Today’s Reading: Luke 18:15-26 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 went on to describe the heart of God to his disciples. 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 and 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 reach God by going to him in prayer the right way. Let’s approach the throne of God with that same intentionality, familiarity, and hunger this morning.

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 the 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 our heart away from you, may you take away any desire for the temptations of this world. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 17

How much does this seat cost? How much does this search cost? How much does this lifestyle cost? For the last three days we have asked ourselves some tough questions. We have asked God to expose our heart regarding our priorities and the use of our resources. Today, we consider another tough question – How would you like that served?

This is a question we often hear our server at a restaurant ask, and this is how the interaction often goes:
I’d like two eggs with my hash browns.
How would you like that served?
Scrambled, please.
I’d like a 6 ounce sirloin.
How would you like that served?
Medium, please.
I’d like a grande coffee.
How would you like that served?
Hot with room for cream, please.
We make our requests known to our server and they generously provide what we have asked for. This is the way we are to serve our God — generously, faithfully, obediently, and with gratitude.

SERVE GOD GENEROUSLY

Luke chapter 16 speaks strongly of how we should serve God generously with our time, resources and money. In Luke 17, Jesus calls us to serve God faithfully, as a servant would serve his master. To serve God faithfully requires obedient submission to Jesus and His commands. We serve God faithfully, not looking for applause or thanks, but simply out of obedience and dedication to our Master.

SERVE GOD FAITHFULLY

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of the sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” – Luke 17:7-10

We know that God blesses His children, but do I serve Him in order to obtain those blessings or am I content in simply knowing that I have obeyed? Is it enough to know that my Master is pleased with my faithfulness?

SERVE GOD OBEDIENTLY

As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. – Luke 17:12-14

Jesus could have touched them and healed them immediately but instead, he gave them a command. Their response was immediate obedience. Before they even completed the task Jesus asked of them, they had received their healing.

SERVE GOD WITH GRATITUDE

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” – Luke 17:15-19

SERVE GOD FOR HIS GLORY

When we take the time to thank God for all He is doing for us, we are taking the glory of the good in our lives and giving that glory back to God. We don’t assume God knows we are thankful. We tell Him. We don’t wonder if our blessings are circumstantial. We give God the credit. It is not a result of my own doing or righteousness, but out of His grace and mercy, so God gets the glory!

SERVE GOD PATIENTLY WAITING FOR HIS COMING

Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it. People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.

“And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business – eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building – until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day a person out on the deck of the roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” – Luke 17:22-36

How would you like that served?

Lord, our prayer this morning is that you would be pleased with our service to you — that you would find us to be generous, faithful, obedient and thankful. We give you the glory for all of the good in our lives — yesterday, today and tomorrow. Our plan today is to go about the business you have called us to as we patiently wait for your return. We are your servants; you are our master. With eyes fixed on you, we give you thanks for your grace and mercy. We love you, Father God. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 16

Then Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order because you are going to be fired.’” – Luke 16:1-2

Have you ever noticed how much time Jesus spent talking about money? He often compared the temptations of worldly riches versus building treasures in heaven. In Luke 16, the lesson is about wasting money – money that does not belong to us but to our Master.

When this man realized that he would soon be out of a job and homeless, he decided it was time to make friends – fast! He went around to his customers and one by one reduced the debt they owed to the employer, creating a group of people who were grateful to him. Instead of being angry, the employer admired the shrewdness of the manager.

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Luke 16:10-13

YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY.

In our society, money = status; in Heaven, it will not. How we use the resources God gives us here on earth will certainly impact our eternity. Money can tempt us to be dishonest, untrustworthy, and unfaithful. You can easily become enslaved to all you own and the desire to gain more. But Jesus offered a different perspective when he told this story:

“There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetimes you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’” – Luke 16:19-31

As Americans, we fill our calendars with plans of how we will spend our time earning money and then we enjoy our down time spending that money. We fill our time with golf outings, shopping trips and luxurious vacations. We are willing to stand in line at Starbucks or spend hours in front of our television, but we do not have time to volunteer at a local nonprofit or show up on the church work day. We plan our retirement, but how much are we considering the eternity of others?

What if we stopped SPENDING our time and started INVESTING it instead? What if we stopped STORING up our earthly treasures and started GIVING to the needs around us? What if we stopped FILLING our closets and started EMPTYING our arms of everything temporary we are holding onto so tightly? What if we entered Heaven’s gates with no regrets of how we lived our lives on earth?

Lord, open my ears so that I may hear YOU today. Show me ways in which I am wasting my money, my time, my resources, my life. May I live each moment directed by YOU, filling my time and using my resources for Heavenly gain and not earthly status or pleasures. May nothing in my life become so important that I lose my availability for what You want me to do. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 15

Count the cost…NO ONE can be more important.

“If you want to be my disciples, you must hate everyone else by comparison – your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26

Count the cost…NOTHING can be more important.

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” – Luke 14:31-33

Count the cost…AM I PREPARED to leave the ninety-nine to rescue the one?

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over nine-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” – Luke 15:4-7

Count the cost…How hard AM I WILLING to search for the lost? Am I praying for the prodigals?

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” – Luke 15:8-10

Count the cost…WILL I REJOICE when the lost one is found? Am I too focused on myself to find joy in someone else’s salvation?

To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” – Luke 15:11-32

AM I PREPARED?
AM I WILLING?
WILL I REJOICE?

So we ask ourselves again, “How much does this cost?” How much will it cost me to search for the lost and bring them home? Am I willing to pay that price? Am I all in? Is my heart decision following my head decision so that I can rejoice in what God wants to accomplish today? Do I recognize the relentless love of God in my own life, and do I choose to love others with that same kind of persistence?

May nothing in my life become so important that I lose my availability for what God wants me to do. Lord, create in me a clean heart that desires what you desire and rejoices over what brings you joy! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 14:7-35

How much does this seat cost?

When we buy tickets for a concert or baseball game, we have a decision to make about what seats we are willing to pay for. We can decide to purchase the premium seats or save money by choosing seats further back or higher up. When we buy plane tickets, the same decision needs to be made. Are we willing to pay more for a seat at the front of the plane with extra room for our legs and elbows? We consider the price of each ticket and the quantity needed. We count the cost and make our decision.

Where are you going to sit?

Jesus noticed that all who had come to dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Luke 14:7-11

Maybe this is where we developed the customary question, “Is this seat taken?” It has become a common courtesy to ask this question before sitting down in a seat. But our human nature is to provide for our own needs, then care for others out of our excess. Jesus preaches a different kind of lifestyle – a commitment to Him in which we think of God and how He would want us to care for others before our concern for ourselves. Jesus is not encouraging us to pretend humility but to sincerely think of others first.

Who are you going to sit with?

Jesus also addressed the question of who we are choosing to sit with. Do we gravitate towards those who make us look good or who will make us feel better about ourselves? Or do we ask the question, “Who would you like for me to love on today, Jesus?”

Then he turned to the host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” – Luke 14:12-14

Again, we should not be focused on what we can gain from someone else but on what someone else can gain from God through us. God wants us responding to His Spirit and ministering to whoever He sends us to, seeing ourselves as tools God may want to use in any and every situation. But how often do we make excuses for our own selfishness? How often is our commitment to our own plans stronger than our commitment to God’s plans for us?

Will you accept the invitation to be seated?

Jesus told another story of a man who sent out invitations to a great feast he was preparing. But the guests made excuses for why they could not attend. The man was furious, so he told his servant to go out and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. When there was still room at the table, he sent the servant to the country lanes to invite anyone he could find so that the house would be full.

“For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’” – Luke 14:24

Are you willing to pay the price for this seat?

Commitment to God – fully devoted to Him. God calls us to COUNT THE COST before making the decision of whether or not to accept His invitation. It will require humility; it will require us to be more committed to Him than we are to our own plans. Today is a great day to renew our commitment. God, how would you like to use me today?

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you COUNT THE COST…you cannot become my disciple without GIVING UP EVERYTHING you own.” – Luke 14:25-28a,33

Today’s Reading: John 10:1-21

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” — John 10:1-5

It might seem to us like a random analogy, but it was the Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah) and it made sense to the people who were listening. This day commemorated the rededication of the Temple after it had been defiled by Antiochus IV. At this Festival, the priests would do some self-examination, considering their own commitment or dedication to the ministry to which they had been called. They would reflect on Ezekiel 34, when the Lord was upset with the “shepherds” — the leaders of Israel. He accused them of abandoning the flock and taking care of themselves first, leaving the sheep to starve. He had appointed them to watch over his people, but they had been unfaithful and He would have to do it Himself.

God said, “I myself will search and find my sheep…I will find my sheep and rescue them…I will bring them back home…I will feed them…I will give them good pastureland…I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace…I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak…You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 34:11-16,31

HOW WELL AM I WATCHING OVER THE SHEEP IN MY CARE?

Am I putting forth my best effort in helping those around me on their journey of grace? Am I concerned about the spiritually starving; am I pursuing the hearts of those who are wandering away? Have I become self-focused rather than keeping my eyes on the flock? Am I feasting on God’s provision without sharing the abundance of God with others? Today is a time of rededication — a time to examine my service to God.

“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.” — John 10:6-13

Often we read this passage and see ourselves as the sheep, but we have much to gain by putting ourselves in the role of the hired hand. We have been given responsibility over others by the Good Shepherd himself. Some of us are even blessed to be employed and receive compensation for our time, but we must be careful not to let it become only a job instead of working intently to please the Shepherd. We cannot run when things get tough. We must listen to the voice of the Shepherd. We must see ourselves as also being under His care. We must care about the sheep; we must pay attention to those who are wandering away or lost.

HOW WELL ARE YOU WATCHING OVER THE SHEEP IN YOUR CARE?

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” – Matthew 18:12-14

As we begin a season of reflection and remembrance of all that Jesus did for us, let’s be intentional to allow God to do a new thing in our hearts. Just as revival is breaking out across our nation, let us seek the Lord and ask for a renewal of our hearts during this season of Lent. May these 40 days of Lent be more than a ceremonial tradition; may it bring the hearts of God’s children together in unison as we anticipate what our resurrected Lord is about to do.

God, strengthen our call this morning. Give us a fresh desire to serve you by serving others. Open our hearts to the revival that is sweeping across our nation, and do a new work in our lives. Lord, I am listening for your voice — a voice I know so well because you are my Shepherd. What do you want me to do with this day you have given me? Help me to see all of your sheep through your eyes. May I never abandon this responsibility that you have given me; may none go hungry while in my care. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 11:37-54, 18:9-14

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. – Luke 11:37-38

Jesus was calling the crowds to get to know him, but he was also giving the religious leaders the opportunity to walk away from their obsession with religion and get to know the source of their salvation. Their focus was misdirected and he was giving them the chance to align their focus on the eternal. They were focused on the outside instead of the inside.

Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over. — Luke 11:39-41

The religious leaders were focused on tithing but ignoring justice and the love of God. They were caught up in the glory of their religious position instead of positioning themselves to get to know the Savior. They were demanding legalistic compliance with the law instead of inviting God’s people into a covenant relationship with their Creator.

DO YOU SEEK HIM?

“What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” — Luke 11:52

Jesus used the prophetic language familiar to the Pharisee — What sorrow awaits the proud and rebellious (Isaiah 28:1, 30:1). What sorrow awaits those who destroy and scatter those they were called to care for (Jeremiah 23:1). What sorrow awaits the shepherds who feed themselves instead of feeding their sheep (Ezekiel 34:2). What sorrow awaits those who have deserted me (Hosea 7:13). What sorrow awaits those who feel secure (Amos 6:1, Habakkuk 2:9). What sorrow awaits those who think up evil plans (Micah 2:1). What sorrow awaits the shepherd who abandons the flock (Zechariah 11:17).

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “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.’

“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 to 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 18:9-14

It is easy to get caught up in the routine of religion and the trap of self-righteousness and lose all perspective of our salvation. It is by grace that we have been saved. When we recognize the gift that we have been given and our own unworthiness of that gift, we fall on our knees and cry out to God, “Have mercy on me, for I am a sinner!”

DO YOU KNOW HIM? DO YOU SEEK HIM?

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never KNEW you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” – Matthew 7:21-23

Father God, we are so unworthy of this journey of grace that we are on. Fill us with your spirit and remind us daily of the impact your presence is making on our sinful hearts. Give us a growing faith and an eagerness to know you more. Fill our cups with your sanctifying power, and give us a burning desire to know you and be known by you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 13:10-17, 22-30, 14:1-6

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! – Luke 13:10-13

If you have ever pulled your back out or had back pain, you quickly empathize with this woman. 18 years of back pain; 18 years of looking at the ground when she walked. Yes, I imagine her response was absolutely to praise God!

Have you ever felt like the weight of your sin was bearing down on you — like it was difficult to stand up straight with eyes focused on what is ahead because you carry the guilt or pain or something in your past? Do you remember how it felt to have your guilt lifted as you came to Jesus for forgiveness — to be freed of the evil that was controlling your life?

Can you picture the woman who is no longer a slave to sin? She is standing tall with her arms lifted high, thanking God for freedom and healing! SHE KNOWS the difference Jesus has made in her life and her response is to give God praise!

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

You KNOW her pain and you probably KNOW this story, but do you KNOW the One who healed her? Not everyone knew God the way this woman did; not everyone praised God for His faithfulness. Some were too caught up in the HOW and too distracted by the WHEN to focus on the WHO.

“There are six days of the week for working,” [the leader in charge of the synagogue] said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.” But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” – Luke 13:14b-16

Jesus cared more about the one suffering than he did about the religious regulations and opinions of the religious leaders. He healed the woman on the Sabbath while teaching in the synagogue, right there for all to see. Shortly after this, on another Sabbath day, Jesus healed a man while he was eating dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees. Scripture says the people were watching him closely, but this did not keep him from touching the man with swollen arms and legs, healing him of his discomfort (Luke 14:1-6).

“Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” – Luke 14:5b

Time and time again, Jesus showed who he was. The people had the choice to get to KNOW him, to focus on the man and see him as their Savior. We have that same choice. Jesus wants us to KNOW him – to have a personal relationship with him instead of a religion and set of rules.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t KNOW you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t KNOW you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’” – Luke 13:24-27

It takes more than being actively involved in a church or giving your time and resources to a good cause. We were created to have a relationship with our Creator. We can be of great importance to the church and still miss out on the narrow door to God’s Kingdom.

But isn’t that why we do this? We get up every morning and find a quiet spot to get to KNOW our Savior. “My Morning Coffee” time is not about the caffeine, it is about waking up in God’s presence and getting to KNOW Him – humbly listening for Him to teach us and willing to obey what He commands.

“Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.” – Luke 13:30b

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. What is ahead appears so dark; it is not a journey we want to walk and we beg God to take it away!

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!

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. 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, “Lazarus’ sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this” (John 11:4). Later, at Lazarus’ grave, Jesus said, “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. 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. Give us the miracle of sight today, and 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