Opportunity or Inconvenience?

 

Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.   Luke 9:12-17(ESV) The disciples said, the day is old, we are tired, the crowd is hungry. Let’s call it a day.  Jesus saw the crowd and realized that now was a perfect time to demonstrate His love and power to them. The day was old for all involved. All were hungry, all were needing to pause, regroup, and prepare for tomorrow. What Jesus saw as opportunity, the disciples saw as inconvenience, even impossible. Jesus asked what they had and asked them for it, and they obviously gave it to Him. It was inadequate, and the disciples focused on the inadequacy, while God focused on what could be done with the inadequate. What will I focus on today? Why?

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Focus

 

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”    Luke 9:1-5 (ESV) Jesus was very specific as to what His disciples were to do. He did not have them raise support to a particular level before they could go serve Him. He did not allow them to have “extra” anything with them. He even told them that when they were rejected to just, go on, shake the dust off their feet, and continue to serve. Shaking the dust off their feet seems to indicate that He did not want them taking the rejection, the lack of care, or concern of those they ministered to with them. He did not want the past to haunt them. He certainly did not want them to harbor bitter or angry thoughts towards those who rejected them. Perhaps we focus too much on making sure we have provisions before we serve and spend far too much time making sure those we serve treat us “properly.” Servants are just that, servants. I need to focus on what I am, and what my Master asks of me. In that, I will be fulfilled.

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Faith in What? Who?

 

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”    Luke 8:48-50 (ESV) Jesus told this woman that her faith is what made her well. So is it faith that makes us well, or is faith something that has to have an object, and the object of the faith is what makes us well? Would having faith in eating banana leaves make her well? Would having faith in medicine or money have healed her? Faith, in and of itself, is not useful without it having the right “object.” If God is the one in whom we have faith, is a possibility that the mountains can move? If our faith is in our words, our money, our rituals, or our beliefs we, in essence, have no faith. When Jesus speaks of “faith” healing, He is speaking of one who has their faith in the right “object.”  If I lack faith, I lack an understanding of who God is, for if I knew who He was, I would have faith.

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Those who come.l..

 

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”    Luke 8:43-46 (ESV) In Jesus’ day there were no secret service to guard public figures. I am sure there were many who touched Jesus as He walked through the crowd. Yet, Jesus noticed one who touched Him and stopped and wanted that person to speak up as to what had happened. There are many who come to Christ to see the spectacle of “religion” or out of curiosity, or in order to not be left out of something the crowd is doing. There are those who come to Jesus to be healed. They have understood that without Him they have no hope, no life, and no purpose, and have looked to Him, and touched Him so that they may regain what is lost. Those who come to Christ wanting healing, will find healing. Those who come out of curiosity will forever just be curious.

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Scared by the thought of God.

 

And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.   Luke 8:36-39 (ESV) The demon-possessed man was healed, and the people who witnessed it wanted Jesus to leave town? Really? The people were afraid of Jesus. Why? He, alone, was able to approach a troubled man who had harassed the community for some time and heal him. He was no longer trouble. However, this, as much of the unknown in life, is scary. When you do not know God, you are scared by the thought of Him. When you do know God, you are comforted by the thought of Him. What direction do your thoughts bring you? Why?

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Loving what should be used.....

 

Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.   Luke 8:30-34 (ESV) These herdsmen are upset at their loss, and perhaps, rightfully so. However, there seems to be no focus on the man who was freed from the demonic oppression. Their focus seemed to be themselves and how this “situation” harmed them. I see no rejoicing that a man who was oppressed for many years and was most likely trouble to all in the area was now healed. Self-absorbed people are seldom happy, and if they are, it is short-lived because someone around them served or acknowledged them, or made the world revolve around them for a moment. Pigs are to be used. People are to be loved. When we get the two mixed up, we will be most miserable.

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The Simple Life

 

When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”    Luke 8:27-28 (ESV) Satan and the demonic world acknowledge God, but their acknowledgement is useless. All people will one day do as the evil ones do--acknowledge God. There are those who are living evil lives today who acknowledge God, and their acknowledgement of God is nothing more than lip service. If we know there is a God, we should live as if there is a God. If we know that God is all powerful, loves us, and has a plan for us, then we should live as if He is all powerful, loves us, and has a plan for us. Life is not as complicated as we often make it. In fact, it is rather simple. There is a God. I am not Him. I need to live in the context of what I know.

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Where is my faith?

 

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”    Luke 8:22-25 (ESV) Where is your faith? It’s a good question we need to ask ourselves and perhaps our friends often. Where is our faith?  Is our faith in our money? Is it in our health? Is our faith in our family? Is it in the circumstances being what we desire? We must never place our faith in what changes, for when we do, we will lose our faith. Faith is reserved for God alone, for He alone will not and cannot change. Therein lies our hope.

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For Now, The Choice is Mine

 

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light."   Luke 8:16 (ESV) The purpose of light is to give light. It’s silly to figure out ways to hide the light that is being produced. If we choose to do that, we need not produce the light. Jesus is light, and when we live in the presence of His light, we want to maximize its brightness and reach. What are the things in my life that would maximize the light that God has given me? What can I do today to make sure that light is shining brightly? What are the “things” that dim the light or minimize its glow? For now, the choice is mine.

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We are not victims

 

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."    Luke 8:9-15 (ESV) Environment matters and Satan understands how important a factor this is. Christians need to set up an environment conducive for comprehending God’s truth, evaluating their lives, and adjusting according to the truth revealed. We are not victims, but conquerors, and we need to set up our physical lives to maximize both our absorption of truth and our ability to point to our Savior.

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Focus

 

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”   Luke 7:48-50 (ESV) I wonder what Jesus is thinking. People, whom He created, wondering why He can forgive sins. The creation questioning the Creator. Yet Jesus carries on in spite of them. In fact, Jesus seemed to carry on in spite of everyone at times. His cross to bear was the cross and He would go there, die, come back to life, and fulfill the mission the Father sent Him on, regardless of the crowd, the criticism, and the chaos it caused. Jesus focused on His purpose. He was the truth and the life, and acted in accordance with what was true. I need to do the same.

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Overwhelmed

 

A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”"    Luke 7:41-43 (ESV) In order to enjoy God, we must have a correct view of ourselves. We are sinful, deserving of eternal punishment. God does not need us, but wants us, and our salvation has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Him. Those who can grasp their own depravity are positioned to grasp and appreciate the mercy and grace of Almighty God. Those who think God is fortunate to have them in His family, or somehow think they have earned a position as His child, will never comprehend the immensity of mercy and grace. It’s far better to be overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace because we understand our depravity than to be academically aligned with them due to our intellect. If we have never been overwhelmed with God’s mercy, we have never understood our depravity, and, in reality, can never enjoy God.

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Fulfillment

 

To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’"    Luke 7:31-34 (ESV) Whoever is in a place of authority will be tormented by many who are not. It matters not whether you are president or king, pastor, priest, or CEO/business owner. For some reason, those who do not hold the title and position often think it is their responsibility to gossip, slander, and malign. The criticism is anything but constructive, and it is often communicated in an acceptable manner to make the criticizer look noble, brave, and compassionate. Jesus said there was no one like John the Baptist (in a good way), and obviously there was no one like Jesus (in a perfect way), yet the masses found ways to find fault in them. Leaders need to find their fulfillment in Christ, His Word, His plan, and the fact that they have been entrusted with this position in this life. It may look like they will answer to the crowd, but in reality, they will be answering to God, who will judge each man’s works. The crowd should keep this in mind.

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God must increase...

 

"I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”   Luke 7:28 (ESV) Greatness is not measured by resources; it is measured by faith. Every human that has ever lived will be judged by the same criterion. We were told by our parents, often, that the world is not fair, yet in this aspect of life, it is fair. The rich, poor, healthy, well, loner, and the popular will be judged by the same criterion. We will be judged by our faith. Our faith will be demonstrated in various ways due to the various circumstances in our lives, however, faith is faith. Those who have money and other resources are not necessarily blessed, for the temptation is greater to trust in their wealth. Yet, those who are poor could long for what the wealthy have and be just as miserable in the end. John knew that God must increase and himself decrease. Dave needs to know the same.

What kind of person...

 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”    Luke 7:22-23 (ESV)

Jesus simplifies his response by encouraging the disciples of John to just report what they have seen. No need to be complicated.

What is complicated is how someone could watch Jesus and be offended by Him. After all, how offensive is the blind receiving their sight, the lame walking, lepers who are cleansed, the deaf hearing, and the dead coming to life?

What kind of person would get offended by that? Perhaps one who is creating truth rather than discovering it. Perhaps it is the very definition of fool.

The Truth is Right

 

"For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.  Luke 7:8-10 (ESV) The main thing I am aiming at, because, after all, the most practical, lies in my third point. However deep our humility, however conscious we may be of our own undeservingness, WE SHOULD NEVER DIMINISH OUR FAITH IN GOD. God is God, I am not. I need to remind myself of that and live in the context of that reality every day. When I do that, I have faith. (Biblical Illustrator) People who have faith are not necessarily gifted; they are honest. Honest people live in the context of what they know, and they will not go against what they are convicted is right. The hope is that we are convinced that truth is right, or we will be set up for disaster, for those who live as if lies are right are deceived and will experience destruction.

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Faith is...

 

"For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.    Luke 7:8-10 (ESV) Those who have faith, act like they have faith. Words do not give one faith. Heritage does not give one faith. Religion does not give one faith. Faith is simple. You either have it or do not have it. If you have a “little” of it, you have it all. If you think you have a little, but still have some doubt, you do not have it. You either believe God is God, or you do not. It is impossible to kind of, sort of, almost believe that God is God. Our knowledge may grow, but our faith is a different idea. It is important that we know what faith is since God has told us that it is the only way we can please Him.

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More Faith?

 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you."    Luke 17:5-6 (ESV) Perhaps this is the common cry of all those who follow Christ. We often want to do right, but we seem to lack the courage or the faith to do what we should. We want our faith to be the driving force in our actions. Yet, it seems, as if the actions are trying to prove our faith more than flow from faith. What is it we actually believe, and if we believe it, do we act like it? If we do not act like I,t do we believe it? Do we believe God loves us? Do we believe God is trustworthy? Do we believe God is sovereign? Do we believe God has a plan and will win in the end? Do we believe that God owns all things and that we are just stewards? If so, do we act in accordance to what we say we believe? Are the apostles asking Jesus to give them the easy way to act out what is right? Are they asking Him to make it so they “feel” like doing what they should? Is their faith a feeling? Jesus’ answer is concise. Even if you got it right, really right, in a minuscule way, you would act on what you know to be true. Faith is not a feeling that you need more of, but it is knowledge of truth that drives your action. We do not need more faith; we need more truth.

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The next generation desperately needs an example.

 

"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent’ you must forgive him.”"    Luke 17:3-4 (ESV) “A father tells us how he once started alone to climb a steep and perilous hill, purposely choosing a time when his children were at play, and when he thought that they would not notice his absence. He was climbing a precipitous path when he was startled by hearing a little voice shout, “Father, take the safest path, for I am following you.” On looking down, he saw that his little boy had followed him, and was already in danger; and he trembled lest the child’s feet should slip before he could get to him and grasp his warm little hand. ‘Years have passed since then,’ he writes, 'but though the danger has passed, the little fellow’s cry has never left me. It taught me a lesson, the full force of which I had never known before. It showed me the power of our unconscious influence, and I saw the terrible possibility of our leading those around us to ruin, without intending or knowing it; and the lesson I learned that morning I am anxious to impress upon all to whom my words may come.’” (Archdeacon Farrar.) We lead by example. We lead when we think we are not leading. We lead when we follow. We lead when we love. Be careful how you lead. Start by showing those around you how to forgive, for it is best to forgive as we have been forgiven, and the next generation desperately needs an example.

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