Legalism and Spirituality

Verses: Luke 7 : 18 - 35

My thoughts about the verses:

John hears what Jesus is doing and he sends two of his disciples to find out if this is the true Messiah.  Do they need to look for anyone else or is this what they have waited for?  The disciples see what Jesus is doing and they ask the question that John sent them to ask.  Jesus tells them to report back to John all that they have seen.

As soon as they leave he tells those that gathered around them that no man born of woman was greater than John.  Yet, at the same time he said that the least of those in Heaven were greater than John.  Jesus wanted those around them to know that they should be have listened to John.  John was there to prepare the way.  Yet, at the same time Jesus wanted to let those around him know that they too had a place in Heaven if they chose.

Jesus did not want anyone to feel less important in the Heavenly realm.  People have a tendency to compare themselves to others.  We think that this person does so much good that they must be more important in Heaven than I will be.  Yet, God does not look at what you do.  God looks at what you believe.  If you believe in the cleansing blood of Jesus you are equal to everyone else that accepts Jesus.

There were so many at this time that was also judging the actions of John and Jesus.  John was out in the wilderness, fasting and preaching about the coming of God.  He was sometimes thought to be possessed by a demon because of these actions.  Yet, on the other hand Jesus was not fasting, he was celebrating with others that were seen less than respectful to the community. People thought that he and his followers must not be truly living the life that was required by individuals serving God.

Yet, Jesus pointed out to them that they should not be judging.  Their thoughts showed that no matter what they did that it would always be judged as wrong.  People had a set mind on how everyone should react if they claimed to be serving God.  They were caught up in their legalism. Stepping out of what they perceived as law made them judge others as less than perfect.  Yet, what they were missing was that God only wanted the heart and spirit to be focused on serving God. There was no set law or way to react.  As long as your give your heart to God you were living correctly.

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for loving us as we are.  Thank you for always accepting the things that we do as we serve you.  Help us to keep our focus on you.  Help us to not judge others.  Help us as we go through life to accept those that do things differently.  In your Holy Name we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Do you judge others?  Have you questioned the way people serve God?  Do you feel less than or better than others?  What do you need to do to serve God?  How can you help others find Christ?

Jesus shows compassion

Verses: Luke 7 : 11 - 17

My thoughts about the verses:

Many of us have grown up thinking that God is a vengeful God. That God will get us for the things that we have done in our life.  We feel that we are unworthy of the love and grace that God wants to give us.  We were raised in a situation in which we actually believe that God will smite us for just one small wrong deed.  That God will not reward us if we do any wrong.  That we must do great things to get the reward that is promised to those that are saved.

Yet, look closely at these verses.  No one asked Jesus to heal the man.  No one stopped him and told him the situation.  They did not tell him that the woman was a widow and that her one and only son had died.  Yet, let us look at what Jesus shows compassion to this widow by raising her son from the grave.

Look closely at the scripture this is something that he did not have to do.  Jesus was only going through the town and passed the funeral.  He saw tears and understood that death had brought so much grief that he had to bring back this young man.  It is amazing to think that God understood.  That soon God would feel the same grief that this woman was feeling.  He knew that he too would be going to the cross to die. That people would grieve his death and weep like never before.  Yet, Jesus did the only thing that he knew to do he relieved the pain that this mother was going through.

The lesson that we need to learn is that we need to show compassion to others.  That we do not do it to be rewarded rather we do it because our heart strings are pulled.  I have been living this way of life for several years.  One of the things that I do each year is have my head shaved to help kids that I do not even know be cured from cancer.  If you ever see a child sick you will understand that they are just waiting to find healing.  The one thing that they want more than anything else is to be well and to play and explore the world.  The parents desire the same thing.

I do not know their individual stories, but what I do know is that a child doesn't need to suffer.  I live with my own illnesses and have often desired the same thing.  I know how it is to want just to feel better.  Because of that I show compassion to others around me even if I don't know their story.  There is something rewarding knowing that you are doing something small that will make a difference for so many people.

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for loving us.  Thank you for being compassionate.  Thank you for sending Jesus so that we may find everlasting life and love.  Thank you for forgiving our trespasses so that we may live free.  We ask you Dear God to help us become compassionate.  Help us show others the love that you have shown us.  In the name of the Great Physician we pray.  Amen

Questions:

What have you done that has showed your compassion for others?  Has anyone ever gone out of their way to help you even if you didn't know them?  Have you received the love that God wants to freely give you?  Do you understand God is compassionate?  What do you need to do today to help others?

Exhibiting Faith

Verses: Luke 7 : 1 - 10

My thoughts about the verses:

Imagine standing at the edge of a waterfall.  You know at any moment you will tumble off the edge. In that moment would it not is more comforting if you had someone with you.  To know that the person that is with you will help you and you will survive the fall.  Yet, at the same time you can understand how you would not want the person there.  You feel unworthy to have someone go over the edge, even though you know that is the only way you would survive.

The centurion talked to the Church leaders and told them that he needed help for his slave.  That he would die if a miracle wasn't found in time.  The Jewish elders go to Jesus to ask him to save this man's beloved slave.  They justified their desire by telling Jesus what all the man had done for the community.  Jesus started heading toward the man's house.

The Centurion decides that he should have never asked Jesus to come.  He felt unworthy and that he should have never asked Jesus to come.  He sent messengers to relay the message to Jesus.  His messengers tell Jesus that he should not come.  The Centurion stated he did not come to Jesus because he felt unworthy to be in the very presence of The Messiah.  The Centurion said that if Jesus would just speak the words he knew his slave would be healed.

It is what Jesus does at this point that shocks those around him.  He turns and tells them that this man had more faith than anyone he had met in Jerusalem.  He told the messengers to return to their leader.  When they arrived they found that the slave was in good health.

What we need to understand is that the Centurion had faith in Jesus that the Jewish elders did not have.  He comprehended how powerful Jesus was.  He knew that anything that Jesus spoke would happen.  The Jewish elders were trying to justify Jesus should come to help the man.  They believed that the only way that Jesus could heal the man was to be in his presence.  Yet the Centurion had enough faith to believe that Jesus could do anything that he desired.

So what does this mean for us?  First we need to understand that God already knows all our needs. If we spend our time justifying why we need help we do not give the situation over to God.  The moment that you realize that the only way that you will have your needs met is to have faith. This type of faith will lead you to the answers you need.  You will be able to face your situations head on because you will know that God is there all the time to help you.  See if you have the faith that God can save you then you are one step closer to surviving all life throws your way.

Prayer:

Thank you God for saving us.  Thank you for holding us as we struggle.  Thank you for being there even when we attempt to push you away.  Dear God we ask right now that you help us grow in our faith.  Help us come to a closer understanding of your power and love.  Help us each day trust in the healing grace that you give freely to us.  In the name of the Most High we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Do you have the faith that God can get you through all the struggles in life?  Do you feel the presence of God in your life?  Have you trusted that God will be with you no matter what you go through?  Do you feel worthy enough to ask God to help you?  Do you feel worthy enough to know that God wants to walk beside you in the good times and carry you in the bad times?

Build your life on the Rock

Verses: Luke 6 : 46 - 49

My thoughts about the verses:

I know as a kid that these verses led to one of my favorite songs.  The wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish man built his house on sand.  It is easy even for kids to understand.  A life that is built on a strong foundation will survive the storms of life.  A life built without a foundation will never survive the storms of life.

Think of it this way.  If you accept Jesus in your life you are centering your life.  You are building your life on a strong foundation.  When the storms of life come upon you they will not knock you down.  You may sway due to the winds, but your life will not crumble.  You will have an anchor that will keep your grounded and you will be able to deal with things that others see as impossible.

If you choose not to accept Jesus in your life then you have to face the storms of life all by yourself.  There is nothing holding you in place.  The winds and rain will fall on your life and knock you to your knees.  You will not have the ability to handle all the blows that come your way.

The wise person is the one that acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah and asks for forgiveness.  That crucial moment links you forever to the saving grace, rock, you need to live free.  The foolish person hears about Jesus sees what Jesus does in others’ lives but never asks the Messiah in their life.  They have chosen to ignore the need to have God in their life.  They never ask for the free gift of salvation.

Prayer:

Dear God we thank your for the free gift of life.  Thank you God for loving us so much that you gave your life when we did not deserve it.  We ask that you help us ground our life in your love. Help us live a life that helps others find their way to your strong foundation.  In the name of the Risen Savior we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Are you standing on a solid rock or a sandy beach?  Have you asked Jesus into your life?  Are you willing to help others build a foundation based on Jesus's love?

When you do good things, good things will come of it

Verses: Luke 6 : 43 - 45

My thoughts about the verses:

We cannot expect good to come in our life if we only do bad things.  Bad trees will not produce good fruit.  You cannot expect to find fruit on a tree that has died.  On the other hand you do expect to find fruit on a tree that is taken good care of.

This is much like people.  Good deeds come from those that have a pure heart.  Those that have an impure heart have a bigger tendency to do bad things.  If you have a pure heart it is harder to do badly.  This occurs because you will feel bad about yourself when you do something bad to others. It is just as hard for someone to do good for others when their heart is impure.  This occurs because when it is hard to put others before you.

Jesus wants us to think about where we stand in the world.  Are we a healthy tree or are we a dead tree?  If we are healthy we will spread good throughout the world.  If we are dead we will spread hate and injustice.

You respond to the world by the way you think.  If you are a child of God you are challenged to live a healthy life.  Those that are Christians should be willing to go out into the world and spread the Good news to those in need.  Christians often feel bad when they hurt others. Jesus encourages us to live our life daily to love others and not to hurt them.

A person that does not have God in the center of their life often only worries about their own fortune.  They have a tendency to do anything that will put them on top.  In the process they hurt people and do not feel bad about.  As long as they achieve their goal they feel content.

Jesus makes it clear that you will be rewarded eternally by the way you live your life here on Earth. If you show love and care you will receive that in your eternal life.  It is essential that we live with our hearts focused on God.  To surround ourselves with others those are centered on God.  The healthier the tree the better the fruit will be.

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for showing us love when we were not deserving of that love.  We thank you Jesus for shedding of your blood to cleanse us from our iniquities.  Help us spread the Good News. We ask dear God that you help us keep you in the center of our live.  In the name of the Risen Savior we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Are you a healthy tree?  Are you a tree that needs help blossoming?  Are you a dead tree that needs to accept Christ in your life?  What kind of fruit will you produce from the way you live your life?