Know the Mission

 

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 10:40-42 (ESV) Satan does not seem to care how he distracts us. He just wants to distract us. If you send me to the store to pick up a gallon of milk, and while I am there, I get distracted by all the other goodies I see, and I come home without the milk, I failed my mission. It is not as if the other goodies are all bad, or even unnecessary. It is that I never achieved the goal that was set before me, which made me look and feel foolish. Life is the same. We were created to love God and each other, and there are many other nice things that on which we can focus, and in which we can be involved, so we need to be careful. We need to know the mission, stay focused on the mission, and enjoy the eventual results of the mission. For now, the choice is mine. .

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As Defined

 

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?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”   Luke 10:30-37 (ESV) So often we try to justify our actions by redefining words. This lawyer was attempting to foil Jesus’ words by pointing out the fuzzy definition of the word “neighbor.”  A change in the definition of a term, or the lack of clarity of the definition, does not justify sin. Jesus understood what the lawyer was doing and helped him define the word correctly. Making up terms or changing definitions of words/concepts to make our life look “good” is foolish. We seem to keep attempting to change the meaning of marriage, gender, and even when life is really life. We seem to be a nation trying to be wise, and in doing so, we demonstrate our foolishness. We need to define things as God defined things, or face a disappointing future.

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It is about God!

 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”   Luke 10:25-27 (ESV) Those of us who are continually looking for ways to impress God with our understanding of life and death should stop such foolish “efforts.” Being right with God is not about perfection. It is about His mercy and grace. Being cared for has little to do with our ability, and everything to do with His faithfulness. Somehow, we want to make all things about us, when all things are about God. When we work towards such an end, we become frustrated, and eventually enter the realm of the hopeless. Life is not about me.  It is about God. This is not a theory. It is a reality, and if I want to enjoy life, I need to live in the context of reality.

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Sunrises

 

Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For 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) We all have unique experiences in life and we all will give an account to God for what we have known and what we did with what we knew.  As I write this thought I am witnessing a beautiful sunrise over the vast northern forest. The sky seems to be bursting forth a praise song for the beginning of a new day with a brilliance that artists wish they could capture. I can take a moment and enjoy God and what He is doing here, or I can ignore it and get on with my day. I do not know how many more sunrises God will allow me to see. I think I will pause from writing for a moment and enjoy His gift. Perhaps you can do the same sometime today

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Simple Truths Are Best

 

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."   Luke 10:21 (ESV) Sometimes we lose the simple or common because it is simple and common. We often complicate the simple to make us look brilliant. Many look for something new and undiscovered in the Scriptures that they can teach in order to somehow show their superior understanding. However, the most profound thoughts are the simple thoughts. There is a God; I am not Him. I am sinful, separated from God, and helpless on my own. God gives me a choice, because He loves me. In the beginning God, not Dave, not ______. I do not need to dwell on the complicated when those who are truly wise are those who master the simple. Simple truths are best and the easiest to understand. I need to focus on understanding them and applying them, and all will be well.

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Focus

 

And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:18-20 (ESV) It seems easy to rejoice in the wrong thing. We might rejoice in the fact that we have money, yet not see that the money is actually causing us to lose our focus and our God-given purpose in life. We can rejoice in an abundance of food and not see that this abundance is causing to be gluttons and to have to battle obesity. Satan loves to get our focus off a couple of degrees, knowing that a small change in focus changes direction and controls the eventual destination. We must be careful to focus on what God intended us to focus.

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Perhaps there is time...

 

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) What does God need to do to prove to man that He is God? Nothing. What has He done to prove that He is God? Everything. The Scriptures clearly tell us that He has made and sustains all things. Life and purpose come from Him. Yet, we tend to ignore the wonders of creation, how life is sustained, and we focus on what we are capable of understanding. For some reason, we want to keep challenging the miracles of God and force all information to fit into our ability to comprehend and control. When we do that, we reject God and one day will regret such foolishness. Perhaps there is still time to repent and enjoy life the way God wanted us to.

Should we focus on what we deserve?

 

"Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town."    Luke 10:8-12 (ESV) Bitterness is not a fruit of the Spirit. When those we serve do not treat us in accordance with God’s commands, we must continue to press on. Satan would love for us to focus on “what we deserve” or what others need to do in order to be responsible. As we focus on others and their behaviors, we give Satan another handle to grasp, and it gets more difficult to get away from his grip. Jesus tells His followers to shake the dust off their feet, or, in other words, do not allow this neglect to stay with you, affect you, or become a part of who you are. God will deal with the unjust, we need to live as if that is true.

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Privileged Position

 

"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 10:4-7 (ESV) All people need to trust God if they are to live a fulfilled life. Those who are set aside to serve Him as these disciples were are specially privileged to have nothing to depend upon other than God. There will be those who understand the privilege of serving and trusting God, and those who will understand the privilege of supplying for those who serve, and there will be those who consider either end of the “deal” a burden. One of the most privileged positions in life is that of knowing one’s total dependence upon God, whether you have resources or not. The real thrill comes in our faith, and eventually we all realize that faith is only valid when it is placed in the certainty of who God is and what He is about.

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He said to them...

 

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. 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!’”   Luke 10:2-5 (ESV) Jesus is preparing them for the reality of the fight. He is also putting the fight into perspective, a perspective they can easily grasp. They will go out and be as lambs in the midst of wolves. Many might shrink from such responsibility. However, lambs will do just fine in the midst of wolves if they stay by the shepherd. Jesus was giving them the key bit of information they would need for a victory, the idea of “proximity.” If those who serve the King or Shepherd choose to stay by the Shepherd, the wolves are the frustrated ones and the sheep enjoy a rich and full life. Proximity is more important than strength, and it is something at which I can choose to be good.

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As God Sees It...

 

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) Opportunities are abundant to those who are looking for them. God is at work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and if I am paying attention, I can participate in the “harvest” God is planning. I find it interesting that when Jesus looked at a crowd, He saw a harvest awaiting workers. When I see a crowd, I see people who may be in my way, slowing me down, or whom I might consider a burden. Jesus sees what could be. I see what I think is obvious to all. Jesus sees without perspective, opinion, and limit. I am immersed in perspective, opinion, and my personal limitations. If I want to see as God sees, I need to spend time with Him so that His thoughts become my thoughts, and so that I view the world and the circumstances of life through His lens. For now, the choice is mine.

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Aligning Expectations

 

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 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 9:57-62 (ESV) It seems that Jesus is trying to discourage people from following Him, when, in reality, He is giving them an opportunity to align their expectations with reality. False expectations lead to trouble and give Satan a plethora of opportunities to discourage and destroy. Jesus is the truth and will only speak in terms of what is true. When we align our lives in the light of what He has said, we will not be disappointed. We may be persecuted, hated, maligned and even killed, but we will not be disappointed, for the truth has set us free.

For now....

 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.   Luke 9:51-56 (ESV) Rejecting Jesus is foolish. Yet, so many times we focus on places that keep life’s purposes blurry. “Oliver Cromwell’s men just before the battle used to look at their general, and whisper to each other, “See, he has on his battle-face.” When they saw that set, iron face they felt that defeat was impossible. Determined striving towards one point is the best way of gaining that point. Try to walk in a straight line over a field of snow, keeping your eyes fixed on the ground as you walk. When you look back on the track, you find it far from straight. Walk over the field again, this time keeping your eye fixed on some definite point ahead. That will keep you in the straight line, and will save you from fruitless wandering on this side or that. Jesus, keeping the end of His work in view, set His face towards it. So should we do with our work.” (Sunday School Times.) For now, our focus is our choice.

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We were put here to...

 

“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”   Luke 9:46-48 (ESV) The disciples were arguing who was the greatest while talking to the Greatest. This idea of greatness or significance seems to never really be settled in our lives. The problem with the idea is that our significance is often tied to minimizing the significance of those around us. In order for us to be very important, my family and friends need to be less important. The Bible makes it clear that all people are different, and that different does not make one better or worse. God uses the illustration of the body to show how important each person is. As it would be ridiculous to have my elbow and ankle arguing about which one is more important, it is ridiculous when people begin to argue about who is most significant. We were put here to love God and each other. We were not put here to give someone the opportunity to be impressed by us. Those who attempt to find significance at the cost of minimization of others have no hope of finding significance themselves.

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He Understands

 

And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.  Luke 9:43-45 (ESV) Jesus, the creator and sustainer of the universe, the great communicator, failed to communicate here. Really, it was not Jesus failing, but it was the disciples not putting what Jesus was saying into context. It was a big deal that the Son of God was going to allow those He created to persecute Him. If the disciples really understood what Jesus was saying, they would have been astonished. However, as is often the case, the disciples did not want to look dumb, so they did not ask Jesus to help them understand. One of the best responses people can have to a confusing situation is to ask the one who seems confusing to help them understand his/her position. When we pretend to understand, we lose. Jesus is the only one who always understands, and His understanding is always correct. When He says something we do not comprehend, we need to spend time pondering it, not ignoring it, if we want to live in truth.

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Methods, Schemes or God?

 

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.  Luke 9:37-42 (ESV) God’s work is not accomplished because of our methods. It is accomplished because of God’s mercy, grace, power, and purposes. Evil is not scared of us, but it is terrified of God in us. We need focus on God, His will, and His ability, instead of our methods and schemes. In the end, God wins, and we will if we let Him fight through us.

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Today we live here!

 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.   Luke 9:28-31 (ESV)

This is miraculous to man, but normal for Jesus. We act as if those who have died are non-existent. Jesus knew that Moses and Elijah “were available” so to speak, at least to Him.

Today, all those who went before us are doing something. This includes Moses, Elijah, Joseph, Daniel, Noah, and more. We may not know what they are up to, but they are up to something. Being absent from the flesh does not make them absent from existence.

Today we live here. Tomorrow we live ____ ? The choices we make today will affect the ____ ?  Enjoy God and each other, today and forever.

Joy in Purpose

 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"    Luke 9:23-25 (ESV) Denying self is easier said than done. For some reason, we keep thinking that the world was created for us, and we are right, however, it was not created because of us, by us, or for us exclusively. God is the creator; I am the created. He created because He loves, but His love is not dependent upon my love. He wants me to be included in His plan, but He does not need me to accomplish His plan. God made me, and therefore I have a distinction about me that indicates a plan and purpose. I can work my entire life trying to control the people and circumstances around me and end up frustrated because I eventually realize that I can do neither. My only hope of joy comes in accomplishing the purpose I was created to accomplish. Therefore, that needs to be my life focus.

We must not allow times of confusion to destroy us

 

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”   Luke 9:20-22 (ESV) Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ. He acknowledges that Jesus is God, the one the Jews have waited for, the Messiah. Yet, there is and will be some confusion, for no man seems to be able to grasp the idea that the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe came to this earth to die for us. Any thinking person knows that an Almighty, self-existent being does not need us, and the thought of Him wanting us is overwhelming. Peter now enters a time of confusion that will last a while and eventually lead to developing him as the first leader of the first church. Confusion is not unusual, and if left unresolved, it leads to fruitless, hopeless, and meaningless lives. Jesus allowed the confusion to last a while, but always had a plan to use the mass confusion to clarify who He was, who Peter was, and His ultimate plan for humanity. We must not allow times of confusion to destroy us. Rather, seek God in times of confusion, and allow Him to transform your confusion into a confession of who you really are and who He really is. Then live in the context of what is and has been reality.

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Peter: Correctly Incorrect

 

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”   Luke 9:18-20 (ESV) The most important issue in life is not about what the majority thinks about Jesus, but what I think about Jesus. I will never answer to God as to what others believe. I am not responsible for their belief or lack of belief. Who is it I say Jesus is? Why? If I claim that Jesus is God, do I act as if He is God? I may claim that Jesus is God, yet, in reality, live as if He is not. In that case, I will probably be put through a series of life lessons, as Peter was, in order to get my life in line with what I believe. Peter was correct in his declaration, but incorrect in his demonstration. It is incredible to watch Jesus work to get the two the same.

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