Verses: Luke 11 : 37 - 54
My thoughts about the verses:
It is important to note that even though at this moment Jesus is addressing two groups head on there are many lessons that we can learn from. In fact, this message holds true to us today. Every time we go outside the teachings of God we are bringing the wrath of God on us. God wants to shed love freely to us but there are times that we walk in the wrong direction missing what God has called us to do.
The first thought is that of cleansing the outside of our body. We worry a great deal about the way we look. What makes us look special so that we can be attractive to others. Yet, we neglect our inner self. We forget to pray to God. We forget to study the word of God. Instead of taking care of what is truly important we concentrate on the foolishness of the Earth.
The second is due to the way we give our tithe. People give their best and are proud of what they have given to the Church. Yet, they do not show justice and love to others. They believe the money and other offerings will be enough. They miss that charity to others in the way of a comforting smile. They miss the point of standing in solidarity with groups that are marginalized. The fact is that God not only wants our financial talent but our emotional tithe. When you are truly working for Jesus your heart should ache when you see people suffering. your desire should be to help them get better by doing whatever it takes to show them the love of Jesus.
Many of us walk with pride for what we do at our local churches. We forget that we are no better than the rest of the people that need forgiveness. We believe our title gives us a right to look down on others. We assume that they are not as faithful to God. If they were why do they come to the service and not volunteer to great capacity. We forget that everyone is in a different stage of their life. There are those that are leaders and those that are followers. People who feel that they are not looked down on or treated unjustly from the leaders will be more helpful to the leader. Yet, if you treat them bad they will turn away from you. We should treat others with respect at all time. Jesus makes it clear that the one that has the least will be the greatest. I often wondered about that but think of it this way if you are on the top you have a tendency to lose focus and are doing your service for different reasons. Yet, if you have very little and are participating to the extent that you can you are truly doing it out of dedication of God. You are not looking for honor and praise from others instead you want to grow closer to your Savior.
How many of us put so much on one person to carry events or lessons yet do not take on that burden to make it easier for them. We want things to occur yet, we want others to do it. We see what can happen when things are completed yet we do not lift a finger to make it happen. Instead we direct from the sidelines. Because we believe our job is just to be the leader not the person that needs to do any of the work.
The next one is hard for many to understand the correlation. I want you to think back to the one person in your life that you can truly say they lived the will of God. Now ask yourself this question what did you learn from them and continue today? It is easy to remember the things that they did for God and others. Yet, the question is did their help and encouragement for others continue in our life. Or are we just marking their death and allowing the things that they taught us to be buried or released from our friendship.
The last part is probably the easiest for us to understand but often the hardest to follow. We are given knowledge about the one that came to save us and set us free. We are told to share that news and to spread the love with the entire world. We did not have the key to the knowledge it was actually opened and given to us by our Savior. Yet, we keep it to ourselves. Sometimes we feel that were inadequate to share our stories. We sometimes feel that people will judge us for our actions when we tell them about our love for God. Sometimes we even feel that we can give away our knowledge and not retain any for ourselves. Yet, God teaches us one lesson the spreading of the news is our responsibility. When we freely share the good news God will plant that key in the other person’s life. It may not be the time that they turn it but because we shared the news they do have the background knowledge to one day be free.
Simply to sum all this up in one short sentence is very easy. Love God and spread the love of God to the world without expecting return.
Prayer:
Dear God we thank you for loving us. We thank you for the knowledge you have given to us so freely. Help us to live a life that will show you honor. Help us put our selfish needs behind us and work on the ultimate mission. Help us become people that love others and you with all our heart. In the name of the one who has made us whole we pray. Amen
Questions:
My thoughts about the verses:
It is important to note that even though at this moment Jesus is addressing two groups head on there are many lessons that we can learn from. In fact, this message holds true to us today. Every time we go outside the teachings of God we are bringing the wrath of God on us. God wants to shed love freely to us but there are times that we walk in the wrong direction missing what God has called us to do.
The first thought is that of cleansing the outside of our body. We worry a great deal about the way we look. What makes us look special so that we can be attractive to others. Yet, we neglect our inner self. We forget to pray to God. We forget to study the word of God. Instead of taking care of what is truly important we concentrate on the foolishness of the Earth.
The second is due to the way we give our tithe. People give their best and are proud of what they have given to the Church. Yet, they do not show justice and love to others. They believe the money and other offerings will be enough. They miss that charity to others in the way of a comforting smile. They miss the point of standing in solidarity with groups that are marginalized. The fact is that God not only wants our financial talent but our emotional tithe. When you are truly working for Jesus your heart should ache when you see people suffering. your desire should be to help them get better by doing whatever it takes to show them the love of Jesus.
Many of us walk with pride for what we do at our local churches. We forget that we are no better than the rest of the people that need forgiveness. We believe our title gives us a right to look down on others. We assume that they are not as faithful to God. If they were why do they come to the service and not volunteer to great capacity. We forget that everyone is in a different stage of their life. There are those that are leaders and those that are followers. People who feel that they are not looked down on or treated unjustly from the leaders will be more helpful to the leader. Yet, if you treat them bad they will turn away from you. We should treat others with respect at all time. Jesus makes it clear that the one that has the least will be the greatest. I often wondered about that but think of it this way if you are on the top you have a tendency to lose focus and are doing your service for different reasons. Yet, if you have very little and are participating to the extent that you can you are truly doing it out of dedication of God. You are not looking for honor and praise from others instead you want to grow closer to your Savior.
How many of us put so much on one person to carry events or lessons yet do not take on that burden to make it easier for them. We want things to occur yet, we want others to do it. We see what can happen when things are completed yet we do not lift a finger to make it happen. Instead we direct from the sidelines. Because we believe our job is just to be the leader not the person that needs to do any of the work.
The next one is hard for many to understand the correlation. I want you to think back to the one person in your life that you can truly say they lived the will of God. Now ask yourself this question what did you learn from them and continue today? It is easy to remember the things that they did for God and others. Yet, the question is did their help and encouragement for others continue in our life. Or are we just marking their death and allowing the things that they taught us to be buried or released from our friendship.
The last part is probably the easiest for us to understand but often the hardest to follow. We are given knowledge about the one that came to save us and set us free. We are told to share that news and to spread the love with the entire world. We did not have the key to the knowledge it was actually opened and given to us by our Savior. Yet, we keep it to ourselves. Sometimes we feel that were inadequate to share our stories. We sometimes feel that people will judge us for our actions when we tell them about our love for God. Sometimes we even feel that we can give away our knowledge and not retain any for ourselves. Yet, God teaches us one lesson the spreading of the news is our responsibility. When we freely share the good news God will plant that key in the other person’s life. It may not be the time that they turn it but because we shared the news they do have the background knowledge to one day be free.
Simply to sum all this up in one short sentence is very easy. Love God and spread the love of God to the world without expecting return.
Prayer:
Dear God we thank you for loving us. We thank you for the knowledge you have given to us so freely. Help us to live a life that will show you honor. Help us put our selfish needs behind us and work on the ultimate mission. Help us become people that love others and you with all our heart. In the name of the one who has made us whole we pray. Amen
Questions:
Are you living a Godly life? Are you putting your needs before the needs of the one that has made you free? Are you helping those that are around you found their saving grace? Is there something that you must change to live closer to God?
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