Month: March 2018

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Luke: Forgiveness and Grumpy People

Read: Luke 15:11-32

One of the most familiar stories in the Bible, otherwise known as the prodigal son. This is every parent’s nightmare as well as every parent’s fantasy. Not that our children would squander whatever we give them, but that they would one day realize just how much we love them and the extent to which we will go for them. And then, the real prayer, that they would understand the bigger story in the story and see God the Father and His relentless pursuit of His children.

Two sides of this story revolve around the prodigal son. Jesus is reaching out to those who are lost, as in the two previous parables, and celebrates when the lost are found. The feast is open to all, yet there are those who would find fault, criticize, and openly fight against such forgiveness.

Grumpy People.

Do you agree that the older brother is a metaphor for the Pharisees? Perhaps for the pious church leaders of today that have strings attached and conditions for acceptance rather then complete forgiveness. It’s messy to forgive someone who’s squandered all that’s been given to him. It certainly requires discernment, but my prayer is that my reliance on discernment isn’t the same as the older brother in this story.

The younger son had to be completely broken before he realized what he had in his hands all along. He had no idea that he would be accepted when he returned, but he humbly returned anyway. After it all fell apart, the memory of a loving family flooded his mind. A safe place where servants and sons were cared for. Is our home that inviting? Is our church willing to forgive that much? Are we the beacon of hope Jesus talks about?

Forgiveness.

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15:32

Jesus talks about forgiveness quite often. Maybe it’s easy for Him, after all, He’s been around forever. But wait, aren’t we more than mere mortals? If we get a tiny glimpse of what it means to be an eternal being, one with the Father for all eternity, perhaps then we too can be a people that forgives like Jesus. The epitome of Christlikeness.

Lord, I want to be one known for love and compassion, one who is quick to forgive completely — just like You.

Happy Good Friday.

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Luke: Rejoicing for the One Who Repents

Read: Luke 15:1-10

Make no mistake, Jesus’ call to discipleship is serious and it begins with repentance. The decision to repent is significant. The first domino to fall in a succession of events we like to call sanctification. Luke recalls two of the many parables Jesus used to teach this point: the lost sheep and the lost coin.

Before we jump in, let’s not miss the prompt for these two lessons:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. Luke 15:1

Jesus is once again mingling with those who are looked down upon by the Pharisees and teachers of the law. He hangs out in places where they gather, eats with them, knows them by name — and they know Jesus. The true “least of these” are those who are lost. They might be wealthy or poor, part of a big family or an orphan. Whatever the social status, Jesus sees through the facade, straight to the heart, and knows them.

His first call is to repentance, to find those who are lost.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.Luke 15:7, 10

Two Parables, One Lesson

Lately, we’ve been singing Reckless Love, a wonderful song that embraces the overwhelming reckless love of God. Part of the chorus comes from the parable of the lost sheep where Jesus explains what everyone in the crowd gather knows is true: when a sheep wanders away, the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to go and find it. Likewise, the woman who loses her silver coin doesn’t rest until she finds the lost coin. In both cases they, along with their friends, celebrate! This is a great day! The lost are found!!

Invest Time With the Lost

How can we expect to find those who are lost if we don’t invest time with them? And by investing time, I mean building relationships, not preaching at them. I can imagine screaming at the wandering sheep as it bolts away from the heard — not very effective.

In our busy schedules, our crazy lifestyle of go, go, go, until we drop, have we spent time with the ninety-nine or the one? Have we counted nine silver coins over and over again, or have we turned on the lights to find the one?

Suppose one of you…

These two short stories begin with the phrase, “Suppose one of you…” Think about it. Act on the thought. Love God. Love yourself. Love others. Go find the one and let’s celebrate!

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Luke: The Cost of Being a Disciple

Read: Luke 14:25-35

In Luke’s gospel account, we’re still far from events directly surrounding Easter, but Jesus is already talking about the cross. Take some time and read the passage linked above as we consider Easter. I have to believe that most failed to understand the significance of this line of thought when Jesus spoke these words:

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

No one in their right mind would have thought He would soon carry His own cross on the way to Golgotha.

This week is Holy Week and the overwhelming thought of the crucifixion weighs heavily on my mind. Tomorrow we will consider The Way of the Cross (our term) based on The Stations of the Cross from our Catholic Church brothers and sisters.

Jesus goes on to explain what He means in the passage and concludes with this vivid reality:

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33

Being a disciple is so much more than accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. I get frustrated when I hear the statement, “It’s easy, all you have to do is ____ and you’re saved!” Most of the time the altar call happens when we’ve tugged on emotions through Spirit-lead music or preaching, we’ve worked up emotions to the brink and deliver the punchline.

Does this means we shouldn’t invite people to accept Jesus? By no means! I’m certainly not suggesting we refrain from offering the invitation, but when I read this passage, I get the message that discipleship is far more than decisionship. And we should be clear and up front with that distinction.

In other words, make the altar call, but don’t preface the invitation with words that this is an easy path. Make it hard, but not legalistic and not based on human conditions. Point to the words in this passage, words from Jesus.

Consider this example: imagine being selected for a sports team that openly accepts anyone, regardless of ability, compared to one that wants you to demonstrate your skills and abilities.  The first team has lots of players, but lacks any sense of accomplishment compared to the second (not to mention the ensuing season of competition). The first team holds hands a lot and has fun, but even after being selected for the second team, I know I have to keep proving myself daily in order to keep my spot.

In our culture, we’ve taken sports to an unhealthy extreme, but the concept I’m trying to paint is one of distinction. I want nothing to do with the Universalist “church” movement. My hope is that Christians, true Christ-followers, look different from the rest of the world because we are willing to take up our cross for the sake of Christ.

Jesus makes it clear when He explains what it means to be a disciple and what it means to NOT be a disciple:

…such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

Lord, I want to be Your disciple. Help me understand how that looks today. Make it hard. With the help of the Spirit, I can and I will follow You, all the way to the cross and beyond.

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Luke: Jesus and the Pharisees Again

Read: Luke 14:1-24

Once again we see Jesus addressing the Pharisees. After rolling my eyes and a deep sigh, I jumped into the passage with the expectation of reading a lesson for the ancient religious leaders and its relevance to today’s church. While that is evident – something not to miss – this morning I was drawn to the fact that Jesus is still interacting with the Pharisees. Why is that?

Look at the beginning words:

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, Luke 14:1

This passage involves a Sabbath and a prominent Pharisee. Jesus was apparently invited by this Pharisee and He accepted the invitation. Let’s stop there and learn something from the implication. At this point we’ve read about several interactions with this small, but significant group or religious leaders. Luke includes the Pharisees in each of the last three chapters, a total of 28 times in the gospel.

Here’s the thought: Jesus cares about the Pharisees. If Jesus cared about them, so should I.

While the Pharisees don’t exist as a group today, legalistic leaders certainly do. It’s also very likely that we wear the robe of a Pharisee with our own set of rules, most of which we are not aware of. You see, we are a privileged people who are proud of choices.  We choose what to watch, what to wear, when to come, and when to go. All that’s well and good, but we also choose who to do all the above with. We select friends that are compatible with us, who watch things we watch and wear things we wear. We’ve become biased. We’ve become Pharisees.

Unless we make an intentional effort to seek those who are not like us, we will no longer be salt.

Lord Jesus, You healed another person on the Sabbath and the Pharisees watched in silence, unable to respond to your questions. You invite those to Your banquet who cannot possibly repay the lavish generosity, while the privileged list excuses why they cannot attend. Yet You invite us anyway.

May we get excited about this idea:

‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ Luke 14:22

There is still room.

There is still room, so let this be the day we make friends with someone who doesn’t look like us, one who doesn’t fit in with our crowd. There is still room for the most unlikely.

Jesus knew He would only spend a thousand or so days preaching during His time on earth. If Jesus would take time to give one of those days to the Pharisees, perhaps the song we sang last night should encourage us: So Will I.

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Luke: Lament for Jerusalem

Read: Luke 13:31-35

What breaks your heart? I’m sure you could list a lot of things that move you to a place of serious mourning, especially those of us with children. There’s something special about the parent-child relationship that speaks directly to the heart. In this passage, Jesus laments for Jerusalem, the chosen city. His heart breaks for the people of Jerusalem. Though they were called to be a special people, so many have fallen away that it is no longer the place once hoped for. It’s not the end of the story, but a sad reminder of the reality that sin has tarnished us all.

Jesus is not the least bit dissuaded by the Pharisees’ fake concern for Jesus’ life. Across the translations, Jesus refers to Herod as a fox:

Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal. Luke 13:32

On the third day…interesting. It seems like Jesus is continuing to teach the Pharisees to read their own scrolls and recall the prophecies as they actually apply to Jesus–right in front of them. Most of them don’t get it.

This passage begins as if it’s another discussion with the Pharisees or about the Roman rule, but it quickly changes into a lament as Jesus ponders not only His fate in the coming days, but those who have gone before.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you… Luke 13:34

As we read the Bible as a whole, we see God’s story unfold, His great desire for His chosen people. The geographical center is still in Israel, Jerusalem in particular. Yet the wickedness of the heart of mankind turns what was designed to be a blessing into a painful reminder. Prophets are killed. Those who proclaim the good news are stoned.

Our limited time on earth is challenging. Lord, give us strength to stand when all around us we have excuses to sit. May we be known as one who comes in the name of the Lord, may we long to hear Your blessings, and may that lead us to action:

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:35

 

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Luke: The Narrow Door

Read: Luke 13:22-30

Jesus is teaching on the way to Jerusalem when someone asks:

Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? Luke 13:23

It’s a reasonable question for those who’ve been paying attention to His teaching. While Jesus shows great compassion for the least, the lame, and the forgotten, He also teaches tough lessons about leaving everything to follow Him. The question prompts a somber discussion that reminds me of Matthew 25, five words that stopped me cold when I read them:

And the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

It’s almost Easter 2018. The seminal moment that separates Christians from the rest of the world: The Resurrection. They didn’t expect it when it happened years ago and many don’t expect Jesus to return anytime soon today. Such complacency has eternal dire consequences.

The words in today’s passage don’t prompt me to stand up and beat my chest like a victor in March Madness. Instead, it makes me wonder if I’m really doing all I can to represent the urgency of an inner commitment to Jesus.

These words should frighten us:

I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers! There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth…but you yourselves thrown out. Luke 13:25, 27, 28

These words from Jesus should stir us to action, not out of a concern about our salvation, but look at those around us who think by wearing the Christian badge that they have checked the boxes necessary to gain entry into heaven.

As Easter approaches, I pray we will seek to enter true and honest relationships with those who are far from Christ, whether or not they “go to church” frequently.

Lord, help us to be bold, to do as You say here:

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Luke 13:24

We’ll celebrate Easter with great enthusiasm, as we should. We’ll have special events and send post cards to gather with us, as we should. This is the highlight of the Christian year, a special season, and we must be excited!

My prayer is that we don’t rely on excitement to save, on emotions to get decisions. My prayer is we would love people so relentlessly that we would seek to save the lost every day, that this would be our signature, not only on special occasions.

Look, the door is narrow. Most won’t see it unless we are willing to slow down enough, to be patient enough to develop relationships one-on-one. That’s where hearts are changed. Forever.

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Luke: Mustard Tree and Yeast

Read: Luke 13:18-21

Jesus asks two rhetorical questions in the form of two short parables to help us imagine what the Kingdom of God is like. For His answers, He uses the tiny mustard seed and the small amount of yeast required for bread to make His point. Both serve to highlight the depth and breadth of the Kingdom of God. Both affirm our small efforts to make disciples one or two at a time. Small efforts needed to make a huge impact.

Mustard Seed

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. Luke 13:19

For $9.99 you can buy 10,000 mustard seeds via Amazon Prime. Can you imagine? Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, “a” seed, as in one. That’s all it takes to grow this incredible tree for many birds to call home.

Yeast

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough. Luke 13:21

My dad was a baker for many years, in the food business most of his life. Way back in ancient times, I would go with him to one of the Krispy Kreme stores he managed to “help” make donuts. They used 100-pound sacks of flour and sugar along with 1-pound “bricks” of yeast. Some of you are imagining the Hot Now signs, but they didn’t exist back in my youth. I’ll never forget sitting down with a fresh donut and cup of chocolate milk as a kid. Talk about sugar rush!

Later, when he had his own bakery, Southern Living magazine asked him to post some of his favorite recipes. I know he was excited since this is one of the premiere magazines in the south, an honor to be included. The only problem was he had to make the recipe in a home-sized kitchen. For most of us this isn’t an issue, but for my dad, scaling a 1-pound brick of yeast to a 2-1/4 teaspoon packet was a tall order. And, this is really funny to me, dad never cooked at home! (ok, “never” might be a stretch, certainly “rarely”). I remember his lament over scaling down recipes. Of course he figured it out and was able to share some baking secrets, but that’s really not the point of this post — I just couldn’t resist talking about my dad. He really was a great father.

Back to the parable. While dad might have used processed bricks of yeast, 2,000 years ago, I’m pretty sure this was not available. To make His point, Jesus includes sixty pounds of flour, a huge amount! That would make enough bread for an entire village. In comparison, the weight of the yeast would be a small ingredient, but the bread would be nothing without it.

Working the yeast into the dough takes time, it’s not an instant process. The hard work is worth the prize if the yeast is worked into every nook and cranny of the dough.

The small mustard seed and the tiny amount of yeast all remind me that my work with just a few is significant. Plant your small seeds with faith that God will grow into an amazing tree. Work your yeast thoroughly, give the bread time to rise, and enjoy the fruits of your labor when it’s ready.

I can smell the bread now. How about you?

 

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Luke: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

Read: Luke 13:10-17

While my focus in this post will center on the leaders, I don’t want to lose the excitement surrounding this amazing event. Jesus, full of compassion, reaches out to a woman who has lived with a crippling infirmity for 18 years. In an instant, her body was restored, she could stand tall again. Lord, don’t let me miss the miracle in the debate. Jesus healed this woman through His miraculous touch.

Crippled By A Spirit

Luke was a physician by vocation, so the insertion of this phrase, “crippled by a spirit,” is significant. We fight battles in the spiritual world we know little about. I’m sure you’ll agree with me in this assertion: that which is unseen is far more dangerous than that which we can see. But that is difficult to explain and hard to express to those who are far from God, let alone Christ followers.

The NIV Application Commentary pointed to C.S. Lewis’, Screwtape Letters, as a troubling reminder of the battlefront in spiritual places. In the preface of this incredible book, Lewis draws us into the conversation:

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

The last statement is an important reminder, “the devil is a liar.”

Leadership

Jesus is stern with the Jewish leadership. They are lost in their pious attitude and react with some crazy notion that miracles are only performed Monday through Saturday, as if they have ever healed anyone!!

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Luke 13:15

Seriously, it’s ok to tend to an animal, but not touch someone? Even more, why not release someone from bondage on the Sabbath as an even greater example for the people.

Here’s a thought: By healing her, she can now rest. This will be her first real Sabbath in 18 years!

 

When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. Luke 13:17

Is it possible that we are so steeped in our religiousness that we might make the same mistake as our Jewish forefathers? Are we out of touch with the people to the point that we can’t celebrate with them? Have we elevated ourselves as shepherds and teachers so far above the crowd that we no longer see people?

It seems we’re back to the concept of choices. In this case, the people fully embrace the beauty of the moment while the leaders are lost and searching the Shabbat for an escape clause.

 

 

Reference from the NIV Application Commentary:

Jewish tradition was particular about Sabbath labor. In the Mishnah, the book of Jewish tradition from the late second century, we are given a list of thirty-nine activities prohibited for the Sabbath (Shabbat 7: 2). Other texts outline the limits for how one handles cattle on the Sabbath (Shabbat 15: 1– 2; 5: 1– 4; ʿErubin 2: 14). The rules are specific, though it is not clear precisely which rule Jesus has violated. All he has done is to address the woman and touch her.

Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland , David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 51527-51531). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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Luke: Hard Lessons to Consider

Read: Luke 12:49-13:9

Spanning the artificial chapter boundaries, this morning we consider three hard lessons. Jesus loves people, no doubt, but He is not about to hold back when teaching subjects that are challenging. One of the key lessons I take here is this: grow up, learn to read yourself, you have enough information to make a decision so decide. Even though we waver, Christ will be patient, but not forever.

Division Instead of Peace

Jesus is fully aware that His presence will force people to make a choice that will divide families. This is clearly seen in predominantly Muslim countries where those who become Christ followers are severely rejected by their Muslim families. The warning then is true today:

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. Luke 12:51

The sad reality is that we’ve watered down what it means to be a Christian in this country that the decision to follow Christ is shrugged off, no big deal. Statistics show us that Christians look like non-Christians across many categories.

Our home group studied unChristian a few years ago. While the content is a decade old, I doubt much has significantly changed. Consider this excerpt:

…most of the lifestyle activities of born-again Christians were statistically equivalent to those of non–born-agains. When asked to identify their activities over the last thirty days, born-again believers were just as likely to bet or gamble, to visit a pornographic website, to take something that did not belong to them, to consult a medium or psychic, to physically fight or abuse someone, to have consumed enough alcohol to be considered legally drunk, to have used an illegal, nonprescription drug, to have said something to someone that was not true, to have gotten back at someone for something he or she did, and to have said mean things behind another person’s back. No difference.*

I bolded “No difference” above to make the point that this should not be the case. We should look vastly different. Agree?

Interpreting the Times

How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? Luke 12:56-57

In the midst of the Information Age, we have a preponderance of evidence to support the call to Christ. How is it this can be missed? We will be held accountable. Our salvation secured is not a badge of honor. If we value salvation, we simply must be better witnesses to the lost. It’s not a popular position, not politically correct, but we must fit in and stand out at the same time. Trust that the Spirit will make this possible. Ask for vision. Have faith when challenged.

Repent or Perish

It’s interesting to hear Jesus speak about current events during His time on Earth. Here the people refer to bloodshed by Pilate and Jesus adds a reference to 18 who died in a disaster in Siloam. Both tragic events are used as examples of why we should decide now, not wait. Twice in the same short story Jesus exhorts:

But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3,5

Our loving Savior, the Great and Mighty is ever patient and kind. I’m grateful to know He gives us second and third chances:

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” Luke 3:8-9

Lord, help us to remember that the sand does eventually slip through the hourglass, that there is a point when our chances run out. May we be the voice in this present age, in this hour of darkness, that speaks to those who would otherwise perish. To God be the Glory. Amen.

 

*Kinnaman, David. unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 47). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. See the article “American Lifestyles Mix Compassion and Self-Oriented Behavior” (February 5, 2007) at www.barna.org.

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Luke: Consistent, Faithful Service

Read: Luke 12:35-48

A beatitude, a warning, and a parable. Three sections carefully designed to emphasize the call to consistent, faithful service. Beware! The narrative comes with warnings of judgment and dire consequences for disobedience. The warning is clear and the parable is often used to convict those in vocational service within the church, but don’t miss the incredible reward that Jesus provides to in the beatitude.

Beatitude: Luke 12:35-38

Once again, Jesus uses the imagery of a wedding banquet which lasted some five to seven days. In other words, you don’t know when the master is going to return. For those who are prepared in spite of the extended absence, Jesus tells of a wonderful reward:

Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. Luke 12:37

What a joy it is for the Lord of lords to find us so prepared when He returns that He serves us! This is crazy talk, right? The blessing here, the beatitude, is simply this: Blessed is the one who is always prepared to greet the Lord.

Warning: Luke 12:39-40

The story prompts us to be prepared, so Jesus wants to ensure we’re clear that this is more than just a good thing, this is a requirement that comes with a warning.

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Luke 12:40

Peter asks for clarification in verse 41. It’s humorous how Jesus answers his rather innocent, Peter-esque question — well, He doesn’t. Instead, Jesus tells a story. The NIV Application Commentary explains: “his main principle is the kind of service we give, not sorting out who is responsible to give it…all have a call to serve others in the body…to be a member of his community is to have responsibility in it; this is especially true of the leadership.”*

Parable of Accountability: Luke 12:42-48

Whether you read this as pointing directly to the church, your workplace, or your home, the lesson is all about personal accountability. For those who abuse their position of authority, who see an opportunity to exploit others while the master is away for an extended time, the punishment is extreme:

He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. Luke 12:46

Those who know better will be severely disciplined. Such hyperbole is meant to get our attention. Please notice that it is the master that judges, not the people who were mistreated. This is an important distinction to me.

The section ends with a verse that my parents poured into me in, not only in words, it’s how they lived their lives:

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

The way mom and dad put it:

To whom much is given, much is required.Mom and Dad

Why are we given gifts, both spiritual and physical? Why would the Lord shower us with blessings, both talents and abilities? I’m sure He wants to demonstrate His unfailing love, no doubt, but I’m also sure that He wants us to show the same love to our neighbors, to the least, the lost, and the lonely. Most of the time this probably looks like consistent, faithful service–nothing special.

I hope we are consistently prepared for the Lord’s return. I pray that we will lean on each other when we are not, that we would spur each other on with the best of intentions. Above all, that we would do these things in love for the world to see how beautiful You are and join in the banquet with us.

*Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland , David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 51211-51213). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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