Friday Thought – December 18, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it “a den of robbers.”’ Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” (Luke 19:45-48)

In Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders had allowed the temple to become a place of business – even corrupt business. They profited from the extortion they allowed with vendors charging unfair prices for the sacrificial animals and huge exchange rates for changing the common coins into coins acceptable to pay the temple tax. The temple was no longer focused on the worship of God; greed had infiltrated and corrupted it.

Not much is sold in places of worship today and very little of what is sold is done so at corrupted prices. Generally, what is sold in places of worship is focused on providing ministry and help to people at reduced cost, not at extortionary rates. It doesn’t seem like such things as that would have upset Jesus so.

But I wonder are there ways in which we use our places of worship today for things which are not right? Would that be true if we were using our places of worship as venues to say what people want to hear instead of preaching that is faithful to the message of God? Would that be true if our worship assemblies were more about their entertainment value than about an honest focus on the Lord? Perhaps another way we could misuse our places of worship is to focus them on own needs instead of a focus on God? Perhaps you can think of other ways it is possible to misuse our places of worship today.

The point is that when we gather our focus should be on the Lord – on what He says – on what He desires – on His honor and glory.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – December 17, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes.'" (Luke 19:41-42)

Jesus expressed a similar sentiment about the people of Jerusalem a little earlier in His life, recorded in Matthew's Gospel, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37)

The Jews, His own people, largely rejected Jesus. That's especially true of the people of Jerusalem, the educated, religious leaders of His day. They saw what Jesus did and could not explain it. They heard what He taught and could not refute it. Still, they could not or would not believe. To believe in Jesus would have meant to leave behind their positions and privileges and all that they had given their lives to. That would have cost too much, they enjoyed their lives too much to see them so radically changed.

It is so easy to get caught up in doing life the way we've always done life and miss what God is saying and doing around us and wants to do in us. We get comfortable with life the way we know it, and that’s true even if our lives have problems. It is easier to keep walking the same familiar road than to make a U-turn and take a new path.

Jesus offered peace to the people of Jerusalem. He offered to take them in under His protection. They weren’t willing to leave what they knew behind, even for what Jesus offered!

I don't ever want to become so deaf that I fail to hear God's voice. I don’t want to be so blind that I fail to see the new places He wants to take me. I don’t want to be so comfortable that I’m unwilling to follow the Lord.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 16, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, 'Go to the village, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'' Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?' They replied, 'The Lord needs it.' They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it." (Luke 19:29-35)

I marvel at the colt’s owner. They had something that Jesus needed and Jesus sent His disciples to get it. The disciples didn't ask before they began to take it. They just started to untie the colt so they could bring it to Jesus as He told them to. When the owners questioned what the disciples were doing they simply said, "the Lord needs it." That was enough for the owners. They let the colt be taken without further question. There was no promise that the colt would be returned. There was no explanation of why the colt was needed. There was simply the statement that it was needed by the Lord and that was enough.

I don't own any colts, but I do have a lot of other stuff that I consider mine. I have a house, cars, clothes, money, time and talents. They all belong to me. I own them. I determine how they will be used and what will be done with them. I wonder how I would respond if the Lord sent someone to say He had need of them. I wonder how I do respond to that kind of statement, because I'm convinced that there are times when the Lord does call for me to relinquish what is mine and use it for Him. Am I like the owners of the colt, gladly willing to let go of what is mine, without questions, when the Lord lets me know He needs it?

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – December 15, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' His subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' He was made king, however, and returned home. He sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what they had gained with it. The first said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'” (Luke 19:12-17)

Jesus is the man of noble birth who went away to be declared king.

Not everyone is happy that Jesus is king. Some have tried to do everything they could to keep that from happening. They rejected Him on earth and killed Him. Despite their efforts to disrupt the plan to make Jesus king, He was still made king. God declared Him so in the resurrection and promised a day when Jesus will return as King.

When He returns it will be for judgment. Those who have rejected Him as king will be punished. Even those who avow their allegiance to Jesus will be judged. Jesus will be looking to see if their allegiance is genuine or not. The mark of genuine allegiance will not be how much work a person has done for Him. Each person will accomplish different things and different amounts. People won’t be judged by how much they have accomplished, but by their faithfulness, their willingness to follow Jesus as His servants.

Jesus has entrusted to us are such little things … talents, time and material resources.

How we handle these few resources with which He has entrusted us here – whether or not we are faithful in following Him with these few things – that’s what He’ll be looking at when we stand before Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – December 14, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a “sinner.”’ Zacchaeus stood up and said, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’” (Luke 19:1-10)

Why did Jesus come to earth?

Jesus provided the clear answer Himself. He came to seek and save the lost. That was the purpose of Jesus’ coming. It was the goal of God’s decision to send Him. Zacchaeus provides a great example of Jesus fulfilling His purpose.

Zacchaeus was lost. His sinful ways were obvious. He had cheated people as a tax collector. He had become a puppet of the Roman government that was oppressing the people of Israel. The truth is, though the sins of some are less obvious, all of us are sinners just like Zacchaeus. We are all lost.

Jesus sought Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus didn’t ask Jesus how to be saved. He didn’t invite Jesus to come to his home. Jesus invited Himself. Jesus did the seeking. Zacchaeus probably felt too unworthy to invite Jesus to his home, too unworthy to be saved. The truth is that none of us comes to Jesus at our own initiation either. Jesus seeks us – He seeks us all.

When Zacchaeus was found his life changed. Jesus didn’t have to require it – it was the natural response to what Jesus was doing in Zacchaeus’s life. He became generous. He repented of his cheating. Zacchaeus changed because of Jesus. The same thing happens to every person that comes to Jesus – our lives change. Change is the natural response to what Jesus does for us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – December 11, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” (Luke 18:35-43)

This man’s need was obvious – he was blind. His blindness reduced him to begging to sustain his life. Anyone could easily discern what the man’s need was – he needed to see.

Why did Jesus ask, “What do you want me to for you?” Jesus operated with supernatural discernment. He knew what was happening in people’s lives even when they were not near Him. He knew what people were thinking. But He couldn’t even figure out the obvious need of the blind man.

Why did Jesus ask His question? Not very beggar wants to be healed. Begging is what they know and are comfortable with, perhaps the only way they’ve ever made a living. Jesus was asking the man to be sure he knew what he really wanted.

Jesus wanted to draw attention to what He was about to do – heal the man. Taking the time to ask the question would have gathered the crowd around the blind man. More people would see the miracle and praise God.

Jesus wanted the man to ask for what he wanted. Jesus wanted the man to spell it out to focus the man’s mind and heart on what he really needed.

Are you sure you really want what you are asking of God? Are you asking for your own benefit, or are you truly interested in bringing praise to God? Have you taken the time to focus your mind and heart so that you can ask God specifically?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – December 10, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:31-34)

One phrase in this passage stands out for me: “The disciples did not understand any of this.”

That is a comforting phrase for me because there are many things in my life and in the world I do not understand. I don’t understand what God is trying to accomplish. I don’t understand how they show God’s love and compassion. I don’t understand how God is using them to build His children into the image of Jesus. I just plain don’t understand a lot of things.

I have a friend who had lympoma. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have another friend who has breast cancer. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have a friend who has ongoing health problems that defy explanation and treatment. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have friends who have lost spouses and children and parents to death. I don’t understand the whys of those things.

A tornado hit the city where I went to college – Joplin. It killed hundreds and did unimaginable damage. I don’t understand the why of that.

I could go on and on with my list. There are many things that I don’t understand. God hasn’t prevented any of them, perhaps in some way they are a part of His plan.

The earliest and closest followers of Jesus didn’t understand, either. Here’s something else that becomes evident as their lives unfolded – despite their not understanding, they trusted Jesus and kept following Him.

That’s my decision, too. There are many things I do not understand, but I choose to trust Jesus and keep following Him.

His, by Grace, Steve