Today’s Reading: John 9 & 11:1-44; Luke 11:33-36

THE PAIN

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” – John 9:1-5

Our hearts break when we watch those we love get sick; we fall to our knees when a diagnosis changes our lives forever. What did we do? Why has God allowed this suffering? We cannot see the road ahead of us through the pain and tears. All that is ahead appears so dark; it is not a journey we want to walk and we beg God to take it away! Over and over again, we find ourselves asking the same question the disciples asked Jesus — Why?

THE LIGHT

Jesus says – I am the light of the world. I will shine my light in the darkness that surrounds you. This has happened so the power of God can be seen in you! This is the WHY you have been searching for.

Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing. – John 9:6-7

Later, after the man had been questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus found him and revealed that he was the Son of Man, and the man worshiped him. He not only recognized what Jesus had done for him, he acknowledged who Jesus is.

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment – to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” – John 9:39

How often do we think our faith is strong until something tragic happens and then we realize we do not have enough faith to get us through this difficult time. We realize we are blind and we need Jesus, the Light of the World, to give us sight. We want to believe – Lord, help us to believe! Strengthen our faith and shine your light into our situation.

THE TEARS

Mary and Martha asked similar questions of Jesus when their brother died. They were grieving and begging Jesus to explain himself – to do something!

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” – John 11:21-22

When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – John 11:32

Before arriving, Jesus had told his disciples that Lazarus’ story would not end in death. What they were about to experience was for the glory of God and so that the Son of God would also receive glory through this situation (John 11:4). Later, at Lazarus’ grave, Jesus took time to explain it again.

“Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” – John 11:40-44

God allows sorrow and pain so that we can see the Light of the Word and believe — so that we can experience His glory. It is in these moments that our faith is strengthened, and it is in these moments that others come to believe in Jesus. Perhaps this prayer is for you today:

Heavenly Father, thank you for not abandoning us in our darkest moments — for loving us enough to listen. Light of the world, when we feel the darkness closing in around us, give us sight! Show us your glory! Come and do something so miraculous that it can only be explained as a result of your power and your mercy. Give us the miracle of sight today; help us to believe. Fill us with your light so that we can be radiant for you today. Amen.

“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” – Luke 11:33-36

Today’s Reading: Luke 12:35 – 13:5; 13:31-35; Psalm 3

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.” – Luke 12:35-36

Jesus wanted his disciples to understand that he was leaving them and they would need to be responsible servants while he was gone. They had a job to do in his absence and he expected them to do it. It would not be easy but he wanted them to understand his instructions and be prepared for what was ahead.

Servants who are ready when the master returns will be rewarded; servants who have not carried out the master’s instructions will be punished. That sounds harsh from the God who we have come to know as merciful and gracious, but we cannot forget that He is also a holy God who expects obedience from His people. He desires for us to be all that He created us to be.

“…When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” – Luke 12:48b

Just as Jesus was warning his disciples of the crisis that was ahead and urging them to stay on task after he was gone, devastating news arrived. Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices in the Temple. This did not happen because the worshippers were sinners or because they deserved death. No, they were simply exercising their right to worship and their lives were unjustly taken from them.

THE CHAOS

It is in the midst of the chaos and crowd that we need to HUDDLE UP and listen carefully to what Jesus is saying:
Do not fear what people can do to you; fear only God.
Do not worry about your everyday needs, but focus on God and His Kingdom.
Do not be confident in what this world has to offer and store up earthly treasures, but understand they can all be gone in a moment.
Pray God will give you a heart that desires the treasures of Heaven.
Until Christ returns, be a faithful servant and carry out the work He has given.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” – Luke 12:31

Jesus was moving the focus of his disciples from the kingdoms of this world to the Kingdom of God. When we focus on the uncertainty of our safety or depend upon the favor of earthly authority, we can quickly panic about what tomorrow holds. When some Pharisees came to Jesus to warn him that he was in danger if he stayed in Jerusalem, he set a good example for us of how to react to the threat of danger.

THE DETERMINATION

Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” – Luke 13:32-35

Be a faithful servant of the task to which you have been assigned until the Master returns. Stay when God tells you to stay and move on when He tells you to leave. Go about the work to which you have been called and trust Him to be with you no matter what CHAOS you find yourself in.

I WILL KEEP ON. I WILL ACCOMPLISH MY PURPOSE. I MUST PROCEED ON MY WAY.

Lord, we are trusting you for the days ahead. We place our children and the generations to come in your faithful hands and intentionally choose to focus on your Kingdom. Give us peace when opposition arrives and strength when the battle ignites. We will keep on. We will strive to accomplish our purpose. We will choose each day to proceed on the way you have led us to travel. Amen.

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
So many are saying,
“God will never rescue him!”
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
who surround me on every side.
Arise, O Lord!
Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
May you bless your people. – Psalm 3:1-8

Today’s Reading: Luke 12:1-12, 22-34; Psalm 4

At this point, the crowds following Jesus were huge! Luke described the crowd as thousands of people milling around and stepping on each other. In the middle of this large crowd, in the midst of the chaos, Jesus turned to his disciples and spoke directly to them. I wonder how caught off guard they were. Here they were surrounded by the masses, who were all there to hear from Jesus, and he was taking the time to huddle up with them and teach them.

JESUS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE FEELING AND HE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.

Jesus knew something they did not know. He knew their time together was drawing to an end. He knew the plot against his life was building strength and he knew what was coming. But his disciples were not ready. There were things he needed to say, things they needed to hear, and he was not going to wait another minute to tell them.

Beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. What they are planning and what they are whispering in dark corners will soon be revealed for all to see. Do not be afraid of them. Fear only God, who holds your future in His hands. Do not be afraid and do not worry.

“What is the price of five sparrows – two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” – Luke 12:6-7

Jesus knew those who were plotting to kill and destroy would turn their focus on his disciples after he was gone. They would not be content with killing Jesus, they would keep targeting their envy until all Jesus’ followers stopped speaking of him. He did not say to his disciples “if”, he said “when”, but he also said – Do not worry. Do not be afraid.

“And WHEN you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said…” – Luke 12:11-12

DO NOT WORRY. DO NOT BE AFRAID.

At that point, a man in the crowd interrupted them with a question for Jesus. I imagine this was a welcomed distraction for the disciples as they tried to soak in all that Jesus had just said to them. Jesus gave the man his attention as his disciples processed the warning Jesus had just given them.

I can only imagine what they must have been thinking. What did Jesus just say was going to happen? Tell me again, Jesus, how I am not supposed to worry. Tell me how I am valuable to the God who will never forget me. Jesus, who knew their thoughts, redirected his attention to them.

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you NOT TO WORRY about everyday life – whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body is more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

“SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Luke 12:22-34

WHEREVER YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART WILL ALSO BE.

My prayer this morning is that God has a message for you within that passage. Perhaps life is loud and there is a lot going on all around you, yet you feel God speaking into your situation. I pray you are able to hear Him say that He cares for you and that He will give you everything you need for all that is ahead. So do not worry. Don’t be afraid. Give your life to follow God wherever He leads you. Your treasure is safe with Him, just as your heart is.

Lord, help me to trust you even when those around me misunderstand, accuse or criticize. Thank you for this reminder to keep my eyes on you. I give you my fear; I let go of my anxiety. You are my treasure and the desire of my heart. Amen.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. – Psalm 4:8

Today’s Reading: Matthew 19:1-12; 21:18-32; Psalm 1

WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

Jesus went to the fig tree looking for fruit and there was none.

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. – Matthew 21:18-19

Jesus went to the Temple looking for fruit and there was none.

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” – Matthew 21:12-13

Jesus looked for fruit while considering the issue of divorce and there was none.

Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” – Matthew 19:3-6

A fig tree meant to bear fruit is now withered. Temple worship meant to please the Lord has now lost its intended purpose. A covenant relationship meant to bring glory is broken, leaving behind two wounded individuals in the wake of divorce. These are all things to grieve, and they are all things to learn from. How have things derailed and how can we get back on track in order to bear fruit in our actions, our worship, and our relationships?

WHERE IS THE FRUIT?

What is worse? To say you will NOT bear fruit but then bear fruit, or to say that you WILL bear fruit but then NOT bear fruit? Jesus had a parable that clearly answered this question.

“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.

“Which of the two obeyed his father?” – Matthew 21:28-31a

Jesus has purchased our salvation and prepared the way for us to bear fruit. He expects us to do what he has called us to do — to bear fruit. If we do not make use of this salvation and bear fruit as he intended, what will his response be?

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” – Matthew 7:15-20

Producing fruit is not something I can do on my own. After all, it is impossible to pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? I have to allow God to make me into a good tree in order to produce good fruit. I need to daily go to God, just as I am, submitting who I am in order to be clothed with who He is.

Here I am, Lord. Make me into the fruit-bearing tree you created me to be! Amen.

Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. – Psalm 1:1-6

Today’s Reading: Mark 10:46-52 and 11:12-14,20-25; Luke 18:35-43

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Mark 10:46-47

Can you hear the passion in his voice? Can you hear the desperation and the desire to be healed? This man was not just asking for mercy, he was pleading for help. He was not calling out to a simple prophet, Bartimaeus recognized that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of David, their Lord.

Pray with passion…

“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. – Mark 10:48-50

Jesus had invited him to come closer and Bartimaeus responded immediately. I love how he threw off his coat and jumped to his feet. His eagerness to be healed by Jesus was obvious to all those around them. Jesus had called him and he was responding wholeheartedly.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” – Mark 10:51

Jesus gave Bartimaeus the opportunity to say specifically what he wanted Jesus to do for him. He knew the desire of his heart and the physical need was obvious, but Jesus allowed the opportunity to define what he wanted the Lord to do and why. It was in this moment that the crowd saw the faith of a man who desired nothing more than to see the face of Jesus.

Pray specifically. What are you asking Jesus to do for you today?

And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. – Mark 10:52

The man’s eyesight had been restored. His world was now open to new experiences and a new understanding of his surroundings. But instead of focusing on what he had gained, the desire of his heart was to follow Jesus — to watch Jesus at work in the lives of others.

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. – Mark 11:12-14

The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. – Mark 11:20

Pray confidently, knowing what Jesus is capable of accomplishing…

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” – Mark 11:22-25

Perhaps these words of Jesus are hard to receive because you have not experienced the answer your heart desires when you pray. I have definitely been there. This reminder is good for me to hear. Perhaps there are some healing conversations that need to take place. Perhaps I need to let go of ways in which others have sinned against me before I am ready to bring my requests before God. Perhaps I need to throw aside the coat I have been wearing and jump up unburdened as I go see Jesus. Today I pray that God gives me the faith to…

Pray with passion.
Pray specifically.
Pray from a DOUBTLESS FAITH.
Pray with CONFIDENT BOLDNESS.
Pray with HUMBLE EXPECTATION.
Pray with SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE.

Today is the day to make my requests known to God with a clear heart and a big faith! May the God who loves to give good gifts to His children hear our prayers today, and may He respond according to His perfect plan. And may we have the strength to submit our own desires to the desires of our Lord, the One who is molding and shaping us into the person He created us to be.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 11:22-25; Psalm 5

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” – Mark 11:22-25

What is heavy on your heart? What are you praying for right now? What do you need to see God do? Who do you need to forgive in order to receive the forgiveness of God? This morning’s study on prayer continues where we left off yesterday.

Jesus taught us to pray – to bring our requests to God.
Jesus taught us how to pray – with SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE.
Jesus taught us to pray from a place of hope — with HUMBLE EXPECTATION.
Jesus taught us to pray from a place of faith — with CONFIDENT BOLDNESS.

Pray boldly…

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” – Matthew 20:20-22

What is your reaction to this confident boldness displayed by James and John? Our first reaction is to judge their request, but their heart’s desire is revealed in Jesus’ question for them and their eager response to that question. Jesus, if you are going to be arrested, let them arrest me too. Jesus, if you are going to suffer, let me suffer alongside you. They were willing to suffer for Christ and they longed to be as close to Jesus as possible, in life and in death.

Pray sacrificially…

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or on my left. My father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:23-28

We learn from Matthew 20 that God wants us to pray with a confident boldness that comes from a heart of faith — a heart that is willing to suffer for Christ and a heart that is humbly prepared to serve others.

Pray from a heart willing to serve…

When we are confidently bringing our requests to God, it is worth examining our hearts. What place do our prayers come from; what intentions motivate our words? Are we praying from the heart of a sacrificial servant? At times it is incredibly difficult to pray from a place of submission, praying as Jesus taught us — may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, give us the confidence to pray with boldness and give us the strength to bow our will to yours. Lord, hear us when we pray today. We beg you to consider our requests and see the desires of our heart. Amen.

O Lord, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I pray to no one but you.
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly…

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow…

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
For you bless the godly, O Lord;
you surround them with your shield of love. – Psalm 5:1-3,7-8,11-12

Today’s Reading: Luke 18:9-26 and 11:11-13; Mark 10:13-31

Pray to God humbly, without self-righteousness…

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week and I give you a tenth of my income.’” — Luke 18:10-12

Pray to God without the attitude that God owes you…

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful on me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Luke 18:13-14

Pray to God with childlike faith…

“Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” – Luke 18:16-17

Pray to God with empty hands…

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” – Luke 18:18-26

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” – Matthew 19:26-27

Pray to God knowing He is generous…

Jesus described the heart of God to his disciples because he wanted all of us to understand the love and mercy of his Father. God recognizes those who sacrifice earthly pleasure to pursue the will of God, and He has eternal blessings in store for each of them. He loves to give good gifts to His children!

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” – Luke 11:11-13

And what better gift for us to receive than the Holy Spirit. It is in moments of weakness and discouragement when we struggle to even know how to pray. God, knowing exactly what we need, gives His Spirit to intercede for us and to give us peace when we need to trust that God is working everything out according to His purpose.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. – Romans 8:26-28

I encourage you to put everything away and simply spend some time praying this morning. Pray with shameless persistence as you bring your needs to the Lord; pray with the humble expectation that you will be heard by your Heavenly Father. Know that God loves you and ask Him to give you a fresh infilling of His Spirit today.

Today’s Reading: Luke 10:1-24, 11:1-13, 18:1-8,27-30

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1

I love the wording of this verse. There is a connotation of intentionality and a suggestion of familiarity — there was a certain place that Jesus went to pray. The disciples knew where Jesus could be found, because that is where he went to pray. This one disciple also knew that Jesus could be approached, and he took this opportunity to ask the Savior for a teachable moment. This faithful follower was hungry to learn, and he was eager to pray in a way that would reach God. Let’s approach His throne this morning with that same intentionality, familiarity, and hunger.

Jesus said, “This is how you should pray:
“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation.” – Luke 11:2-4

There are moments in our life when words do not come easily. There are situations in our life that leave us wondering how to pray or what to pray for. Jesus, knowing our need to be able to express ourselves, gave us lots of direction on how to pray. But do we fully utilize his directions on how to come to our Heavenly Father with our needs, with our burdens, with our questions?

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, KEEP ON asking, and you will receive what you ask for. KEEP ON seeking, and you will find. KEEP ON knocking, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Luke 11:5-10

Ask, then ask again. Seek an answer, then keep seeking. Knock on the door of heaven, then keep knocking. Bring your requests to God with shameless persistence. Keep on knocking with determination, keep on praying with persistence, keep on asking with tenacity.

PRAY TO GOD WITH SHAMELESS PERSISTENCE.

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him REPEATEDLY saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her CONSTANT REQUESTS!’”

Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” – Luke 18:1-8

Pray believing that God hears you; pray trusting that He will grant you justice. Take the gift of faith that He has given you and use it to bring your needs to Him over and over again. Continue to pray to Him with perseverance, resolving to believe that He hears you and that no situation is too big for Him.

PRAY IN FAITH, KNOWING THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD.

He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” – Luke 18:27-30

God, may we continually remain in this reverent position in our lives. May we never lose the Kingdom perspective; make us hungry to grasp the full extent of your holiness. Father, we come to you as the provider of all our needs, trusting you to give us what we need today. May we rest assured that you will provide for tomorrow, just as you are providing for us today. Forgive us for our sins and give us the strength to forgive those who sin against us — not just past tense but present tense. We need your help to continually forgive those who consistently sin against us. As the enemy seeks to steal our attention and distract our focus away from you, may your desires be written on our heart so that the temptations of this world no longer have any appeal. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 10:38-42, 12:13-21

There is something unique in our relationship with our siblings. We grow up playing together, belly laughing with one another, and sometimes even fighting with each other. In today’s passages of scripture, we see two encounters Jesus had with siblings having a difficult time getting along — two sisters and two brothers.

TWO SISTERS

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42

Focus on self — Martha started out doing a good thing but became distracted by the good she was doing instead of focusing on WHO she was doing the good thing for.

Focus on others — Martha then became distracted by the lack of work that her sister was doing. Even though Martha was the one who had invited Jesus into her home, she had expectations of the other people around her. Her focus was on what other people were not doing instead of the good thing she had decided to do.

Focus on Jesus — It was not enough that Martha had invited Jesus into her home. It was not enough that Martha was working hard for Jesus. What Jesus desired of Martha was for her to spend time with him — for her to sit at his feet, as Mary was doing, and listen to all he wanted to teach her. Jesus wanted her to sit in his presence and focus on him and, by doing so, build her relationship with him.

TWO BROTHERS

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”

Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12:13-21

Focus on self — How much can I accumulate? How much can I gain? How comfortable can I make myself? Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15).

Focus on others — How much more does he have than I have? It’s not fair! She has more than I do! Look what they are doing with their money. This is what I would do if I had that kind of money…

Focus on God — I recognize that I am rich in God and in my relationship with Him. I choose to take my focus off of earthly gain and allow the Spirit to guide the desires of my heart towards that which has eternal value.

“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” – Luke 12:21

God, create in me a desire to want more of you and only you. May the luster of earthly treasures lose its shine where my heart is concerned. Create in me a heart that is generous and not greedy. May I be so filled with your Spirit that I only wish well for others. May I be more concerned about sitting at your feet and storing up a rich relationship with you than I am about anyone or anything else around me. May my focus today be on you, God, and may that focus show me the needs of others around me so that I can be used by you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 10:25-37

If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. Freedom from whom the world wants us to be, freedom from whom others define us to be, and freedom from our past mistakes and sins. And when we offer the same forgiveness that we have received from the Son to those who have sinned against us, we once again experience freedom.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7

What does our life look like if we consistently let forgiveness flow and let mercy show? Mercy is, by definition, forgiveness. Merriam-Webster defines mercy as compassion, especially towards someone who has offended you, or compassionate treatment of someone in distress. If we want to experience mercy in our lives, we need a heart that is merciful toward others.

FORGIVENESS. FREEDOM. MERCY.

Not one of us is perfect. We have all sinned and we are all in need of a Savior – of mercy extended beyond what we deserve. It is this mercy that allows us entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven and the opportunity to begin experiencing eternal life right here on earth — mercy extended to us because we have a heart that extends mercy toward others.

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:25-29

The man understood that he was to love God and he knew who God was. That part was easy. But the man wanted clarification on who Jesus defined as his neighbor — the people who live next door, coworkers, family members, other Christians, nonbelievers? The man was essentially saying to Jesus — define for me who my neighbor is so that I can, by process of elimination, understand who is not my neighbor.

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.” – Luke 10:31-32

If either of these men who worked in the temple came in contact with a dead body, they would be considered “unclean” and temporarily unable to serve in the Temple and offer sacrifices to God. Helping this man who was so close to death was risking ritual impurity.

Do I help the one if it means I cannot help the masses? How often do we use this as an excuse for not reaching out to someone in need? God, I’m so busy reaching out to those to whom you have called me. You must plan for someone else to help this person in desperate trouble because you have already given me this other call. We excuse ourselves from responding to one person by reminding ourselves of how much good we are doing in the lives of other people. We give ourselves permission to turn our back on one person’s needs in order to focus on the ministry we prefer. Lord, forgive me. I am so guilty of this.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, “Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

The man replied, “The one who showed mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” – Luke 10:33-37

To truly be a follower of Jesus, we must be willing to go where He leads and do as He tells us to do. It is in those moments when we choose restoration and LET FORGIVENESS FLOW that Jesus draws us closer to Him. It is in those moments when we choose compassion and LET MERCY SHOW that we learn what it means to truly love our neighbor. It is in those moments when we stop seeing the reflection of past mistakes and sins, that we truly will LET FREEDOM RING.