Tag Archives: Luke

Luke 10

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Jesus explains to his disciples how blessed they are to understand the gospel. “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see…and to hear what you hear” about Christ and the salvation that would be offered through him.  Jesus prays to God, thanking God for revealing this hope.

1st Peter refers to this, prophets had “searched and inquired carefully”. This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; a hope hidden from the “wise and understanding” of the world, revealed instead to those who demonstrate trust in God like a child trusts a parent.

Next we read Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, a story that explains the relationship between the two great commandments. By loving our neighbour as ourself, we show the love we have for God.  Let’s follow Jesus’ advice to the lawyer, “go, and do likewise”.

Psalms 137-139

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David describes his dependence on God in Psalms 137-139. “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart… for your steadfast love and your faithfulness… On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased… Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life“.

David also acknowledges God’s omniscience, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar… Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether”.

This knowledge is something we, like David, can take comfort in. There is no point in our life that God does not know more about us than even we ourselves know. “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered“.  Let us allow God’s hand to hold and lead us, guiding us “in the way everlasting“.

Luke 8

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Luke 8 presents us with examples of faith in action. Mary, Joanna, and Susanna, and “many others”, supported Jesus as he went “though cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God”. Their faith led them to spend their time and resources in ensuring others could hear the gospel.

Jairus’ daughter, and the woman with an issue of blood, were both healed because they showed faith, actively seeking Jesus, fully convinced that he could heal them.  Jesus’ responses “your faith has made you well” and “do not fear; only believe, and she will be well”, reveal the power of faith.

Jesus gave a parable about ensuring a lit lamp is not hidden, but placed so those who enter may see the light. He also describes his family as “those who hear the word of God and do it”. We’ve received that light, and now we must ensure that it is seen by others, so that we too can be part of Jesus’ family.

Luke 3

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John the baptist is a great example for us. He wasn’t afraid to publicly proclaim his beliefs, educating anyone who would listen about the need to effect change in one’s life.  John’s goal was to prepare people to “see the salvation of God”.

He taught his audience that one’s way of life is crucial for salvation. Simply being a natural descendent of Abraham was no guarantee of salvation, instead we are to produce “fruits in keeping with repentance“.  Tax collectors, soldiers and ordinary people were all instructed to make a change in their lives, to improve the way they treated their neighbour.

John’s message is still applicable to us today.  We too are trees that exist for the purpose of producing fruit, of developing God’s character in our lives, and of following the example of Christ, God’s beloved son in whom he was well pleased.

 

Luke 24

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“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” This is the good news that we have been given, and that we’ve been told to share with everyone around us. The ultimate proof of God’s love, “loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for [Jesus] to be held by it.”

“The Lord is risen indeed!” Let us remember these incredible words, working daily to be more like “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”.

Ezekiel 20, Luke 17

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The elders of Israel come to Ezekiel, to enquire of God through him. But God says He would not be inquired of by the elders. They had rejected God time and time again, and God lists 6 times that the nation rebelled against Him.  This seems like an overly negative response, but it’s important to realise how constant Israel was in their rejection, and yet God still offers hope. “You shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers”.

This section of Ezekiel should inspire us to reflect on our own lives, to “look intently at our natural face in a mirror”, and do something about what we see. Our God is merciful, but He requires action from us, to seek Him out and develop His character.

Jesus demonstrates God’s mercy in healing the 10 lepers, who pleaded “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”. They were healed on their way to the priests, following Jesus’ instructions. Let us similarly seek God’s mercy, and let it affect our lives.

Ezekiel 19, Luke 16

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Ezekiel takes up a lamentation for the children of Israel, even before they were taken into captivity. They had been given all they needed to serve God, like strong a vine with ready access to water. Despite great men of faith like Moses and David, Israel eventually rejected God and so they would be shortly removed from the perfect vineyard to the wilderness.

A similar idea is expressed by Jesus in Luke 16, “no servant can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and money.” We’ve been called to serve God with our whole existence, to be “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season”. Let’s seek the true riches God has offered, to be like the vine planted by water, freely soaking up the water of life available in God’s word.

Luke 13-14

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“I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it…I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them…I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come”. It’s easy to make excuses for not putting God first. Our lives today are so busy. We’ve been invited to the marriage supper, an invitation that requires appropriate preparation in our lives now.

In Luke 13-14 there are a number of warnings about being preoccupied with this life.  The Pharisees wanted to limit the work of Jesus to six days a week. We can do the same, limiting God in our lives to just Sundays and Wednesday nights. The kingdom of God needs to be like a grain of mustard seed or like leaven, with its tiny beginning, yet growing to fill our lives, effecting an irreversible change.  Let’s take up our cross, renounce all that this life offers, and follow the only one that is able to give us life, Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 16, Luke 12

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In Ezekiel 16, God describes in graphic detail the care that He had provided to Israel, and the way she betrayed that care, seeking the attention of others outside the covenant she had made with God. The metaphors of marriage and prostitution are used to describe the intensity of the relationship and betrayal.  This chapter is as much a warning for us as it was for Israel, to be sure we’re not actively betraying our covenant made with God at baptism.

Yet after all this, God still provides hope. “I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth…I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord…when I atone for you for all that you have done.”  Our God is both loving and jealous. He will forgive our sins if we  turn to Him and seek after Him.

Jesus said, “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. Let’s focus on gaining heavenly treasure, dedicating our lives to God, turning again to Him when we fail.

Luke 11

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In Luke 11, Jesus describes our God. Like a natural father with his children, so our heavenly Father has provided for all our needs. He is not far away or lazy; if we seek Him then He will respond. He is a God that will hear our prayer.

We are encouraged to have our whole body full of light, just as Jesus is the light of the world, to focus on the understanding and application of Godly principles, rather than the outward show of pedanticism demonstrated by the Pharisees.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”.  Let us be active in our keeping of the word of God, shining our light, forgiving others and longing for God’s kingdom to arrive now.