Today’s Reading: Matthew 22:34-46 and 26:6-30; Psalm 36

The Sadducees tried to trip Jesus up with difficult questions, but his answer left them silent. When the Pharisees heard about this, they met together to question Jesus themselves. They tried to trap Jesus by asking him what the most important commandment out of the 613 commandments in the law of Moses.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus moved the emphasis from rules to relationship. To focus on our own love for God and the degree to which we are living that love out with all of our heart, soul, and mind — this is what God commands of us. When we truly love God, our love for Him shows up in our love for others. Loving others is a great way to live out our love for God! When we do for others, we are doing for Jesus; when we neglect to respond to the needs of those around us, we are neglecting Him.

The leaders of the church were wickedly trying to trap Jesus with their question, but Jesus lovingly gave them the answer that had the potential to change their lives. They missed the value of what Jesus was saying because they were too busy plotting to capture and kill him (26:3-4).

JESUS WAS SPEAKING ABOUT LOVE BUT THEY WERE DISTRACTED BY HATE.

Just before arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus had spent time at the home of Simon, a man whom Jesus had healed of leprosy. While eating at the home of a man whom Jesus had healed, a woman whom Jesus had forgiven came in and generously poured out her love for Jesus by anointing him with expensive perfume.

The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”

But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” – Matthew 26:8-13

The disciples missed the value of this authentic offering and instead focused on the extravagance of the gift. They had the opportunity to celebrate the love of Jesus but instead allowed themselves to be distracted by the earthly value of the gift.

THE WOMAN POURED OUT HER LOVE FOR JESUS BUT THEY WERE DISTRACTED BY THE EXTRAVAGANCE.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. – Matthew 26:14-16

Judas’ life was changed the day he became one of the disciples of Jesus, but his heart did not. He had witnessed the love of Jesus in every healing, every story, and every interaction, yet his focus was still on himself and what he wanted. He betrayed the one who had given him so much in order to gain so little of what the world could offer him.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus sent the disciples into the city to prepare the Passover meal. That evening, Jesus joined them at the table. During the meal, he told them that one of them would betray him. One by one they asked Jesus if they were the one. Lastly, Judas asked the question he already knew the answer to.

Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”
And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” – Matthew 26:25

JESUS WAS DEMONSTRATING LOVE TO HIS DISCIPLES BUT JUDAS WAS DISTRACTED BY HIS OWN PLAN.

After dinner, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch and pray while he went on ahead to spend time praying to His Father. Three times he came back to find them sleeping.

Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” – Matthew 26:45-50a

Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Then Jesus demonstrated what love looks like. To share a meal with the one who is about to betray you is love. To call him friend the moment after he greets you with a kiss of betrayal — that’s what love looks like. To die for the sins of those who have sinned against you is the ultimate demonstration of love.

Jesus, thank you for all that you continue to teach us about love. May we gain a deeper understanding this year of what it means to love God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, and may that love be beautifully demonstrated in our love towards others. That you would call us your friends even after we have sinned against you is a beautiful, undeserved gift. Show us, teach us, lead us, grow us. We long to be filled with who you are so that we no longer get caught up in all that has earthly value. May our remembrance of the passion of Christ bring us a new level of understanding of what love looks like. Amen.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. – Psalm 36:6

Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:10-17,33-46; Psalm 11

This week we will focus on some of the crucial moments of Holy Week. After Easter, we will go back and capture passages that we skipped over in order to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. We will continue on in the gospels, landing in Acts in time for Pentecost Sunday. I hope you will join me as we continue to study the New Testament scriptures for the remainder of 2025.

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” – Matthew 21:10-11

Jesus continued through Jerusalem until he arrived at the Temple. With authority, he knocked over the tables of those who were trying to make a profit off of those who were coming to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. People brought their blind and lame into the Temple and Jesus healed them. The children shouted, “Praise God for the Son of David.” The teachers of religious law saw that people were being healed, but their focus was on the praise Jesus was receiving rather than the power he was displaying.

They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight. – Matthew 21:16-17

The next day, Jesus came back to the Temple and was soon surrounded by the leading priests and elders. They demanded he tell them by what authority he was doing all these things. He responded by telling them that corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes would enter God’s Kingdom before they would. Then he told them this story:

“A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet. – Matthew 21:33b-46

The servants were sent to collect the landowner’s money. They had the authority to require the payment, but the tenants beat one, killed one, and stoned another. The landowner’s son came to collect the required payment. He had the authority to demand it, yet they chose to murder him instead of giving him what was required of them. The “owner of the vineyard” had sent His Son into the world and the leaders of the church demanded by what authority he was healing, teaching, casting out demons, cleaning out the Temple, forgiving sins, and receiving the praise of the people. They had the opportunity to worship the Messiah, but instead plotted against him.

Lord, may we respond as the people who prepared the way for you by laying out their garments, waving palm branches, and shouting your praise. May we recognize your deity as the children did in the Temple that day, celebrating the wonderful things you are doing in the lives of those around us. May we bow to your authority, giving you all that you are asking for and allowing you to be the King of our lives. Show us today what we have wrongfully taken ownership of that only belongs to you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-19; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19; Psalm 115

The town of Bethany was on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, while Jerusalem was on the western side. So as Jesus was leaving Bethany to head to Jerusalem for the week of Passover, crowds began to form. Word was spreading that Jesus was back and lots of people were coming out to give him the triumphant welcome he deserved.

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
“Tell the people of Jerusalem,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.’” – Matthew 21:1-5

NOT FOR THEIR PURPOSES BUT FOR JESUS’ GLORY

The only thing the owners had to hear was that the Lord needed what they had, and their response was to immediately let the disciples take the donkey and her colt. They did not get possessive with what they owned or concerned whether they would ever see the animals again. They did not focus on the value of what was theirs, but they shared with Jesus without questioning what he had planned. The donkey and its colt were no longer needed for their purposes as much as they were needed for Jesus’ glory. I like to believe that the owners were in the crowd of people that day to experience this moment.

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting.

“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!” – Mark 11:7-10

What an incredible moment in history. Prophecy was being fulfilled and Jesus was receiving glory for all God was doing through him. But the reality was that not all of Jerusalem was ready to receive the Messiah. As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem, he began to weep over the condition of Jerusalem. He had come that all would experience life but he knew what was ahead. He knew this city would not accept their opportunity for salvation (Luke 19:41-44).

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out 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

DENYING GOD THE GLORY

The Temple was built to give God’s people a place to worship Him. It was to be a building where God was glorified, but the people had lost their focus. The building was now more about ritual instead of relationship; about gaining profit instead of the Great Prophet. Jesus’ time on earth was drawing close to an end and the people were still so focused on themselves that they were missing the presence of the Messiah. Jesus’ words to the people that day held great purpose:

“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” – John 12:23-26

That is the desire of my heart this morning — to follow Jesus, to be where He is. I want everything God does in my life to be more than just my story, but to be for Jesus’ glory. I want my possessions to be available for His use and for His glory. I want to be in the crowd welcoming Jesus with garments and palm branches, instead of missing the moment because I am too caught up in the chaos of the Temple. I do not want Jesus to weep when he considers my future, but to be pleased with the plentiful harvest of his power at work in my life. Oh Jesus, this is my prayer!

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 115:1

Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34; Psalm 56

Because I can look back on yesterday,
and understand NOW what God was teaching me THEN,
I can trust Him with my TODAY
knowing that God has a plan for my TOMORROW.

Let’s face it, sometimes today just does not make sense. Sometimes it’s impossible for us to wrap our minds around what is happening in this life. We turn to God for understanding, hoping He will bring order to the chaos and answers to our questions. Many times we have to wait patiently for God to give us perspective. It does not make sense today, but perhaps it will tomorrow.

In the same way, the disciples did not fully understand everything Jesus was teaching them until after his death and resurrection. Early on in his ministry, Jesus began talking about his death. The disciples were slow to understand that Jesus was preparing them, little by little, for what was ahead.

Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. – Mark 2:19-20

Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. – Mark 8:31

God could have opened up the minds of the disciples and helped them to understand how Scripture was being fulfilled. Jesus could have had a lengthy conversation with His followers, clearly revealing His role and what was about to take place. But instead, Jesus chose to reveal God’s plan a little at a time.

SOMETIMES THE LORD REVEALS HIS PLAN A LITTLE AT A TIME.

“…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.” – Mark 10:45

Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of light.” – John 12:35-36a

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” – Matthew 20:17-19

They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. – Mark 9:32

They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. – Mark 10:32a

Jesus spoke clearly to the disciples about what was coming. They heard him, yet they did not fully understand. They knew something was about to happen that would forever change them. They could feel both the anticipation and the fear of what was to come, but they were confused. They had the choice to walk away, yet they continued to follow Jesus. Their love for Jesus and their faith in their Lord was enough to keep them moving forward, regardless of their fear or anticipation of the unknown. Can you relate to how they were feeling?

SOMETIMES WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD REGARDLESS OF THE CONFUSION, FEAR AND ANTICIPATION.

There have been many times in my life when I was able to look back and see the evidence of how God had been preparing me for my current situation. I did not understand at the time, but later God increased my understanding. Looking back, I can see how various experiences in my life were shaping me into the person I needed to be for God’s plan. I can look back and see how God was revealing, little by little, things I needed to learn for a future purpose. So when I face persecution for my faith, I am reminded of how God has helped me through similar seasons of bullying. As I am threatened and falsely accused, I stand boldly in faith that God is on my side! I could trust Him yesterday, so I will trust Him today, knowing He has my tomorrows safely in His care.

Because I can look back on yesterday, as the disciples did,
and understand NOW what God was teaching me THEN,
I can trust Him with my TODAY
knowing that God has a plan for my TOMORROW.

Perhaps this describes you. You do not fully understand how God’s plan fits in the middle of your situation but you love Him enough to keep moving forward. You struggle to grasp what is happening but you choose to follow Jesus anyhow. The weight of your circumstances is overwhelming but your faith keeps you hoping — regardless of the fear or anticipation of the unknown. My prayer this morning is that God will give you the strength you need, and that He will reveal Himself to you in the middle of your reality. I pray your experience of him yesterday will help you to trust Him with everything that does not make sense today. And may Jesus show up in a very real way for you today.

But when I am afraid,I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:1-16; Luke 19:1-10

PEOPLE IN THE MARKETPLACE

There once was a landowner who hired workers for his vineyard, agreeing to pay them a normal daily wage. A few hours later, he saw some people standing in the marketplace with nothing to do – no purpose, no plans. He hired them to also work in his vineyard. At noon and then again at 3pm and 5pm, the landowner hired more people from the marketplace and then sent them to work in his vineyards.

At the end of the day, the foreman paid the last workers first, giving them each a full day’s wage. When those hired early in the morning came through the line, they also received a full day’s wage. Can you imagine their shock? They had worked all day in the scorching heat yet those who had only worked the last hour were receiving the same pay.

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’” – Matthew 20:13-15

Jesus knows our humanity; he knows that we battle selfishness and jealousy. We are quick to respond to injustice and cry out, “It’s not fair!” In this parable, the injustice is that those who spend the majority of their life producing fruit for the Master could end up with the same reward as those who surrender to the Lord late in life. While our tendency is to focus on how the prodigals have spent a great deal of their life not following Jesus, God is calling us to put our focus on Him. Instead of seeing the scars of their sins, we need to be reminded of the scars of our Savior. Jesus died to transform the lives of the lost and he can do the same for our selfish hearts. Praise God!

“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” – Matthew 20:16

Consider the possibility that we get so caught up in working for God that we no longer see those standing in the marketplace with nothing to do — no purpose, no plan. We pass them by in a hurry to get to the vineyard. We no longer look up in the treetops to see who is curious about God from a distance. We miss the opportunity to open the door for those who do not feel worthy of walking into our fellowship because of their sins.

PEOPLE IN THE TREETOPS

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. – Luke 19:1-2

Although Zacchaeus was a Jew, he worked for Rome collecting taxes from other Jews. The only way a tax collector would gain wealth in this job was to charge the Jews a great deal more than he was required to give to Rome. He was seen as dishonest and disloyal; he was considered a traitor and a cheat.

He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” – Luke 19:3-10

How often do we walk around the “trees” because we despise the sins of others?
How often do we ignore those who are curious about Jesus?
How often do we give up on others, assuming they are too steeped in sin to repent?

PEOPLE AT THE TABLE

The Jewish people saw Zacchaeus as wicked but Jesus saw who Zacchaeus was created to be. We need to see people as Jesus does. Let’s start looking for people in the trees and invite them to the table. Let’s take notice of those standing in the marketplace and invite them to come work in the vineyard. The church is not an-invitation-only club. All are welcome, for the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Lord, give us a burden for the lost that changes the way we see those around us today. Give us eyes to see and hearts to notice the need of salvation in those we come in contact with each day. Align our hearts with yours so that we are daily moved to compassion, each moment available to be used by you in the life of someone else. Amen.

[This devotional was inspired by a sermon I heard at Nazarene Youth Conference in 2015. I don’t remember the details of the message or who preached it, but I loved how the speaker gave us a visual of Jesus moving Zacchaeus from the tree to the table.]

Today’s Reading: Luke 17; Psalm 29

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?

I’d like two eggs with my hash browns.
How would you like that served?
Scrambled, please, with crispy hash browns.
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.

Does this sound familiar? We make our requests known to our servers and they generously provide what we have asked for. But this passage isn’t about being served, but about 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 he gave them a command instead. Their response was immediate obedience. Before they even completed the task Jesus had 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

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, Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 16; Psalm 49

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

In this parable, Jesus discussed the topic of money. In fact, Jesus often discussed the temptations of worldly riches, encouraging his listeners to build treasures in heaven rather than on earth. In Luke 16, the lesson is about wasting money — money that does not belong to us but to our Master.

When the man in Jesus’ parable 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 equals status; in heaven, it will not. How we use the resources God gives us here on earth will certainly impact our eternity. You see, 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 that is temporary?
What if we took time to assess the importance of what 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.

So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich
and their homes become ever more splendid.
For when they die, they take nothing with them.
Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
In this life they consider themselves fortunate
and are applauded for their success.
But they will die like all before them
and never again see the light of day. – Psalm 49:16-19

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.” – Luke 15:11-24

The father in Jesus’ parable never stopped loving his son. He was ready with arms wide open to welcome his repentant son back into the family. But this man had two sons and the other son had remained faithful to his father. When he saw the way in which his father was celebrating his undeserving brother, he began to feel sorry for himself. Even though his father had loved him equally, he didn’t feel celebrated or recognized for his faithfulness, so he refused to join the party. Instead of leaving him to his sulking and attitude of self-righteousness, the father came out and begged him to join them. He made an intentional effort to explain himself and invite the son who had stayed by his side to join the celebration.

“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 15:31-32

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

Perhaps it’s appropriate to ask ourselves this question again — “How much does this cost?” How much will it cost me to search for the lost and bring them home, and 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! Forgive me for my self-righteousness and for focusing my attention on what I believe I deserve instead of humbly thanking you for everything you have done for me. Give me eyes to see the lost and a heart to join in the celebration when the lost are found. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 52

How much does this seat cost?

When we buy tickets for a concert or sporting event, 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 known as common courtesy to ask this question before sitting down in a seat. Unfortunately our human nature is to first provide for our own needs, then care for others out of our excess. Jesus preached 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 are we in the habit of asking the question, “Who would you like for me to shower with love 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 to respond to His Spirit and minister 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

“Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people. – Psalm 52:7-9

Today’s Reading: John 10:22-42, 11:45-57

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” – John 10:22-24

THEY DEMANDED THAT JESUS EXPLAIN HIMSELF.

But Jesus had already told them who he was over and over again. They had been given the opportunity to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but their hearts were closed to the idea that Jesus from Nazareth was the Son of God.

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” – John 10:25-30

THEY PICKED UP STONES TO KILL HIM.

This was their opportunity. They believed Jesus had committed blasphemy, giving them the right to publicly stone him. They were postured for victory when Jesus pointed out to them all of the good work he had been doing at the direction of his Father. His miracles were proof of the divine authority he had been given, yet they refused to see Jesus as anything but a mere man claiming to be God.

Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” – John 10:37-38

THEY TRIED TO ARREST HIM, BUT JESUS SLIPPED AWAY.

He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” And many who were there believed in Jesus. – John 10:40-42

They were his sheep and they recognized him as their wonderful shepherd. They listened to his voice. They were known by Jesus and willing to follow him. He was willing to sacrifice his life so that they could experience an eternity with him. But others continued to plot against him, looking for an opportunity to silence the voice of Jesus.

THEY PLOTTED TO KILL JESUS.

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. – John 11:47-52

As we approach Good Friday, let us have ears to hear the voice of Jesus. Lord, open our hearts to what you would like to reveal to us as we prepare for our celebration of your resurrection. We are your sheep and we recognize that you are our good, good Shepherd. These scriptures remind us of how unjustly you were treated. You came to do good and those who should have been the first to recognize you instead plotted against you. And yet you offered them salvation. Father God, may our hearts never be the same as we read through the story of your love, your mercy, and your grace. Amen.