City On A Hill

Luke 19:1-10 Remember earlier in Luke there was the rich man who wouldn't give up his riches to follow Jesus and he went away sorry. And Jesus talked about how difficult it was for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and then the disciples basically said, then who is going to get into the Kingdom, and Jesus said with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible - here's the example of the possibility. We should be careful not to misunderstand, for example if we say that if we give half or more of what we have then we get in - but that misses the story of Zacchaeus completely, why? Did you see how Zacchaeus received Jesus he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. I really think that's the crux of the matter, how we receive Jesus. Remember the disciples left all as well, why? Because Jesus is worth more than everything else, so will we be able to leave everything when He ask us to, yes but only if we first joyfully receive Him.

The unity of scripture is so amazing - did you see how Jesus says in Luke that : everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise. Then Paul in Titus says Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; That's so awesome - Jesus is the fulfillment of the hope of eternal life. If we don't see and teach Jesus as the point of the Bible we teach/believe in something other than the truth. That's why Jesus says I am the truth.

Luke 16:19-31 Really convicting! Don't know about you but I know that I could be more charitable, and I could certainly use the things that God has given me better - you can't love God and money and clearly one of the ways we pursue God through money is by being charitable. For our God is gracious and merciful and if we are experiencing the fullness of his grace and mercy given to us in Jesus - we will be gracious with our money. 1 Timothy 6:17 - We just read it.

Luke 16:1-9 This parable has got to be one of the most confusing. What do you think it means? I think it means that one should use money in ways that it benefits oneself best, one should seek the highest pleasure that can be gained by using money (including unrighteous money), which according to Jesus is to secure eternal friends. We shouldn't settle with the temporary but rather we should prove faithful in the little so that we will be entrusted with "true riches". We should be Christian Hedonist that uses every means necessary, money, time, resources to pursue our happiness in God.

Luke 14:15-24 What a sobering response from Jesus. I know I make excuses all the time as to why I don't accept the invitation to commune with Jesus daily. Lord forgive my distraction and denial and help me to be like the poor and crippled and blind and lame, may I be completely dependent on you and have a heart of gratitude for the generous gift you offer me in Jesus. May I place no other person or thing higher than you.

Pretty amazing how God gave Israel favor before Cyrus and then Artaxerxes so that they might build the temple. That's all I got today :)

Luke 13:1-9 We should repent and we should tell other to repent - There is no other way, but there is a way and it's through Jesus so again repent and tell others to repent. We and others will bear fruit and avert destruction only through the work of Jesus in our lives, he is the vine and we are the branches.

I've been re-reading 1 Timothy the passage at the end of three is so encouraging.

Luke 12:49-59 Settle with Your Accuser 57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny." Who do you think is the Accuser?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Not all believe, that always makes me sad, I think it makes God sad too. What an awesome prayer for the people in our church May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. That's my prayer today for you and for me today.