Today's reading: Luke 6:39-49, 7:1-10

'The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.' - Luke 6:45 ESV

"I didn't mean what I said" is an often overused statement. What we really are trying to communicate in those moments is, "I've been trying to hide how I really feel for so long, and I couldn't keep it in any longer!"

Jesus was not just a miraculous philanthropist. Every single word that came out of His mouth was (and is still) the bedrock truth. All that was in His heart flowed flawlessly from His mouth.

We, on the other hand, go to great links to justify our words and actions. We want to take the sting out of it. We would be better off in times of failure to ask God to drive all darkness and evil from the depths of who we are (our hearts). When we become Christians, a transaction was made; Jesus' blood for our sin. For the rest of our lives, God desires for us to enter the process of sanctification. This is the activity of God making us more and more like Jesus as we draw again and again from His deep waters of grace.

Have you said something you've regretted this week? Done something that you tried to explain away? Don't do this. Admit how bad it was, ask for forgiveness from others and God. Let God do the transforming work He's always wanted to do in your life.

Solomon wrote: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips” (Proverbs 4:23, 24).

Today's reading: Luke 6:12-38

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:37-38 ESV

At some point in our lives, if it hasn't happened already, we are going to come face to face with evil. At that moment, we will have every justification to harm those who have harmed us. We will be like David and the two opportunities he had to kill King Saul (see 1 Samuel 24:4). Not only will we have the opportunity for vengeance, but we will have others around us encouraging us to do so. "This is your chance!" they will claim.

Jesus claims, in our reading today, that taking your justified shot isn't the best way to live. He teaches that we should "leap for joy" when we are mistreated and that we should return blessing for evil -- forgiveness and kindness for hatred.

Why would Jesus ask us to do something like this? Doesn't He care about justice? Our Savior does care about setting things right. This is why He died on the cross; to set all things right.

I think Jesus is concerned about what hatred and striking out will do to us. At first glance, it seems like vengeance will fix everything. Yet Jesus knows what it will do to us, potentially turning us into our accusers.

This doesn't mean we placate evil or don't let our abusers face natural consequences for their actions, but it does mean that violence and retaliation will not repair what is broken inside of us.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:21 NIV

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

The Hebrew Bible is pretty straightforward when it comes to God’s stance on every human being’s condition. The Jews sang the following song regularly: “They have all turned aside.” (see Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:9-18) If this is the case, what was Jesus trying to communicate in our reading for today? Were there really some who had it all figured out and didn’t need to change? The following quote is helpful.

“Jesus does not think, of course, that any are righteous, but he knows well that those who think themselves righteous will accept little of what he has to offer.” - Mark C. Black

There is a real danger in spiritual elitism. When we start down the dreadful path of comparing our lives to others, it becomes pretty easy to convince ourselves that our lives “aren’t that bad.” A lack of awareness of our sinful state is one of the scariest places we can venture into.

This is why Jesus had an immediate effect on the notorious people of His day. They knew they needed to change. They were ready and waiting for Him.

Realize your need for Jesus to save you from yourself. Pay attention to those on whom God has already been working. The Holy Spirit has prepared them for you to share Jesus’ love with them.

Today's reading: Luke 5:12-28

'And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”' - Luke 5:20 ESV

What good is your faith for the benefit of someone else? We can't believe on behalf of someone else, can we? No, you can't, but there is so much that you can do for another who hasn't yet trusted Jesus.

Think about our reading for today. These men would not let a crowd keep them from getting their friend to Jesus. Not only were they creative, but it would have taken great strength to get this paralyzed man on top of the house and then to be lowered down.

To Jesus, their faith was visible. Faith will always find its expression in what we can see (check out James 2:18). Faith is personal, but it isn't private.

These men put their friend in the best possible place for Jesus to change his life. This has the potential to change the way we pray for others. Below are some ways that might help us today as we seek to help those we love to experience the powerful healing of Jesus:

1) Get creative >> No one will be reached the same way. We have to look for custom-fit, creative ways to reach those who need a life change.

2) Expect it not to be easy >> Evangelism is a marathon and not a sprint. Lock in long-term. Show them you aren't going anywhere.

3) Exemplify faith >> Don't be a fraud. Authentically follow Jesus yourself. Show them what it looks like to follow Jesus every day.

Jesus can see your faith. So can others. God can use your faith to make an eternal difference.

Today’s reading: Luke 4:31-44, 5:1-11

‘But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”’ - Luke‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When Jesus decides to do something incredible in our lives, we at first think there has been some kind of mistake. Why would God decide that we are worthy enough to use? We know what we have thought and done. We also know that He is well acquainted with those mistakes.

Instead of affirming our uselessness, Jesus steps in a calls us into the work He is doing. We are not only chosen to receive God’s grace (via the salvation of our souls), but we are also called to be agents of this worldwide rescue plan.

I love what Jesus does in verse 10. He confronts Peter’s fear and invites him into something beyond fishing for fish. People would now be the catch of the day.

Could you lead many to Jesus as Peter did? If you feel inadequate or unworthy, it seems that you are finding yourself in excellent company with all those who were called by God in the Bible.

Let’s get to fishing.

Today's reading: Luke 4:1-30

'And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.' - Luke 4:13 ESV

Have you sat down to think about when it is that temptations, for you, are the heaviest and hardest to resist? The Devil had come at Jesus when he was both isolated and physically drained of nourishment. Many of us wonder if dodging the punches of temptation will ever end.

Leon Morris says it well: "There is no freedom from temptation in this life. There was not for Jesus and there is not for us."

So, we can be assured that, in this life, we can expect the devil (and our own evil desires, see James 1:13) to try and bait us into ruining our lives of faithfulness to Jesus and those we love. In this instance with Jesus, the devil even used a well-known Hebrew song (Psalm 91:11-12) to try and deceive him.

When are you at your weakest to resist? When are you at your strongest?

It is almost a given that when we are isolated and unhealthy physically or emotionally, we will be at our weakest. Yet, when we are surrounded by faithful Jesus-followers, taking time to make healthy decisions, and memorizing Scripture, we will be at our strongest.

What Scriptures are you memorizing right now to equip yourself in this fight? Let me share one with you that has been extremely helpful to me over the past year (as an example):

Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. - Romans 13:13-14 NLT

Today's reading: Luke 3:23-38

'Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli...' - Luke 3:23 ESV

Luke is the only gospel writer to record the age that Jesus started his earthly ministry. This was the age the Levites began to serve (Numbers 4:47), and it was held as the time when a man became fully mature in Jewish culture. Most young adults want their ideal job and salary by the time they're 30. I wonder how much different our culture would be if we had the same understanding.

If you are a genealogy nerd (like me), you'll notice that Luke's record of Jesus' line differs in places from Matthew's. Why? There are four possibilities, but the most probable is that Matthew records Joseph's legal line, and Luke records his actual line through Mary's descent. It was very uncommon to do what Luke did in the first century, but he was the only biblical writer that was non-Jewish, so we have come to expect him to do things differently.

Still bored as you chew through mind-numbingly boring genealogies in the Bible? The following quote from Eugene Peterson is a great way to end today's post:

"Lists of names continue to turn up in various forms and for a variety of purposes throughout the Hebrew Bible. One scholar, a specialist in this genre, counts "about 25 genealogies." And when Matthew and Luke sit down to write their account of Jesus, they both use the idiom of genealogy that was introduced in Moses. Some complain about the long lists of names that they encounter in their reading of Scripture, and impatiently treat them as deadfalls in the forest impeding their passage. But if I found my name in the list, would I be offended or bored?" (Taken from “The Jesus Way”)

Today's reading: Luke 3:1-22

'"Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham."' - Luke 3:8 ESV

John the Baptist definitely didn't hold back when it came to his message to the crowds who started flocking to him for baptism at the Jordan. It takes a bold individual to call a group of people snakes. Oddly enough, the crowd seems to be pretty responsive and ready for John's message. Not only that, they want some clarification.

It is almost as though they're saying, "Ok, so what does bearing fruit in repentance look like in my specific context?"

John's answers are probably not ones we would have responded with:

1) The crowd: Give away your extra clothes and food.

2) The tax collectors: Collect no more than you're supposed to.

3) The soldiers: Don't use extortion for gain. Be content with your salary.

Very simply, we see that John's immediate response to their request for clarification was rooted in generosity and integrity. When we think about our own lives and times when we've struggled with sin, we may be able to identify with this.

John doesn't tell the Roman employees to quit their jobs for the ungodly Empire. Instead, he calls them to higher accountability within the Beast.

May we all look for ways to increase our levels of generosity and integrity this week!

Today's reading: Luke 2:36-52

'And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him...And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.' - Luke 2:40,52 ESV

It is wild to think about Jesus making his way through normal human development. Did Mary keep a growth chart of her firstborn as he grew from 3'11" to 4'5" and so on?

These two verses so us that Jesus wasn't growing physically. He was actually developing in every sense of the word. Twice Luke tells us that wisdom and favor were at work within his life. What was it about these two words that made them worth repeating?

The word Luke used for wisdom is "sophia," and it is a "knowledge which makes possible skillful activity or performance." (Louw-Nida) In Proverbs 3:19, we see that "By wisdom, the LORD founded the earth." Wisdom is what made Jesus so capable, and James tells us it only comes from above (James 3:17).

The word used for favor is "charis," and is used 154 times in the New Testament. It also appears as "grace" or "gift." It wasn't just with His Father that Jesus had favor, He also had it with those in came into contact with as He grew and developed into the man who would die for our sins.

The application is obvious for us today. We would do well to drop to our knees right now and beg God for wisdom and favor. There is no way we'll be able to accomplish all God intends for us to do without these two. If Jesus needed them as He developed, so will we as we grow in the grace (charis) and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

Today's reading: Luke 2:1-35

'Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.' - Luke 2:25

Jesus has now been born, which was announced by the house musicians of heaven (angels) to the lowly shepherds. Jesus' parents were God-fearing people, which is evidenced by them having him circumcised (on the 8th day), going through the time of purification, and then coming into the temple to offer the sacrifice for their firstborn son.

After this, they encounter two elderly people who were extremely faithful to God, and this was shown by their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. When we increase in age and don't stop spending time listening to (and speaking with) God, there is nothing sweeter.

Our younger generation of Christians today desperately needs the older. Now, it isn't about doing things the same way as we did 50 years ago as a church. It is more about helping us to become who Jesus wants us to be. It is about a broader perspective. It is to start seeing that our faith in Jesus isn't something that will go out of style. It will always be relevant to each generation that is open to seeking God.

If we are refusing the mentorship of older Christians, we are lowering the ceiling on our potential.