He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:35 (read entire chapter)
INTRO: Have you ever returned to a place where you grew up and thought, “It’s so much smaller than I remember”?
The physical environment did not shrink – your perspective is enlarged
– what we hold to be reality internally depends on our perspective of external reality
One of the factors that shape perspective is culture
– cultures define reality
– which is why the people in different cultures attribute illnesses either to spirits or bacteria
Cultures also manufacture reality
– for example, we are convinced that we live in the real world read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThis story perfectly fits the context of the previous chapter and could have been included in it. But what is so sad about it coming here is that the disciples did not absorb the lessons they had just heard and, instead, acted in total contradiction to them. This is the danger of merely learning information, whether Bible verses, beliefs, or doctrines. We can do a lot of thinking about principles and propositions, yet fail to see the opportunity to act on them even when it is right in front of our eyes. read more…
Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3 (read chapter 13)
INTRO: When Barb got home from work yesterday evening, the first thing she did was look for more news regarding the downed helicopter in Afghanistan
An unusual loss like that grabs our attention
– we are moved by empathy for those who died and feel like we’ve lost a part of ourselves
But I also think we have a built-in mechanism to keep tragedies like that at a distance
– “It happened far away,” we tell ourselves, or, “They were soldiers in combat,” etc.
– we look for explanations to reassure ourselves (and our children) that this kind of thing cannot happen to us read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThe Pharisees came to test Jesus (the same word is used when Satan tempted him; Mt. 4:1). The Law of Moses contained a divorce clause and they wanted to determine whether the Lord stood by the Law or took a more idealistic view of marriage (perhaps because of his teaching in Mt. 5:27-32).
Jesus was not opposed to the Law, but he did challenge its letter, which sometimes reflected the “hardness” of the human heart rather than the heart of God. Jesus’ disciple is someone who does not simply go along with “It has been said,” but learns to discern the will of God in the Scriptures through the Spirit (Mt. 5:21, 27, etc.; 2 Co. 3:6).
Reaching back to a time prior to the Law, Jesus referred to God’s original design from “the beginning.” This is where we discover God’s paradigm for marriage.
What surprises us is the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ statement. Apparently they were not too idealistic when it came to marriage. Of course, the problem with idealism is that it requires ideal men and ideal women in an ideal world for it to work. Jesus’ answer to them was that the sexless life of a eunuch was always an option. As for those who cannot “accept this statement,” they must accept the commitment that marriage demands–even at the risk of failure.
Lord God, who from the beginning said that the two shall become one flesh, strengthen us for the life to which You have called us. If marriage, give us grace to make our marriages strong in Your love. If not marriage, let our relationship to Jesus be enough. May we all become better, kinder, and more loving people.
Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. Luke 12:51-52 (read verses 49-59)
INTRO: Does it bother you that the most influential leaders of our nation are so lacking in the skills necessary for cooperative projects that they cannot work together effectively?
These are the people who urge corporations and citizens to join hands and work together for a better America
– but faced with a serious national issue, they stubbornly divide along party lines read more…
Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us or to everyone else as well?” Luke 12:41 (read verses 41-48)
INTRO: Peter’s question brings something to our attention
That during this teaching session, there were two groups present
– v. 1, the crowd, in which people were climbing over each other to get to Jesus, and the disciples
(in v. 13 we are reminded of the crowd, but in v. 22 Jesus addressed the disciples)
Peter’s question serves an important function: it clarifies who it is that Jesus is trying to instruct and influence
I have heard preachers relativize the teaching of Jesus by isolating passages that, they say, were meant only for the disciples, suggesting they were called to a greater commitment than the rest of his followers read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youJesus told this story to promote compassion. It is relatively easy to show compassion to orphans and refugees in distant places by providing food, shelter, and medical attention. But Jesus takes the issue to a situation that is much more difficult to show compassion–people who are indebted to us and who have sinned against us (vv. 21-22). read more…
Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Luke 12:36 (read verses 35-48)
INTRO: Try to imagine yourself in this situation:
You’re on the road tomorrow–heading out for work, the store, or vacation–and your car starts making a strange noise. A quarter mile down the road, your engine dies. When you take it into a shop, the mechanic tells you that there was extensive damage to the engine and transmission, and it is going to cost $5,000.00 to repair.
What do you feel, knowing you are without a car until you can afford $5,000.00 worth of repairs? read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThe bulk of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew is centered on the kingdom of heaven. His intention was to get his followers to see and enter the kingdom (v. 4). In this passage, Jesus anticipates a problem arising among “brothers” in the community of believers. Therefore, entering the kingdom is not the end of the journey. We have to continue on together until we reach our destination. Along the way, we will likely run into problems with our traveling companions. read more…
Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. Luke 12:1-2 (read verses 12:1-34)
INTRO: Here it is, summer so I thought we might briefly revisit The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
There were two weeks when Tom was bedridden with the measles
– when he was well enough to get out and about, he noticed a change in town
– people seemed melancholy
Mark Twain explains, “There had been a ‘revival,’ and everybody had ‘got religion’”
“Got religion” is a classic example of American slang read more…
Daily Meditations From the Scriptures