Luke 16 also contains the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man lived "in splendor every day".  He had it all and kept it all.  Every day that he left his mansion, he passed by Lazarus, who was laid at the gate to beg. He never showed any compassion or concern at all.  He probably looked the other was...

Lazarus probably had leprosy or something similar.  He was "covered with sores".  He was starving.  Dogs would come and lick his sores.  He was as poor and as miserable as any man could be.  But.. he believed in God and was rewarded for his faith.

When both men died, Jesus tells us, they had much different outcomes.  The rich man was sent to Hades where he was tormented by fire and longed for even  1 drop of water. From this place of torture, the man could see Abraham with his arms around Lazarus, comforting him.  He asks for Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water.  But it is too late.  He had never considered Lazarus' need as he passed him by every day while they were alive.   Even if Lazarus wanted to help him, there was a great chasm between the 2 locations that could not be breeched, so he would remain in constant agony.

The man begged for someone to go to his 5 brothers and warn them not to make the same mistake that he did. But even that request was refused.  His brothers had the same opportunity as every man, to hear the Word of the Lord and respond with repentance and find salvation.  Nothing else would be given. None of the man's riches would help him.  None of the man's prayers would be answered.

Too late. 

Father in heaven,  this story makes me think of my unsaved family members.  O God of mercy, I pray that You will open their eyes and bring them to repentance and salvation before it is too late for them!
My most urgent prayer is for them.  Please save them Lord.  I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Luke 16  Jesus tells a parable about a steward that worked in a rich man's estate.  The master hears that the steward is "squandering his possessions."  Before he is fired, the steward settles up the master's accounts, shrewdly making good deals with several debtors.  His motive is to make friends with these men so that they will help him after he loses his job.  The master does not have a problem with the steward's actions, but actually commends him.

One commentary I read suggests that it is actually the master who is unfair here.. firing the steward who was perhaps falsely accused.  Another states that the steward will not only be fired, but put to death for his actions.  Either way, the point that Jesus is making appears to be about the use of money.

Verse 9 - Use earthly wealth "mammon of unrighteousness" - for eternal purposes.
Verse 10-11 - Be faithful, even if you only have a little, for then you can be entrusted with more. But, if you are not faithful in even  the little bit, you will not be entrusted with more important things.
Verse 12 - If you can't handle someone else's money, you will not be able to handle your own.
Verse 13- Money wants to master you, but God is the only One we should serve.

The Pharisees loved money.  They scoffed at Jesus' teaching.  Jesus teaches some vital principles here:
".. God knows your hearts" v15
God detests what men esteem.
The Law is clear.
The gospel of the Kingdom of God has been revealed.
Every sin... pride, greed, falsehoods, unjustified divorces...is seen clearly and judged righteously by our Father according to His standards, not ours.

Be faithful in everything that God has entrusted you with...
Money
Family
Marriage
Truth
Jobs
Church

For God knows your heart and is the final Judge of what counts.. of what is righteous and good and pleasing to Him.  We are in His service.  Nothing else should become a priority over living in trust and obedience to Him.

Father in Heaven, we hallow Your Name.  You are God alone, Ruler of Heaven and earth and there is no other.  Fill us Holy Spirit that we might walk in truth and righteousness this day, by the grace of Jesus and the Power of Your Might.  All that I am and all that You have blessed me with, I surrender to You fully.  Be glorified in my life I pray, amen.

Luke 15  As Jesus freely associates with the "tax-gatherers and sinners" who are drawn to Him, the Pharisees and scribes begin to grumble.  Jesus tells them 3 parables in order to correct their thinking and reveal the truth... of God's perspective and of their own heart issues.

The lost sheep is found.  The owner rejoices when he finds the one that was lost and celebrates.
99 sheep were safely in the fold.  The missing one may have not seemed that significant, but it was valued by the shepherd.  Jesus says, " I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

The lost coin is found. The woman had 10 silver coins and lost one in her house.  Each coin was worth a days wages.  Imagine the loss of a day's pay... that could be a big problem for those of us who live paycheck to paycheck.   After carefully sweeping her house, the woman found her coin and rejoiced!  Again Jesus says, " In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 

The lost son returns home.  In the first story, heaven itself rejoices.  In the second, the angels are rejoicing.  In this example, it is the Father who rejoices!  The son chose to take his inheritance and leave home.  He is foolish in using his wealth.  He is unprepared for the famine that hits the land.  He is in desperate need.  "But, when he came to his senses.... " he returns to his father's home.  He comes humbly, confessing his sin and acknowledging his unworthiness.  But, the father still greatly values his son!  He sees him coming, he runs to him, he embraces him, and kisses him!  He prepares a robe, a ring, and a lavish dinner to celebrate the return of his son. ".. for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." 

The elder son resents the celebration of the younger son's return.  He resents the father's joy over his own brother's salvation.  This is the heart of the Pharisees and scribes grumbling.  They saw no worth in sinners or tax-gatherers.  They did not value the lives of their own brothers and resented the salvation of those whom they considered unworthy !

Jesus teaches that one sheep, one coin, and one son... the lost who are found.. are highly valued in heaven!  Each one of us.. who come home to the Father.. are received by Him with great rejoicing ! All of heaven rejoices when the lost are found.

Father in heaven,  O how wonderful You are!  Your love for each of us is so precious.. as You have shown us in Your word.  You look for us, You embrace us and kiss us.. You give us a robe and a ring.. calling us Your own.  Thank You for being such a loving and wonderful Father. Help us to stay ever in Your Presence.. We need You so!  We love You, Lord! Amen.

Luke 13-14   As Jesus heads to Jerusalem, knowing that He will suffer and die there,  He continues teaching to those who have ears to hear and to heed His Word.

Luke tells us that someone asks Jesus " Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" ( 13:23)
The answer is a resounding "No".    Those who "strive to enter by the narrow door.." and who come in while the door is still open,  will be saved.  But, " .. many, I tell you will seek to enter and will not be able."  Jesus says that there will be a time when the door will be shut and those left outside, knocking as hard as they can... will not be allowed to enter.

The lesson is clear.  We must respond to His invitation while we can.  For there will come a time when it is too late.  He wants us to come.  He invites us to come.  He even compels us to come... to eat at the table of the King. He calls us to Himself.. to come under His wings and be His favored guest.  It is up to us to respond now.  To respond with humility and with joy.  For all He offers to us is worth so much more than  anything else that we could possibly desire. 

Those invited to the dinner in the story found in Luke 14:16-24, made excuses - one bought a new piece of land and wanted to look at it;  one bought some new oxen and wanted to try them out;  one had just gotten married and wanted to stay with his new wife.  Jesus teaches that we must count the cost of following Him.. of entering the narrow gate that leads to the Kingdom.. and we need to decide now that it is more important than any other decision that we will ever make. He is the King and is worthy of our total commitment every day and every hour.

We must love Him more than our father, mother, wife, or children, brothers or sisters.
We must love Him more than our own lives.
We must be willing to carry our own cross.
We must be willing to stay steadfast and persevere to the end.

Three illustrations are given to help us picture this:
A man who wants to build a tower will make sure that he has enough money to build the whole thing.
A king who is planning on going to battle will make sure he has enough soldiers to win the war.
Salt that no longer has any flavor cannot be used for anything but will be thrown out.

If we want to follow Christ, we need to know that He expects us to stay faithful to the end.
If we want to follow Christ, we need to trust Him to bring us to victory.
If we want to follow Christ, we must not lose our value, like tasteless salt,  but to remain in Him.

There were those who were outside the door who claimed to know the Lord, " We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets;" But that is not good enough, Jesus says, "I tell you, I do not know where you are from; Depart from Me, all You evildoers." 

Father in Heaven,  You have called us to Yourself and You are worthy of our full commitment.. every ounce of our being.  Why is it so hard for human kind to lay down that which we cannot keep so that we can take up that which we cannot lose?  You are everything ! Your Kingdom is more valuable than anything this earth contains! Eternity is way more important than the few days that we dwell here on earth.. what You tell us is like a wisp of smoke.... grass that grows in the morning and is gone by evening.  Open our eyes Lord!  Strengthen our love for You and our commitment to put You first above all things.  And, one more thing Lord... Happy Birthday Jesus!  Thank You for coming, for saving us, for inviting us into Your Presence.  Thank You and praise Your holy Name. amen.

Luke 13:1-8   When Jesus is asked why some Galileans had been killed by Pilate, His answer takes them by surprise.  Were they greater sinners?  " I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."  He also gives another example of 18 men killed when a tower fell, and again states that they were not worse sinners than those in Jerusalem. Death is inevitable . For all of us, unless our Savior returns.  It is sometimes tragic.  It sometimes seems unfair.  But, it is not the most important thing... Repentance and salvation through faith in Christ Jesus is the only important thing!

Then Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that has not produced fruit for 3 years.  The tree should have been  producing.  The caretaker wanted to give it one more year to be productive.  If it did not produce then it would be cut down.  The most important thing in our lives, is not how we die.. but how we live.  Do our lives produce the fruit of righteousness?  Are we walking in a manner worthy of His calling?  Are we fulfilling the purposes that He has for us?

The tree was not producing and was judged.  Likewise, Jesus, looking at the fruit of the religious leaders, saw nothing worthy of salvation.  They were hypocrites, forsaking the truth and living according to their own terms.

Verses 10-17 are another illustration .. this time a living one.  The woman was stricken with a terrible sickness - one that was caused by Satan and had bound her for 18 years!  She was completely bent over.  She " could not straighten up at all."  When Jesus saw her, "He called her over and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your sickness' "  Then, He touched her and she stood up straight for the first time in 18 years!  She immediately gave glory to God!   But, the religious officials were "indignant".   Work can be done the other 6 days of the week, they argued.  Come back then to be healed. What a stupid reaction to such a miraculous healing!  The hypocrites are humiliated as Jesus corrects their wrong thinking.  " You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him?  And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

The religious leaders were more concerned about their animals than their sister who was suffering.
They cared about their rules and regulations more than they cared about people.
Jesus saw no fruit of righteousness in their lives.  They would be judged and cast out unless they repented and came to Him.

Father in Heaven,  open our eyes and our hearts, to see You and to give You glory!  We do not want to live as hypocrites, but as faithful followers in Jesus Christ, our King. Forgive us, Lord!   May our lives abound with the fruit of righteousness.  Overwhelm us by Your Spirit that we may produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  Fruit that is produced by the True Vine to Whom we are united with as branches.  May we life a life worthy of Your calling.  May we focus, not on ourselves, but on You.  Help us to do this, for we are unable to produce such fruit on our own... but only in Christ Jesus.  It is in His Mighty Name we pray.  Amen.

Luke 12 - continued...

Lesson 1 - Live the truth and watch out for the false - Focus on the One Who values us so much that He gave His Son for our salvation. Live for Him and not for the world.
Lesson 2 - Be generous, not greedy.   Trust the One Who values us and make Him your treasure.  You won't be sorry...

Lesson 3 - Be ready.

Jesus says, " Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamps alight." (v35)
"... immediately open the door to him..." (v36)
Be .. " on the alert" (v37)
" You too, be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." (v40)
Be found " faithful and sensible.. when He comes". ( v42-43)

The unprepared, unfaithful, servant will be punished for his deeds.
The ready, faithful servant will be blessed. Jesus gives us a clear command to be ready!

Lesson 4 - Be aware.

Jesus teaches that there will come a time of "division" on the earth.  Division between fathers and sons, mothers and daughters...   A division over Him. Be aware that we each must make the choice to follow Him.

He teaches that we should " analyze this present time.." Be discerning of what is happening in our world around us.

He teaches that we need to "judge what is right."

The life of a disciple of Jesus Christ is not a simple life without problems.  But it is a life worth living.  As we walk in His Light, His Word.. and let the Truth gird our minds and hearts, we will know Him more and more.  This One who loves us and values us, is coming to take us Home with Him.. and we need to be aware and ready.  We can only do that when we keep our eyes on Him.
He is our Treasure.
He is our Truth.
He is our Coming King.
He is the Judge of all.

" O come, Thou Key of David come;
and open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"

Father in Heaven,  May Your Name be ever on our lips as we praise and worship You, rejoicing that You have saved us and that You love us so!  We ask for the coming King to reign over us fully.  We seek the Guidance of our loving Counselor to help us walk in faithfulness and truth.  Keep our eyes open.. that we might know You more and more every day.  Thank You for hearing this prayer.. in Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Luke 12 This chapter is  full of lessons that I want to dig into and learn...  Come Holy Spirit and teach us the Truth that Jesus is revealing here in Your Word!

Lesson 1 - Beware of hypocrisy.   The Pharisees were full of hypocrisy - feigning or acting the part of righteous leaders, but full of deceit.  Jesus says it is like leaven - boiling up and growing, fermenting;
They were covering up their internal wickedness with outward acts of religious works.  But, Jesus says.. nothing is going to stay hidden... The cover will come off and the truth will be revealed.

So, knowing that,  don't live in the same way.  Live in truth.  Speak the truth. Act in accord with the truth.  Don't be afraid of " those who kill the body"  but, " fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell, yes I tell you fear Him." 

Revere God... 
Who knows the sparrows.. and the number of hairs on your head.
Who values you.. 
Who will hear your confession of Christ before men, and His confession of You before the throne.
Who forgives our failure before Christ, but Who holds us accountable for our words against His Spirit.
Who gives us the words to say by His Spirit when we stand before evil authorities.
These truths will overcome hypocrisy!

Lesson 2 - Beware of greed.  ".. be on your guard against every for of greed; form not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." ( v15)

Jesus tells the story of a rich man who had so much that he tore down his barns to build bigger ones so that he could own more! He thinks he has it made and he can "eat, drink, and be merry".  But, God had another plan... that very night, the man dies.  His treasure was all wrapped up in earthly possessions.  He was unprepared for what came next - eternity.

So, the way to prepare for true life, life after this world is to be "rich toward God". 
Don't be anxious about this life - food, clothing, body,  "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." 
Remember that God values you. 
Don't be anxious.. don't worry.. don't be afraid..
Our Father knows our needs.
Our Father has chosen to give us His Kingdom.
Our Father has given us treasure in Heaven.
Worry accomplishes nothing... Faith accomplishes much!

More to come.. tomorrow.

Father in Heaven,  Your Word says "He who has ears, let him hear"... and so I turn my full attention to Your voice.  I hear You say to me today, that You know me, value me, and have me in Your Hand.
Forgive my hypocrisy.. the times when I go through the motions, but my heart is not full of faith and light.  Shine on me, Lord and uncover every wicked thought.. "search me, O God, and know my heart," as David prayed.. "try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Remove anxiety and fear as I stand before You in Jesus Christ, Whom I confess before men.. that He is my Lord and Savior, my King and my God.  Open my eyes to see You in Truth and to worship You always!  Amen.