Luke Chapter 7

The gospel accounts are chock full of the miracles of Jesus.  Luke 7 is no exception.  In this chapter, Jesus heals the centurion’s servant from a distance and then commends the Roman for his faith.  The next account underscores Jesus’ compassion in his miracle workings when he touches the bier and returns a dead son to his grieving mother.  In verse 22 Jesus gives the disciples of John the Baptist a list of the variety of miracles he had done –“the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have good news brought to them.”

Reading all of this made me consider miracles in my own world.  My dictionary app has two definitions for miracle.  The first is “an extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.”  The second is “a wonder, a marvel.” 

I decided to take a few days and intentionally look for everyday miracles, the everyday wonders and marvels in my life.  It was a great exercise in slowing down and opening the door of my heart to God and what he is doing in me and around me.

I was on the lookout and here are a few:

-       That first morning mug full of hot coffee and sitting in silence with God as I considered the wonder of his mercies fresh every morning.

-       Marveling at God’s artistic creation in some beautiful sunrises during early morning swims.

-       Could there be anything more wondrous than grandbabies! Fresh little lives made in his image.

-       I am marveling at my daffodils that return year after year in greater abundance.

I have a little saying on one of my kitchen cabinets that says “ordinary days have their own glory.” Looking for the wonder and marvel in each ordinary day helps me to see the extraordinary work of God all around me.

Luke Chapter 6

As we finally put the plucking grain on the Sabbath issue to rest (Deuteronomy 23:24-25) I love that Jesus didn’t argue with the Pharisees, but pointed them to scripture to where David actually broke the law of the Sabbath (1 Samual 21:1-6). Gods law was never meant to impose hardship on His people, but man added to Gods law which added the hardship by leaps and bounds!

So when I was a new believer I was always amazed when I would hear a chapter, verse or study on the radio and then hear it again in church, it happened a lot back then. At first, I chalked it up to coincidence,  but I know now that "coincidence" is not a kosher word. Now I know that this had to have been The Holy Spirit reaching out to me to get the lesson.  Or has this ever happened to you? You have read a passage multiple times and then BAM The Holy Spirit reveals something new that blesses you? This happened to me with v17, I thought that this was Luke's version of The Sermon on the Mount, but in v17 it says “When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area” WOW thank you Holy Spirit! This version is actually given on a plain, not a mountain! But as you move down to v20 you have all of these people around Jesus, but when he starts to teach he turns to the disciples and gives them the Beatitudes again. Do you think that the disciples were like, here we go again blessed this woe that? Or were their hearts open to listening, really listening to Jesus and His words?

I admit that during the NTC that I too am guilty of glossing over what I already “know” but if this happens to you I challenge you to allow the Holy Spirit to take what you “know” and have it sink deep into your heart! Because like Jesus said in V40 Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

Luke Chapter 5

Luke 5 is action packed with drama and spiritual momentum!  Peter is schooled in fishing by Jesus and is humbled in public. Peter was a fisherman by trade.  He is stubborn and outspoken. HIs part of the Luke 5 story speaks to the importance of being willing to follow God’s directions even if they sometimes are contrary to my/our best thinking.   The many miracles, people exhibiting faith for healing others simply because of Jesus reputation on the ‘street’ are all there. The result of belief in Jesus as Messiah continues to grow.  The spiritual sparing between the Pharisees and Jesus is energetic and intense. Those skirmishes warn of religion taking over grace, mercy and kindness.  I think what stood out with all this action and activity was this one sentence in verse 16. 

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Where did Jesus get the stamina and energy to care for so many?

Luke Chapter 4

With Jesus Full of the Holy Spirit, he was lead into the desert and fasted for 40 days. During his time in the desert, the Devil tried to bait Jesus in various ways - trying to get him to turn stone into bread. His reply: “Man does not live on bread alone.”

Or if he was the Son of God, to stand on the highest point on a temple and jump. For he would not be injured. Jesus’ reply: “It says do not put the Lord, your God to the test.”

What struck me were the verses 5, 6, and 7.

The devil was offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and He could have authority over all if Jesus would just worship him, it would be all His. The irony of this is that Jesus already reigns over all. The Devil couldn't offer Jesus anything more that He needed.

Such it is with me too. During my time on Earth I feel I can be tempted by wealth, a bigger house, faster cars - material things, but at what cost? In truth, what can the Devil offer me when Jesus promises me eternal life in Heaven?

John 5:25

I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him, who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned

Luke Chapter 3

John the Baptist sure doesn’t hold back.  He speaks the truth to anyone and everyone – even to the ruler of Galilee that ends up sending him to jail.  Brood of vipers, fruitless trees thrown into the fire, chaf to be separated from the wheat, don’t exactly conjure up any positive analogies.  Repent, or see yourself separated from the coming kingdom.

I also find it interesting how John responds to different people from different walks of life when they ask what should they do to repent.  The general crowd should give up clothing and food to share with the poor, tax collectors should stop taking their extra cut beyond what the government requires, and the soldiers should stop extorting money from people.  All of these have the common theme of giving up the pursuit of earthly possessions, including money beyond what one really needs.  This seems to connect closely to a verse that is often misquoted – 1 Timothy 6:10  “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows”.  Many people omit the “kinds of”, suggesting that money itself is evil. Money itself is not evil, but when it becomes something we pursue ahead of God, it puts us down the wrong path.  I think that is why John the Baptist includes this repentance response of removing the material possession priority in our lives that is keeping us apart from God.  This hits home living in such an affluent area like Silicon Valley.  Are we falling into the trap of craving money, things, wealth, prestige ahead of our pursuit of the Messiah?  What would John the Baptist say if he visited Silicon Valley today?  Do we need to repent?  Are there actions that we need to take in response to our repentance?

Luke Chapter 2

Kind of an aside: I appreciate the places in scripture (such as the census in verses 1-3) that anchor the story in place and time. Not only do they provide us a backdrop for the action, they are concrete references to historical people and events that are verifiable through other records. Just what you’d expect of a true story.

Anyway.

I was surprised, when reading about Simeon, to realize that he was just a guy.  My incorrect memory was that he was a priest or prophet, some official who had a role at the temple.  But he was a layman, albeit a very faithful Jew who “was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.  The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.”

Simeon is so in tune with the Holy Spirit that he hears from him. And he not only hears, but he heeds the prompting that leads him to the temple—just so that he could be at the right time and place when Joseph and Mary bring in Jesus for dedication.  His spirit is so uncluttered with his own agenda and opinions that he is used as a conduit for prophesy: “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.  As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

I’m so fascinated by this process, by what it means to be so attuned to the guidance of the Spirit to be able to hear and to speak truth. How eagerly do I await for the Messiah to come and rescue all of us—those who believe and who are “in” and those still lost?  How expectant am I for Jesus’s return, compared to my to-do list of obligations and goals?  Simeon longed for justice and for the rescue of the Israel so eagerly that he was seen, heard, and used by God himself.  And he was just a guy.

I want that too. I really, really want that.  I want the clutter of my mind, all the petty wants and striving to be swept away.  I want to be consumed by the desire to see Jesus, to be part of the rescue.  I’m just a gal, and all I have to offer is this wanting.  I’m so grateful that Simeon was in the right place and time to have his own desire met, to offer truth to Mary and Joseph, and to be included as an example of what the Holy Spirit can and will do through us little guys. 

Luke Chapter 1

Doubt interferes with our faith and the kind of life God wants us to have. Yet doubt is something us Christians are familiar with, even mature ones. Doubt causes us to make poor choices instead of relying on God’s promises. We might take things into our own hands, not wanting to wait for God’s timing. Shouldn’t we pray that we may receive wisdom and patience? 

In the Gospel of Luke, we find the angel Gabriel announcing to Zechariah and Mary that they both will be having sons. Zechariah asks, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Mary responded, “How will this be, I am a virgin?” With her solid faith, Mary believed God would accomplish what He intended.  

As a result of Zechariah’s doubt, he was punished and made mute. Shouldn’t he have rejoiced at this birth announcement as he had prayed many years for having a son? As a priest, he too was aware that God could give Sarah and Abraham a son even at an old age.

So you may have said to yourself, "I wish I could believe and not have doubts."  Doubting is common among us. What can we do to feed our faith and beat back the enemy?  Romans 10:17 tells us “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

God’s word is food for our soul and what we need to keep our spirit strong. Are the people who we spend time with strengthening or weakening our faith? 

Are we more like Zechariah or Mary regarding our faith? We should admit our shortcomings and strive to be more like Mary in her faith.