Deuteronomy 2   Verse 3 "You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north."  God's Word to Moses took the people of Israel out of the wilderness... and into the path that would take them to the  Promised Land.  These words have stopped me.. taken my thoughts to a different place..  What mountain have I been circling "long enough"?  Is there a path that I need to go forward on? I need to meditate on this some more.. 

Moses led the people as the Lord directed. They passed through Seir.. the land given to Esau and the Lord told them to not provoke them or take any of their possessions.  They could buy food and water and keep moving. 

When they passed through the land of Esau's heritage, they came to the land of Moab and again the Lord commanded them to  "not harass.. nor provoke them.. " This land was given to the sons of Lot and the Lord would not take it away.  The same with the land of Ammon. 

But, when they arrived at the valley of Arnon, things were different. The king, Sihon the Amorite "was not willing"  to allow the Israelites to pass through the land. God hardened his heart and gave the people of Israel victory over the Amorites and they were given that land to occupy and possess. 

Verse 7 "For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing."  

They had wandered "long enough".. the unbelieving generation was gone.. the passage through the land of Esau and Lot was complete.  The victory over the Amorites was done.  They were on the cusp of the future that they all dreamed of.. and they needed to remember that God had done it all.  He would do the rest.. if they trusted and obeyed. 

Father, You are watching over us, Your people.  You move us through the years of this life, caring for us, blessing us, and being with us.  We have not lacked a thing. You have a plan and a future prepared for us and we are on the cusp of eternity.  By the power of Your Spirit in us, Father, strengthen us for what lies ahead so that we will know the victory that Jesus has purchased for us.. sanctify us entirely, Lord, so that we will stand before You without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus. May we enter into Your glorious Presence clothed in His righteousness!  Come Lord Jesus! Come!  May You find us walking in faith and ready to meet You on that Day.. we ask this in Your Holy Name, King Jesus, Amen. 

 Deuteronomy 1 

The first few chapters of Deuteronomy are Moses' words... a history lesson, if you will.. for those who survived the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  This new generation would be the ones to go into the Promised Land to possess it as God intended.  Moses reminds this great multitude of people of all that God had done and of the failure of their fathers to trust God those many years before. 

 "But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your God." These words were spoken to a generation that experienced the plagues in Egypt.. the crossing of the Red Sea.. the presence of the cloud by day and the fire by night. They had eaten the manna and drank from the water that came out of a rock.  They had heard God's voice in the thunder and lightning on the mountain of God.  Out of all the multitude that came out of Egypt only 2 men would survive.. Caleb and Joshua. Only these two trusted the Lord their God. 

Now.. the children who had grown up in the wilderness.. who had watched the older generation fail and fall along the way.. were ready to enter into God's promised land.. if they would trust Him. 

Caleb would trust the Lord.. he "followed the Lord fully".   Joshua would lead them because he was also faithful to trust and obey the Lord.  Moses told the people to "encourage" Joshua.  Moses had been continually challenged and discouraged by the people of Israel. He had even lost his privilege of entering the land. He knew the challenges that Joshua would face and he wanted the people to pray for Joshua and to trust the Lord. 

The Word of God is always relevant and meant to light our paths.. even those words written for a nation thousands of years ago.. May these words challenge us to examine ourselves.. are we trusting God for whatever lies ahead for us today?   Let us be reminded of all that God has done for us throughout our lives and take heart that He is leading us to a Promised Land.. a City not built by human hands. Let us trust Him and encourage one another in the journey ahead.  Let us follow the Lord fully even as Caleb and Joshua did. 

Father in heaven, Your Word is Truth for today, for me.. and for all who call upon Your Holy Name.  Strengthen us with power through Your Spirit today. May we be rooted and grounded in Your great love and filled with the fullness of God. We are fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.. that we might run with endurance the race that is set before us. We need You to surround us with Your Presence even as You surrounded Israel in the wilderness.  May we never forget all You have done and may we always put our trust in You.  In the name of Jesus our King we pray. Amen. 

 Luke 21  The first 4 verses of this chapter are focused on a poor widow who gave all she had as an offering.  Many gave out of their surplus, Jesus said, but she gave out of her poverty.  Her gift was worth "more than all of them" He declared.   Let us not miss this lesson as we read onto the rest of the chapter where Jesus begins to talk about the future of Jerusalem and of the earth...  All the beauty and splendor of the temple would soon be broken down and done away with.. but the value of a poor widow's offering  endures forever. 

Jesus opens the conversation about the future with a warning.. "See to it that you be not misled..."  The future for the disciples would not be easy.  There would be wars.. They would be persecuted. There would be earthquakes and plagues and famines.  But they did not need to be afraid, for God would give them opportunities to testify before "kings and governors."   He would give them the words to speak.. He would give them endurance.  

The future of Jerusalem would be devastating. Armies would come against them. The sword would be used against her people. "Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.. " When  the "times of the Gentiles" is fulfilled and there are "signs in sun and moon and stars upon the earth.. ";  when the nations are dismayed, the powers of heaven are shaken.. then "they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 

Jesus tells His people to keep looking up.. to be ready.. to be alert and praying "in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." 

We live in a day when all these things seem to be happening around us and we keep looking for Jesus to return. We must remember the lessons of this message from Jesus.. don't be deceived; don't be afraid; trust Him for words to testify of  His coming;  and be praying.. so that we will be ready.. 

Father in heaven,  we are fixing our eyes on Jesus, laying aside all that encumbers us, running the race set before us in Your strength and staying alert so that we can stand before our King.  May the power of Christ in us preserve us for that day.. as we offer our all to You. Amen. 

 Luke 20:19-47  The scribes and chief priests tried to discredit Jesus, sending people who "pretended to be righteous" in order to catch Him is saying something against the Law or against Rome.  They still didn't realize that Jesus knew everything and was not fooled by their tricks. 

The question about paying taxes is a loaded one. A yes or no answer would have exploded in either case. But, Jesus is not stumped and His answer astounds them. "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." 

The next question came from the Sadducees who asked about the resurrection, which they did not believe in...  imagining a woman who was married to 7 brothers and widowed 7 times without having any children.  What would happen to her after she died?  Jesus answered in an unexpected way.. " The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage... " 

Jesus goes on to describe a new life for those who belong to the God.. a life that is without end.  "Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." 

How little they thought of God..  and how small are our conceptions of His greatness.  The psalmist wrote, "Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee. " ( Psalm 139:12)  Jesus now tells us that life and death make no difference to  God. He is God and He sees everything.. He rules over every place.. and He knows everything and everyone!

Jesus challenged His challengers with a question of His own.. "How is it that they say the Christ is David's  son?"  David, himself called Him, Lord.  He would not say that to his son.. but only to One greater.. to the Son of God. The pharisees and sadducees, the scribes and priests.. were so far from the Truth that they didn't know that the Messiah stood right in front of them. 

"Beware" the Lord warned His disciples... just because someone acts like they know it all, does not mean they do. The scribes walked around like they were the greatest, but their hearts were wicked. They would receive condemnation for what they did.  

When I stop to think about what I need to learn from this chapter of Luke.. I am reminded that there is nothing that Jesus does not know and He is able to provide direction for my every question, my every problem, and my every need.  He sees me in the light and in the darkness. If I am living, He is with me and when I die, He will be with me still.  He is the Son of God and He came to earth as the son of David to fulfill the will of the Father.. to bring salvation to all who will call on His Name. 

Father I know that I can trust You with every question and with every need in my life.  I am Your child and I love You, for You have loved me with an everlasting love.  Thank You for saving me and making me whole.  Keep me in Your will, Father, to the glory of Your Name and for the Name of Jesus Christ my King. Amen 

 Luke 19:28-48; 20:1-18

  Jesus entered Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. His disciples sang and shouted the song of praise,

 " Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." 

 The Pharisees complained.

Jesus wept over the city where the Name of God was supposed to dwell.  Then He reacted with anger at the treatment of God's House.. where they had brought in "robbers".  The place meant for worship and prayer was being misused and abused by those who lied and cheated and defrauded the people of God.  How could this be?

The Pharisees and chief priests and scribes began to plot His destruction.. and question His authority. 

Jesus then told the parable of the vine-growers.. evil men who refused to give the owner of the grove what was lawfully his.. who mistreated the slaves sent to receive the harvest.. and who killed the beloved son thinking that they would be able to keep what was not theirs. 

This is such a clear picture of what was happening right before their eyes.. 

The Vine-owner, God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth and everything on the earth.. chose the people of Israel to work in His garden.  They began to claim everything for themselves and when God sent the prophets to lead them in the Truth, they mistreated them and killed them.  So.. God sent His Beloved Son.. and they rejected Him and crucified Him on a cruel cross.  What happened to those who rejected Jesus?  They lost what they had and it was given to others.. they rejected the Stone and it became the Cornerstone.. this Stone fell on them and they were scattered "like dust." 

All of us.. every single person who ever was, is now, or  ever will be.. has been/ is brought into being by a loving and patient Creator.  He has given us His Word to show us Truth about ourselves.. that we are sinners in need of salvation.. and there is only One who can save us.  Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life. He is our only hope and we either receive Him and His help or we are lost forever.. We fall on Him or He falls on us.. one way brings life.. the other eternal death. 

Father in heaven, open our eyes.. open the eyes of those who still do not see their own sin and need for salvation..Send workers into Your harvest field today, Lord, so many more will hear the good news and follow Jesus. We ask this in His Holy Name. Amen. 

 Luke 19:11-27  Jesus was getting nearer to Jerusalem.. and the people, including His disciples, were excited in anticipation.. for they believed that the Kingdom of God was coming immediately. 

But.. Jesus stops and tells them another parable.  It is about a nobleman who goes away to "receive a kingdom for himself".  He leaves his slaves in charge of his estate as he goes away.. giving 1 "mina" (worth about 100 days wages)  to each of ten men in order that they might "do business" for him.  As he leaves, his citizens send a delegation to tell him not to return, for they did not want him to reign over them. 

When the king returns from his successful mission, he called the slaves to give account of their work. The first one had been faithful and gained 10 times what he had been given and was rewarded with  a position of authority over 10 cities.  The second had earned 5 minas and was rewarded with 5 cities.  The third man.. had done nothing. He put the mina in a handkerchief. By his own confession he says that he knew the king was "an exacting man"  who could take up what he didn't lay down and reap what he did not sow.  He knew that the king was able to do great and impossible things, yet he did not trust him to use him..  He felt worthless and he acted in that way.  Maybe he didn't believe that the king would ever return.  He didn't think about the fact that the king had chosen him to do this.. which should have made him have confidence to do what needed to be done. 

Jesus tells the moral of this story, "I tell you, that to everyone who has shall more be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away." 

Jesus knew that He was the One going away to receive His Kingdom and that He was leaving His disciples behind.  He gave them responsibilities for when He was absent and He will examine their faithfulness when He returns.  We are counted among those who are Christ's servants.  All we have in this life is from Him. What are we doing with what He has given to us? Are we faithfully serving our King? When it is time for us to give an account to Him, will He find us faithful? 

Father in heaven, may we be found faithful and good servants on that blessed day.. we want to  serve You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Help us, Holy Spirit, to walk in truth and love and to trust fully in Your power to use us.. and all we are.. and all we have been given ...  to the glory of God, our Father and Mighty King and to Jesus, our Savior and Lord. We ask this in His name. Amen.

Luke 24 "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn... " 

The women came to finish laying His body to rest.. but.. the stone was rolled away.. the tomb was empty.. and then angels appeared! "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.." 

Jesus had told them.. but they didn't understand.. didn't believe.. didn't know that God would do this impossible thing...until now.  That very moment "they remembered".  They knew.  They returned "and reported all these things to the eleven and to the rest."  No one believed..but.. Peter "arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went to his home, marveling at that which had happened." 

Luke takes us quickly through the next events.. Jesus walking with the two disciples to Emmaus. Jesus meeting with the apostles in the upper room.. and Jesus ascending into heaven. 

They were "slow of heart to believe.."  Jesus said. They were needlessly troubled. They needed to understand all that the Scriptures had said about Him. "Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." 

When the Holy Spirit came upon them the would be "clothed with power from on high".  They would proclaim "that repentance for forgiveness of sins... in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem." 

Sorrow was washed away.. great joy filled their hearts.. and they were "continually in the temple, praising God." 

We celebrated Easter.. or Resurrection Sunday.. in so many ways yesterday.. all over this world.  So much of the "celebrations"  have nothing at all to do with the joy that the disciples found with the Living One during those days.  It was a joy that changed their lives and changed the world.  It is a joy unspeakable that changes every heart that will choose to believe. 

Father in heaven,  we rejoice that our Savior lives!  May our hearts stop being slow to believe.. may our minds be opened to understand.. may we be filled with the Holy Spirit.. clothed with power from on high! May we be faithful to proclaim the good news of repentance in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Thank You for the wonderful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. We praise You! Amen and amen.