Day 85: What Do Your Whispers Say About You?

Luke 12

 ¹ Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Yowza. I read this scripture, and I won't lie. My heart pretty much sunk into my stomach. 

What if everything I "whispered in the ear" this very day was published in the newspaper tomorrow? That is, in fact, a general rule in the PR world... never write an email for your business/organization that you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the paper, because it could happen.

Jesus says it will happen. Every secret thing is going to come to light, and the things we've said "secretly" will be proclaimed from the roofs. That, my friends, is a scary, scary thought. And it makes it want to change everything about my life. I don't have a lot to add to this scripture... it speaks for itself. It's a matter of acting on the knowledge that, one day, I'll be held accountable for every careless word I've spoken. 

Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have a lot of praying and changing to do.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Day 84: No Teachers, Please

^{Luke 11}

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

 ⁴⁶ Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

   ⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

   ⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

 ⁵³ When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, ⁵⁴waiting to catch him in something he might say.

*Deep breath* Sooo... what I'm about to say is what I categorize as the "tough stuff". I've been thinking about it for a while now, and when I saw that this particular passage was the thought for the day, I knew I had to bite the bullet and talk about it. I'll categorize myself in this, so please don't think I'm being accusatory. I'm just trying to be up front with myself and others.

I shall now stop procrastinating and go forward.

The question we must answer is: are we these "teachers of the law"? I'm sad to say that when I stop and consider it, the similarities are... horrifying. It actually makes my stomach turn to think about it. Here's why.

"You load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them." I'm afraid we've become a people of much talk and little action. Someone will mention someone without work, or who needs "benevolent help", and we'll say that they could find a job if they tried harder. We assume that they're lazy. Guilty until proven innocent. The unspoken rule is if they were more like us, they wouldn't have problem X.

These "teachers" had forgotten - or maybe never knew - what it was like to be on the other side of the line. To be the adulteress caught in her own shame or the lame man who just wanted to be healed. Maybe we forget, too. I've walked a few hard paths - days when it was all I could do to get up in the morning and stumble through. Forget being super-righteous, or even somewhat-sort-of righteous, for that matter. The goal of the day was survival. We've all had those days. For some of us, they've stretched on into months or weeks or years. And we mustn't forget how that feels when we see someone who isn't where we feel they need to be. We don't know their pain story, and we must be awfully careful not to put a load on them that they can barely carry. They might just give up the fight.

"You have taken away the key to knowledge." Possibly the scariest passage of all to me. We have the key to knowledge, and we have the capability to hold it over people's heads to the extent that both they and we lose our salvation. Read it again. Isn't that the image? Dangling those precious keys of the kingdom, and judging whether someone is "worthy" to hear it, based on their clothes/attitude/language/what have you. God forbid.

God help us all never to become "teachers of the law".

Day 83: Evaluating Our Purpose

^{Luke 11:42-44}

⁴² “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

   ⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.

   ⁴⁴ “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”

I'm officially designated myself the worst "daily blogger" in the world. Between a child with croup/visit to the emergency room, a weekend retreat without internet capability, and a few sleepless nights, I have once again been weighed and been found wanting. But I've been thinking about it, and the thing is that this whole project was not intended to be a burden for me. It was intended to be enlightening... a spiritual journey. There's not one thing enlightening about forcing yourself to ramble out some incomprehensible blog-like drivel after getting in from the ER with a croupy baby at 1:30 in the a.m., and I've decided that I'm okay with that. I'm okay, too, with missing a couple days of blogging while retreating with a group of growing teenagers. It's part of the journey, and that's all right.

Now, on with the show. Our retreat this weekend focused on unity, and I can truly say that I saw God this weekend. I saw Him in the way the girls poured their hearts out to each other on Saturday night, and in the way the kids left with a renewed determination and purpose. And as I think about the weekend, and think about these verses, it occurs to me that the concept of unity and these verses have much in common.

There was much discussion about what the church was designed to be - a family. A living, active body that shares the hurts, the sorrows, and the joys of all the other members. So why do we fail so often at that? Because we are like the Pharisees in v. 42: we follow the letter of the law, tick off the boxes (Go to Bible class: check. Sit through Sunday night sermon: check. Write visitation team cards: check.), and "neglect justice and the love of God". We do that when we see someone sitting alone and yet we pass them by. When we know that someone is struggling but deem ourselves "too busy" to help, or even when we're too busy to notice that they're struggling in the first place.

And v. 43 is quite the kick in the pants. We do love to get the "most important seats", don't we? What I mean by that is this: we all want to be in the "in" crowd... even at church. It's just the way it is. We want people to stroke us and tell us how great our VBS room looks and how essential we are to the fill-in-the-blank program. It's a good idea to look at our motives from time to time, and remember why we started doing whatever-our-thing-is in the first place. If our motives are pure, awesome. If not, maybe some fixin' is in order.

Last, notice that Jesus doesn't say it's wrong to "check off the boxes". In fact, he says we should. "You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." Go to Bible class, but remember why you're going. Write the visitation cards, of course, but be prayerful of their purpose. 

Day 82: Every Person is a Person

^{Luke 11:37-41
37} When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

 ³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Well, well, well. First off, I love that Jesus went in and reclined at the Pharisee's table. As far as I can find, He never rejected an offer to dine with someone - anyone - or denied anyone who requested the chance to spend time with him. We could learn from this. I think that sometimes when we have issues with people who don't hold the same values as we do, we lose our minds a little bit. We forget that every single person on the face of this earth is made in the image of God, and that makes them worthy of our respect, compassion, and kindness. Does that necessarily make them right? Nope. Does it make it okay to treat them poorly? Nope.

Now. When Jesus tells them to get rid of their greed and wickedness, he tells them how: be generous to the poor. What? Those two things don't quite jive at first. But when you think about it, true generosity can only come from the heart. From the inside. The goal here is to get to the point where we see every single person on the face of this earth as a person, as a soul. To realize that each of them has a story and, quite possibly, a reason why they have the problems and issues that they do. And when we do that, we won't be able to help being generous and kind to them. How wise.

Day 81: You Put the Light In Me

Luke 11:33-36

The Lamp of the Body

    ³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,^[g] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,^[h] your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”


"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." We sing it from the time we're preschoolers, but what does it mean? For the longest time, I would have said that it means we're supposed to show our Christianity to others, or not be afraid to speak out, or something-or-other like that. And that's true, I suppose, but in reading these passages I realized that is something much, much bigger. 


"Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as..." Whoa. We've gotta put the light in so the light will come out. And we've got to get rid of the darkness so that the light can come in. "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." The negativity? Out. The gossip? Out. The sarcasm and the smart remarks? Out. None of those things show the light within me. In fact, that's the light within me that's really darkness. 


I think about the few people I've known in my life who are truly "a light on a hill", and this is true of them. They have gotten rid of the bad so that all that's left is positive. And they shine. 


I want to shine. 


For extra fun, here's an awesome song by Brandon Heath... Light In Me. 

Day 80: Who Will Rise In Judgment Against You?

Luke 11:29-32

New International Version (NIV)

The Sign of Jonah

 ²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The book of Jonah, for me, is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture. Here's a city, supremely wicked, and so much so that Jonah runs in the opposite direction. He'd heard the rumors. He probably feared for his life. But when the people heard the message, they repented... an awesome display of the power of God.

Here, Jesus points out that we have something greater than the preaching of Jonah. And yet the people refused to listen and repent. This is one of those brilliant points where Scripture weaves perfectly together. The mental image of the men of Ninevah rising against Jesus' generation on judgment day makes the hair stand up on my arms. In the same way, the Queen of the South, a minor and often overlooked figure in the Old Testament, will rise in judgment because she sought wisdom (the implication being that Jesus' generation was not seeking wisdom). 

So the question is, who will rise in judgment against us? Is it fair to say that the men of Ninevah or the Queen of the South will rise in judgment  against us? What about Naaman (II Kings 5), who dipped in the Jordan seven times even though to be healed even though that seemed like a silly thing to do... simply because the Lord had commanded it? Would he condemn our constant questioning of God's laws? 

What about Esther, who risked her life on behalf of God's people? Would she condemn our apathy?

What about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to yield to societal norms (But everyone else is bowing!), even on penalty of being thrown into a fiery furnace? Would they condemn our conformity to the world?

I'll be thinking of all these things as I go to bed tonight, and thinking of ways to thin the list of those who will rise in judgment against me when the time comes.

Day 79: How To Be Blessed

Luke 11:27-28

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
 ²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”


It always amazes how focused Jesus is throughout his life. His comments sometimes seem a little... harsh. The natural thing to do when someone compliments your momma is to agree. But instead, he uses the comment to make a point, and that point is focus.


I don't believe he meant any disrespect here. Jesus loved his momma, and that is evident throughout scripture. But he never, ever forgets his purpose, and his purpose was to call people to seek the truth and obey it. So his words are to the purpose: you don't have to be chosen to raise the Son of God in order to be blessed. All you need is to hear the word of God and obey it. And that is truly a blessing!

Day 78: Clean House

Luke 11:24-26

New International Version (NIV)

   ²⁴ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ ²⁵ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”


I know, I know. It's been a while. No excuses, but a few explanations: first, I've had a hard time over the past couple of weeks, and I guess I just needed some time to figure things out. No major life issues or anything like that, but I started looking back at my life, at all the things I *thought* I would have accomplished by now, and all the things I haven't done, and it hit me pretty hard. It's not easy to realize that so many of your life goals haven't come to fruition. (Second: I wrote this blog last night, but the cosmos ate it. Trying again and crossing my fingers)


But I prayed a lot about it, and as usual, God answered in a bigger and different way than I ever expected. We are so blessed to serve an Almighty God who cares about us, even in the small things!


Soooo... I'm back. I've been revitalized, refocused, and I'm recommitted. Now, for this passage. I have to admit that this has been a super hard one for me. I studied for a week, and read it over and over again, and never felt that I was "getting" it. I read commentaries about it, but I wasn't satisfied with the answer. Many of them said that this passage refers to filling our lives with good; that the evil spirit came back to the house because it wasn't filled with good things. I feel that concept is refuted by the statement that the house is "swept clean and put in order". The owner of the house isn't negligent, and he hasn't left it in disarray. He's made positive changes to it.


I asked one of the wisest people I know, and he pointed something out to me that I should have paid attention to before. In Matthew 12, the parallel passage adds a clear explanation: "That is how it will be with this wicked generation." As always, the answer is there. And that answer is that Jesus is saying that, even though he's been falsely accused and wearied and harassed by the Pharisees, things will get worse. 


They do get worse... to the point that they murder the very Son of God. And it reminds me of the generation that we live in today. I see things now that I never would have dreamed of when I was in high school (which wasn't that long ago, thank you very much). The times, they are a'changin', and our society will accept almost anything. The mind reels to think that it could get worse. But it will.

Even so, there were some who believed through it all. There were some who loved Him, followed Him, even died for Him. We are looking for the some.

Day 76: We Can't Handle The Truth

Luke 11:21-23

New International Version (NIV)

 ²¹ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. ²² But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

   ²³ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Was Jack Nicholson right? It is true that "we can't handle the truth"? I have to admit that for the past few weeks, I've been thinking about something that is really bothering me. The more I talk/listen to other Christians, the more I realize that we as a people are fearful. We're fearful of offending. Fearful of standing up for the truth. Fearful that someone will think that we think they're wrong and accuse us of "judging" them. To a certain extent, I think we've given in to postmodern society that we live in... the one that tells us that there is no truth and that you can believe whatever you want as long as it's true for you.

Satan loves relative truth. But God has always taught that 1) truth exists, and 2) that there is only one. Jesus was merciful and compassionate, but He was also upfront. He didn't compromise. And here He tells us that if you are for Him, you are against Him. Period. Bottom line.

There was an alumnus visiting HCU today who has spent nearly thirty years establishing a church in his home country of Switzerland. He said that he thought it would take 4 or 5 years; it's taken 27. But he also said that the congregation is small but very faithful. They encourage everyone to "count the cost" before they make a decision to become a Christian; if they aren't willing to change their lives and live as a Christian, they don't encourage them to go ahead with it. (This is a biblical principle, by the way; see Luke 14:25-33). I'm not sure that we'd be bold enough to do this here in the States. 

There is only one truth. And Jesus taught that truth. In fact, Jesus IS that truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it's also the only way to salvation. But if we're not willing to stand up for it, to teach it, to live it, we are against Him.

Day 75: The Truth Will Stand

Luke 11

 14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

So, I just got home from the debate between Kyle Butt, renowned Christian apologetics scholar, and Blair Scott, renowned atheist. It was... faith affirming.

There are a few things that I was reminded of tonight. 1. My faith is based on truth and reason. 2. I have studied and continue to study the issues to the best of my ability, and my faith stands. 3. God's commands for my life always, always turn out for the best. Every time If he says it, it works. If infallible wisdom isn't proof, I don't know what is.

What does this have to do with these verses? It seems to me that what Jesus is saying here is that the truth will come out in the wash. People will deny it, defile it, and try to crush it. They'll even look right at the truth and attribute it to a lie. But in the end, the truth stands. Always. And that is worthy of my praise.

Day 74: Better Than Christmas (And That's Saying A Lot!)

Luke 11:5-13

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity^[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
   ⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
   ¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for^[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”


Whoa, whoa, whoa... back. the. truck. up. 


For the past... oh, thirty-three years or so, I've thought that verses eleven and twelve talked about how the Lord gives good gifts to those that ask him. In fact, it's a little ironic that I reflected on these verses just today. I was feeding Brennan supper, and Jess was gone to band practice, and I started thinking how fun it would be to see his little face light up if I gave him some orange sherbet. So I did, and it did, and it was great fun, and I thought, "If we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father give good gifts to those who ask Him."


Well, that's not what it says, now, is it? What it says is, "how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him"! It compares the Spirit with those great, beaming-smile-producing gifts you give your kids! In my mind, that's huge. I don't know why I'm only now beginning to see how jam-packed the gospels are with references to the Spirit and His power in our lives. 


Also, I think it's interesting that this teaches us to ask for the Spirit. I think we have a tendency to think of the Spirit's entrance into our lives as happening at baptism, per Acts 2:38, and from that point He's just kind of... there. But it seems to me that we can be granted more and more of the Spirit's presence in our lives, and I think too that His presence grows as we get rid of more and more of the sins of our hearts and allow Him more and more room.


I, for one, intend to start praying fervently for more of the good gift of the Spirit in my life. Yay... it's like Christmas morning here!

Day 73: First World Pains

Luke 11

¹ One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

 ² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

   “‘Father,^[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.^[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
   for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.^[c]
And lead us not into temptation.^[d]’”

This is the third day that I've read/contemplated this passage. And I admit that the last two days, I've read it, stared into space, thought a lot, sighed... and then closed the computer. For reasons I couldn't quite put into words, this passage was just a little bit overwhelming to me. But tonight, Jess, Brennan, and I were on our way to Logan's to use a gift card, and suddenly it hit me what was making it hard.

"Give us each day our daily bread." I don't live in a world where people pray for this. I live in a world where abundance is the norm, where we pray instead for self control to keep from eating so much of the daily bread. Hmm. I've honestly never thought about this before, but I have to admit that just the thought sort of made me want to throw up. 

There's a hashtag on twitter that, honestly, has really made me think about the things I complain about. It's #firstworldpains, and it's full of the nonsense that rotten Americans like me gripe about all the time (seriously!). Things like, "I'm so thirsty, but I'm too tired to go get the case of water out of my trunk. #firstworldpains". Or, "I'm slightly warm with my hoody on, but slightly cold with my hoody off. #firstworldpains". Or, "McDonald's was out of ice cream and I drove all the way out there for a milkshake. :( #firstworldpains". You get the picture. We're spoiled.

So how do we apply a verse like, "Give us this day our daily bread"? Well, I've been thinking about it all night. First, we need to be aware that many, even most, of our concerns are "first world pains". I couldn't count the number of times I've said I was hungry, but I've never known hunger. I need to be consistently more aware of that fact. Second, we need to be genuinely and constantly grateful that we have all we need. No more yapping because the McDonald's girl gave me a Filet-O-Fish instead of a Big Mac. I have everything I need, and that is enough. Third, we need to be content with what we have. I'm realizing that what this means is a sense of peace that I've been given all I need for life and godliness. That should give us a quiet and constant joy.

We have enough... more than. And that is enough.

Day 72: Martha to the Max

Luke 10:38-42

New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Well, here it is... the story that defines my life. I am a recovering hard-core Martha. After only three months at our last congregation, the church secretary gave me a copy of the book Martha to the Max: Balanced Living for Perfectionists. I'm not sure, but I think that was a hint. Ahem. 

The truth is that she was absolutely right. I have always tried to do everything. Be everywhere. Go everyplace. And many times, this has been at the expense of my personal relationship with God. 

That's where Martha found herself: working, going, doing, but not being, learning, experiencing. She was so caught up in the event itself that she missed the whole point. Jesus, the Lord Himself, was in her home, and she was so busy washing dishes that she couldn't be bothered to stop and pay attention to Him. 

What a lesson for us... or for me, at least. And the interesting thing is that Jesus says that Mary has chosen what is better... Mary, who looks suspiciously like a lazy bum. Jesus knew her heart, though, and He knew that she saw an opportunity of a lifetime and seized it.

See your opportunities for spiritual growth. Seize them. And don't get so busy doing for the Lord that you forget how to sit at his feet. It's not laziness. It's maturity.

Day 71: Would You Save A Drowning Man?

Luke 10:29-37

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
 ³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
   ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
 ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”


How many times have I read this story? How many times have you? And yet, thinking about it tonight, I have a not-so-good feeling that I haven't taken the message to heart nearly as much as I like to pretend that I have. 


Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not choosing to put myself in a situation because I was afraid. Just like these guys, I have been guilty of not going out of my way because I "didn't have time". Just like these guys, I've hurried on by.


Have you seen this article? http://hypervocal.com/news/2011/police-firemen-look-on-as-man-drowns-off-ca-coast/ It's about a bunch of policemen and firemen in California who chose to look on while a man drowned himself. When they're interviewed after, they say that "policy" prevented them from intervening. And the scary thing is that that almost sounds reasonable to me.


I'm sorry to say that I could see myself standing on the shoreline, telling someone how much I *wished* I could do something to help. That's not the person that I want to be. I want to be the person that, when faced with the opportunity to save someone, doesn't stop to think "what are the possible ramifications for me"? Who finds it impossible to stand on the shore and watch someone drown - physically or spiritually. Who says, this person is more important than my job/my rules/my life. 


If you had been on that shoreline, what would you have done? There are moments in life that tell who you are. The good Samaritan of this story found his defining moment on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Where will you find yours? 

Day 70: Do This And You Will Live

Luke 10:25-28

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

   ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
 ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”
   ²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”


Short and sweet tonight: "Do this and you will live." What a short and sweet statement. If you a) love the Lord will all your heart and soul and strength and mind and b) love your neighbor as yourself, you will live. So easy. So hard. 


The principle couldn't be more simplistic. The practice... well, that's another story. It's that little "all". If it said that you must love with part of your heart, or some of your heart, even most of your heart, okay. But all... that means you have to get rid of every single other thing that has laid down roots. You must give them up. If it takes away a single ounce from your strength, love, knowledge for God, it has to go.


Do this and you will live.

Day 69: Why Time Travel Rox My Sox

Luke 10:23-24

New International Version (NIV)

 ²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”


For those of you who don't know, I'm an aspiring author. I have (for years, actually) been working on a middle-grade novel about two super cute and wonderful kids who discover that they're time travelers. Tonight, like many nights, I've spent a couple of hours working to perfect a scene in said novel. I say that to say this: I spend lots of time thinking about time.


Maybe that's why, when I read this passage, my thoughts immediately turned to time travel. (Yes, I know, but still. They did.) How awesome would it be to get to travel back in time, to actually see these events with our own eyes? The prophets and kings that Jesus refers to... what would they have given to travel forward in time and see these events with their own eyes? Why, oh why do I not have a flux capacitor of my very own?


In effect, this is what Jesus is trying to get across to his disciples... how incredibly, amazingly, indescribably lucky they were to get to see him, walk with him, witness his marvelous works. They were about to witness the one event that would change the world forever. Everyone who ever lived before them, and everyone who ever lived after them, would long to see what they saw.


I do wish I could travel back in time. I would love to know for sure what Jesus looked like, instead of having to imagine Him. I would love to see His facial expressions when he speaks, hear the tone of his voice. 


And one day, I will. Until then, I can be grateful that God saw fit to leave his Word with us, and that I'm blessed enough to know how to read it. God is good, all the time.

Day 68: J-O-Y Down In My Heart

Luke 10:21-22

New International Version (NIV)

 ²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
   ²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”


At some point I'm going to have to go back and see how many times the Spirit is referenced over the course of this study. It's going to be an interesting statistic. Here's another reference to the Spirit that I've never noticed before: Jesus is full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Have you ever realized that your joy comes through the Spirit?


I don't believe this is a giddy sort of joy, or a hyper sort of joy, or a "everything all perfect all the time" joy. Instead, it's that deep knowledge that God is in control, and that He will make all things perfect in their time. It's that joy that keeps you from blowing up at the fast food cashier who keeps getting your order wrong. You're able to back up and look at the bigger picture... and smile.


Spirit-led joy is a wonderful thing. Here, Jesus sees the Pharisees and teachers of the law twisting his words, plotting against him, and generally making his life miserable, and he is filled with...joy??!!? Yes, because he sees the bigger picture. He sees the irony in the fact that little children can see God when these "teachers" can't. I can almost picture him shaking his head, a tiny smile on his face. Nothing but Spirit-led joy could take such a negative and allow it to be viewed as a positive.

I want, covet, desire that joy. But I realize that it starts with me. To get it, I have to allow the Spirit to be active in my life, and to follow His lead in each and every situation. It will take discipline. But the payoff is JOY! (Right now I'm picturing Perry Taylor singing, "J-O-Y, down in my heart, deep deep down in my heart!") And that is a payoff worth working for.

Day 67: Learning From the Devil

Luke 10:17-20

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
 ¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


Wow. Wow wow wow wow wow. I'm not sure I've ever heard a sermon on this passage, or even read an article on it, but, well... this is something. I got a sort of chill when I read it. There's a lot to ponder here.


First, the ones who were sent out have gotten a charge out of the fact that they have power over demons. And who could blame them? I can only imagine what watching someone who was demon possessed must have been like (I've seen a few kids that have made me wonder, but I digress). And then to realize that you could do something about it? It must have been quite the experience. 


But you see, that's the thing. They couldn't do anything about it - on their own, anyway. Only Jesus could. And that's what he is trying to get across when he points out that he saw Satan himself fall from heaven. He's saying that while their "authority" is just a shadow, his is the real thing. It's a proclamation that He Was, and Is, and Is To Come. He was there when Satan went from an angel to the devil. I have often wondered what that moment was like. It must have been terrible.


In any event, it seems to be a serious business to Jesus, with good reason. Just think of all the  harm that Satan has done. I can't count the things he's done to me personally, and Jesus has watched every one of them unfold, multiplied by every person who has ever lived. When he tells the disciples not to rejoice that the spirits submit to them, he's teaching a valuable lesson. He knows why Satan fell... because he coveted the power of God. He got a taste of power, and that taste grew until it was insatiable. Jesus doesn't want to see that again. And so He says, don't exult in the power. Exult in the fact that you have salvation.


Keep your focus. Keep your humility. As Micah 6:8 says, "Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." Learn a lesson from the devil, and don't follow in his path.

Day 66: A Road Map For Missions

Luke 10:1-16

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

 ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.   ⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
   ⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
   ¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[b]
   16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”


We've been meeting lately with a group that's planning a mission trip to Christmas Island next summer. Some of us have been on many missions; some have never been before. It's interesting to see the differences in the attitudes toward the trip and the differences in what people are concerned about. This passage is a good one to consider before going anywhere "foreign" (read: outside of your normal realm of experience) with the gospel. 


I have to say that I never have, and still don't, understand why they were to greet anyone on the road. But the rest of the passage is an excellent road map for missions.


1. Eat and drink whatever they give you (mentioned in both v. 7 and v. 8). In other words, be grateful for what others are giving you out of the goodness of their hearts, and be considerate of the fact that they may have different cultures or customs. Don't lose your influence and look like a jerkface because you don't like fill-in-the-blank. Don't be a diva.


2. Do not move around from house to house. Honestly, I'm not sure of the original purpose behind this one, but I know a good purpose for it now. I have actually known people staying in homes on mission trips who have asked to stay with someone else because they didn't want to sleep in the floor, or because the person didn't have food they liked. Umm... no. Again, don't be a diva. Remember that your purpose is to proclaim the message of Jesus, and he had "no place to lay his head". It's pretty hard to proclaim his message when you're not even willing to sacrifice a little bit of comfort for a few nights. As my college instructors always said, "No complaining while campaigning!" Your attitude will show people the way to Christ... or not.


3. Heal the sick (meet their needs). People cannot listen to you if there's an enormous need smacking them in the face while you're trying to talk. Think about the last time you had to sit through a class while you were super hungry... it's no different with those you're trying to teach. If they're hungry/cold/sick/worried, they can't focus on your message. First, heal their physical need to the best of your ability. Then you can begin to meet their emotional need. Which leads us to...


4. Tell them, "the Kingdom of God has come near to you". Share what you know! Everyone has a personal story of faith. I've found that it's good to start there. Be excited... you know the most exciting story that has ever been told. The kingdom of God has come near to you! Amazing!


5. When you enter a town and are not welcomed... not everyone will listen. It's a fact of life. And it's okay. Don't feel like you have failed personally. The decision to follow Christ is one that every person has to make individually. Not everyone who heard Jesus followed Him; in fact, most people didn't. Why should it be any different for us? Shake it off and move on.


These are simple thoughts, but we proclaim a simple gospel. Sweet.