It’s about Him, alone.

 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation."  Luke 11:29-30 (ESV)

When God calls a generation evil, it is evil. The reason given here is that this generation seeks a sign. One might think that this would not be evil, yet, in reality, it is something that Satan can easily use to distract and distort reality.

Those who evaluate God based on miracles observed are seeking more of a genie in a bottle than God. If you want to be wowed, look at the creation.

People tend to get used to the many miraculous things God has already done and is doing and want more. There is no need for more.

When Moses did various actions to prove God was with Him, the evil magicians did the same several times. If your only evaluation tool was miracles, you would be confused.

Satan has powers, too, and, although limited by God, is not shy about using them to distract and distort. We need to be careful not to seek the sign but to seek Jesus. Christianity is not about miracles or "wow" moments; it is about Christ. We need to make it about Him alone.

There will be no debate...

 

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first."  Luke 11:24-26 (ESV) "THE SOUL, FROM WHICH CONVICTIONS OF SIN HAVE BEEN FINALLY BANISHED, IS MORE PERFECTLY PREPARED TO BECOME THE SEAT OF ABSOLUTE WICKEDNESS THAN BEFORE THESE CONVICTIONS BEGAN." (T. Dwight) Those who know the truth and reject it will be the most miserable people on earth. Countless depressed, anxious, and hopeless people have known and rejected the truth. They realize that if the truth is truth, then their lives are a wreck, and they one day will give an account for such thought and living. Often they become preoccupied with convincing themselves or others that the truth is not the truth. If they could somehow convince themselves of no absolutes, then all beliefs are valid, all religions are good, and belief and feelings can become the source of truth. The problem is that Jesus said that He alone was the truth, the life, and the way to God. That means that either Jesus is correct, and those who disagree are wrong, or Jesus is wrong. One day there will be no debate for God will declare this war over, and all will stand before Him and acknowledge that He, alone, is God. Those who refuse to admit and live that way now, especially those who once knew and now reject Him, will be inconsolably miserable. For now, the choice is mine.

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As should I...

 

"Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons…."  Luke 11:14-15(ESV) Haters are going to hate. Gathering with people to spread rumors, gossip, and your misguided opinions is evil. These people had no desire to examine the evidence; they desired to disqualify Jesus by associating Him with the Evil One. Leaders who lead are always in a tough position. Those who are doing nothing but watching are in the prime seats of criticism and have often perfected their slander craft. Leaders can spend a lot of time correcting them, or they can continue to work, respond minimally as necessary, and see how their personal beliefs work out. Jesus, the creator, and sustainer of life, answered his critics with a few choice words and a life well-lived, as should I.

God Wants To Provide For Us

 

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"  Luke 11:11-13(ESV) Sometimes we think people are more compassionate than God. They are not. Actually, people can be manipulative or manipulated, whereas God is neither. People may do things they think are right; God does things that are right. When we see responsibility and kindness displayed in people, we need to use it to remind us of  God's responsible and kind actions. When there is a need, God can provide, and since He loves us, knows the future, and has plans for us in the future, we should approach Him with boldness, expectations, and confidence. God wants to provide for us; we should not get in His way.

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Enjoy

 

And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnightand say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."  Luke 11:5-10 (ESV) God is our Father, who loves us. He created us, sustains us, and enjoys who we are. We need to act by this truth.

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Forgiveness

 

"…and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."  Luke 11:4 (ESV) "We want from God a full and free forgiveness, that has mingled with it no grudges and no coolnesses; a forgiveness that blots out our transgressions, that takes away all our iniquity, and receives us graciously and loves us freely; and that mercy which we want from Him we must be ready to show to others."         (Washington Gladden, D. D.) We often want God to "understand" why we sinned. I am sure He does. I need not spend time trying to get God to understand me. Regardless of my justification for my sin, it is wrong. Confession is not rationalization or excuses. Confession is about stating the obvious, identifying with what is right, and adjusting our lives accordingly. We need a way to evaluate our lives honestly. If we hold grudges, and want others to pay for their evil, or are satisfied when disaster strikes the Godless, we lack understanding and are probably miserable. Healthy people forgive, extend mercy, and live by grace. If we enjoy or value God's forgiveness, then we need to forgive.

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Grateful

And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread…."  Luke 11:2-3 (ESV) As we pray, we need to realize that we are talking to God, our Father, who knows everything. He even knows what we are going to pray for and knows our hearts and how often our hearts are indifferent to the many blessings He has given us. When I was a boy, I never went hungry. My parents made sure that we always had enough food. I never lacked proper clothing. I was not concerned with paying the utility bills and I knew nothing of insurance, mortgages, taxes, and the like. When I was a boy, I took all that was provided for me for granted. I did not understand life any other way, and I thought that all children lived in a similar circumstance. My parents made sure I was cared for and that I did not need to worry. I lived in the USA, where the most deprived people were often richer than many others in the world. It is easy to get used to provisions and even consider them a "right." Yet, Jesus is reminding us that it is healthy to acknowledge the sources of blessing, and God is ultimately the one responsible for such things.  Grateful people are usually generous and kind people, for they know that all they have has been given them and that their Father has plenty more available. Today, I choose to be grateful

When we pray...

 

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come."  Luke 11:1-2 (ESV) When God's children pray, they are talking to their Father--their Father, who created them from their mother's womb, their Father, who created and sustains the universe they inhabit, their Father, who is limitless in power, abundant in mercy and the deliverer of hope and healing to nations, their Father, who has no perspective, always does what is right and boundless in what He can achieve, their Father, who knows the future and will set us up to be successful in the future, their Father, who will one day judge the living and the dead, will see all humankind bow to Him and who will ultimately defeat sin, their Father is everywhere, at all times, and holds the heart of the king in His hand and directs it, like a river, wherever He wishes. When we pray, we need to talk to Him according to who He is and what He is about, and in the context of the family in which we live. As we live in reality, we can enjoy this life, not fear death, and spread hope to our fellow man.

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Why’s or What’s?

 Now, as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Organization and work are noble, yet the reason for being organized and working hard should never be forgotten. We organize and work so we can enjoy God and each other. If the work becomes the end goal, we will be left empty, lonely, tired, and frustrated.

Life is not meant to be frustrating, and when we are frustrated, we need to examine the whys, not necessarily the whats.

Compassion is the fruit of a life well and rightly lived

 

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"  Luke 10:30-36 (ESV) Compassion is seeing the need and doing what you can to meet the need. There are no racial or ethnic barriers to those who are compassionate. Those who are genuinely compassionate display the love of God to others because they love God and know what it is like to have unworthy people cared for by one who is worthy. Genuinely compassionate people understand that all they have has been a gift to them and they will freely share what they have with others. Compassionate people do not consider the cost, but the opportunity, and find it a privilege to be used by God to help them. Compassion is the fruit of a life well and rightly lived.

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I need to act like He loves me

 

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."  Luke 10:23-24 (ESV) Sometimes I focus on what I do not have, rather than what I do have. Sometimes I focus on my fears, rather than my hopes. Sometimes I focus on what I do not know, rather than what I do know. During those times, I am depressed, angered, confused, and often lonely, because that is the fruit of focusing on lies. The truth always sets us free, lies always entangle us, often, in ways from which it seems impossible to get out. God promises that if I seek Him, I will find Him. If I find Him, I will focus on what God has done rather than what is not done, on the hope He gives rather than the fears I have, and on what I know over that by which I am confused. Life is not as complicated as we make it. It is rather simple. There is a God; I am not Him. He loves me; I need to act like He loves me.

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Woe to you...

 

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."  Luke 10:13-16 (ESV) We like to focus on Bible passages that make us feel good. This one does not make me feel good. Those who reject the message of God will pay a great price. The "rejecters" will suffer in this life as confusion reigns, people use people, love things, and live in a way that ultimately harms everything in which they are involved. Those who choose to live Godless lives need to be warned. If they want to ignore the warning, they will have no hope. For now, the choice is theirs.

Go your way...

 

Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house."  Luke 10:3-7 (ESV) We are lambs in the midst of wolves. Wolves want to find, kill, and devour lambs, especially the weak ones. The lambs have done nothing to irritate the wolves; they are just lambs. The wolves are not interested in what is best for the lamb; instead, they are focused on satisfying their desires and using the lambs for this indulgence. The lamb can only find protection in staying by the shepherd’s side. Jesus makes it clear that His "lambs" are to live in a way that demonstrates and clarifies their dependency on Him. Those who accept and care for these disciples will be valued members of the team. Those who reject them as beggars or freeloaders will be left to fend for themselves. The disciples are not in the persuasion or manipulation business. They are laborers looking for a ripe harvest, and when one is not available, they must move on to a field where the harvest is ready. Some things in life are not worth our efforts. Trying to convince grain to ripen today so we can harvest is a waste of time. Trying to convince someone who is focused on self to participate in Kingdom work is also a waste of time. I am to trust and work until God calls me home for trust, or faith, without works is dead.

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The Precious Few

 

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."  Luke 10:2 (ESV) In farm country, you quickly learn that during the harvest, you need all hands on deck. When the grain is ready to glean, the hay ready to bale, or the corn prepared to chop, you need to work around the clock until it is completed. Often, the crop was not ready yesterday, and tomorrow will be too late. Timing is critical if you want to maximize your value. Jesus is telling us that He has already worked soil, cultivated, and brought many people to the point when they are ready to be spiritually harvested. He also indicates that too few people are prepared to roll up their sleeves and work the harvest. It seems that there is always a crowd that would enjoy the harvest, but precious few who will gather it. Jesus puts a premium on the gatherers. For now, the choice is mine.

The modern church has become more about ...

 

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."  Luke 10:2 (ESV) “Captain Allen Gardiner, on the inhospitable coast of South America, where he slowly perished with hunger, in the hope of attracting the notice of some passing vessel, wrote on the cliff in large letters "DELAY NOT, WE ARE STARVING." Years after, the words were seen; but it was too late, the bleached bones of the brave hero of the cross strewed the beach.” (J. C. Fullerton.) Jesus saw the harvest was waiting, yet the laborers were few. We are instructed to pray for the supply of labor. If we are honest in our prayers, we will pray that God supplies the laborers and offer to be one ourselves. Often, we pray for the harvest, thinking that somehow it will be harvested and put in the barn without our effort, sweat, and sacrifice. We organize meetings, assign jobs to the most gifted, and talk about the urgency of taking in the harvest. Yet we still lack harvesters. The modern church has become more about organizational meetings than harvesting. Owners are many; workers are few.

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Indeed....

 

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."  Luke 9:58-62 (ESV) People are offering to do something, yet have no idea about the ramifications of what they are saying. When someone comes to Christ and declares allegiance to Him, He knows what lies before them. Jesus knows that those who follow Him will be harassed until they choose to follow their own ways. Then they will find out that their ideas are hollow and their lives unfulfilled. Some declare they are following Jesus, yet, in reality, they are developing a cleverly disguised path that leads to disappointment and perhaps, even destruction. Paul tells Timothy this in 2 Timothy 3:12: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."  In essence, Jesus was saying to those who wanted to followHim, that if they do follow Him, they will be persecuted. They will be inconvenienced. They will be not be rewarded on earth. They will be misunderstood. They will be hated on no account. So, what is it that keeps me from following Him?

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What do we deserve?

 

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another, he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."  Luke 9:58-62 (ESV) Jesus did not cling to what He deserved, and He knew what He deserved. We cling to what we think we deserve, and do not remember what we deserve. Jesus, the creator and sustainer of the universe, came to this earth to serve, not be served. What He did was unreasonable considering His position. The three in this passage struggle with what life is really about. One thought it was about having a beautiful place to live. Another thought it was about family responsibilities, and a third thought it could wait until a better time. It seems that all three were using their family as reasons why they could not completely follow Christ. They had a compelling argument, yet Jesus corrected them, as their thinking was wrong. The Bible does not teach us to worship family. It shows that family should worship God. Comfort, jobs, and various other responsibilities we have on earth, as noble as they may be, should not be reasons we do not follow Christ.

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