needs much forgiveness (i.e. he believes his debt is small). And he believes that all he has, all he has done, comes from his own effort. He’s good. He’s self-reliant. He might need God but only a little bit.
One of the greatest obstacles to being changed by God is not recognizing our own weaknesses, our own sins, and our own need for inner transformation. But when we recognize how much God has done for us, when we truly understand how much God loves us, how he has forgiven us totally, how all we have comes from him, then and only then do we experience the kind of gratitude and thanksgiving that this woman is demonstrating.
Pretend you were at the banquet, standing along the wall observing. What would your thoughts be about her behavior? What you would want to say to this woman?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, How amazingly grateful we are for the way you have loved us expansively and forgiven us fully. Forgive me for the times I am too self-reliant and not grateful for your incredible sacrifice. More of you and less of me, Amen.
Luke 6
Luke 6 Soap
Good morning New Hope, this is Jeff Sheffer bringing today's SOAP and it comes from Luke chapter 6. Please take a minute to read the entire chapter HERE.
Even though we are only a ¼ of the way into the gospel of Luke we are well past the chapters that we traditionally refer to as the “Christmas Story”. But I feel like there is a still a tie back to chapter 2:14 where Luke records the heavenly hosts praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Before we dig into chapter 6 I want to give you a little set up. Last Sunday in pastor Vicki’s sermon she led us in an exercise called “dwelling in the word”. She read scripture from Luke 18 having to do with the town of Jericho, and blind man and Jesus. As she read it we were to listen to a word or phrase that spoke to us. For me it was the phrase “have mercy”. Jesus said to the blind man, what do you want?'' and he responded ‘have mercy” on me Lord, I want to see.
In the middle of chapter 6 Luke records a very special teaching from Jesus, something called the sermon on the mount where we learn about this churchy word called the Beatitudes. What exactly are these?
The Beatitudes are statements that are radical and bold that typically go against the our earthly culture and ways of the world. Ironically their intent is to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth by bringing blessedness, true peace and freedom for all who dare to follow Jesus as his disciples.
Today we’ll focus on 32-36 from the sermon on the mount.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Did you hear that? Jesus is instructing us to what? To Be merciful, just as the the Father is merciful to us.
Is that radical? Well when you consider what instruction comes along with this it is. For example, loving only those that love you back is nothing special. Being good to someone and expecting something in return for a “credit”? Isnt this is how the world already operates?
Jesus is calling us to operate differently. To take it to another level. To give without expecting anything in return. To be different from the world. To be like the father when he gave the world a gift. A babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger when the heavenly host of angels praised God saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!
Lord thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you for your goodwill to us all. Lord this sinner needs your goodwill, this sinner needs your mercy. Lord daily we need your power, strength and love to operate in a way that is above this world. Lord help us be merciful just as the father has been merciful to us. Amen
Luke 5
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Luke 5:12-13, While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately, the leprosy left him.
This is such a wonderful text. There is a leper who comes up to Jesus and says, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” First, notice the words the leper uses. He calls Jesus “Lord,” recognizing who he is more than evem the disciples at this point. He also says “if you are willing,” indicating that this man knows that Jesus has tremendous power. He knows that Jesus has the power to heal. Others are questioning Jesus right and left, but this man, who lives on the fringe of society, knows who he is and what that means.
One of the best parts of this story for me is how Jesus reaches out and touches the man. Jesus didn’t need to touch him. Jesus could have spoken the words and the man would have been healed. After all, it was against Jewish law to touch a person with leprosy, as they were considered unclean. The Jews also believed that someone who contracted leprosy must have committed some sin that led to their disease. Thus, there was little compassion toward those who were afflicted with it.
Regardless, Jesus touches the man. Jesus knew the law, he knew the theological view about the illness, and he knew that people would be watching him. And yet, Jesus reaches out and touches him. As soon as he does, the leprosy leaves the man. He is healed. He is clean. He is forever changed.
In God’s Kingdom, compassion always outweighs fear. Jesus knew that by touching the man he would break a law, but to Jesus, there was so much more at stake. Can you imagine how long it had been since that man had been touched with kindness and warmth? In God’s Kingdom, every life has value, even those who live on the fringes, even those with undesirable skin diseases. Every single person is valuable to God. And it goes without saying, Leprosy is not punishment for sin but a product of living in a broken world. Jesus gives us such a beautiful picture of the love and compassion of God.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help me see others as you see them. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Luke 4
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Luke 4:16-21, He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Our God is a God of mission. His mission from the beginning was to redeem his world and restore it to its intended purpose. We see throughout scripture how God’s plan unfolds. First, he pours himself into the nation of Israel, revealing his character, and shaping a new kind of people. But, if you’ve read the Old Testament, you know what happens. Israel repeatedly disobeys God and eventually rebels against God until there is no turning back.
And just when we think all is lost, God speaks through the prophets and the next part of his mission begins to unfold. He says, “It may seem like things are hopeless now but they aren’t because someday, I’m going to send someone who will restore the people of Israel to me. This person will be a light to the Gentiles, and will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth and it will be obvious once more that your God reigns.” And then 600 years after that prophecy in Isaiah, in God’s perfect timing, his mission becomes more full and complete through the person of Jesus Christ who fulfilled this promise of reconciliation and “making things right again.”
That’s where we find ourselves in today’s Scripture. Jesus has gone to his hometown in Nazareth, he has read this prophecy from the book of Isaiah about the coming Messiah, and he shocks them with his words. What Jesus is saying here is, “Guess what, guys? I am the long-expected redeemer. I am the one who came to fulfill the mission of God. To put things to right, GOD SENT ME!”
That is the miracle of Christmas. God came in human form in the person of Jesus to redeem the world and put things right again. Why did the shepherds worship him? Why did the angels sing? Not because he was just a really special baby. Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years.
And while he announces this in today’s focus verses, not many believed him. The question is --- do you?
Let’s pray (or feel free to sing)…
Come thou long-expected Jesus.
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Luke 3
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Luke 3:21-22, When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
This text, when John baptizes Jesus, marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. This call to ministry was accompanied by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and confirmed by God’s voice from heaven. It is a beautiful picture of the Trinity.
What’s interesting and even a bit puzzling about this scene is that John’s baptism was one of repentance. It was for sinners to come, repent, and be cleansed. But Jesus was sinless. He had no need of a sinner’s baptism. And yet, he chose to go through the ritual. Jesus sought to identify with the people he came to save. Some of you will recall that we’ve been talking about the incarnation in our Advent sermon series, Take My Word. Incarnation is a churchy word that refers to God coming to earth to become a human being. It’s in the incarnation that Jesus becomes one of us. Jesus goes to the people, identifies with them, and gives them a real-life demonstration of who God is and how much God loves them. The baptism was simply the beginning.
Please be sure to read through all of chapter 3. It’s worth spending some time reflecting on John the Baptist’s ministry as he prepares the way for his cousin, Jesus. What must that have been like for John?
The chapter closes with a genealogy of Jesus. Take a moment and read through this genealogy again, as well as the genealogy in Matthew 1. What are the similarities and differences? How does each author go about telling the story of Jesus’ family?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We are so thankful for the incarnation. You chose to come to earth to identify with us in order for us to identify with you. Thank you for you willingness to sacrifice all for us. We love you. More of you and less of me. Amen.
Luke 2
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Luke 2:33-35, The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Please be sure to read through the whole chapter today. This is going to be pretty familiar Scripture. It’s what we consider the traditional Christmas story and the words are beautiful and joy-filled. I could literally read them over and over again.
For our focus verses today, however, I wanted to choose something a little less familiar. Joseph and Mary are good, law-abiding Jews. Thus, they visit the Temple at just the right time to give sacrifices for Mary’s purification (done about 40 days after giving birth.) It was also at this time that they dedicate their first-born son to the Lord. The new parents offer a pair of doves or two young pigeons, which would have been the sacrifice offered for those who are poor or possibly middleclass. This just serves to reinforce that Jesus did not come from money or influence.
The Spirit leads an older man in the Temple, named Simeon, to greet Jesus and his parents. The Scripture says that Simeon was righteous and devout and had been waiting for the consolation of Israel. This consolation does not refer to the Jewish political hopes of conquering the Romans but rather the hope that will come with the Messiah, the salvation of Jesus Christ and the coming of God’s Kingdom.
Simeon’s song to God is quite beautiful. He says that now he has seen God’s salvation, he can die in peace. Jesus will be a light to the Gentiles and the glory of the nation of Israel. It says that his parents marveled at what was said about him. Remember, they knew their child was special but as sleep-deprived parents of an infant, all of this was probably pretty difficult to wrap their heads around.
Our focus verses highlight Simeon’s next statements, which serve as prophecy. Jesus’ message will divide the nation. Some will believe and others will oppose him. The journey toward promise-fulfillment will be a difficult one. To walk with Jesus will bring pain and persecution and many will in turn reject him.
Mary’s heart will be broken or pierced as well. It is incredibly painful for a mother to see her child rejected. Most moms I know would gladly endure pain and suffering so their child wouldn’t have to do so. Simeon is preparing Mary for what’s to come.
One more phrase of interest is that “the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” Jesus is essentially God’s litmus test for the hearts of people. Do I need to follow Jesus and seek the light OR can I just attempt to do this life based on my own version of right and wrong? Jesus will reveal what is in the hearts of people.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, How thankful we are that we have the privilege of walking with you. Help us grow in faithful maturity and wisdom so we can better reflect you in all we do. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
Luke 1
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Luke 1:1-4, Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[ among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Our focus verses for today are what most Bible scholars consider a very well-written prologue. Luke speaks highly of those writers who have gone before him. Many ancient writers would start by disparaging others who wrote on the topic, but Luke does the opposite. He also very intentionally creates credibility for his account. While he was not an eyewitness, he makes it clear that the information gathered is from people who were. He also did a thorough investigation himself. This isn’t sloppy scholarship but clear, well-researched authoritative writing. Luke was orderly and very careful in his work.
But my question has always been, who is Theophilus? Most likely this would have been a believer (his name means lover of God) who financed the cost of Luke’s research and writing. Considering the title, “most excellent,” this was probably someone with some rank and respect. Or, it could be that Theophilus was simply someone who was questioning about Jesus and Luke wanted to provide an account that encouraged and convinced him of the validity of Jesus, that these events surely have been fulfilled among us.
Let’s pray…Thank you, Lord Jesus, that your Word is thorough, clear, and authoritative. We are grateful for Luke and all those who worked so diligently to bring us the miraculous story of Jesus. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 10
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Esther 10:3, Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.
Not unlike Joseph in an earlier Old Testament text, Mordecai moves from lowly and close to death to the king’s right-hand man. While God isn’t explicitly mentioned, we know that God acted extraordinarily to orchestrate the events of this story.
Today’s chapter was short but it gave me pause to reflect on the book of Esther as a whole. What can we learn from this book?
· If you are a Christ-follower, God has a purpose for your life. You exist to love and glorify God AND to demonstrate his love and goodness to the world.
• God didn't make a mistake where he has you today. God put Esther exactly where he needed wanted her to be. God has you where you need to be as well. How might God want to use you right now?
• Sometimes, living into your purpose means making big, difficult decisions but it is often lived out in the small, everyday decisions of life.
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help me live in to the purpose you have for me right now, today. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 9
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Esther 9:29-32, So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.
The new decree, written by Esther and Mordecai, allowed the Jewish people a specific day on which to attack their enemies, the 13th of the Jewish month Adar. As you read through chapter 9, you find that is exactly what occurred. The Jewish men assembled and killed thousands of their enemies. Then, on the following day, they rested and feasted. As we see in today’s focus verses, this was the beginning of an annual celebration for the Jews called Purim. Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his evil scheme.
Purim is still celebrated among devout Jews. On the eve of Purim, they read the book of Esther and then do so again on the following day. There is also much gift-giving. They are to send monetary gifts to at least two poor people and then two food gifts to at least one other person. There is also much feasting and celebrating.
I have to admit when I first read about this, it sounded a bit gory. Are they really celebrating the death of all those people? But I had to reframe it. The Jews had been oppressed. They had received a death sentence. And then, they were freed from it. They had the ability to protect their families. They knew God was with them. This was worthy of celebration.
Let’s pray…We thank you, God, for the ways in which you protect us. We are grateful and thankful. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 8
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Esther 8:15-17, When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
Esther again puts herself out there, asking the king one more difficult thing. The king had decreed that all Jews would be eliminated. Thus, another edict must be made that superseded the previous one. Esther knows this so she pleads with the king to overrule the horrible decree made by Haman so her people could be saved. The king basically allows Esther and Mordecai to create the new decree themselves and hands over his signet ring so they can seal it on behalf of the king.
The new decree was strong. It guaranteed that the Jewish people could protect themselves, giving them the right to annihilate and plunder any group who tried to conquer or harm them. It even designated a specific date on which the Jews could attack their enemies.
In today’s focus verses, we read about Mordecai. He has the privilege of delivering the news of the new decree to the Jewish people. By this point, the roles have been totally reversed for Mordecai. No longer does he need to sit by the king’s gate in ash cloth. No longer does he need to worry about his life or the fate of his people. He is the victor, but only because a young queen was willing to do the right thing and risk it all for the sake of her people.
What is God calling you to do right now? What excuses are you making? How does this text inspire you to step out in faith?
Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, We thank you for your Word which gives us such powerful inspiration to step out in faith. Give us courage, motivation, and strength to do whatever it is you are calling us to do. More of you and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
Esther 7
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Esther 7:3-4, Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king..”
Esther was risking her life by making the statement in today’s focus verses. She has no idea how the king will react. We know from previous chapters that he is prone to rash, angry decisions. First, the king does not know that she is a Jew. Second, Esther doesn’t know if the king will choose her over Haman, his trusted advisor. If the king chooses to side with Haman, then Esther and her people will be killed. But she must have courage and take the risk – the stakes are too high.
God calls all of us to take risks. Let’s hope our risks aren’t quite as scary as Esther’s but they might be! The reality is that the Christian walk was never intended to be comfortable and easy. The Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to take risks: go talk to that person, volunteer for that organization, reach out to that neighbor, offer to pray with that person over there, give money here…you get the idea. The big question is are we listening and are we obeying?
Let’s pray…Lord, I want to take risks for you! Give me courage and wisdom. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen.
Esther 6
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Esther 6:1-3, That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
The king couldn’t sleep so she has the record of his reign read aloud to him. This is a man who likes to hear about his own exploits. Regardless, he finally learns about the incident in which Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate the king. The king realizes that Mordecai was never rewarded for this and so he asks Haman what should be done to a man who greatly pleases the king. Haman, totally self-obsessed, thinks the king is referring to him so he chooses a grand reward: wearing the a royal robe and being paraded around the city on one of the king’s horses.
Things are beginning to be turned upside down. While Haman was originally planning on killing Mordecai that day, he ends up being the one who parades him around the city.
Let’s pray…Lord, Thank you for being a God who turns the things of the world upside down. Help us remember that we are also to turn things on their head: living differently, treating people with love, and putting you first. We love you, Lord. Amen.