Today's reading: Luke 12:8-34

'And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”' - Luke 12:15 ESV

Advancement has to be one of the deepest core values of our American culture. We too often believe that more is more, and we just have too much evidence to prove otherwise.

Jesus, yet again, was trying to get dragged into another controversy. This time it was an internal family dispute. Don't you love when you find yourself in the middle of one of these? Yeah, me neither. Jesus refuses to intervene on this guy's behalf. Instead, he hammers him with the statement quoted above. Our lives do not consist in the abundance of stuff that we can accumulate. Getting this guy's share of the inheritance was not going to cure his covetousness.

So, if this life isn't about acquiring more and more, what is it about?

Well, Jesus shows us in verses 32-34. Life is about advancing God's kingdom (not our own). Life is about holding all of our possessions and finances with open hands. Life is about storing up treasure that can never be stolen by a thief or a dip in the stock market. Life is about making Jesus the treasure that our hearts follow.

Today's reading: Luke 11:37-54, 12:1-7

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" - Luke 12:4-5 ESV

The Pharisees and the Mosaic Law experts held a lot of power over the Israelite people during the first century. They had the ability to banish and exclude anyone who came into conflict with them. It is easy to fear people like this who are in authority over us, even if we know they are dead wrong. What makes this even worse is that these men were supposed to be the Jewish people's spiritual leaders.

Jesus described them as being like "unmarked graves" that people walk over.

No matter how influential someone is in our lives, there is no one we are to fear. The reason is that their authority is ultimately limited. Sure, they can kill us, but God can do better, including tossing us into eternal fire.

The deeper meaning of fear here is not the idea of jumping when you see a spider. It is a worship word throughout the Bible. When we "fear" someone, we are putting them in a seat that is only reserved for God.

This is the only place in Matthew, Mark, or Luke that Jesus calls His disciples friends. He says this as a concerned friend who wants what is ultimately best for them!

Today's reading: Luke 11:14-36

"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." - Luke 11:20 ESV

Throughout these four biographies of Jesus' life and ministry, He has plenty of encounters with demonic activity. It is wild to think that something that Jesus dealt with repeatedly is a subject we rarely talk about today. It could be that our very naturalistic culture has intimidated us from being open about the fact that there is so much that we can't see.

There is still, today, a war waging for our souls. Jesus has actually tipped us off as to what the Devil's method is in John 10:10, and it is to steal, kill, and destroy. We don't have to look very far into our families, our nation, or our closest relationships to see that our enemy is very successful at what he does.

Yet, we can be encouraged because of the One that we follow. Jesus can tie up that "strong man" and throttle his counterfeit kingdom. His power is unlimited. One of Jesus' biographers would later write the following:

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." - 1 John 4:4 ESV

Know who your enemy is. Know who you are. Know how dominant your Savior is. Get a better perspective on what is really going on all around you.

Today's reading: Luke 10:38-42, 11:1-13

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Luke 11:9-10 ESV

If God were to describe your prayer life to one of the members of His heavenly counsel (angels), what do you think He would say?

Would He describe how fantastic of a servant we are (like Martha), but that we let our inner troubles and anxiety keep us from sitting at His feet regularly?

Would God describe us as worshipers who are constantly ready for Jesus to return to set all things right?

Would He explain how great we are at living out of His hand every day instead of constantly worrying about the future?

Would He point out how we are quick to forgive someone who hurts us because we know we've been forgiven a great debt we can never repay?

Would He cite examples of how we (on a regular basis) fervently pray until our temptations subside?

Would God describe our persistence in prayer as something that can be categorized by some as borderline obsessive and annoying? Would He say that we are the kind of intercessors that don't scare easily?

May we keep on asking. May we keep on seeking. May we keep on knocking.

God is waiting eagerly to give us gifts that will never fade.

Today's reading: Luke 10:13-37

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” - Luke 10:20 ESV

Oh, the blessings of seeing God move as a result of something we have done! The adrenaline rush is fantastic. The 72 that Jesus had sent out were bursting with joy as they returned from what Jesus empowered them to do. Even Jesus joins in on the celebration by confirming that He saw Satan fall like lightning! Not only that, but Jesus also promises that there will be more to come in their war against their ancient enemy and the powers of darkness.

At this point in our culture, we would expect Jesus to say, "Drinks on me! Go out and celebrate. Soak this in! Enjoy what God has done in and through you on behalf of others." Yet this isn't what Jesus does. Instead, He ratchets them back down from any temptation of self-glorification.

Our future is not bright because of anything we have done. Our future is bright because of where we belong.

When we make an eternal difference in someone's life, we are simply ensuring that their names, too, will be written in heaven. The rejoicing, at that point, will be unending.

Today's reading: Luke 9:51-62, 10:1-12

'Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”' - Luke 9:62

When we first read our passage for today, it is a little startling. Is Jesus really this insensitive when it comes to following Him? The three examples of those interested in following Jesus seem to have legitimate reasons to pause before going all-in.

1) Shelter

2) Burying a parent

3) Saying goodbye to family

I don't think any of us would say these three are anything less than essential for a devout Jesus-follower to desire still.

First, Jesus had a habit of going big with his language to prove a point (hyperbole), which He may have been doing here as well. Second, this goes to show that Jesus is serious about discipleship. If we are claiming to want to be a Christian, our commitment to Jesus rises above every other provision and relationship.

Though this may at first make us out be irresponsible, it will actually allow us to become less materialistic and to love our families in a way that we never dreamed possible.

Despite seeming like we've lost everything, Jesus gives us the life God had always intended for us to have.

Today's reading: Luke 9:28-50

'John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”' - Luke 9:49-50 ESV

Being competitive is something that was deeply ingrained in me as a kid playing sports. This rival mentality has seemed to bleed into almost every area of my life, especially with those who do something similar to what I am. It also didn't help that my small hometown had four churches on four consecutive blocks.

Is it necessary for us to talk up our own church or ministry at the expense of another? Apparently, Jesus didn't think so. Sure, some are teaching false doctrine that contradicts the Bible, but many of us are doing this work side by side.

The disciples were engaged in too much small-minded thinking. Jesus' plan was expansive, something that would eventually reach the nations.

We will need each and every devout Christian in our communities (and across the world) to accomplish the mission Jesus laid out for us in Mark 16:15-16. May we link arms with one another and start reaching our true potential as the body of Christ!

By the way, when we start having this kind of mentality, it seems that Jesus blesses our own churches and ministries with a healthy kind of growth. Something to consider!

Today's reading: Luke 9:7-27

"For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?" - Luke 9:25 ESV

Jesus just clearly disclosed his impending death and resurrection to the disciples. He was also clear that they would need to be willing to suffer the same fate. Their definition of a "gain" and a "loss" wasn't in line with how Jesus thought about the terms.

Jesus knew that the only way for this world could be saved was through His sacrifice on the cross and His subsequent resurrection. The disciples (and all of Israel) were thinking too small. They believed that salvation would only come through a divinely ordained conquering of their political oppressors (Rome). Jesus was aiming for the salvation of all the nations.

What would you be willing to sacrifice for guaranteed "gains" in this life? Would you be willing to ignore your family for a season? Would you be willing to tell a small lie to make an advancement in school or at work? Would you be willing to use someone as a prop to get where you want to be?

Jesus is trying to tell us that the "gains" of this world aren't really gaining at all. They can actually lead to eternal losses.

I pray that we wouldn't settle for the fading glory of this world. Instead, may we seek to join Jesus in taking up our crosses and following Him.

Today's reading: Luke 8:40-56, 9:1-6

"And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” - Luke 9:5 ESV

This was the initial transition of Jesus' 12 going from just being disciples (followers) toward the idea of being apostles (those who are sent). It is significant to note that Jesus equips them with the intangible (authority and power) but doesn't give them what is tangible (lunch money).

What if a place is resistant to them? Jesus commands them to shake the dust from their feet and move on.

Leon Morris, in his commentary on Luke, wrote the following:

There was a rabbinic idea that the dust of Gentile lands carried defilement, and strict Jews are said to have removed it from their shoes whenever they returned to Palestine from abroad. The disciples’ shaking of the dust from their feet was a testimony against them.

The people to whom Jesus is sending his disciples were all Jewish. So why does he say this "shake the dust" statement to them? Well, if the Jews rejected them, then they were no different than any other pagan nation. They were proving they were not the people of God.

We have problems with shaking the dust off of our feet. If someone rejects us or doesn't like us because of our faith in Jesus, it is hard not to take it personally. We have to remember that if we are easily offended when rejected, we won't be focused enough to talk to the next person who is ready and open to the Good News about Jesus.

Shake the dust. Lift up your eyes (John 4:35).

Today's reading: Luke 8:22-39

'He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”' - Luke 8:25 ESV

We've all encountered difficult situations where we knew time was limited. No one, that I know of, enjoys making quick decisions in times of crisis, but sometimes it is necessary. The disciples were in a panic, thinking that this is how they were going to go out. Death by drowning. That is enough to make anyone cringe.

Their fear had led them to a place of distrust.

What has happened recently in your life that has caused a great amount of fear to well up in your soul? How are you currently dealing with that fear?

Our immediate reflex is usually to strategize our way out of the storm. But there will come a time when strategy and will-power will not be enough. The problem will be insurmountable.

This is exactly why trusting Jesus with the mundane, everyday tasks that we tackle is so important. When we entrust to Him the small things, we will be ready to trust him with the impossible.

'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' - Hebrews 11:1 ESV