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Follow Jesus? or Money?

Scripture reading for March 26th: Luke 18

Key Scriptures: Luke 18:18-24 “And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments? ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow Me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

Mankind is always looking for a formula or some form of human effort that they can use to earn favor with God. The rich ruler flattered Jesus, calling Him ‘good’ and appeared sincere in his quest for eternal life. Jesus called his attention to the revealed Word of God, the ten commandments, quoting five of them. The ruler sincerely stated that he had kept them from his youth. Knowing his love of money, Jesus went deeper to expose a breaking of the first commandment–idolatry. When asked to give up all his possessions and follow Jesus, he became sad and could not freely comply. He was wrestling in his heart with the cost of obtaining what he had stated he wanted and giving up the money now. Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom–not impossible! With God’s grace and our humility to listen and receive, all things are possible.

Luke 18:29-30 “And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace, enabling my salvation! I wanted this world’s riches, but was bankrupt until You revealed the Way of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Help me to clearly present the Good News of laying my desires down and following You to eternal riches.

Proverbs 11:28 “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”

Who is your master?

Scripture reading for March 24th: Luke 16

Key Scriptures: Luke 16:10-14 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him.”

Jesus had just told his disciples and those listening, including some Pharisees, the parable of the dishonest manager. The Pharisees who were given management in God’s house were lovers of money. They made fun of Jesus because He was not rich and had no possessions. They viewed money as a measure of God’s blessing for obedience. Jesus spoke plainly of our stewardship of money and possessions as “very little” that demanded faithfulness. How we manage the little determines if we can be given more. All we have here belongs to God and He is keeping an account. He is our Master, not the money! We serve Him alone in how we steward His money.

Luke 16:15 “And He said to them, “You (Pharisees) are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are my Lord and Master, not the money or possessions You have blessed me with. Help me to be the faithful steward of “very little” so that I can bless You and Your kingdom.

Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”

Building on the Rock

Scripture reading for March 10th: Luke 6

Key Scriptures: Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Jesus was plain in His teaching. He came to bring Truth and light to those in darkness. There were those who called Him ‘Lord’ but were not doing what He instructed them to do. He likened them to a builder of a house who neglected the foundation. When a flood came, the house fell immediately because of no foundation. Those who heard Jesus and did what He said were like builders whose foundation was on solid rock. When the flood hit that house, it stood strong on the solid rock of obedient faith. Do I want my house to stand or fall? Do I hear and obey or hear and stray?

Luke 6:27-29 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I hear Your Word and some things are difficult for me. Give me grace to apply all Your Word, particularly in loving my enemies and those who hate me. I want to build on the unshakable Rock!

Proverbs 13:1 “A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”

Jesus growing up!

Scripture reading for March 4th: Luke 2

Key Scriptures: Luke 2:46-51 “After three days they found Him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. And when His parents saw Him, they were astonished. And His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us so? Behold, Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that He spoke to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them and His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.“

There is not much written in the Gospels concerning Jesus’ early years. This short passage from Luke’s Gospel offers a glimpse of Jesus as a child of about twelve years of age visiting the temple during Passover week. Jesus sat with the teachers and leaders and listened and asked questions. He amazed all who heard Him in both His questions and answers. His mom and dad had already left for home when they found He was not with them. When they returned and found Him in the temple, His mother rebuked Him for causing them distress. Jesus simply stated that He must be in His Father’s house! This statement did not bring understanding and He went with them submissive and obediently.

Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being with me as I am now Your house and helping me to grow in wisdom as I walk with You. Give me favor with You and with men, that I might accomplish Your will on earth as in heaven.

Proverbs 1:6-8 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the oaths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.”

Blameless in Holiness before God!

Scripture reading for June 17th:  Proverbs 26-28, 1st Thessalonians 3

Key Scriptures:  1st Thessalonians 3:9-13  “For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?  Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

Paul had been encouraged by the report from Timothy concerning the faith and steadfastness of the Thessalonians.  It gave him great joy and comfort to know that the tempter, Satan, had not been successful in his tricks.  But as a true pastor, he longed to return and further instruct them in God’s Word and see their faith increase.  He entrusted them to the Father and the Lord Jesus to help them grow and abound in love.  He prayed that their hearts would be blameless before God when Jesus Christ returned.  Without holiness, no one can stand before the Lord.

Faith confession and prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word and the working of holiness into my heart by the Holy Spirit.  Help me today to grow in faith and love towards You and my brothers and sisters that I may be able to stand before You when You come again.  Hide me in Jesus Christ on the Day of Christ.

Proverbs 27:12  “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”  

Adversity and the Word of God

Scripture reading for June 16th:  Proverbs 24-25, Psalm 41, 1st Thessalonians 2

Key Scriptures:   1st Thessalonians 2:13-16  “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers.  For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.  For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved–so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.  But wrath has come upon them at last!”

Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for receiving the Word of God for what it really was.  God’s Word is alive and powerful, able to transform the soul from death to life eternal.  It changes attitudes and rebellious behaviors and enables perseverance during suffering.  In fact, suffering in believers lives comes from the unsaved world and sometimes our own relatives.  They are under God’s wrath and oppose the Word of God.  Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples and was crucified by His own people.

Psalm 41:9  “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

Faith confession and prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for the Word of God.  I receive it and desire its work in me for transformation and salvation.  Anoint me to preach the Word of God in the face of adversity!

Proverbs 24:10  “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”

Loved and chosen by God!

Scripture reading for June 15th:  Proverbs 22-23, Psalm 117, 1st Thessalonians 1

Key Scriptures:  1st Thessalonians 1:2-7  “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father you work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in Word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.  You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the Word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”

As Paul began his letter to the Thessalonian believers, he encouraged them by telling them of his prayers for them.  Paul thanked God for their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” in the Lord Jesus.  They had received the Word of God in much affliction and had demonstrated their faith by works of repentance and true change.  These believers became examples of Jesus Christ and the power of the Gospel among the growing church in Macedonia.  God was glorified!

Psalm 117:2  “For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord!”

Faith confession and prayer:  Lord Jesus, help me today to do works of faith in the love of God, being steadfast in hope and full of joy as I obey Your Word.  Use my example to encourage other believers and bring God glory.

Proverbs 23:19  “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.”