Hearing With Deaf Ears

Luke 22:66-71
Once Jesus' threat has grown too potent, the chief priests and elders decide, as has been determined by God ironically, that the time has come to do something about it.  They arrest Jesus and call him to account, to testify before them so they can condemn him.  They expose themselves instead in vs. 71, by evidencing that they have heard his message and "understood" it.  This excites them because now they can accuse him and hand him over to secular authorities, but the very thing that excites them actually condemns them.  They are testifying and acknowledging that they have heard the true gospel from Jesus himself, and that they have understood and heard what he has said correctly.  How scary to think that such a situation can occur.  We can hear his words and properly understand them and yet turn from him in disgust and anger, which is all too common (Luke 13:25-27).  When we accuse these "radical" Christians of being too legalistic because of their call to give up everything for Jesus, and abandon the treasures and attachments to this world, we are condemning ourselves, not them, because we admit that we have heard their message of the true gospel and yet we reject it openly.  Their accusation was that Jesus was contradicting their religious ways, their man-made and religious laws, and their loyalty to governing authorities (vs. 67-70; 23:2-3).  And this is exactly what Jesus was doing, because this is truth, not the religion they had.  This further shows that they understood his message and the implications, which is the very reason they did not like it.  It meant too much of a loss and hardship for them, which their present religion did not, so if they could eliminate one then they could selfishly enjoy the other.  Is this not eye-opening and sobering?  We too, like the chief priests and elders, hear and comprehend the accurate gospel message.  And we too have disliked it and what it means for our lives, the suffering and hardship and loss of the "American" way of life.  It is uncomfortable and hard and we don't have to stand for this, so we dismiss it and those teaching and living it, accusing them of going against "real" Christianity in our churches and the American way, the same that the religious did then.  They took these accusations before their own councils, within the church first (vs. 66), then seeking to further quell this threat, they take him before secular authority (23:1).  We are currently proceeding with the first step here, condemning these "radicals" within our churches, how much longer do we think it will be before taking them before secular authority?  They thought they were bringing down justification on their way of doing things, just like we think so today (much to our relief since we don't want this radical way of life), but in actuality we are piling up judgement against ourselves for the end times.  How desperate are we to hold on to our comfortable, secure, American way of religion and church, to the dismissal of the true gospel message of earthly hardship and loss in light of eternal glory?  How much longer will we abuse truth as a means to condemn those living out the gospel?  Our own accusations are proof we understand the gospel and our dismissal of it is proof we don't want Jesus.  But he is merciful and gracious if we would but turn and repent.

Watch Yourselves

Luke 21:34-37
When Jesus mentions the end times just before he is arrested, the disciples are eager to learn more.  He goes on to tell them signs that will accompany these end times.  When finishing his description, Jesus warns them to watch themselves (vs. 34) and to remain awake at all times (vs. 36).  This is of course a warning for us all, not just the disciples.  And how beautiful that this passage and these warnings are put here right before Jesus is arrested and his disciples scatter, serving as an example for us to learn from.  He has just warned of all these things to take place, and they are now observing the Lord's Supper, where Jesus once again alludes to and tells them of his upcoming arrest and betrayal (22:19-22).  This is now numerous times he has told them of this.  He even warns them of their abandonment of him, and they do not listen (Mark 14:27).  They are so confident that they are loyal to him, come death or torture or prison or whatever (22:33).  They have already remained loyal to him in past trials and situations, experiencing incredible things (22:28, 35), and nothing has really changed since then, so surely they are still ready now as they have been before.  We can see the distractions creeping in though (22:24), however, they cannot see them.  Their past loyalty and endurance has deceived them into current piety and loyalty.  They are basing current situations on past situations.  Jesus' arrest comes upon them quickly, they are clearly unprepared for it, and end up abandoning Jesus immediately.  This serves as our warning for end times.  He warns us, as he did the disciples, to watch and stay awake at all times.  There is no luxury to relax and coast, because the end will come quickly and unexpectedly, and we will be caught off-guard, just as the disciples were when Jesus was arrested.  If we have been "alert" for 30 years, but slip for 1 day, we risk everything, because it is our endurance until the end that proves our salvation (vs. 19), not past experiences.  Their confidence rose from past endurance, but it did not lead to present endurance.  Our past does not guarantee our future.  What is current?  Our only hope is to pray through this (vs. 36, 22:40), asking for alertness and freedom from the distractions of persecution (vs. 12, 16-17), false prophets (vs. 8), boredom (vs. 34) and everyday life (vs. 34).  These all tempt us, not to abandon Jesus, but to put those religious things off for now, picking them up later at a better time, or getting serious later when things calm down.  This is a violation of Jesus' warning and determines our eternal destination.  The disciples were so confident they were alert and ready and they were not.  They were so certain they had obeyed Jesus' commands to remain watchful and alert and they had not.  They realized this after it was too late.  Why do we think we are so different?  The more confident we are that we are ready the more deceived we likely are.  The more leery we are of ourselves the better, and the more driven to prayer to keep us.  If we are so sure we are ready, are we not the disciples disagreeing with Jesus' words (Mark 14:31)?  Are we really so bold as to tell Jesus he is wrong?  We must remain watchful and awake because deception lurks at every turn, around every corner.  It feasted on the disciples, and it will feast on us too if we are not watchful.  It is called deception for a reason: it is not obvious and clear.  It is delusive.  And only the Spirit can lead us in prayer to be ready and prepared for these times (Romans 8:26-27).  So go to him or rely on your own ability, like the disciples did.

Hidden From Your Eyes

Luke 19:41-44
Jesus, amongst a crowd of people praising him and God (vs. 38), people described as his disciples (vs. 37), when arriving in Jerusalem, laments and weeps over it (vs. 41).  He knows this worship and praising will not last.  Although they worship and praise him now, it is not real and lasting, because true worship consists in spirit and truth (John 4:24), which is hidden from their eyes (vs. 42).  They will suffer total destruction due to their ignorance (vs. 44).  People here capable of worshiping even in the midst of deception.  God, along with Jesus, are worthy of our praise and will ultimately get it (vs. 40), whether it is by us or in spite of us, to our detriment or our profit.  One can quickly decipher this worship to be somewhat false when we see the condition of the Lord's house,having been converted into a den of robbers (vs. 46).  These worshipers had allowed or been responsible for the temple becoming a place of business, a for profit venture that no longer caused people to commune with the living God (prayer).  But before we judge, let us look at present day.  Are we really that different?  Are our churches not run like businesses, trying to balance budgets and make money and "expand the business", while neglecting the greater task of calling people to commune face to face with God?  Are tithes not encouraged so that expenses are met and salaries paid, so that more amenities may be offered to the lost world (or ourselves) to draw them in by appealing to their fleshly tendency to indulge self?  What would we consider a successful Sunday?  What is the criteria we use to determine?  Is it not how many visitors came or the overall attendance or the giving report or whether or not the sermon appealed to us or the singing was to our liking?  What about how many people encountered God or repented?  Do we even ask this or "track it" as we do other numbers and statistics?  I am sure these temple money changers probably brought in people to the temple that did not normally go.  And yet they were rebuked for it because their motives were impure.  Their goal was to simply draw in others, for selfish reasons.  Are we so different?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  Do people encounter God more when they come to our business-like churches than they did in that day with the money changers?  These disciple's worship would quickly change to condemnation for Jesus and his disciples  because it wasn't in truth and spirit but surface (vs. 37), and there was not church to nourish and nurture them in this true worship.  They worshiped for the mighty things they had seen (vs. 37), not from the heart.  What about us?  Do we worship out of abundance of his mighty works done among us (our stuff we possess, the blessings of the comforts and ease of our lives) or out of pure love?  Time will tell, but hopefully before it is too late (Matthew 24:9-12, 36-29).  And in the end, the responsibility of this will be held against the church,Christ's body.  And God's measuring stick is not adorned temples or attendance or numbers of ministries or appealing songs and lessons, but lives changed for eternity and true worship in spirit and truth, in prayer and intercession.  Are these priorities in our churches?  Or are we dens or robbers, who have left behind actual prayer and worship in favor of business and profit?  The truth was hidden from these people's eyes (vs. 42), is it also hidden from ours?

Walking by SightFaith

Luke 20:41-44
This question here is posed in response to a previous question asked by the Sadducees.  They did not believe in resurrection and they wanted Jesus to prove them otherwise (vs. 27).  They asked him a question regarding this matter, thinking their intellect had come across a bridge that was uncrossable, thereby rendering resurrection impossible (vs. 28-33).  They knew, just knew they had Jesus in a compromising position and that he would be exposed by their reasoning.  However, he answers their question and then poses a question of his own.  They believed in scriptures of the Messiah to come, the Son of David, and yet David, when writing of this, seemingly states a contradictory thought, that the Messiah will indeed be the Son of David, and yet David's Lord at the same time.  The Sadducees had no trouble believing this, which goes against reason, but they reject the notion of resurrection due to its opposition to reasoning.  How interesting that they are so quick to accept some impossible matters of faith but reject others.  Jesus ends up exposing them.  It is not in godliness that they truly revel and find being, but in self-promotion.  They desire attention and recognition, the praise of the people, not honest matters of faith and truth, even though appearances may suggest otherwise (vs. 46-47).  Due to their earthly religious mindset, they had grown blind to loopholes in their faith, their hypocrisy in beliefs.  Their position of self first prevented them from seeing the truth, even when Jesus clearly pointed it out.  Are we not the exact same?  Are we not quick to accept things by faith such as redemption and regeneration, atonement, the Trinity, a Holy Spirit indwelling and speaking to us, the parting of the Red Sea, etc?  These completely go against reasoning and logic, and yet we accept them as truth because God's word says it.  And yet, at the same time, we reject other commands in scripture such as giving up all we have, avoiding worldliness, selling our possessions and refraining from earthly luxuries, moving to dangerous areas to witness, etc. all because they make no sense, we cannot understand them.  Why the difference?  We too, despite our "godly" appearances, are self-seeking.  We too desire to please and satisfy our flesh, even in religious matters, so we accept those things that benefit us or have no affect on us, and we reject those things that are difficult or inconvenient, dismissing them due to the fact that they make no sense.  And yet if we step back and truly look at the whole of scripture, none of it makes sense, humanly speaking.  But we are blind to this due to our selfishness, blind like the religious of that day.  We are told that faith is essential in all matters of our lives (Galations 3:11, II Corinthians 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-6), not just some.  In all areas, we have to be led by God through his Holy Spirit, not our own understanding, or else it is in no way pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6) and in fact is sin (Romans 14:23).  We are not afforded the luxury of making our own decisions or relying on our own reasoning.  Why do we feel that it is ok to walk blindly in faith in some areas, but refrain from walking by faith in other areas?  Why are we quick to use human reasoning and wisdom (common sense) as our gauge of what to accept in faith and what to reject?  This is not the determining factor, Jesus is and he has given us our commands.  The religious of that day were of the mindset that they had figured it out and this caused a blend of faith and sight for their lives, a walking by faithsight.  Jesus exposes this and warns against it.  We either walk by faith or by sight, not both.  Let us repent of our ways, or else we cannot follow God and are of no help to others either (Luke 6:41-42).  Do not let outward appearances fool you.  No matter how righteous our acts appear, if not in faith, if not conducted because God is leading you to, then it is of no eternal value.  Their intellect blinded them.  Will our arrogance and "common sense" also continue to blind us?

The Forbidden Kingdom

Luke 18:31-34
There was the belief in Jesus' day that when the Messiah came he would establish a real, tangible, physical kingdom,God's kingdom here on earth.  He would come in glory and power, reigning over all other kingdoms.  He would establish rule and authority.  This is what was looked forward to.  No wonder the people and the disciples were constantly confused by Jesus' teaching and his ways.  When Jesus is approached by children, they are rebuked (vs. 15).  When he gives attention to the poor and crippled and despised, he is also rebuked (vs. 38-39).  These are not typical things of a king establishing a kingdom.  When the rich young ruler approaches Jesus, he too is confounded.  Surely he was aware and learned in the ways of scripture, also anticipating a kingdom (vs. 18-21).  But when Jesus tells him to give up the very things that should endear him to a kingdom, he is confused and saddened (vs. 22-23).  This man had anticipated a hearty welcome into the kingdom to be established and yet received a scathing rebuke for his kingdom mentality (vs. 24-25).  Jesus has just rejected the perfect official for a kingdom.  The disciples are astonished at this.  If this rich man with authority is not fit for the kingdom, then who could possibly be fit for it (vs. 26)?  Peter's response reeks of doubt and concern (vs. 28).  They have left everything to follow him, the one who will establish a kingdom and now he is opposing this kingdom ideal.  What sort of kingdom is he to establish?  What have they left everything for?  This is further emphasized when he tells them that he is to be mistreated and flogged and killed (vs. 32-33).  What king would subject himself to this treatment?  This leaven of the Pharisees (the idea of a physical kingdom, of privilege, of luxury) had worked itself through both the disciples and the people.  Why else would the disciples argue over who was the greatest in the kingdom unless they had this false notion of a physical kingdom (22:24)?  No wonder people had such a hard time understanding his teaching and parables, and why the rich man, anticipating a kingdom position left sad and the Pharisees rejected him.  But what about us?  Have we not also bought into the leaven of the Pharisees?  Look at the castles we have built.  Look how we have fortified ourselves against those unrighteous, unworthy people out there beyond our gates.  Have we not put up moats and bridges and gates to protect ourselves from those outside our kingdom?  Have we not indulged ourselves with our resources just as royalty builds bigger and better luxuries for themselves?  Jesus reminds us that it is not a physical kingdom he is establishing (17:20-21), but within, to be carried to the nations, welcoming anyone and everyone who repents (Mark 1:14-15).  And yet we live as privileged royalty behind our "kingdom" gates, committing the same gross sins, buying into the same lie as the Pharisees did.  By our lives we shut the kingdom of heaven from others and miss out ourselves (Matthew 23:13).  How are we different?  Just because we "believe" in Jesus?  So did the disciples (Matthew 16:16, 20), and yet they continually were plagued with an earthly kingdom mindset.  How are we any different?  Look at the estates and castles and fortresses we build, and dare to say we are so different.  We have traded a heavenly kingdom for an earthly one.  And by accepting one we have rejected the other (Matthew 12:25), both for ourselves and those around us.  But there is hope, for what is impossible with us is possible through Jesus, if we will but repent and turn.  Will we give up our earthly kingdoms and mindsets for a heavenly one?  The religious and rich would not.  Will we?

Deceptively Ready

Luke 17:20-37
In this passage the Pharisees are asking Jesus when the kingdom of God will come.  He tells them that it will come suddenly and without clear and obvious signs (vs. 20-21), as it was already in their midst and they had missed it.  So too, unless prepared, would they, along with us, miss it again.  We are so certain that we are ready for the second coming, having filled our heads with knowledge of the end times, thinking this is preparation, thinking that it will be obvious when this time has come, ignoring Jesus continued exhortations that his second coming is as sudden and unexpected as lightning (vs. 24).  It will not be obvious until it is too late (vs. 29-30, 34-37).  Why do we think it will be so clear, when he tells us otherwise?  Why do we think our head knowledge has prepared us for this?  Did not the Pharisees have knowledge of the birth of the Savior and yet missed it?  Did they not have knowledge of the Messiah and yet missed it?  And we have this same intellectual knowledge and think we are so different.  Hear Jesus' warnings.  Just as lightning suddenly flashes and spreads and then is gone, so too will his second coming be.  Just like in the days of Noah and Lot, people will be going about business as usual, doing the same things they have always done, anticipating what they will do tomorrow and the next day, and suddenly it is all over and they missed it (vs. 27-30).  They did not see it coming.  Total destruction, however major and catastrophic, was not obvious, and will not be obvious, so Jesus says.  But, we say, although we are going about business as usual, we, unlike those, have knowledge and awareness of these end times so although we go about routine, we are prepared due to this knowledge.  The same prayer the Pharisee prayed (18:11-12).  However, regard the parable of the wise and the wicked servant in Matthew 24:45-51.  This wicked servant, just like the wise servant, knew that his master would return, he was not ignorant of that fact.  He knew what it was his master wanted him to do also.  And yet this knowledge led him to a false sense of readiness that led to complacency, which led to his being totally unprepared for the anticipated return of his master, and then it was too late.  Simply being aware of Jesus' return is not to be prepared for it.  In fact, being aware of it is more dangerous because there is a false confidence that arises within us, telling us that this knowledge has prepared us, when in fact we are deceived.  Look at the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to pray (18:9-14).  It was the Pharisee that was so sure he was ready for the return, due to the fact of his holiness and self-righteousness.  His religion, he reasoned, had well prepared him for heaven.  And yet it is the tax collector, mourning in his own wretchedness and unworthiness, confessing his lack of readiness, that was truly prepared for the kingdom to come.  Those of us who are so sure we are ready, are most likely the ones who are the least ready (I Corinthians 10:12).  Our certainty and arrogance in knowing we are ready is our downfall.  We lose dependence on the Father to keep us ready, as only he can (18:7-8).  The Pharisees desperately wanted to be ready for the second coming, so they turned to religion to due so.  They looked to their "fruits" and adherence to a religion as proof of their preparation, and yet it was all in self-interest.  They wanted heaven, to preserve their own lives, to live on, and this is not salvation and readiness (vs. 33).  True preparation is to know you are not prepared and cannot get yourself prepared.  This is the work of God through Jesus, only.  The widow persisted in crying out for justice, knowing there was only one who could give it to her, and it was not her (18:2-8).  Jesus is coming back, we all know that.  But knowing that is not to the same as being ready.  If we think we are ready, then be very, very careful.  Those that are ready tend to grow complacent and lazy, since they were "prepared" some time in the past.  When he comes suddenly, after it is too late, they realize that in being "ready" they have actually divided their hearts among the things of this world, and have missed his coming, being deceived by their "readiness", it leading them to complacency (vs. 31-33).  They have prepared to be ready for his coming out of self-interest and self-preservation.  Their religion is nothing more than a means to preserve life in heaven, not for the glory of God and love of Jesus.  No wonder as he is delayed in coming they turn to other means to satisfy self.  The ones who are truly ready are overcome by their own sinfulness and wretchedness, leading them to continually cry out to God and lean on him and him alone (18:7-8, 13-14).  To be prepared is to know you can never be prepared, and this keeps one watchful and dependent.  It is those who are "ready" who lose that dependence, instead relying on their religious works as proof or some past experience or conversion, not realizing they have become divided and deceived.  When Jesus returns, what will he find?  People putting full trust in past works (18:11-12), with divided hearts (vs. 31-32), whose goal is to preserve their own life in heaven (vs. 33), who have lost their sense of urgency and dependence, instead turning to the things of this world to enjoy until the end times (vs. 27-30)?  Or will he find those who have turned to him continually, crying out day and night for justice and mercy (18:7-8, 13-14), depending only on Jesus to do the work that only Jesus can do (vs. 18:8), fearing lest they be unready (Matthew 10:28)?  If you are ready then you are not ready.

Mercy or Merit

Luke 17:11-19
From the outset a question or dilemma is posed: Are Jesus' acts of kindness deserved or undeserved?  Jesus encounters 10 lepers begging their "master" for mercy (vs. 13).  They are asking for an unmerited, undeserved act of kindness in cleansing their disease.  But their hearts are later exposed when, upon being cleansed, nine of them never return to "master" Jesus offering thanks for his mercy, only one of them does.  So back to our original question, did they truly feel they received mercy or had they the impression they had received what they deserved?  Is Jesus truly master or just fulfiller of personal desires?  The fact that they never returned to give thanks insinuates they felt deserving and no need to return to give thanks since they had received, not mercy, but just payment.  Jesus warns against this mentality when he told his disciples that there will be the tendency to begin to think that after serving and obeying him they are entitled to some kind of reward or payment (vs. 7).  They will forget that they are nothing more than unworthy servants deserving of nothing (vs. 9-10).  Their obedience is nothing more than a gift of mercy, an act of grace, not work that deserves wages.  He will give us "wages" (vs. 8; Matthew 10:10), but they are not earnings in the truest sense, but merciful acts of provision regardless of anything within us.  When we obey, even the noblest, most radical acts of sacrifice and action, we have done nothing spectacular, but only what is expected of us (vs. 10).  Why should we have extra merit or favor or grace?  Because we deserve it?  Absolutely not.  Our life is of no value, aside from what he does within us (Acts 20:24).  God rewards his own work within us, despite us, not because of us.  This is true mercy.  These lepers cried out for mercy from master Jesus, but did not see it as mercy, nor him as master.  They did not want real mercy, they wanted healing, and when they received what they wanted they had no more need of Jesus.  There is nothing wrong with going to Jesus with needs, but once being fulfilled, do we return and fall at his feet praising God (vs. 15-16)?  If his fulfilling our requests does not drive us to worship and cling to him that much more, then we do not understand who we are, who he is, and what true mercy and grace are, no matter what we say or refer to Jesus as.  And this is not a simple "thank you" or I will sing harder next Sunday in church or something, but a falling at his feet, worshiping, giving your life to him.  That is true thanks.  How often do we come to Jesus in desperate need, only to leave him, never to return until the next desperate situation arises?  How quickly we forget his past mercy and grace to us, abusing it due to the fact that we feel deserving, that we are lovable creatures.  Why else would we exchange his glory and provision for what what the world offers us?  Only one of these men kept his life by losing it (vs. 19; 18:33), while the rest, in preserving their life through requesting healing, truly lost it.  They feared their disease and the death it brought near, desperately wanting healing, not because they desired Jesus.  Why do we run to Jesus?  Because we fear what it means for our own personal lives if we abandon him?  Do we "worship" him and "follow" him because we are afraid of what it would mean if we did not?  We want his provision and grace and mercy so we will take his "lordship" if that's what it costs to get what we want.  We can stomach a little Jesus if it means good things for us and the fulfilling of our wants.  Is he nothing more to us that a means to an end, just like he was for these nine lepers?  Is it Jesus we want or what Jesus offers us that we want?  These lepers cried out to their "master" for his mercy, and yet it was not Jesus that was master but their own desires, i.e. themselves.  Their selfish desire for something drove them to Jesus, not a recognition of who Jesus is and who they are.  So many times we are our own masters, yet deceptively calling Jesus master simply to manipulate him to do what we want.  How often do we run to him, begging for mercy, while each act of mercy draws us closer and closer to him, to his feet, assuming the position of an unworthy servant who has received undeserved reward?  Or do we run to him begging for mercy, only to leave him once again after receiving what we wanted?  He is not master in this scenario, we are.  But we will give him whatever title we must to get what we want: master, savior, king, friend, father.

Sins Against Your Brother

Luke 17:1-4
Jesus warns here that temptations to sin are inevitable, however, that is not excuse for the one through whom they come (vs. 1-2).  Our tendency would be to skim over these four verses, thinking that we surely do not introduce sins or encourage sin in people's lives.  But this is clearly not what he is referring to, since he goes on to tell us to rebuke those who are in sin and to forgive without limit (vs. 3-4).  Now that we have received these commands from Jesus, we sin by neglecting them or justifying them away (James 4:17).  So many times we overlook sins in the lives of others thinking that is love, to overlook their wrongs, and not to judge them.  However, true love holds accountable and overlooks wrongs committed against oneself (forgiveness), not overlooks sin that is consuming and killing another (I John 5:16).  We rationalize confrontation by wanting to avoid those awkward moments or not appear judgmental or unmerciful thereby showing patience and love.  But it is in love of self, not others that these desires are born.  We fear others and their responses to us rather than fear God and his commands.  To see a brother immersed in sin and ignore it is to choose self over brother, to condone his sin by our silence, and to usher in temptations to sin by our letting our brother continue in it with conscience seared, ultimately to sin against God and disobey his commands (II Thessalonians 3:15; Titus 3:10; Matthew 18:15-17).  Godly confrontation of sin is born, not out of judgement, but out of love for God, by obeying his commands, and out of love for our brother.  We also forgive without regard.  We forgive because of the forgiveness that we have received from Jesus, it is a reflection (Ephesians 4:32; Luke 7:47).  Our lack of forgiveness demonstrates a lack of forgiveness experienced.  We are quick to hold on to petty "hurts" when Christ has forgiven our innumerable and gross sins, even while we remained dead and unrepentant (Romans 5:8).  How can we hold grudges against one another in light of Jesus' mercy towards us?  Our sins against one another are nothing in light of our sins against a holy God, so also our forgiveness pales in comparison (Matthew 18:21-35).  There is no excuse to ever withhold forgiveness from another, not matter how major they may seem.  With the same measure of forgiveness we offer, the same will be reciprocated to us by God (Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35), because one stems from the other.  If one is absent then the other is absent as well.  Do not deceive yourselves into thinking otherwise.  Are we lacking in forgiveness?  Then do not try and muster up more.  Rather, go to Jesus and seek to what degree you have experienced and embraced his forgiveness, because he is the source of forgiveness, and it is in our receiving from him that we in turn forgive others (Luke 7:41-47).  To ignore either of these commands (to confront others in their sin and to forgive always) is to violate Jesus' commands and to usher in sin to those around us, and Jesus says it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and cast into the sea (vs. 2).  Do not take this lightly, both of these are absolutely essential to our christian testimonies and walks, thus the reason he gives such a drastic alternative (millstone) and the phrase "Pay attention to yourselves!".  Do we have the heart of Jesus in these matters?  If not, we are risking ultimate deception (Matthew 5:25).

Forceful Entry

Luke 16:14-17
Jesus has just warned the Pharisees of the dangers of accumulating wealth.  There is the tendency to begin to trust in it and rely on it to the point of choosing it over Christ as your master.  You begin serving it and devoting yourself to its accumulation as opposed to serving and devoting yourself to God (vs. 10-13).  The Pharisees, however, had fallen into this trap.  They were both lovers of money and "lovers" of God, or so they thought (vs. 14).  They viewed themselves as having God as their true master, while also indulging in luxurious wealth and earthly treasure.  Clearly they did not intentionally and purposely choose wealth over God, but justified themselves in their own eyes and those of the people, reckoning one could have both and be without division between the two.  They did not have to choose, as Jesus said they did, they could combine them both together in harmony.  They felt justified in this, it made sense, it had the appearance of meshing together and the people accepted it.  But Jesus warns them that the very justifications that appealed them to men, condemned them before God.  Just because it works here on earth and is accepted by the masses is not validity before God, in fact it should cause concern because what we like and accept is opposite from what God values and accepts (vs.15).  How could they so clearly violate Jesus' words and justify themselves apart from obeying him?  He spelled it out so clearly for them and yet they remained disobedient.  They felt justified because they considered themselves to be "Children of Abraham", law-abiding, holy religious leaders who gave generously, attended temple constantly, prayed and converted people (Luke 11:39-42; Matthew 23:15, 23-28), all the while maintaining their religious standards (law).  They could have their indulgent wealth as long as they continued to keep these laws given to them and remained legally "pure".  They were trying to force their way into the kingdom of heaven through law-following (vs. 16).  Jesus reminds them that if one so chooses law as his means to heaven, he will be judged according to it and every single ordinance and act must line up perfectly, not one mistake is overlooked or accepted.  There are no exceptions or allowances (vs. 17; Galations 5:2-4), which condemns all men under law (Galations 2:16).  If they want to maintain their wealth and earthly riches and possessions and continue to rely on the law and their own means of righteousness as entrance, then so be it, but they have chosen their master, despising the other (vs.13), trying to force their way into heaven apart from Jesus.  Have we not done the same thing?  We prefer our possessions and wealth and worldly treasures, refusing to give them up, so we justify them and trust in our godly appearance and behavior (i.e. law) as proof of our righteousness in Christ, which is no more than counting on Old Testament law as our means of righteousness before God, the same as the Pharisees.  We just have slightly different sets of laws.  Instead of a sacrificial system, we adhere to the law of "asking Jesus into our heart".  Our offerings are now church attendance, sunday school, tithing 10 %, and avoiding major sins instead of rams, bulls, sheep and goats.  We too have justified ourselves and our indulgences in our own eyes and the eyes of those around us, thereby actually appealing to the favor of the lost world, the same as the Pharisees, which Jesus said should be a clear sign of warning to us (vs. 15), not a sign of God's blessings and workings.  We who are "under the blood of Christ" have in actuality divorced ourselves from Christ and committed adultery against him, by "choosing" both him and this world, i.e. law (vs. 18; Galations 5:2-4).  This is all given in a vivid illustration in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (vs. 19-31).  This rich man lives in self-indulgence, thinking he is a Child of Abraham, destined to the kingdom of heaven (vs. 19, 24-25).  When he is exposed as having chosen his master (by his selfish indulgence and ignoring the helpless while still maintaining his religion) he pleads for a prophet to be sent back to his family to warn them so they do not suffer the same fate as he has (vs. 27).  Abraham reminds him that they already have their sign in the form of the prophets of old, and if this will not open their eyes then there is no hope (vs. 29, 31).  What is it we are waiting for to open our eyes to our having chosen our master in the form of earthly wealth and treasure?  Why do we still believe we can have both?  We have Jesus' clear words of warning, Old Testament warnings, and New Testament warnings from the disciples.  Do we seek some sign from heaven, someone arising from the dead before we repent (vs. 30)?  We are warned against this mentality (Matthew 16:4), and told that we already have our sign in the form of God's word.  But have we simply heard it but not understood it (Matthew 13:14-15)?  Have we embraced treasure in this world, combined with treasure in the next?  Have we ignored the gospel's warning against this, instead justifying ourselves in man's eyes?  Have we relied on "modern day law" as our path to force our way into heaven, refuting grace (Galations 5:2-4)?  Are we the present-day Rich Man and Pharisees ignoring Jesus in the form of Lazarus (Matthew 25:45)?  Have we have made our choice?

Sense of Entitlement

Luke 15:1-7
The Pharisees have noticed that Jesus continually gathers with the unrighteous and sinners, while seemingly neglecting the religious, the "righteous".  This causes anger and grumbling among them against Jesus (vs. 2).  He tells them that it is not the righteous continually growing and maturing that causes rejoicing in heaven, but the unrighteous turning, the sinners repenting that causes true rejoicing (vs. 7, 10).  He further illustrates this point by telling the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son.  It is the second son we focus on, the one who remained loyal to his father, never straying, the one who most resembles us.  When the straying son returns and repents from his fleshly, sinful ways there is celebrating and rejoicing (vs. 21-24).  When the "good" son hears of this he grows jealous and angry (vs. 27-28).  He feels as though his loyalty and righteousness has earned him some favor with the father and well-deserved rewards (vs. 29).  He feels a sense of entitlement for his "good behavior", that he is owed attention and praise from the father, a portion of the father's wealth.  The father reminds him that he is privy to all the father has, and is freely granted access anytime he so chooses (vs. 31), but it is in the recovering of a life that celebration and rejoicing is due, not in the abiding.  This sense of entitlement that we so often have, that this son had, is warned against by Jesus.  It is Jesus that has changed us and has kept us, not our own strength and capability.  We have played no part in it, and therefore should not expect to receive any more than is due a lowly servant (Luke 17:7-10).  We think our love for him, our loyalty to him, our worship of him, and our service to him earns us some kind of merit, a portion of the proceeds and his full attention, and this is just not the case.  This is exactly what the Pharisees thought and what we think today.  We deserve this and we deserve that, after all, we are God's people.  Is this not why we spend our resources on ourselves and our churches, under the guise of equipping the saints?  Equipping the saints is the work of God, not our money.  Even our tithes have become gifts to ourselves, not God.  Is this not why 85% of tithes remain within the local church they are given to; half of it dedicated to staff to "feed" us the way we prefer to be fed, to lead us in worship according to the style we enjoy most and purchasing class material that keeps us entertained?  We spend our money on building ourselves (i.e. the "church") up, on growing and maturing ourselves in the faith, on our own personal spiritual learning and development, while a lost world is dying without Christ.  Our priority is our own spiritual growth, in direct disobedience to Paul's exhortation to consider others, the lost, as a higher priority (Philippians 2:3-4), the same direction that Jesus gives us in this parable of the Prodigal Son, and the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13).  He tells us to use our "unrighteous" wealth (i.e. earthly treasure) to gain those souls who are lost (16:9).  If we are not spending our resources to seek and save the lost in this world, instead focusing on ourselves and our own spiritual needs we will never be entrusted with true eternal riches (16:10-12).  And, in actuality, if we continually spend God's money on God's people we have missed the entire message of the gospel and the call of Jesus,and in turn are serving money, not God (16:13), no matter the outward appearance.  Jesus came to save the lost and the sick, not focus on the needs of the healthy and righteous (Mark 2:17; Luke 4:17-19).  Of course, we are to grow and mature in our faith, but not at the expense of saving the lost.  God will finish what he started in us, and will carry us on to maturity in our faith as we seek the kingdom first, not seek our own growth first.  Let him do the work he has promised to do in us, as we carry on the work he has given us to do in the Great Commission.  With our resources continually going to our own needs and "in-house" church focus, while giving leftovers to mission (whether local or foreign), how can we ever claim the heart of Jesus?  This never was and never is his heart or intention.  Jesus has given us a clear choice to make: either spend and be spent for the lost, or spend and be spent on to the detriment of your own soul.

Invitation Only

Luke 14:15-24
Upon hearing Jesus' exhortations about life, a man excitedly states, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God" (vs. 15).  This man clearly supposes that he, along with others there, is one of these who will be doing so.  It causes him to erupt in prideful declaration, "Oh lucky me!"  But Jesus lovingly brings him back down to earth, putting a cork in his celebration for the time being.  He tells them a parable of a man who threw a banquet inviting many (vs. 16).  It says that at the time of the banquet they began to make excuses as to why they could not come (vs. 17).  From this we deduct that they initially accepted the invitation, evidenced by the fact that many were invited,the banquet was planned, and it was not until time to attend that excuses were made.  They received the invitation, but did not carry through with attendance.  So, the master of the banquet then draws in and invites those who are desperate for such a banquet: the lame, the poor, the blind, the ignored, the hurting, the distant, the unknown (vs. 21, 23).  The ones who "deserved" the banquet or were satisfied without such a banquet accepted the invitation, but began to make excuses on why they could not attend, evidencing that the idea of the banquet appealed more to them than the actual banquet.  Although seemingly excited about this prospect, they were easily distracted and excited about other things unrelated to the banquet, finding fulfillment and satisfaction elsewhere.  The same thing happened to the seed sown in Luke 8:11-14: initial reception but affections elsewhere.  We, along with these people in the parable, are so quick to "accept" Jesus, and get excited over eating bread in the kingdom of God.  But, as he begins to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12), and this life that we have accepted begins to take shape, we make excuses as to why we cannot endure unto attending the banquet,revealing our divided interests and heart.  Jesus warns that this life, this invitation, involves struggle, hardship, loss, and sacrifice (vs. 26-27).  So before so joyously accepting the invitation count the cost (vs. 28, 31).  Because one cannot "accept" Jesus and then not live the life that he has determined for you, a life of personal loss and death, a life that reflects the life of Jesus, not culture (John 13:15-17; I John 2:6).  Otherwise this is to accept the invitation but not attend the banquet.  It is not those who said yes to attend, but the ones who actually persevere in attending that enter the kingdom/banquet (Matthew 7:21).  This is his warning to us.  Count the cost or else you will start on this journey and then turn back, and you will suffer the loss of all things, including what you thought you had in Christ (Matthew 13:12).  He tells them that they are either all in or all out, no in between or excuses, no matter how "innocent" they may be, an excuse is not acceptable (vs. 33).  We cannot simply say we are saved by grace and I have accepted Jesus and prayed and asked him into my heart, then direct our affections towards other things, thereby making excuses.  Otherwise we are the same as this man who is rebuked by Jesus, those who made excuses as to why they could not attend, and the disobedient in Matthew 21:28-32.  We all have the right answers and proper understanding, but do we have the life that proves it?  Does our life conform to that of Jesus, revealing true salvation, or of one who simply accepted an invitation?  To accept an invitation but not walk in his ways is not salvation but deception (vs. 24).  Are your interests divided?  Have we made excuses?  Does he have all of us?  Do we realize our situation like the desperate who attended the banquet, or, like those who made excuses, have we forgotten our current condition (Revelation 3:17)?  Have we just accepted some invitation to a future, distant banquet?

Disobedient Obedience

Luke 14:1-6
When Jesus asks the question of it being lawful to heal on the Sabbath (vs. 3) he is exposing the hearts of the Pahrisees.  They were experts in the law and experts in maintaining its statutes, yet the whole time missing the key to the law: love.  They were great at disobeying the law while obeying the law.  Jesus is pointing that out to them.  The law stated to do no work on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11).  But at the point where this conflicts with love for one's neighbor or God, it ceases to be obedience, for the law is absolutely dependent on love (Romans 13: 9-10, Galations 5:14).  An outward keeping of law without the motivation of love is, in reality, to not keep the law.  They were missing this completely.  Our obedience should never be at the expense of others, i.e. self-interest, (Romans 14:15).  If so, we must go back to Christ to repent and seek out true obedience.  If not done out of love, then all we have is legalism, which is to destroy life, not give life.  In this passage, the Pharisees attempts to keep the law out of self-righteousness and legalism, was resulting in their forsaking the very commands they thought they were fulfilling, a practice all too common (Mark 7:8-9).  Jesus was exposing their motivation for obedience, which was evil, even though outwardly they had the appearance of perfect law abiding.  He confirms this in his story in verses 7-9 and 12-14, further exposing their hearts.  They were evidence against themselves.  There is the temptation to adhere to rules, while neglecting the true matters of the law.  Their obedience, in actuality, stemmed from love of self, not love of God and his statutes.  The flesh is tempted by acting out of self-interest, expecting repayment and recognition for deeds done, for law kept (vs. 8, 14).  Outwardly these are "good deeds" and obedience, but inward it is self-gratification, missing the whole point.  Is our obedience disobedient?  If it causes another to stumble it is (I Corinthians 8:7-13), not matter how holy in appearance.  If we are not acting in the interest of others, for their good, we have ventured out from under obedience to Christ (I Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33).  Christ cares much more for those around us who are lost and hurting than he does for our reputation and holiness (Luke 15:4-7), although he does care for both.  So we must ask: Are we obeying disobediently?  Have we obeyed out of self-interest and advancement and?  Has our law-keeping ventured into legalism at the expense of others?  Do we obey because we love self?  The law hinges on love, for God first, then neighbor, not keeping statutes and rules.  We can have the appearance of adherence to the law while inwardly we are far from it.  The Pharisees life and religion was built around this, although they did not see it (Matthew 19:1-9; Mark 3:1-6; John 8:1-11).  In all these situations they acted in accordance with the law, even having scripture to base their actions on, and yet were disobeying God.  We cannot simply stop at outward rules.  We must ask Christ to carry us deeper and expose our hearts and cleanse our motivations.  We must love him first and foremost, then let that extend to our neighbors, and then and only then can we truly obey what he commands us, all else is vanity (I Corinthians 13:1-3).  Do we love God and others instead of self?  Has our own personal holiness and conformity to law taken precedence over souls?  Has our own stance before God become paramount, turning to self-interest and in turn forsaking true law, the law of liberty and freedom,that considers others of more importance?  It is impossible to obey without love, no exceptions.  We must stop "obeying" and start loving.

Lest You Forget

Deuteronomy 8:11-20
Before entering the Promised Land,God gives his people a caution.  He warns them of the tendencies of their own hearts,the deceptive practices within that they are unaware of.  God is about to fulfill his promise to Abraham and lead his people into the inheritance, into prosperity and ease of life.  They will inhabit houses they did not build, eat food they did not work for or plant, enjoy the fruits of the land they did not cultivate or strive over (Deut. 6:10-12).  They will be blessed beyond measure and then temptation will come quickly, in the very same forms that make up the blessings.  Their blessings will turn to curses and what they have enjoyed as an inheritance will become their very downfall.  God's gift of prosperity will consume and overcome them, and what they have looked forward to and longed for will prove fatal.  They have received what they have sought for and will pay the price, as will their children and grandchildren.  Why this turnabout?  Because as things begin to grow easy, God is forgotten (Deut. 8:12-14).  There is no longer a need for his provision or his leading, they have all they want and need, why consult God?  We are hungry, then let us go pluck from the garden and eat.  We are thirsty.  Then let us go to our cisterns and drink.  We are cold, hot, tired, soaked, then let us find shelter in the houses we possess.  What does God offer them any longer?  They have not intentionally forsaken him or ignored him or rejected him, they have simply forgotten.  And as they lose sight of God, an even more terrible lie creeps in: the thought that they have provided all this (8:17).  And following that will then be the lie that not only have they provided this, but that God has helped them because of their righteousness (9:4-6).  They feel that due to their righteousness God has rewarded their self-efforts.  This is so dangerous because not only have they strayed and forgotten God, but now they have forgotten the truth about themselves (9:7).  Have we not done the same?  We thank God for his provision and credit him with all that we have, just as these people did, but in our hearts we credit and applaud ourselves for our own righteousness and all that we have earned, just as they did.  Our lives have grown easy and we have forgotten that we are a stubborn and rebellious people.  God has not rewarded our righteous efforts, but overlooked our rebellion.  It is his for name's sake that he has done this (Ezekiel 20:40-45; Isaiah 48:9), not because of what is due us.  Proof?  Where do the first-fruits of your time, energy and money go?  Where does your abundance go?  Where does your free-time go?  Have we not forgotten?  David wrote that he did not trust in his sword or horses or army for victory but in the Lord (Psalm 33:16-17).  We would "amen" this all day and yet look at what we rely on and turn to for victory: politicians, pastors, money, knowledge, technology, self-discipline and resolve, etc.  We are warned to take care, lest our hearts, not our lips or head-knowledge, be deceived and turn to other sources of provision (11:16).  Examine your heart, not your head or speech.  Perhaps we have not outright rejected him or intentionally turned from him, but have we forgotten?  Has our ease and abundance proved fatal to us as well?  Have our hearts also been deceived?  If we would but turn and repent he will restore.  God grant us eyes to see through our deception. 

A Healthy Barren Tree

Luke 13:6-9
In this parable, we have an interesting situation: a healthy, yet fruitless tree.  This tree obviously is expected to bear fruit (vs. 6), leading us to the conclusion that there is no obvious deformity or reason that the tree should be without fruit.  It is a healthy tree, expected to bear fruit, and yet none is found.  So the owner is ready to cut it down, but the vinedresser convinces him to give it one more year of continued maturity and fertilizing and opportunity to bear fruit, or else it will be cut down (vs. 7-9).  A clear-cut warning to us to take notice of.  From this parable we conclude that a healthy, yet fruitless tree is no different than a dead tree.  This tree is probably tall and leafy, lush and green, appealing to the eye and ripe for fruit bearing, and yet it is all an illusion, no fruit can be found.  What deception.  Does Jesus not warn us about this kind of life and "religion"?  The gospel is preached and received with great joy, but there is no persevering and maturing unto fruit bearing, no deep root (Luke 8:12-14).  A seed is planted and begins to sprout into a large tree, and yet it is all surface change, simple behavioral reform that in no way affects the heart.  A knowledge of Jesus, and a "belief in Jesus" is received and accepted and leads to some freedoms from certain bondages (freedom in Christ) and inappropriate, obviously gross behaviors are corrected but the heart is still immersed in flesh and self and one cannot persevere by mere head knowledge and is eventually once again entangled in worldly passions (II Peter 2:20-21).  There is a veneer of religion and Christianity but it springs from head knowledge and fleshly power and reform, a form of legalism and religion (Luke 11:39), but there is no heart reform, no heart detachment from worldly and fleshly lusts and priorities, no true conviction and power (II Timothy 3:5), evidenced by eventual backsliding and a return to old ways and habits.  The Bible says this condition is now worse than before they heard the truth (Luke 11:24-26), and, in fact, it would have been better for them to have not heard the truth than to hear it and once again be overcome (II Peter 2:21).  So many healthy trees, walking around with a condemning head knowledge of Christ and yet a complete lack of fruit in their lives.  It would be preferable to have no knowledge at all of Christ than to possess simple head knowledge.  Our coming to Christ must, absolutely must, lead to fruit bearing in our lives.  We cannot remain in the condition we were in when once enlightened.  There must be a continual progression in our faith, a maturing in our walk or we are condemned (Hebrews 5:11-6:6).  We cannot both claim Jesus, and his saving power in our lives and yet still be immersed in the ways of the world and what it is that we desire (Luke 8:13-14; James 4:4).  If we have not abandoned all to him, then what is it exactly that we have done?  Prayed a simple prayer?  Changed certain behaviors?  Professed a belief?  Sprouted a healthy, paper-thin tree?  Many people will have done these things, desiring to be with Jesus forever, and yet miss out completely (vs. 25-27).  They thought they had true faith and full knowledge of the gospel and an affection for Jesus, even thought they had been in his presence,and yet there was no fruit and no relationship.  Their tree was so healthy, and yet barren.  We must stop considering what we know and "believe", and start examining our fruit bearing.  Is there any?  Is it all just dead works, or actual Holy Spirit fruit (Hebrews 6:1, 7-8)?  Is our fruit self-manufactured or Holy Spirit wrought?  Is our tree healthy yet barren or full of ripe fruit?  Are in a relationship with Jesus, which always, inevitably leads to fruit bearing, or just acquainted with him, which can produce only a healthy yet barren tree?  The great news, however, is that Jesus is ready and willing to forgive and embrace and impart life if we are humble enough to repent of our pride and arrogance and deception and turn to him (vs. 34).  But if we refuse, and continue to embrace a false religion based on some simple beliefs, confessions and moral reform without the presence of any actual fruit, he will move on (vs. 5, 35).  Healthy barren trees are the first to be cut down.

Prognosticators

Luke 12:41-48
Jesus has just given some serious instructions to these people regarding the manner in which their lives are to be lived in light of eternity.  He finishes this section with telling them that, "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more (vs. 48b)."  We always interpret this as materially much leading to much material giving.  In other words, if you are given lots of money you should give lots of money.  However, I think if we look back to the previous instructions we will see this refers more to a knowledge and wisdom much, rather than material much.  Jesus has just given commands as to how one is to live life on this earth, with eternity in full view.  Knowing we will not be here long, we should not be concerned with amassing treasures here (20-21).  He warns against focusing on provision here and worrying about needs being met here on this earth, even basic needs (vs. 22-23).  These act as an anchor, holding us to this earth, enslaving us to earthly matters and concerns, putting us in the same class as pagans (vs. 29-30, 34), limiting our service to his kingdom.  He has told us that as long as we are kingdom focused, singularly, that he will provide for what needs we have on this earth (vs. 31), there is no need for us to worry for these.  To go beyond this is to lose faith in God and to be unprepared for his return (vs. 28, 42-46).  Jesus gives us the warning of the rich fool who saved for his own personal indulgence and provision.  At a time he did not expect, God required his soul of him and all his savings amounted to great loss for him, not reward.  He saved great stores of wealth, but is not labeled as a good steward, but as a fool (vs. 20-21).  How can we interpret saving large amounts of money as being a good steward?  This is never the case in the New Testament.  The widow was exalted by Jesus for giving all she had (Mark 12:41-44).  Ananias and Sapphira gave a significant portion of the proceeds from the sell of their house to God, probably what amounted to a generous gift.  But they were not congratulated as good stewards for it, but condemned because they did not give it all (Acts 5:1-10).  With these in view the phrase "rich towards God" in vs. 21 takes on a whole new meaning.  Taking all this into account, we cannot interpret vs. 48 as simple material much leading to generous gifting.  Jesus has warned against personally accumulating not just earthly excess, but any earthly provision (vs. 22-23, 29).  His finish with vs. 48 must refer to knowing these instructions and knowing how we are expected to live our life here, we will be judged according to our obedience to these instructions.  It cannot refer to simply being held accountable for how much money we gave.  Otherwise the Pharisees would have been commended for their large, expensive gifts, not condemned (Mark 12:41, 44; Luke 11:42).  Have we sold our possessions as instructed (vs. 33)?  Have we been rich towards God and not ourselves (vs. 21)?  Have we abandoned pursuing provision in trust of his provision and the pursuit of a kingdom (vs. 31)?  Have we aligned ourselves as transients and strangers here on this earth, eagerly awaiting his return?  Because this is one who truly believes in Jesus' return and is ready for it; who sees no need to hold on to what is so worthless and fleeting.  Or have we been more concerned with our future here, preparing to be here for a while, so we might as well make the best of it, just like the unwise servant in vs 45-47?  Because it is according to these how we will be judged.  This is the much we have been given (instructions), and it will be according to this much that we are compared, every aspect of our lives, not just our donations.  We are to work as commanded (II Thessalonians 3:7-8), but not to prepare for some unforeseen future happenings, but that we may be rich towards God, as commanded.  There is no need to try and prepare and predict for future needs and circumstances.  We all know what will happen, there is no speculation.  Do our lives reflect this unshakeable faith and trust, or do we evidence that we just aren't buying Jesus' "predictions"?  To be ready for his return is to posture your life in the manner he has just described, living in a way that evidences this earth is temporary and its treasures fleeting, not to just simply believe in Jesus and be ready to go to heaven.  So which is your stance?  Look at your life, not your words, and this will tell you.

The Leaven of the Pharisees

Luke 12:1-3
Jesus has just finished rebuking the Pharisees for their "holy" behavior, which stems from an evil heart, therefore negating any purity in their acts, rendering them useless and detestable (11:39-52).  He then turns to his disciples and further warns them against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy (vs. 1).  He tells them that even though their behavior may appear "righteous", there will come a day when all will be exposed and will be shown to either be from a pure heart, or from an evil heart (vs. 2-3).  Motivations will either complement our good deeds, or expose and condemn them.  And we, present-day, are no different, as Paul gives us this same warning in I Corinthians 3:12-15, showing us that some will stand before God with all their "good deeds" being exposed as nothing.  We will stand before God empty-handed and shamed that we did nothing for the glory of God while here on earth "serving" him, instead serving ourselves the entire time.  We look at our lives and the good behaviors that we display and quickly label ourselves as religiously devout and pious and servants of the Most High.  Well, so did the Pharisees.  They were holier and cleaner than everyone, outwardly, yet inwardly they were motivated by greed and selfishness, not the glory of God.  They believed their lives to be pinnacle examples of God's righteous servants, incurring his favor and blessing.  But their motivations, their hearts displayed a different desire.  Jesus, after warning against their hypocrisy, continues on, telling them to not fear man (vs. 4).  Do not let religious culture, and man's expectation or opinion dictate your actions and behavior, as it did for the Pharisees.  Do not conform your lives to fit in with those around you, whether religious or secular, this is hypocrisy.  Fear God instead, letting him dictate your actions and behavior (vs. 5, 8), because he is good and can be trusted and will not lead you into destruction (vs. 6-7).  If conformity to man's opinion and standard dictates your behavior then you have inwardly denied the Son of God (vs. 9), and you will be exposed in the presence of God as a hypocrite.  God is to determine your behavior, and acts of service, and he will be your source of righteousness and holiness, not clean, religious behavior that conforms to man's expectation (Luke 16:15).  Jesus is warning us that good outward behavior is not always indicative of a pure heart serving God out of love, but perhaps an indication of deception and extreme hypocrisy.  God looks upon our heart, not our actions.  So we too must examine our hearts before God, not our actions.  Only God knows our hearts; we cannot possibly know the motivations that lay within (Jeremiah 17:9).  We must ask God to search our hearts and reveal them to us, and stop comparing ourselves to the standards and expectation of religious man.  There is no shame in confession, but mercy and forgiveness (I John 1:9).  Otherwise we risk consuming the leaven of the Pharisees, and in turn, it will consume us (Galations 5:9).

Sign of Jonah

Luke 11:29-32
In this passage, the crowds are beginning to increase and so Jesus gives them a stern warning that should strike fear in all of us.  He tells them that their generation is an evil generation that is seeking a sign, but that their seeking will not be fruitful, they will not find what they seek for.  Instead, a subtle reminder will be given in the same spirit as that of Jonah in regards to Nineveh (vs. 29).  He clarifies this in verse 30, reminding them that Jonah was the sign Nineveh needed, and Jesus is the sign this evil generation is seeking for.  They are wanting some kind of incredible, other-worldly, parting of the clouds, booming voice from heaven, sort of experience.  They are wanting something clear and precise that they can understand and apply, without doubt, not open for interpretation.  But the sign they seek, the uncanny happenstance is Jesus himself, his teaching, his warnings; this is their sign, in the same spirit that Jonah's warnings and chastisements were the sign for the people of Nineveh.  This is our sign today.  God has sent modern-day prophets to us today to warn us of our wandering and to bring us back to him as our source of everything.  We find ourselves constantly analyzing our lives and then asking, "What's wrong with this?"  "Where does it say that I can't do this, or watch this or have this, or be involved in this?"  Is this not us simply asking for a sign?  Is not the spirit behind the questions the same?  The motivation and spirit behind their sign-seeking is the same as ours as we ask these questions of what's wrong with this.  We want proof before we endure hardship and start to change our lives, because we desperately want to hang on to our "treasures" in this world (our worldliness and materialism), and if we can find a way around having to give them up, then we will jump at it.  After all, is he really worth giving up all these things for?  We want proof that he is, or else we will not change.  Jesus labels this thinking as "an evil generation" and warns that we will not find the proof we seek after, because the proof is already there, contained within his teachings and warnings.  The signs they seek and proof we want are already there, they and we just cannot see them or understand them because of hard-hearts and selfishness.  This is the same warning that is given in the instance of the rich man in hell, imploring Abraham to send a representative from the dead back to his brothers to warn them of hell.  Abraham tells him that if they will not listen to the prophets and the scriptures then no other sign will convince them either (Luke 16:29-31).  This is our sign, our warning.  God has given us his word and it is appropriated by faith, not signs.  We render faith useless if we demand proof through signs, and without faith everything is useless and impossible (Hebrews 11:6).  The truly scare reminder though is that if we continue to ignore these modern-day prophets, and continue to ask for proof of our wandering hearts, then God will hold us accountable for the blood of every prophet he has sent since the beginning (vs. 49-51).  This is not an overstatement, it is scriptural truth, and it is possible because the spirit that caused them to ignore prophets and Jesus is the same spirit that causes us to ignore.  We may be more modern and civilized in our ignoring scripture, but our hearts are aligned with that of the "evil generation" in this passage.  We must heed the warnings and teachings of scripture against worldliness and greed and materialism and love of money and appropriate God's word by faith and stop asking for proof.  How dare we read God's word, justify our ways, and then look him and his prophets in the face and say "Oh yeah, well prove it!"  Because the proof is already there, more will not be given.  I wonder if those who stand before God condemned on that day will still be asking the question "What was wrong with that?" (Matthew 7:21-23)?

The Right Answer

Luke 10:25-37
Jesus is questioned by a lawyer as to how to inherit eternal life.  Jesus turns the question back on him, asking him what the law says.  Jesus knows this man is a lawyer and therefore knows the law, so surely he would know what the law says in regards to inheriting eternal life.  And sure enough, this man does know the right answer, and Jesus congratulates him for possessing such knowledge.  But the man probes further, wanting to justify himself in Jesus' eyes, most likely out of pride.  After telling this man a parable, once again Jesus asks him a question and once again the man answers correctly.  That is now twice that this man has been able to answers Jesus' questions correctly, and yet the meaning and application of his correct answers seem to allude him.  He is the example of ever seeing but never perceiving, ever hearing but never understanding (Isaiah 6:9).  He knows all the right answers and can align himself, intellectually, with Jesus' theology and yet he had missed it completely.  The first command that this man gives is to love God, then others.  But when he questions Jesus, he focuses on justifying the second command, probably thinking he has mastered the first command to love God supremely and foremost.  But it is in trying to justify the second that he evidences he has missed the first.  It is clear that our love and compassion for others is an overflow, an extension of our love for God first (I Thessalonians 4:9; I John 4:7, 12).  So if we are confused as to how to love our neighbor, is it not because we have not first loved God?  He is eager to justify his position to love his neighbor, not because he truly desires and understands these commands, but because, unbeknownst to him, he lacks true understanding in both regards.  His theology and answers hit the bulls-eye but his life missed it completely.  And a correct theology, backed up by an incorrect life is deception of the utmost.  We have a great example in the following story of Martha and Mary in vs. 38-42.  Jesus has come to Martha's house at her invitation and she immediately begins to serve those in attendance.  However, her sister Mary first sits at Jesus' feet, listening and learning from him, while ignoring the serving that is overwhelming Martha.  When she implores Jesus to correct this, he actually corrects her.  Mary has chosen to be with Jesus, which is far greater than serving.  What Mary has chosen is eternal, and what Martha has chosen is not.  It is not that serving others is not eternal, but it is that serving others before spending time with Jesus is to miss the fulfillment of the commands; they are taken out of order and when this occurs, they both crumble, neither making it to eternity.  Jesus makes it clear here that we cannot and should not try to serve others and love our neighbors until we first sit at Jesus' feet, learning from him and loving him.  Our loyalty is to him, then to others.  Both this lawyer and Martha "knew" that serving others is crucial, they both knew the right answers, but both were deceived in their application of these truths, of their reality.  We too, like these two, could answer all of Jesus' questions with pinpoint accuracy, probably even using scripture to prove our point, all the while having their true understanding and life-changing presence completely absent from our lives.  This is why today a majority of our serving is useless.  It does not stem from our time with Jesus.  We too want to "justify" our positions, as this lawyer did.  We want to do as little as possible, with the least amount of time and inconvenience, but still love our neighbors as ourselves.  What can we barely get by with?  Our lack of serving and compassion and love do not stem from a misunderstanding of who our neighbor is, but from our misunderstanding of who Jesus is.  Like this lawyer, we have the right answers and know the commands and yet have missed them completely, still trying to justify our position.  We are ready to jump to the second command, thinking we have mastered the first, all the while missing both.  We must stop trying to justify who our neighbor is and admit that the only reason we ask this question is because we have missed loving God first.  If we truly loved God first, we would not need lessons and tips on how to love others.  It is not our neighbor who we do not love, but God.

Lambs, Laborers, and Litttle Children

Luke 10:1-12
Just before Jesus sends out the 72 "others", he gives them some interesting instructions.  He encourages them with the phrase, "Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves" (vs. 3).  I am sure they were wondering what in the world this could possibly mean.  So Jesus goes on to show us what this means, clarifying his statement, using the terms lamb, laborer, and little child.  A lamb, when being sent out, does not carry any type of provision with him, no money or food or extra clothing.  A lamb simply goes with what he has been given, trusting that the rest will be added as needed, not as desired and wanted (vs. 4).  And Jesus reassures them that what they need (physical, tangible needs such as shelter and food) will be provided, by telling them that a dwelling and food will open up upon arrival, and that they will be led specifically where to stay (vs. 5-8).  Look at the language Jesus uses: remain in the house, eat what is set before you (vs. 7, 8), a laborer will receive wages (vs. 7).  Is this not Jesus telling them that they will receive what they need?  Don't take any provision, he says, because as you go shelter and food will be provided you, I am telling you this ahead of time.  Do not let these things slow down your going or prevent your going, simply let Jesus work these out, you just go as led (vs. 2).  How comforting to know that before we even go, the Father has worked out a specific place to house us, where we will be welcomed and fed for the duration of our stay (vs. 5, 8), even if the a majority of the place or city rejects us (vs. 10).  We will be provided for, no debate, because we are laborers, lambs, sent out by the Father to do his work (preach the gospel of the kingdom) and he guarantees our wages ahead of time, whether our message is accepted or not, whether there is fruit or not.  Success in our ministry does not dictate provision from our Father, obedience does.  This is why Jesus rejoices in our child-like attitude and nature (vs. 21).  A child does not plan for the future or arrange for things ahead of time, that is absurd.  A child simply rejoices in the presence of his Father, excited to be with the Father wherever he goes.  Jesus said to ask the Father to send out laborers (vs. 2), and a child-like laborer (lamb) rejoices when called and sent by the Father, knowing he is not going alone or going without because a child knows, beyond doubt, that a Father provides and accompanies, rendering provision a non-concern.  It is the "wise" and "mature" adult who pre-plans and arranges ahead of time for the future, and in reality disobeys God, missing out on his true provision and leading, because a person such as this cannot hear God's voice and cannot discern his leadings, only children can (vs. 21, 22).  Only the Son can interpret these things and relay them to us, and he will only do this for children.  We may read this and think how difficult and surely not intended for all.  Besides, look at the Old Testament, they were rich and wealthy and never hardly went without.  They were kings living in castles, plundering their enemies great treasures, enjoying wisdom and blessing from God.  He never told them to give up everything they have and to make no provision.  In fact he told them to store up and save and make provision.  We will point to Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Joseph, Daniel, etc., great leaders and advisers, kings and prophets who enjoyed luxuries during their lifetime.  But even these great men longed for what we have today (vs. 23-24).  This lifestyle of trusting God fully, of giving up everything we have for Jesus' sake, to have his Holy Spirit living inside us and not worrying about provision, to have him send us out to labor for him, forsaking wealth and treasure for the Father is a life they only dreamed of and would gladly have given up all their luxury for.  This life we despise and ignore and justify as irresponsible, is the envy of all generations, including the angels in heaven (I Peter 1:12).  God's call to leave behind everything and venture out in complete trust in him, to be led by his very own Spirit, is nothing to be taken for granted or trampled and rejected by our indignation, insecurity and immaturity.  We (the church) have been given the keys to heaven (Matthew 16:18-19), how could we refuse this?  Only because of self (pride), the same reason Satan refused it (vs. 18-20).  Will we align ourselves with the mature, the wise and learned in this life, the enemy?  Or align ourselves with the foolish laborers, the unwise lambs and the immature little children?

The Voice of God

Psalms 29
In this passage the voice of the Lord is described as, "powerful and full of majesty (vs. 4), breaks the cedars of Lebanon (vs. 5), flashes forth flames of fire (vs. 7), shakes the wilderness (vs. 8), and strips the forests bare (vs. 9)".  And yet we continually say we cannot hear his voice.  The voice that authored creation in Genesis, and shook the mountains in Exodus is undiscernable to us.  We say, "If only he would speak more clearly and louder then we would be able to hear and follow".  His voice already shakes mountains and flashes forth flames of fire, how much louder do we want him to speak?  If we cannot hear the voice that birthed creation then it is an indictment against us, not God.  We sit around and delay and debate, waiting to "hear his voice", trying to strain and strive to hear a voice that is described as stripping forests bare.  Does this not seem ridiculous and absurd?  Scripture does say that his voice is a "still, small voice" or a "small and gentle whisper"(I Kings 19:12), but it is also clearly heard (vs. 13).  Elijah immediately recognizes it and obeys, and so did the disciples all throughout the New Testament.  God, whether speaking in a small whisper or a mountain shaking thunder, is clearly heard and recognized.  Why do we not hear him then?  It is clearly because of something in us, not him.  Jesus said that it is his sheep, his actual, true people that hear his voice and recognize it (John 10:27).  Those who do not hear his voice evidence that they do not belong to him (John 10:26).  Today we see a whole generation of people, both religious and not, churched and unchurched, who are waiting to hear God's voice and never seem to, and think that this ok.  Christian and lost alike are ignorant of God's eternal voice, without distinction between the two.  We have accepted that not hearing his voice is really not that troublesome, and yet scripture says this is a serious problem.  Could it be that we do not hear his voice because we do not belong to him, as Jesus stated in John 10?  Or, perhaps because our hearts have grown so hard and calloused that we do not feel or discern? The writer of Hebrews tells us that some will hear the voice of the Lord and harden their hearts, as Israel did in the desert (Hebrews 3:12-19).  It was through the deceitfulness of sin that they were led astray and their ears and hearts closed to the voice of the Lord (vs. 13).  And they suffered these consequences for eternity (vs. 18-19), despite being his chosen people.  And Jesus warned that his voice will bring things to light and expose darkness within and this will cause some to run from this, not wanting their sinful deeds to be exposed, rather preferring their sin (John 3:19-21).  For God is only found by an undivided heart (Jeremiah 29:13, 14).  Have we preferred our worldliness and materialism to God's call to abandonment?  Have we chosen lukewarm faith and divided affections?  Because his voice will be a call to give up everything that you are and everything that you have for his sake (Luke 9, 14).  So now we must ask if we even want to hear his voice? God is screaming forth his voice to us, whether in flames of fire or gentle whispers.  The question is do we hear it?  Because it doesn't matter how loud or soft, those who are inclined to him unreservedly and belong to him will hear it, regardless.  Have we been deceived by sin?  Have we even come to know him, to know this voice?  Jesus said, "He who has ears, let him hear."  Do we have ears?  If we confess we do not really hear his voice then we have confessed grave issues that must be explored by the Holy Spirit.  Not hearing his voice is of utmost concern.  Being casual about this is to potentially play with eternal damnation.  If we are not hearing his voice, there is a vital reason why.  Do not be deceived by the lukewarm culture that downplays this and reassures us that it is of no consequence.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  

Tell No One

Luke 9:18-22
In this day and age we are so caught up in the Great Commission and "showing" Christ to others, and being the hands and feet of Christ, as we call it.  But, in reading through scripture, there is a dangerous tendency and possibility that we must, absolutely must, be weary of.  We find it here in Luke 9:21 specifically.  There are several times in the gospels when Jesus will perform a miracle and then tell the recipient not to tell anyone- cleansing the leper, healing the deaf mute, the mount of transfiguration, Peter's confession of Christ that we see here.  And he always shut the mouths of demons who were confessing who he was.  This seems so strange to us, for these people to witness such power and truth, but then to be commanded not to tell anyone.  Numerous times he performs a miracle or forgives sin, and then simply tells them to go their way, with no further instructions.  Perhaps we could assume they went and told everyone, perhaps they did not, we don't know for sure, but if they did it was not because he commanded them to.  Either way, there is not an issued command to go and tell.  The answer is easy: the Holy Spirit, the one who is the key to conviction and repentance, has not yet come (John 15:7-15).  If in that day these people had gone out, sharing Christ with others without the Holy Spirit within to do the work of salvation, would they not have simply relayed their own personal encounter and nothing more?  Would it not have only been intellectual knowledge and not spiritual truth?  Because only in Jesus is truth found (John 14:6), and the yet to come Holy Spirit, and they would have only been relaying a personal encounter with Jesus without the Holy Spirit to make it personal for others.  It was not until the Spirit had come upon Jesus that he then began to preach the kingdom of heaven (Luke 3:21-22).  And it was not until Jesus personally gave the disciples authority and sent them out that they began to preach the kingdom also (Luke 9:1-6), and it is the same with the seventy-two (Luke 10:1-12), and again with the disciples before Pentecost (Acts 1:4, 8).  Jesus called them to himself, granted them authority, then sent them out.  Since they did not have the Holy Spirit they had to receive authority from Jesus first, in order to preach the gospel, otherwise it would be flesh relaying truth, and this is simply mental knowledge, which seems to be more deceptive than complete lack of knowledge.  Simply mentally believing in Jesus and that he is the Son of God and died for sins and we are sinners does not save anyone, for even demons know and believe this (James 2:19) and confess Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 5:7).  So we see here that Peter has confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah and he is told that God has revealed that to him (Matthew 16:17), but then he is told to tell no one about this.  It was only twenty verses earlier that Christ gave them authority and told them to go out and proclaim the gospel, receiving power from Jesus to do so, and now he instructs them to not do it.  If Peter had gone out anyways, telling all that Jesus is the Messiah, would people have had that revealed to them by God or by Peter?  And this is a major distinction.  God, through the Holy Spirit, or Jesus in this case, must be the one to reveal who he is, flesh and blood cannot (John 6:63), authority to share must be received from him.  But we would say that today, now that we have received the Holy Spirit, anytime, anywhere, all of our sharing is Holy Spirit inspired and directed.  I very much hope so, but can we be sure?  Paul, with the Holy Spirit, desired to share the gospel further into Asia, but the Holy Spirit twice prevented him from doing so (Acts 16:6-7), instead directing him to Macedonia.  The Holy Spirit, preventing them from sharing the gospel?  Unheard of!  Ridiculous!  Preposterous!  And yet Biblical!  What would have happened if Paul had ventured on into Asia anyways?  He would have the Holy Spirit, and be sharing the gospel, but would it be real, actual spiritual truth he would be conveying at that point, or simply head-knowledge?  What makes us so sure that we are hearing the Holy Spirit?  Simply because we have him inside us?  We can still choose to disobey him and follow our own ways in other areas of our lives, what makes us think differently in regards to sharing the gospel?  Simply because it has the appearance of godliness?  That is never a guarantee, in fact it is a danger (II Timothy 3:4-5).  Why else warn us that apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5), unless it is a distinct possibility that we will try?  Have we sought his guidance and leadership, spending significant time with him in prayer, desperate to have him lead us, or have we simply made the decisions ourselves, without ever whole-heartedly seeking him in it?  It is only in whole-hearted seeking that he will be found (Jeremiah 29:13), not in casual, formality prayer.  We must ask ourselves, are we relaying head-born, intellectual, dead, non-saving "Jesus is Lord" information?  Or a Holy Spirit bred, heart led "Jesus is everything" call to die (Luke 9:23-26)?  An intellectual knowledge and "belief" that Jesus is the Messiah is very, very dangerous, and shame on us for spreading it everywhere.  We are not to stop sharing what God has done to his glory, but we must be sure of what it is we are doing, as Peter tells us in I Peter 1:3-21.  God have mercy on us and revive us by your Holy Spirit.  Make us desperate for him and him alone and your glory, not just works or conversions to try and prove our own salvation (how selfish is that?).