Today’s reading: Luke 6:12-38

Blessed...

Blessed...
Blessed...
Blessed...
Woe...
Woe...
Woe...
Woe...
- Luke 6:20-26

I love how Luke lays this out, quite a bit different from how Matthew presents it in Matthew 5 (though I like it there, too).

Four things we fear the most...
1) Poverty
2) Hunger
3) Weeping
4) Hated by the masses

Jesus says that He finds those whom we pity and finds them blessed. He meets them right where they are. They are ready to follow Him, no matter what the cost. The rich. the gorged, the seemingly happy, those whom the crowds adore -- these are the ones who are in real danger. They've proven that they don't need God. Or have they?

First priority Jesus sees as he works on us? To redefine what we see as successful. It could be that what we are trying to attain to in this world is the very thing that has the potential to separate us from Jesus for all of eternity.

By the way, end note, Greek word for "Woe" is ouai and can also be translated as disaster or horror. Keep me in your hand, Jesus.

Today’s reading: Luke 5:29-39, 6:1-11

“And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:31-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus says this with a bit of bite in his voice. He knows very well Psalm 14:1-3, he probably sang it at synagogue as a kid (“No one does good!”).

Also, he knew of what Paul would later write in Romans 3:12, 23 (“All have sinned.”).

This puts us all on the same level. There are not experts in righteousness. There are only those who realize their need to turn from sin and those who think they’ve already arrived. I guess their would be another large camp today that see no need at all for God. Maybe that is a good example of Psalm 14:1, fool territory.

God, help me to always realize where you’ve brought be from and give me the vision to see where you still want me to go in the area of repentance, turning over my life to you every day.

Today’s reading: Luke 5:12-28

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” ‭Luke‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This section in Luke 5 has so many amazing takeaways, but this one hit me the most today.

Faith is always made visible by our actions. Yet somehow Jesus can see faith before it breaks into action. This is how Jesus can see the friends’ faith and then forgive the man’s sins. Jesus also saw the faith is the paralytic.

God, please increase my faith/trust in You.

God, show me how I can be a friend like these guys who lowered their buddy down through the roof.

God, thank you for seeing what others cannot. You look beyond the visible and can see what is about to breakthrough. Give us the same kind of perspective as we interact with others.

👀

Today’s reading: Luke 4:31-44, 5:1-11

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Luke‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus had been busy before this to show Peter just who He was. He healed his mother-in-law. He healed all the sick in his hometown. Then, as a final exclamation, there was this miraculous catch of fish. 🐠 🐟 🎣

Peter was looking at these events and then comparing them to his own life of disobedience. How could he ever be around someone so holy, someone so powerful, someone who was obviously not like himself.

Admission of our weakness (and His holiness) has to be the first step in authentically following Jesus.

Jesus responds with the most often quoted command in the Bible: “Don’t be afraid.”

Feel unworthy?
Feel inadequate?
Jesus may think otherwise.
Are you going to argue with the Son of God or will you gratefully follow Him?

Today’s reading: Luke 4:1-30

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus is baptized by John.
The Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.
40
Days
No
Food
Instead, just the intense temptation from the one who has been tempting humans from the beginning (John 8:44).

Jesus was able to overcome. We are allowed to see three verses he used to quote at the Devil.

What verses do we have memorized for intense, exhausting moments like these? If they’re not in our hearts at the time of temptation, we won’t be strong enough to resist.

We have to be ready because the Devil is relentless. He will not stop. Lies are his expertise. The only way to combat a lie is with the truth.

This seems to insinuate Jesus was consistently tempted by the Devil all the way through his 3 year earthly ministry.

Being tempted?
You are in the company of Jesus.

Time to prepare by hiding God’s word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

Today’s reading: Luke 3: 23-38

“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph...” Luke‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke does something quite different from Matthew. Luke isn’t concerned of the legal background of Jesus’ heritage, through his father. Here, he goes back through the lineage of Mary, Jesus’ mother.

Why?

To put the emphasis on a woman that God used to do something great? To take the emphasis off of the legal, Jewish affirmation that Matthew was concerned about?

If Luke wasn’t Jewish, as many people believe, he was able to give an objective view as he interviewed eye witnesses. This shows us that we can trust Luke and what he’s going to pen about the life and ministry of Jesus.

May we not think too small when it comes to reaching those who are lost. Make we make use of all that is at our disposal so that no one is left not having heard the gospel.

Here’s to the creativity of Luke! May we join him!

Today’s reading: Luke 3:1-22

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Luke‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Jews used constant ritualistic water purifications to prepare themselves to enter into the temple and offer sacrifices for their sin. John is in the wilderness, far from the temple, saying that forgiveness was possible without the temple, without the constant sacrifices.

John’s ministry was in every way a preparation for Jesus’ earthly ministry (3 years) to commence.

It was time to start turning everything upside down.

The rescue mission was being activated, like everyone has been prophesying in the Hebrew scripture.

And Jesus is still rescuing us today with the power of His blood and resurrection.

John’s role? To announce the Rescuer!

Today’s reading: Luke 2:36-52

“And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:40, 52‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Strength.
Stature.
Wisdom.
Grace.
I’m not sure I’m ready to try and answer what it means for God in flesh to grow up and into His potential or when He was actually aware of His identity.

We do know that he grew in these things. Even Jesus had some kind of progression when He was young.

Have we been praying to grow in grace, wisdom, and strength? Of all the words Luke could have used, these seem to significant. Jesus was getting ready for His mission (to ultimately die and rise), and these seemed to be essential to His preparation.

Perhaps they’ll be essential to ours as well?

🤔

Today’s reading: Luke 1:57-80

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love this guy Simeon.

He spends so many hours in prayer and in the study/meditation of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is so much that the Holy Spirit is speaking clearly to him in a time when things has been silent for a while.

Trying to imagine what I would think if an old man took our kid at church and said something like this.

When Samantha was pregnant with Tenley, we had a guy come up to us and pray over our unborn baby in a clothing store. It was powerful and took us off guard, but I still remember feeling prepped for that new adventure.

I pray that I can stay so close to Jesus that He causes me to rise to heights I never dreamed possible — not to fall in my own pride.

🙏

Today’s reading: Luke 1:57-80

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” Luke 1:76-80

I know praying this prayer over our children doesn’t really fit contextually or theologically, but the key statements are so good to pray over our kids, the future generations.

Give the nations knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of sins.

That they would be strong in spirit.

I love the language Zechariah uses to describe the coming of Jesus. Like sun shining in the darkness. Guiding us to peace!