Know Your Audience.

Luke 16

The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light. – Luke 16:8 NET

I spent 29 years of my life in the advertising business as a creative director. It was my job to come up with ads and marketing campaigns to help my clients successively sell their products and services to their customer base. To do so required more than creativity, it demanded that I know both the product and the potential purchaser of that product. I had to get into the head of the consumer and understand how they think. I had to learn their likes and dislikes. I had to understand what motivated them. I was spending my client's money in an attempt to garner customers for their products. This was all about wise stewardship. But it was sometimes easy to see my job as just a place where I got to be creative and produce clever radio or TV commercials, or produce eye-catching magazine ads that displayed my creative skills. In other words, I could easily get wrapped up in producing ads that made me look good and not my customer. In fact, I produced more than my fair share of ads over the years that won me creative accolades but didn't produce much in the way of revenue for my clients.

In the first part of chapter 16 Luke records the parable of the shrewd manager. It is a difficult parable that Jesus doesn't bother to explain for us. But the basic idea seems to be that of stewardship. You've got a manager who loses his job because he squandered his master's possessions. We don't know exactly what he did, but he was dishonest and it cost him his job. So it seems that he was told to clear up all his accounts before his final day on the payroll. There is debate as to what exactly happens next, but the best bet is that this manager went to all of his master's debtors and gave them a chance to clear up their debt by paying a reduced settlement. Many commentators believe he was able to lower their debt by eliminating what would have been his own commission. He is praised by the very man who had just fired him for his wise actions. He satisfied his former boss and his customers. Jesus also praises this man's actions by recognizing that he knew exactly how to handle those with whom he worked and lived. He was a product of this age and he understood how to make the most of his interactions with others of this age.

So what's the point of this parable? It seems that Jesus is saying that the people of this world actually think about how they use their resources. Whether they belong to them or someone else. Even if they misuse them, they still give it some thought. This man wisely used his position to come up with a workable, long-term solution to his problem and that of his master. He gained favor with his customers and a praise from his former boss. Jesus seems to be saying that we, as believers, must live in this world with a sense of responsibility for what we have been entrusted. We need to have an other-oriented mentality. Rather than obsess about us, we need to think about others – especially the lost. It may require that we sacrifice short-term rewards for long-term benefits. This man was going to lose his commissions, but he was gaining long-term favor with every one of those people he had helped. When he was out looking for work, he was going to have a great network of people who were favorable disposed to him. Jesus says that when we live in this world with a sensitivity to those around us and wisely steward the resources God has given us, we win over the lost. We make friends of those who have typically been burned by the self-centered, self-seeking mentality of this world. We can use money and possessions in such a way that we gain favor with men. We show them that our possessions do not possess us. The manager in the story knew how to use money to influence others. As Christians, we need to learn how to use the resources of this world, entrusted to us by God, in such a way that the lost see that there is something different about us. We are to live as those who worship one master, and it isn't money!

Father, I want to be wise with what You have given me. Yet, I know that I have often misused Your resources and been unfaithful. I have not had an other-mentality, but a me-focus. I have used what you have given me to reward myself rather than to reach the lost. Give me a wisdom that sees and understands how the people of this world think. Let me show them, using the resources of this world, that I serve You as my master and nothing else. Money is not my god, You are. Amen.

Repent!

Luke 15

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. – Luke 15:7 NASB

Who in the world wouldn't need repentance? Is there really anybody out there who is so righteous that they don't need to turn from their sin and be rescued? Well, in Jesus' day there was a group of religious leaders who truly believed they were beyond the need for repentance. They viewed themselves as righteous and certainly in no need of a Savior. The Pharisees were a group of self-righteous, pride-filled individuals who saw no need for repenting because they did not view themselves as sinners. They were taking care of their own sin by living in obedience to the law. They were their own saviors. Their righteousness was self-produced.

But sadly, they were delusional. They only thought they were righteous. There would be no celebrating in heaven over their pitiful attempts at redeeming themselves. In fact, Jesus said, "Count on it--there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue" (Luke 15:7 MSG). These guys had no need of rescue. In their minds they weren't drowning. They saw all those around them as the ones who were in trouble. They despised their own people and viewed them as little more than dogs. They viewed themselves as the healthy ones and everyone else as sinners who were holding back the kingdom of God. That's why they had such a hard time with Jesus and his association with the common people of His day. On one occasion, they confronted Jesus about his poor choice of dinner guests. "But when some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with people like that, they said to his disciples, 'Why does he eat with such scum?' When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don’t need a doctor––sick people do. I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough.'" (Mark 2:16-17 NLT).

One of the first things we have to do before coming to Christ is to acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior. But if we can somehow justify ourselves before God and earn his favor by our own efforts, then we eliminate the need for the cross. We also devalue Christ's death on the cross. He died in vain. What He did was unnecessary if we could save ourselves. Self-righteousness turns grace on its head because it views the sinner as somehow capable of earning God's grace through human effort. It is no longer a gift, but a payment for our performance.

But twice in this passage, Jesus says, "there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents" (Luke 15:10 NLT). Repentance is an acknowledgment of our sin and our awareness of our need for a Savior. But not just at salvation. The truth is, many of us as believers still rely on our self-righteous activities to somehow earn us favor with God. We try to keep Him pleased with us by doing things for Him. In his book, The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges says, "So often we try to develop Christian character and conduct without taking the time to develop God-centered devotion. We try to please God without taking the time to walk with Him and develop a relationship with Him. This is impossible to do." This is, in essence, nothing more than an attempt at self-righteousness. We don't really need the Savior or a deepening relationship with Him. We think we can somehow develop Christ-like character on our own. This is exactly what the Pharisees were guilty of. That's why Jesus told His disciples, "that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mark 5:20 NASB). Where do we get that kind of righteousness from? The Savior Himself. So every day I am to repent of my own self-righteousness and embrace the fact that I stand as righteous before God because of what Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Father, I am a sinner in need of a Savior – as much today as ever. I still have need of Christ's power, forgiveness, grace and mercy. I can't live this life without Him. I try, but I always fail. I can't sanctify myself any more than I could have saved myself. Your Son and the indwelling Holy Spirit make it possible. Never let me forget that. Amen.

Count the Cost.

Luke 14

Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple. – Luke 14:27 MSG

Discipleship. It isn't a word we use a lot any more. And even when we do it carries a lot of baggage with it. When we say discipleship we tend to think of scripture memory, Bible studies, class room environments, and a small group of Christians who are really serious about their faith. Discipleship is for those who want to be students of the Word. They are wired differently than the rest of us. They have a special capacity for learning deep doctrinal truth and a desire to spend countless hours alone, studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture. They are just not like the rest of us. They're a super-spiritual breed who are set apart from the rest. The are the few, the proud, the Marines. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Yet, when you read the words of Jesus you can't help but realize that to a certain degree, disciples really are a breed apart. They are special. But it is NOT a classification of people within the Christian community who just happen to take spiritual matters a little more seriously. If you are a follower of Christ, you are a disciple. In fact, Jesus made it quite clear that you had to be willing to shoulder your own cross before you could follow Him. You couldn't be His disciple without it.

There is a cost to discipleship. There is a cost to following Christ. It was never intended to be easy. John MacArthur has this to say about the cost of discipleship: "Discipleship...more than just being a learner, being an intimate follower, having an intimate relationship, following to the point where you would go as far as death out of love. There's no question about the fact that the only message Jesus ever proclaimed was a message of discipleship. The call that Jesus gave was a call to follow Him, a call to submission, a call to obedience. It was never a plea to make some kind of momentary decision to acquire forgiveness and peace and heaven and then go on living anyway you wanted. The invitations of Jesus to the lost were always direct calls to a costly commitment."

There is a cost to following Jesus. But that is not a popular message. It never has been. It wasn't popular when Jesus communicated it more than 2,000 years ago. His followers didn't want to hear Him say, "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple" (Luke 14:33 MSG). This sounds harsh and demanding. But it is really the message of discipleship. Dallas Willard describes it as the life of an apprentice to Jesus. "Being his apprentice is, therefore, not a matter of special 'religious' activities, but an orientation and quality of my entire existence. This is what is meant by Jesus when he says that those who do not forsake all cannot be his disciple. (Luke 14:26, 33) The emphasis is upon the all. There must be nothing held of greater value than Jesus and his kingdom. He must be clearly seen as the most important thing in human life, and being his apprentice as the greatest opportunity any human being ever has" (Dallas Willard, How Does The Disciple Live).

Discipleship has a cost. So did our salvation. It cost Jesus His life. When I follow Him, He asks me to count the cost and determine whether I am willing to make His kingdom the most important thing in my life. Will I allow it to replace anything and anyone else? Will I, like Paul, count everything else as loss compared to knowing and following Jesus Christ as His disciple? (Philippians3:8).

Father, I want to be a disciple of Your Son who is willing to consider anything and anyone else as expendable compared to the joy of following Him. Anything it costs me is well worth it compared to all that I receive in return. Help me grow in my appreciation of the gift I have received and make Your Son and His kingdom the highest priority in my life. Amen.

I Don't Know You!

Luke 13

And he will reply, "I tell you, I don’t know you. Go away, all you who do evil." – Luke 13:27 NLT

Over in Matthew chapter seven, we have the companion passage to this lesson taught by Jesus. In both cases, you have people who, at the time of judgment, will come forward claiming that they had done all kinds of things for God. In the Matthew passage they say, "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name" (Matthew 7:22 NLT). In the Luke passage they say, "We ate and drank in Your presence , and You taught in our streets" (Luke 13:26 NASB). In one case, they seem to be depending on their good deeds to save them. In the other, they are putting their hope and trust in the fact that they have some kind of a relationship with Jesus. But in both cases, it doesn't work out too well for them. Jesus basically tells them, "I don't even know you!"

Self-effort can never earn us favor with God. Self-righteousness can't produce true righteousness. The Pharisees had been trying it for years and they still stood before God as sinners, condemned, unclean. But if you try to rely on just a surface relationship with Jesus, you will also be sorely disappointed. Many claim to know Christ, but have not placed their faith in Him. They have a knowledge of Him, but not a relationship with Him. He doesn't know them because they are not really His. I love the way the New Living Translation puts it: "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21 NLT). Religion and rule-keeping are not enough. Doing things for God is not enough. Knowing about Jesus is not enough. God is looking for a relationship based on faith in His Son's atoning death on the cross. That requires us to give up our quest for spiritual perfection on our own. It requires that we give up relying on some surface, skin-deep understanding of who Jesus is. In other words, it requires surrender to God's only plan for salvation. Faith in His Son as my sin substitute. It is NOT what I can do for God that matters. It is what Jesus Christ has already done for me on the cross. It is not knowing about Jesus that matters. It is knowing that He lives within me. "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NLT).

Father, I know I can't earn favor with You by doing more for You. You have already shown me Your favor by sending Your Son to die on the cross in my place. I know I can't rely on a surface knowledge of Christ, but must constantly remember that He lives within me. It is His presence in me that transforms me and makes me Your child. You know me because I am known by Him. You see me as righteous because You see me through Him. And for that I am grateful. Amen.

Rich With God.

Luke 12

Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God. – Luke 12:21 NLT

This is an interesting passage. Typically we use it when we want to talk about giving. Which seems to make sense. But when you look closer at the context of the passage, it seems that giving is not really the point Jesus is trying to make. Jesus is using a comparison to the man in the parable He has just told. This man, who was a wealthy land-owner, was suffering from a eye problem. Actually it was an I problem. He was obsessed with himself. Just look at verses 17-19. In just three short verses he uses the personal pronouns I or my at least 11 times. It is all about him. His crops. His barns. His grain. His soul. He is large and in charge. He mistakenly believes that he is in control of his wealth and his destiny. Nowhere does he factor in God. His decisions are all up to him. His future is all up to him. After all, his abundance had been all up to him!

But God had other plans. God calls the man a fool. Because all the while he has been planning his future – filled with eating, drinking and good times – God had another plan and another schedule. That very night he would lose his life. All his plans would evaporate and all his efforts to store up for himself treasures here on this earth for future enjoyment would disappear. That is when Jesus turns to His disciples and says, "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and in not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21 NASB). You see, because of the way this verse is typically translated, we think that it is telling us to be rich toward God. We are supposed to generous with our resources and give them to God. Now don't get me wrong. There are plenty of verses that support tithing and giving, but I just don't think this is one of them. I think this verse carries an even more important point. We are not being told to make God rich, but to be rich with God. We are NOT to fill our lives with stuff and set our hopes for the future on material things. No, we are to fill our lives with God – fully realizing that our present as well as our future are in His hands. We are to abound in His riches.

Jesus goes on to say, "He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern" (Luke 12:31 NLT). This isn't about us giving to God, but about Him giving to us. "So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom" (Luke 12:32 NLT). The problem with the man in the parable is that he didn't need God. He had riches to spare and was putting all his hope for the future in them. But those kinds of riches can only deliver temporal satisfaction. They are unreliable for anything but short-term satisfaction. God has riches beyond anything we could ever imagine, and He wants to share them with us. His riches are eternal and everlasting. His treasure is in heaven, and is not of this earth. He makes that clear in verses 33-34. "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe––no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be" (Luke 12:32-33 NLT). The Message paraphrases that last verse this way: "It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."

This isn't a parable about giving. It is a parable about receiving. Receiving riches from God and a treasure stored up for us in heaven that we can never lose. Are you rich with God today? Are you abounding in His riches today? Are you relying on His wealth of resources or are you counting on your own riches to bring your joy, contentment, happiness, and fulfillment?

Father, thank You that I don't have to depend on my riches. First of all, I don't have much. And what I do have is not going to last. It can't even satisfy me right now, let alone in the future. But the riches that you offer are eternal. I want to be abounding in your riches. The riches of your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. I want my heart to treasure what you have provided for me, not what I can provide for myself. Amen.

The Eyes Have It.

Luke 11

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. – Luke 11:34 NLT

How's the health or your eyes today? Do you have blurry vision? Are you seeing double? Do you have trouble seeing things far away or up close?

In Jesus analogy, a healthy eye is a a clear eye. Jesus uses the Greek word haplous and it means single, healthy, or whole. It is an eye free from double vision. It is not clouded by cataracts or any disease that would prevent the light on the outside reaching the inside. The issue in this verse seems to be one of vision. Do we see things like God sees them? Do we have His perspective or is it clouded. John Piper puts it this way: "How you see reality determines whether you are in the dark or not." Do we see things the way God sees things? Do we have a singular, focused vision or is it blurred by the things of this world?

It's interesting that this same phrase is used by Jesus over in Matthew 7, but it is sandwiched between two teachings on treasure and money. Jesus seems to be saying that our spiritual vision must be clear or we will view everything in this world wrongly. If we see as God does, then we will see everything on this earth as resources to use for His kingdom purposes, not for building up our own little kingdoms. We will see that our treasure lies in heaven, not on earth. If we see things as God does, we will not try to serve God and wealth. We will have a clear view of the role money plays in this life. We will not make it our god or our savior. It is simply a tool at our disposal for accomplishing God's plans.

When we have a "bad" eye or an unhealthy perspective on this world, we will be filled with darkness. We will fail to see clearly. To be filled with darkness is to be blind. It is interesting that one of the most common physical maladies that Jesus healed was that of blindness. He took people who were physically blind and restored their sight. He gave them the ability to see clearly for the first time in their lives. And one of the main accusations Jesus leveled against the Pharisees was that they were spiritually blind. They were like blind guides leading blind people. They were unable to see and would end up leading those under their care right into a ditch. They were so blind they could not recognize the Messiah standing right in front of them. They were blinded by jealousy, pride, arrogance, and greed. Jesus came to restore sight to the blind. He came to give us a new capacity to see clearly for the first time in our lives. But many of us still live in darkness, because we our eyes are not clear. They have been clouded by the philosophies and empty promises of this world.

But God has called us to a relationship with His Son. We are not to love the world or the things of the world. Our desire is to be for Christ and His kingdom. We are to have eyes for Christ. According to John Wesley, the believer's goal is "to do not his own will, but the will of Him that sent him. His one intention at all times and in all places is, not to please himself, but Him whom his soul loveth. He hath a single eye; and because his eye is single, his whole body is full of light. The whole is light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth enlighten the house. God reigns alone; all that is in the soul is holiness to the Lord."

So how's your vision today? Is it clear? Are your eyes healthy? Do you see things from God's perspective? If so, then you will be filled with light, and not darkness.

Father, thank You for the light of Christ that shines in my life. Open my eyes so that I might see things with an ever-increasing clarity and focus. I want to see life from your perspective and not my own. When I see things the way You do, then I will be filled with an awareness that makes everything around me clear. Amen.

Look At Me, God!

Luke 10

All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you--that's the agenda for rejoicing. – Luke 10:20 MSG

I love this story. It is so typical of how we respond to God as we "perform" for Him. We get so proud of our efforts on His behalf. Like the disciples, we come back all excited about the power we have demonstrated. "The demons are subject to us in Your name!" (Luke 10:17 NASB). Look at us go! Aren't we doing some really fantastic things for you God? Aren't You proud of us? What would you do without us?

Yet Jesus responds to them in a very interesting way. He says, "do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20 NIV). This had very little to with what the disciples had just done, but it had everything to do with what Jesus was going to accomplish not too long into the future. We have a tendency to believe our own press clippings, and to begin to think that we are far more important to this story than we really are. In fact, we tend to want to make ourselves the stars of God's redemptive story. But there is only one star and that is Jesus Himself. He is far less interested in what we can do for Him than what think about what He has already done for us.

In his classic devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers says, "Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?"

We should rejoice that what Jesus has done makes it possible for our names to be written in heaven. We have permanent, irrevocable reservations there. Not because of anything we have done or will do, but because of what He has done on our behalf.

Father, thank You that my name is written in heaven. And it is not because of anything I have done or will do. Otherwise, it wouldn't be there at all. It is simply because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross as my sin substitute. Forgive for the many times I put far too much value in my accomplishments for You. Forgive me for trying to serve You more than worship You. Amen.

Not Exactly Good News.

Luke 9

For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said. "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead. – Luke 9:22 NLT

When these words came off the lips of Jesus, His disciples were less-than-ecstatic. In fact, they were surprised and confused. This wasn't exactly what they had signed up for. After all, they were fully expecting Jesus, as the long-awaited Messiah, to set up His kingdom on earth and destroy the oppressive rule of the Romans. He was going to be the warrior-king who, like His ancestor David, would wage war against the enemies of Israel and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem. It was going to be great, and the disciples thought they would be ruling right alongside Christ in His earthly kingdom. Now here He comes talking about suffering and death at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes of Israel. None of this made sense. Why would the religious leaders of their day want to kill the Messiah? This all had to sound preposterous to the disciples. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Jesus goes on to tell them that they were going to have to deny themselves and take up their own crosses if they were going to continue following Him. Wow! Not exactly good news.

But we know that is exactly what it was – good news. Jesus' death was the key to His coming. He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all. Ephesians 5:2 tells us that Jesus "gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." He died so that we might live. His death resulted in a different kind of victory than the disciples were looking for. He came to set them free from the rule of sin and the penalty of death, not the Romans. He came to give them victory over the grave, not some foreign occupying army. The life Jesus was offering was going to require death. His own. And it would require of the disciples a daily dying of themselves. They were going to have to die to their expectations and dreams. They were going to have to die to their addictive habit of trying to save themselves. They were going to have to lose their lives in order to gain the new life that Jesus offered. But it would prove to be an exchange that was well worth it. Our sin for His righteousness. Our forgiveness for His condemnation. Our new life for His death. His power for our weakness. Our salvation for His sacrifice.

So the bad news would prove to be very good news after all. And it still is.

Father, thank You for the good news regarding Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for coming up with a plan that was far better than anything the disciples could have dreamed up or dreamed of. Your way is the best. And I am grateful that the bad news regarding Your son's death would prove to be the best news of all time. Amen.

Where Is Your Faith?

Luke 8

And He said to them,"Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" – Luke 8:25 NASB

Where is your faith? This isn't so much as a question of its existence as to its focus? In other words, we all have faith. We all trust in something or someone. The issue has to do with the who or what our faith is in. For the disciples, they were having to learn to have faith in Christ. And every time they turned around they were having their misguided, misdirected faith exposed. In the case of verses 22-25, they had their misguided faith in themselves exposed. Think about it, a good portion of these guys were professional, seasoned fishermen. They had been around and on the water for most of their lives. They had seen their fair share of storms. So they knew what to do when one blew in while they were out on the water in a ship. They could probably predict the weather without fail. The could read the signs. They could ride out the worst of storms like the best of sailors. In other words, they had faith in themselves and their own abilities.

In this story they found themselves in a storm on the sea of Galilee and they began to panic. They woke up Jesus who was calmly sleeping in the bow of the boat. They fearfully explain the gravity of their situation to Jesus. "Master, Master, we are perishing!" (Luke 8:24 NASB). What happened to all their boating acumen and experience on the waves of the Sea of Galilee. It was all gone. They suddenly discovered that they were no match for this storm. They weren't going to be able to get themselves out of this one. No, from their perspective, they were about to drown. Which is right where Jesus seems to want them. Jesus heard their cries and calmly rebuked the wind and waves. The sea suddenly calmed and so did the disciples. To a degree. They were now fearful because of what they had just witnessed. They realized that they had just been part of something truly amazing. They had just seen a power displayed that that they had never seen before. A power greater than the waves and winds of nature. A power greater than anything they could bring to bear on the situation. Jesus asked them, "Where is your faith?" It seems to be a rhetorical question. He knew the answer. Their faith was non-existent. At one time it would have been in themselves and their own abilities. Now it was nowhere. Nothing they had ever relied on before was going to help them out of this predicament. Only Jesus!

That's where we need to be each and every day. We need to stop putting our faith in anything or anyone other than Christ. And every day they spent with Him was going to be a lesson in faith. They would watch Him heal. They would hear Him teach. They would see His power on display. They would take in all His parables and witness Him casting out demons and healing the sick. They would even see Him raise the dead. They were eyewitnesses to the power of Christ. And it was rocking their faith system. Over time they would learn to put their faith in Him and not in themselves. That is the journey of the disciple. Before we can place our faith in Christ, we must openly admit where our faith has been. In whom or what have I been trusting? Where have I been turning for comfort and consolation? Tearing down the idols we have erected and the sorry substitutes we have turned to for years is the first step in putting our faith in the One who is always faithful.

Father, I feel as though you are asking me each and every day, "Where is your faith?" And the truth is, I still struggle with putting my faith in the wrong things. I still want to trust myself and others more than I trust You. Forgive me for that and show me how to trust You more. Your power is limitless. You alone are worthy of my faith. Everything and everyone else will fail me. They don't deserve my faith. But You do. Amen.

A Low View of Our Own Righteousness.

Luke 7

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little. - Luke 7:47

So how much have you been forgiven?

If you're like me, you probably don't think of yourself as THAT sinful. I mean, there are plenty of people who rank higher on the sin-o-meter than me. Sure, I commit the occasional sin, but nothing major. No murder. No adultery. No genocide. Nothing that will get me on the evening news or make me the star of my own made-for-TV movie.

But when you read Luke 7, you have to come to grips with the fact that Jesus puts a high priority on having a low view of our own righteousness. In other words, He wants us to recognize the magnitude of our sinfulness. He makes His point with a simple, short parable and through the actions of a woman who was anything but a model for righteousness. In the parable, Jesus juxtaposes two debtors: one who owed 500 denarii, the other 50. Keep in mind that a single denari was the equivalent of an entire day's wages for an ordinary worker. So the bottom line is that both of these guys had been forgiven a LOT. More than they could ever repay. That's the point.

Then Jesus turns His attention and that of Hishost (a Pharisee) to the woman. He points out that she had washed His feet with her own tears and hair, then anointed His head with costly perfume. Yet His illustrious host hadn't even offered Jesus water with which to wash His own feet. According to Jesus, what was the motivating factor behind their two responses? It seems to have something to do with their understanding of their own sinfulness. Jesus says, "her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

This woman, like the debtor who owed the 500 denari, was aware of the magnitude of her own sinfulness and the insurmountable size of her indebtedness. She knew she could never pay off the debt she owed for her sin. It was out of her reach and her moral budget. Yet the Pharisee, just as much a sinner with a debt too large to repay, refused to even acknowledge he owed a debt. He saw this woman as a greater sinner than himself and unworthy to even be in his home.

But Jesus reminds this arrogant Pharisee, and each of us, that "he who is forgiven little, loves little." In other words, if you don't think you owe anything to begin with, forgiveness means nothing. And that is where some of us fail to appreciate the incredible gift we have received from Christ. We simply refuse to see ourselves as debtors. We don't want to admit that we are spiritually bankrupt and on our way to the poorhouse.

Even the apostle Paul was willing to acknowledge his sinfulness. In 1 Timothy 1:15 he stated:

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Paul called himself, "the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle" (1 Corinthians 15:9). He knew his past. He knew his life before Christ. And he knew he was guilty of much and forgiven much. So his response was love! He showed his love through his sold-out commitment to the cause of Christ. He dedicated his entire life to spreading the good news about Jesus Christ. He was an avid defender of the faith. He was a dedicated proponent of the gospel. He was willing to give his life so that others might have eternal life. All because he was fully aware of the size of the debt he had owed and the magnitude of the forgiveness he had received.

Father, open my eyes so that I might see my debt. Show me the balance sheet and the place where it says, "PAID IN FULL." Don't ever let me think of myself as rich in righteousness or unneedful of forgiveness. I have been forgiven MUCH, so I want to love MUCH! Amen.

Good Fruit.

Luke 6

For each tree is known by its own fruit ... the good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. - Luke 6:44-45 NASB

No good tree produced bad fruit. You don't get figs from thorn bushes or grapes from a briar bush. And you would be an idiot if you went there expecting either to deliver anything fruitful. The truth is, each tree is known for its fruit and by its fruit. It delivers what is expected based on the kind of fruit tree it is.

And the same can be said for us. What comes out of our mouths is just the fruit of what is in our hearts. We can't help but produce what is inside us. No more so that an apple tree can help but produce apples. It is a natural outgrowth of its true identity.  So what kind of fruit does your life produce? Love, joy, patience, peace, kindness, self-control.? Or does the fruit of your life have a distinctively different look to it? Anger, resentment, doubt, impatience, impurity, jealousy?

This passage makes me think of John 15 where Jesus talks about fruitfulness. In the parable Jesus share there, He talks about God being the owner of a vineyard. As the owner, he expects fruit. He is interested in fruitfulness. The vine, which represents Jesus, wants the same thing: fruitfulness. The branches (you and I) should desire the same thing. In fact, the branches greatest desire should be for fruitfulness and nothing else. When we bear fruit, we give evidence of who we belong to.

So are you bearing fruit? What kind? Why not ask the Father to prune you so that you can bear more fruit? Scary isn't it? But pruning is a requirement to fruitfulness. Ask God to cut away those things in your life that are interfering with your fruit-bearing capabilities. They are robbing you of life and limiting your fruitfulness. Don't worry, he's the gardener and he knows what's best. You can trust him!

Father, I want to live as one of your disciples, giving, joyful, fruitful, merciful, loving -- not judging, condemning, fault-finding. I want the treasure of my heart to be life-giving. I want to produce fruit that nourishes and refreshes others, not robs them of life. Help me to hear your words and act on them that I might stand firm in the storms of life. Amen.

Seeing Their Faith.

Luke 5

Can faith really be seen?

According to this passage it can. But I've always thought of faith as something invislble and unseen - one of those spiritual character qualities that can't be seen with the naked eye. Then along comes this passage and the simple three-word statement found in verse 20: "Seeing their faith." It's a familiar story. Some guys carry a bed with their friend on it so he can be healed by Jesus. But they find the crowd so large that they can't get him in the door.  So they get creative and head for the roof, where they do some minor deconstruction and then lower him down right in front of Jesus. Now those are some serious friends!

Luke records Jesus' reaction to their efforts with the statement, "Seeing their faith." What He saw caused Jesus to say, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." His words were directed at the man on the bed, but they were prompted by the actions of the man's friends. Jesus had seen the faith behind their actions. What they had done to help their friend had made their faith visible to Jesus and all those around them. Their faith had led to their friend's healing. They acted on faith. Their friend was healed.

So how often can people see my faith? Or do I have to tell them about my faith? The truth is, my faith should be evident at all times. It is what should be behind my actions. It should motivate my decisions. I sit in a chair because I have confident faith that it will hold me up. I turn the key in the ignition of my car faithfully anticipating the sound of the engine starting. I wake up in the morning with faithful confidence that the sun will come up.

But the faith described in this story is of a different kind. It has a different source. These men did what they did because they had faith in a person - Jesus Christ. They carried the bed containing their friend and cut the hole in the roof, all because they had confidence that their efforts would be well worth it. Their friend would be healed by Jesus.

So how many of my daily efforts are motivated by belief in what Jesus can and will do? Do I take the first step of the morning with confident assurance that Jesus is going to do something great in my life that day? Do I "lift up" and carry my friends into the presence of God fully expecting Him to provide healing? Do I give financially to the cause of Christ eagerly anticipating that He will not let my needs go unmet?

Faith can be seen. And even if no one ever sees it but Jesus, isn't that really all that matters? So how about you? Is your faith out in clear view? Is it where it can be seen? What we say we believe about Jesus only matters when it takes the form of visible faith in Jesus.

The men in the story had faith that Jesus could heal their friend. But what if they had never picked up his bed? What if they had never carried him to Jesus? What if they had given up when they saw the crowds? There would have been no healing. But their faith was visible that day. Jesus saw it and their friend was healed because of it.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. -- Hebrews 11:1

Father, I want my faith to be visible. I want my faith to be tangible. I want my belief to motivate my actions. Forgive me for showing my doubt through my unwillingness to take the first step. Help me put my faith into action - trusting that you will act on my behalf. You've never given me any reason to doubt You and I thank you for that. Amen.

Three Temptations.

Luke 4

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness. – Luke 4:1 NASB

This passage outlines three different temptations that Jesus was subjected to. It has always fascinated me that this circumstance in Jesus' life was Spirit-directed. In other words, the very Spirit of God led Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted. It was part of God's divine plan. Yet how many times do I reject times of testing and difficulty as being out of God's plan for me. Am I greater than the Messiah Himself? Am I somehow exempt from trials, temptations, and testings? Probably not.

But it is interesting to see what Jesus was led into by the Spirit. After 40 days of fasting, Jesus has an encounter with Satan himself. This wasn't any second-string demon. It was the great deceiver. And he personally brought three specific temptations just for Jesus. Each has ties to the Old Testament.

Temptation #1: Turn the rock into bread Passage: Deut. 8:1-3 Meaning: God wanted the Israelites to remember how he took care of them during their 40 years in the wilderness.

Satan was tempting Jesus to provide for Himself. In the devil’s estimation, the only reason for loyalty to God is if He meets all your needs. If He cannot or will not, meet them yourself. To gratify His own desires would have been to abandon the will of God for His own will. And that is the temptation Satan throws at each of us every day. Provide for yourself. Meet your own needs. Satisfy your own desires – your own way.

Temptation #2: Worship Satan Passage: Deut. 6:12-14 Meaning: God wanted the Israelites to remember to fear and worship Him only because of all He had done for them.

In this temptation, Satan was appealing to Jesus to promote Himself by throwing Himself off a 600 ft. pinnacle. What a way to get attention?

Jesus stands on the watch-post which the white-robed priest has just quitted. Fast the rosy morning light, deepening into crimson, and edged with gold, is spreading over the land. In the Priest’s Court below Him the morning sacrifice has been offered. The massive Temple gates are slowly opening, and the blast of the priest’s silver trumpets is summoning Israel to begin a new day by appearing before their Lord. Now then let Him descend, heaven-born, into the midst of the priests andpeople. What shouts of acclamation would greet His appearance! What homage of worship would be His! The goal can at once be reached, and that at the head of believing Israel. – Alfred Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah

It would have surely led to the immediate acclaim of the people. It would have accomplished God’s ultimate will, but not His way. God would exalt Christ, but only after His crucifixion and resurrection. Satan wants us to get ahead of God. He wants us to focus all the attention on us instead of God's bigger plan. God will glorify us, but in His time and according to His plan, not ours.

Temptation #3: Leap off the pinnacle Passage: Deut. 6:16 Meaning: Don’t test the Lord. The Israelites had doubted that God would take care of them and tested Him.

In this final temptation, Satan teased Jesus with the idea to plan for himself. Satan promised to give Jesus the throne God had promised but without having to go through the pain of the cross. The kingdoms of this earth were to be rightfully His, but not by this plan. The worship of Satan takes place when we willingly disobey God. How often do we attempt to accomplish God’s will our way? We are reacting to our own lusts, desires, and selfish impulses.

Conclusion

1. The temptation is not evil in and of itself. Our Lord was ‘spirit led’ to be tempted.  What Satan meant as a temptation, God used as a test. While Satan seeks to cause the saint to fail, God strives to bring about greater faith. Temptation is a part of God’s program in the lives of the saint for his growth, and His glory
2. The temptation of Christ proved Him qualified for His work on the cross. Only a sinless, spotless ‘Lamb of God’ could take upon Himself the sin of the world.
3. The temptation of our Lord prepared Him to be a merciful High Priest.
4. The temptation of Christ was a test of submission. Underlying the entire temptation was a solicitation to set aside submission to the Father and act independently of God.
5. Because our Lord could not sin, He bore the burden of the temptation to the full. When Adam was created, he was made able not to sin. When Christ, the last Adam, was begotten, He was not able to sin. Some have concluded that the impeccability of Christ would diminish the victory of our Lord over Satan, but, in fact, it intensified the victory.

Father, thank You that Jesus was tempted, but never gave in to the temptation. He was tempted, yet without sin. And it is because of His sinlessness that we have forgiveness. Thank You for reminding me that I can be Spirit-led and sorely-tested. It is in the trials and tests that I am forced to lean on the indwelling power of Your Spirit. Thank You for that inexhaustible resource. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

Repentance.

Luke 3

And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. – Luke 3:3 NASB

John came preaching a message regarding repentance. What exactly were people to repent of? Was John really expecting the people in his audience to turn from their sins, never to sin again? What was this baptism for? What did it signify?

According to the NET Bible study notes, "John the Baptist was the forerunner of our Lord. As the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, he was announcing that the Messiah promised in the Old Testament was soon coming. Until Jesus’ baptism, he did not know for certain that, indeed, Jesus was this Messiah. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, an acknowledgment of sin, and of the need for the forgiveness of sins which Messiah (the “Lamb of God”) would bring about. The baptism was the symbol of their acknowledgment of sin, and of their need for a Savior."

John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, an acknowledgment of sin. But ALL sin? The more I think about it, I believe the main, if not the only, sin the people of John's day needed to repent of was the sin of self-righteousness. For generations, the Jewish people had been trying to solve their sin problem on their own – attempting to keep the Law and satisfy the holiness of God through their own efforts. Jesus' main attack on the Pharisees involved their self-righteousness. They didn't need a Savior. Referring to the Pharisees, Jesus said, "Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don’t need a doctor––sick people do" (Luke 5:31 NLT). The Pharisees saw themselves as righteous because of their ability to meticulously keep the Law. The average Israelite had bought into this lie as well. So when John came preaching a baptism of repentance, he was telling them that they were going to have to admit that, in spite of all their efforts, they were still sinners in need of a Savior. One of the first things any of us had to do before coming to Christ was to admit our need of a Savior. We had to admit that we couldn't save ourselves. That's exactly what John is requiring of the people who came out to hear him.

There is still a need for us to repent of our self-righteousness, even as believers. We are prone to work our way into God's good graces. While we believe we were saved by faith through grace, we somehow believe we have to stay in God's good graces by keeping Him satisfied. So we work hard to please Him and perform for Him. We serve, we give, we study, we go, we do, we _________. Fill in the blank. It's all a form of self-righteousness. And we need to repent of it. Every day we need to turn away from our tendency to DO for God and remember it is what Jesus has DONE that matters. I can't add anything to my salvation or my sanctification. I can't earn favor with God through my hard work and self-effort. I can't make Him love me more and I can't make Him love me less. He just loves me.

Just a few verses later, John warns the Pharisees to "bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8 NASB). In other words, stop trying to earn favor with God through self-righteous acts of piety and performance. Admit your need for a Savior. Admit your need for forgiveness that you can't earn on your own. That is still the call to us today. Turn from religion and turn to the Redeemer. He alone can save. He alone can forgive sin.

Father, thank You for Your Son. Thank You for reminding me that I must repent every day from my own self-righteous attempts to redeem myself and get on Your good side. I can't do anything that Jesus Christ has not already done. Never let me forget that. Amen

A Familiar Story.

Luke 2

This chapter is a permanent part of Christmas morning in our home. Ever since our six kids were little, we have started each December 25 in the same way. With the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2. We gather by the Christmas tree in our pajamas and read this familiar passage - before we eat, before we open presents, before we rush into the rest of what is usually a very busy day.

So this chapter is very familiar to me. Almost too familiar. So this morning I had to look closely to see past the familiarity in order to find something new. Something I had never see before. And it was hard. Partly because we have turned this passage into a warm, fuzzy holiday moment. It has become little more than a Hallmark card scene, complete with manger, angels, shepherds, sheep, cows, and a star. And in the sentimentality we lose the real significance.

There has been born for you a Savior.

There it is. That's the thing that jumped out at me this morning. Kind of obvious isn't it? But in reading this passage over the years, I have almost numbed myself to the real point of the story. I get wrapped up in the scene and miss the Savior. I get enthralled with the Kodak moment and miss the Messiah who is the focus of the picture.

Jesus wasn't just a baby in a manger, He was the Messiah. He was the long-anticipated answer the Jews had been waiting for. He was the Savior sent from God that the prophets had predicted hundreds of years before. And Luke 2 is a glaring reminder of that fact. It starts with the message the angels shared with the shepherds:

...today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. - Vs 11

Then in verse 21, Luke reminds us of this infant's name, given by the angel at His conception. It isn't just any name, but literally means "the Lord is salvation."

In verse 25, Luke tells us of Simeon, a "righteous and devout" man who was "looking for the consolation of Israel." That word, "consolation" can be translated "comforter" and was used by the rabbis of Jesus day to refer to the coming Messiah. Because He would comfort the people of God by providing salvation from their oppressors. He would save them. In verse 30, Simeon exclaims, "...my eyes have seen Your salvation." He had seen the Savior he had long been waiting for!

In verse 38, the widow and prophetess, Anna, after having seen the baby Jesus, began immediately thanking God and telling everyone who had been waiting for the "redemption of Jerusalem" that the Messiah was here. Salvation had come.

Salvation has come!

So in reading this chapter again, it dawned on me that the real message is about salvation. And in Luke's day that word had a lot more significance than it has now. They were desperate for salvation. They had longed for it for generations. They had eagerly anticipated it. They were desperate for it. They were extremely needy people who could not save themselves. So they waited for a Messiah, a Savior sent from God. Someone Who would turn their desperate circumstances into times of rejoicing. So the news of Jesus' birth was really good news. The cavalry had come! Rescue was about to happen.

But do I have that attitude toward Jesus today? Do I still see Him as my much-needed Savior? Am I excited each and every day when I wake up to know that my Savior has come? He is alive and well and ready to save me from the attacks of the enemy, the influence of my own sinful flesh, and the constant onslaught of a world that hates me. He is as much the Savior today as He was when He came, and as much as when He came into my life more than 46 years ago. I need a Savior and I need to rejoice in the fact that He is here. He is with me daily. The Savior of the world has entered into my world and continues His saving work in my life each and every day. It reminds me of the song, My Savior, My God by Aaron Shust.

My Savior loves, my Savior lives

My Savior's always there for me

My God He was, my God He is

My God He's always gonna be

Father, thank you for sending Your Son as my Savior. Help me to see Him as My Savior each and every day. Remind me daily that I need Him not only for salvation from my sins, but for sanctification. Amen

God of the Impossible.

Luke 1

For nothing will be impossible with God. - Luke 1:37 ESV

This book starts out with a bang. A barren old woman finds herself pregnant. Her doubting old husband finds himself made mute. A young virgin girl gets the jaw-dropping news that she is going to have a baby - by the Holy Spirit! On top of that, the baby she is carrying would be called the Son of the Most High God. And that's all in just the first chapter.

But doesn't that make sense? I mean, here is God Himself breaking the barrier between Himself and mankind, by entering into the world in the form of a man. This is huge! This isn't just another day in Judea. God is about to shake things up in a big way. And Luke is there to record every last detail. Including the increased activity of the Holy Spirit. Zacharias and Elizabeth are told their son will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother's womb. Mary is told by the angel that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, causing her to conceive a son. Zacharias, at the birth of his son, John, finds himself filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesying.

These are incredible days. This is an amazing point in history. And the angel Gabriel sums it up best with his words, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Barren women, virgin girls, Roman occupiers, religious hypocrites, doubting priests, corrupt kings - nothing is going to stand in the way of the divine plan of God. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing can stand in His way. God can use the faithful and the doubting, the unborn and the old, the obscure and the powerful, to accomplish His agenda. And He's still doing it today.

He wants to use you. But do you really believe that nothing is impossible for Him? Do you trust that He can use even you to accomplish His will in His way? Mary did. So did Elizabeth, Zechariah, Joseph, and John the Baptist. God was about to do something radical on earth, and while we tend to think of Jesus' birth as having taken place in relative obscurity and anonymity, the reality is that some incredible things were happening behind the scenes. This was anything but business as usual.

And the same it true today. God is still shaking things up. He is still using the unknown, the unqualified, the unexpected, and the unlikely to do His will. And that includes you and me! Nothing is impossible for Him, because He is the God of the impossible.

Father, thank you for reminding me that nothing is impossible for You. The Bible is a fact-filled reminder of that reality. Keep my eyes open so that I can see you all around me. Don't let me fail to recognize your hand at work in the world and in my life. Because You are the God of the impossible. Amen