Tag: LGG

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Uncategorized

The Importance of the Word

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Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 8:1-21; SOAP / Luke 8:21

But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Luke 8:21 NET

As I was reading back through my notes on verse 21 and thinking about how to put what I had journaled into words, the words from an old church camp song came flooding through my mind. I don’t remember all the words but it included several verses about not being able to get to heaven on roller skates, or in a rocking chair, or with a limousine. If I could add one verse to these after reading today’s passage, it would be “Oh you can’t get to heaven by who you know.” That’s the jest of today’s passage and Jesus’ response to His mother and brothers desire to see Him. Actually, the commentary I read said they were concerned for His health and wanted to take Him home to rest. However, being in the middle of a very important lesson for which a very large crowd had gathered no doubt influenced His answer. No disrespect was intended only the need for them and all who were listening to understand that, first and fore-most He was God’s son and thus it was those who were “hearing the Word of God and doing it” that bore the truer family-ties.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Romans 10:17 NLT

More than once in sharing the Gospel with someone or in response to asking someone if they are a believer, I have received answers like – “Yeah, I’ve been baptized and go to church every Sunday”, or “I’ve always tried to live the good Christian life”, or “well, I don’t go to church any more but my mom and dad took me every week when I was growing up …” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that those who answered like that aren’t saved but we certainly can’t hang our hope of salvation on going to church or living a good Christian life. Salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone, and as Paul wrote – faith comes through hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We are saved by grace through faith – not church, or baptism, our good works, our ‘knowledge’ of Jesus, or our earthly family ties.

It is worth noting and perhaps helpful to understand that Jesus’ response to His mother and brothers came shortly after His sharing the parable of the sower. A lesson on a sower and his seed and the responsibility of those who hear the Word to let it penetrate the heart and bring about good works. The lesson is the same for His mother and brothers. They cannot depend on who they are to Him but must respond to who He is to them.

Sandwiched in between the parable of the sower and and the response to his family came a brief statement about letting your light be seen. This follows the teaching on the seed that landed on the good soil – defined as “the ones who, after hearing the Word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. One commentary explains it like this:

the meaning of Luke’s verses seems to be that listeners are to be like the good soil, accept the seed, and produce fruit (Luke 8:8). In the same way, people are to “enter” and “see the light,” working hard to understand the truth and application of Jesus’ teaching (Luke 8:18).

Bibleref.com on Luke 8:15-18
Some Application: Turning facts into action (or knowledge into wisdom)

I feel like I am constantly learning more about who Jesus is and who He has called me to be. So I loved seeing that even though Mary had the personal knowledge of who He was, backed up by the angelic announcement, she was still learning more about who He was, what it meant, and how to deal with it.

We don’t get to heaven because of who our family is or what they believe – but solely because of what we do with what we hear in the Gospel. For example Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3:16, 6:47, and 13:34.

Response to God’s Word

Father, I have heard Your Word all of my life and I believe … You are Go, the Father-make of heaven and earth. I believe You so loved the world – me included – that You sent Your only son to live and die for me. I believe He lived a spotless life despite the pain and temptations He faced – He stayed TRUE to living out Your will for all to see. I believe He was born of the virgin Mary, and that He intercedes for me at the right hand of Your throne and is able to forgive my sins. I believe He left examples and instructions on how to live and that You have empowers me, as a believer, with the Holy Spirit so that I might live as You have called me to live – the same Spirit who teaches me all things and reminds me of everything You’ve said. He also convicts me of my sin and leads me to repentance. I believe in the Holy Spirit, and pray that I might be always yielded to His teaching, leading, and conviction toward repentance. In Jesus’ name I pray – Amen and Amen!

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Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Gospel

Understanding Is Key

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:18-50; SOAP / Luke 7:47-50

 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:47-50 NET
The Whole Picture
The Alabaster Jar

Have you ever come in on the end of movie and wondered what in the world was going on, or what those closing words meant? It’s like starting a book at the ending paragraph and reading “… and they lived happily ever after”, which leaves you wondering who “they” were and what led up to the “happily ever after.” Today’s focus passage, like much of Scripture, is the happily ever after but the story starts in verse thirty-six, where a Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him. The story isn’t so much that Jesus went – but what happened at the dinner. A woman, described only as a sinner, learns that Jesus is going to have dinner at the Pharisees house and she decides not only to go but to take with her a costly jar of “perfumed oil”, which she uses – along with her tears and hair – to anoint the feet of Jesus.

Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. 

Luke 7:37-38
She’s a Sinner

It’s a beautiful picture and event that Jesus turns into a teachable moment for the Pharisee and for all who were listening then or reading it now. Luke writes that when the Pharisee saw what the woman did, “He said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.‘” Jesus responds to Simon’s thought with a lesson on cancelled debts between two debtors, one who owed much and one who owed little. His point being, that when both debts were freely forgiven, the one whose debt was greater would have more “love” for the creditor. This story is followed by a more pointed lesson, as Jesus uses a comparison of how they had each treated Jesus from the time He entered Simon’s house.

Simon

Simon recognized Jesus as a teacher and nothing more. Unlike, Simon Peter, who compared or saw himself in the light of Jesus’ righteousness – Simon, the Pharisee, compares himself to the sinner and sees himself as righteous and worthy of Jesus’ being in his home – but the woman as unworthy to even touch Jesus. When he does compare himself with Jesus, it is to acknowledge that he could see the woman for who she was but Jesus couldn’t.

  • He gave Jesus no water for His feet
  • He gave Jesus no kiss of greeting
  • He did not anoint Jesus’ head with oil
The woman/Sinner

She knew about Jesus but didn’t let her sin hold her back from Him. She went to where He was. She saw Jesus for who He was and she treated Him as such. Her love bearing witness to her faith and the forgiveness she had known.

  • She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her tears
  • She did not stop kissing Jesus’ feet
  • She anointed Jesus’ feet with perfumed oil
The Meaning

Jesus, then sums up the lesson and the comparison with the revelation that even though the woman’s sins were many – she was completely forgiven; and her love, poured out in tears and oil and the use of her hair, showed her understanding of this. However, while Jesus’ illustration pointed out the Pharisee, who was a strict and religious follower of the law, had sinned less, didn’t understand the depth and debt of his few sins, and placed no value on the forgiveness of the debt or the forgiver.

As the end of our focus passage reveals, those at the table did not truly understand who Jesus was, as they questioned his authority to forgive sins. You may remember this question being asked before in Luke 5:20-21, but it is a vital question we should all ask at some time:

  • Who do I believe Jesus is?
  • AND – Do I believe He can forgive sins, be they ‘big’ or ‘little’, many or few?

Don’t miss that the woman understood exactly who Jesus was and it showed, but it wasn’t the evidence of her love that saved her, rather it was the evidence of her faith – as Jesus tells her, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

Some Applications / Turning facts into action (or knowledge into wisdom)
  • The Apostle Paul says that we are to be honest in our evaluation of ourselves, measuring ourselves by the faith that we have been given – Romans 12:3-5.
  • In other words we are to see (judge/measure) ourselves in the light of Jesus not the light of others – Romans 12:1-2.
  • Seeing our sins, seeking, and finding forgiveness should promote, provoke, and reveal evidence of our love and appreciation for Jesus and what He has done for us

Response to God’s Word

Father, how deep Your love is for us, so vast beyond all measure – that You should forgive one, let alone the multitude of our sins. YET! in love, in kindness, compassion, abundant grace, and mercies that are NEW EVERY MORNING, You have forgiven much – and I am forever grateful! Thank You Father for the reminder to not judge others by their sins and to not think I am better or more righteous than another. May my love bear witness of who You are to me and what You have done for me – and may I respond to You accordingly!

Vital and Revealing Questions
  • Who do you say Jesus is?
  • Do you believe he can forgive your sins – big or little, many or few?
  • What do you believe saved you?
    • Your Faith
    • Strict/religious keeping of the God’s Word
Know These Truths
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

They Glorified God

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:1-17; SOAP / Luke 7:16

 Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has come to help his people!”

Luke 7:16

There were two miracles in today’s passage. The first emphasizes the faith of a Centurion, the second the compassion of Jesus for a widow whose only son had died. While our focus verse is on the second miracle I can’t help but pause a minute to shine light on the first one as well. It excites and amazes me every time I read it. First of all that Jesus said of the Centurion, who was not a Jew (from the people of God) but a gentile, “… not even in Israel have I found such faith!” Second of all, that without even going to the home of the Centurion or being near his servant, Jesus healed him, not because of what a good man the people told Jesus the servant was – but because of the Centurion’s great faith.

“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!”

Luke 7:9

The focus verse is equally exciting and amazing, as we see Jesus raise a dead man to life. not because of any words of faith but from what appears to be Jesus’ compassion for a widowed mother whose only son had died. Unlike the other miracles we have seen, this isn’t about a someone seeking out Jesus and asking Him to heal or help. Instead , this one paints a picture of God’s sovereignty and perfect timing, as Jesus enters a town right when people are carrying the dead man out of town for the burial. Jesus stops the procession, tells the mother’s son to “get up! So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” A man raised to life out of compassion, a miracle witnessed both by the crowd with Jesus and by the crowd accompanying the mother in the funeral procession. That’s pretty exciting stuff, right? Yet, it is what happens next that must not be missed. I mean it isn’t uncommon for fear to be aroused by this miracle – considering no one had ever seen someone raised from death to life – but this “fear” seems to provoke an awe at what Jesus had done, which led to the people “glorifying God,” as they realized Jesus must be “a” (inferring one of many) “great prophet,” not The Messiah, God had promised – but admittedly, “one” whom, “God had come to help.”

A Response to God’s Word

Father, may we let the acts You do – big or small, significant or seemingly insignificant – move us to glorify You. May we stop and stand in awe of You. May we also, like Jesus, stop and show compassion for those who are hurting or struggling around us – and this that – You, like in the story we read today, might be glorified for who You are!

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Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

A Mountain Retreat

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Inspired by: He Sees, He Knows, He Cares / w2d5

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:12- 49; SOAP / Luke 6:12

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 NET

I hope you enjoy this bit of a different view today – straight from inside the pages of my journal, the heart (my heart) of the study. Whether you journal on the pages of your Bibles, or in a notebook, or an LGG Journal, or on post-it-notes it doesn’t matter. I believe what matters is that you journal. One word or 50 – more or less … the amount isn’t the point the journaling is. It’s a place to capture your thoughts or questions or even the title of a song that came to mind. When you look back in your journal it will tell a story of what God was teaching you and so much more. In the weeks ahead my goal is to share more of these pages and give some pointers on journaling for those who are interested.

From INSIDE MY JOURNAL

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

None Righteous, Not Even One

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Inspired by: He Sees, He Knows, He Cares / w2d4

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-6:11; SOAP / Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32 NET

Jesus makes it clear that His purpose was not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He said this in response to a question that had been raised by the Pharisees concerning why He and His disciples were eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners. To be righteous is said to mean you are morally right or justifiable, which is exactly how the Pharisees and experts of the law saw themselves. However, we would do well to understand and remember that Scripture says – “There is none righteous not even one.”, but that – “all have sinned“, and having done so, face the penalty of death. It is this group of people that Jesus says He is calling to repentance. Which, in relation to salvation is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ. Summarizing a quote from Gotquestions.org, repentance is not something we do but something God gives; and that it is only possible because of His grace – Acts 5:31, 11:18; John 6:44; Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9

He Took The Time

The conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees doesn’t stop with our focus verse, but is followed up with more questions and lessons from Jesus, as well as details about another healing which I hope you’ll read. If you were to look at my Scripture reference page for this day you would see many red highlights around the words “Jesus answered them” or “He said to them”. You would also find where I scribbled in the margin how “I love that Jesus took the time to not only listen to them but to answer them, to try to relate to them, and to teach/show them His ways and power.” Whether we are filled with mindless rage, as the Pharisees were after Jesus healed a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath or we simply have yet to repent – we are all left with this one question – “What will we do with Jesus?”

Knowledge Into Wisdom

Taking the facts from this passage and what Jesus said we should be – is a great reminder that:

  • We can talk to ‘sinners’, eat dinner with them, and even invite them to church. While we must not be like them our goal should not be to avoid them but to demonstrate and to share the love of Christ with them.
  • We should, as has already been pointed out, never forget Paul’s words to the church at Rome when he wrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12). To be clear, “not only one” means “not even me”. Only through God’s grace have we been clothed in the righteousness of Christ – to forget this will quickly lead to attitudes like those of the Pharisees and the experts of the law.

Which leads to this last statement –

  • We should daily rejoice in the grace of God, without which we would still be a sinner condemned unclean.
Responding to God’s Word

Father, I was a sinner condemned unclean but You called my name and I was forever changed! You set me free! You changed my name from too far gone to saved by grace! No longer condemned for I am Yours, a chosen child of God! Thank You for Jesus! Thank You for the cross and the empty tomb – without which I would still be lost, a sinner condemned unclean! Thank You God for Christ’s righteousness which You have imputed or credited to me. Jesus, thank You for Your example not just with the sinners and tax collectors but with ALL – so that all might come to know You – including me! Oh Yes Holy Three in One! Thank You, thank You, thank You! It is in Your name I pray and trust – Amen and Amen!

Know These Truths

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Power of our Faith

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Inspired by: He Sees, He Knows, He Cares / w2d3

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-26; SOAP / Luke 5:24

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralyzed man—“I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.”

Luke 5:24 NET

Luke packed a lot of information in these 15 verses …

You Can Make Me Clean

We see a man with leprosy, who comes to Jesus and is so moved that He bowed down at the very sight of Jesus. He begged Jesus for healing, saying: “Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.” His words were evidence of his heart that he firmly believed in the power and work of Jesus. So great was the man’s faith that Jesus healed him immediately.

His Need To Be Alone

Luke pauses between this miracle and the next to tell us two things

  • crowds were gathering “to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases”
  • and that, “Jesus Himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.”
    • Don’t you love knowing that Jesus found the need to both withdraw from people and to pray? Please note, His need to withdraw was more than a need to be away from the people – He needed to be alone to talk with His Father (God).
Faith moves mountains and stirs the heart of Jesus

Then we meet a paralyzed man, unable to walk on his own, he is carried on a stretcher and finding no other way to get him past the crowd and into the house where Jesus was, those carrying him lowered him through the roof “right in front of Jesus”, and “when Jesus saw their faith,” He said to the paralyzed man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Do you see it? It seems to me that their actions demonstrate how ‘faith moves mountains’. For when it seemed impossible to get through the crowd, instead of their faith being shaken it appears that their faith increased their determination bit it also moved the heart of Jesus. It’s important to note that the initial response wasn’t – “get up and walk” as I’m sure everyone expected. Instead, what they heard was – “your sins are forgiven’ – a pointed statement signifying to all listening that not only could Jesus heal but He could forgive sins. This was an important milestone in Jesus’ ministry. The response of forgiveness was also what prompted ‘the experts in the law’ and the Pharisees to begin wondering “to themselves”, who Jesus was and how he could so boldly speak such blasphemies, for they knew that only God could forgive sins. I’m sure they were surprised when Jesus, who knew what they were thinking to themselves, not only questioned them – saying, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk?” but He also said to the paralyzed man – “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.” Which he immediately did.

“God honors the faith of those who seek to bring others to Christ. When we pray, we orient our attention toward the issue and watch for God to work. God performs mighty deeds that no one realizes. When we are paying attention, however, we have the opportunity to be seized with amazement, filled with awe, and glorify God, declaring, “We have seen extraordinary things today” (Luke 5:26).

BibleRef.Com, Luke 5:20
Turning Facts into Application
  • Like the man with leprosy – go to Jesus
  • Let nothing stand between you and Jesus
  • Let nothing quench your faith
  • Let your faith be evident
  • Take others to Jesus
Prayerful Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for instilling in me an ever deepening faith in You, the Holy-Three-In-One. Jesus, thank You for responding to my prayers and faith. May faith in You always move me toward You – moving the mountains that are in my way – and may I stand in the gap for others who need You – lifting them up and bringing them to where You are! – Amen! in Your Holy and powerful name!

Helpful Commentary

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, LGG Study, Quiet Time

But, At Your Word I Will …

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Inspired by: LGG’s / He Sees, He Knows, He Cares / w2d2

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:31-5;11; SOAP / Luke 5:8-11

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people!” 11 So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:8-11 NET

Oh, how I hope you read the full passage today (and everyday) as each day has so much to offer. For as Paul wrote, “All Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness; so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” But honestly, outside of that truth – I hope you read it just because it is interesting and full of insight, intrigue, hope, and so much more. Like today’s story about Jesus and the demons knowing His name …

Our focus passage today picks up sometime after Jesus’ encounter with the demons. The crowds were growing in size and pressing Jesus for more of the miracles they had seen or heard about. However, He kept moving on, telling the people He had to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns, reminding them it was what He was sent to do. On one occasion when the crowd was pressing around Him to hear what He was teaching, He got into a boat by the lake, He “put out a little way from the shore, and taught the crowds from the boat. Luke writes that when Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon Peter, the boat’s owner – “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon explained that they had already done that, they had worked hard and had caught nothing, “But”, Simon said, “at Your word I will lower the nets.” You probably know the rest of the story, how that when he did as Jesus said they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. So, Simon enlisted their partners to help and still there were so many fish that their boats were about to sink. Simon was moved beyond words and fell down before Jesus, which is where our focus verse comes in today. Read it again –

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people!” 11 So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.“

THE POWERFUL EFFECTS OF OBEDIENCE

It’s not always easy doing what Jesus asks of us or going where He sends us. Fear and uncomfortableness, tiredness and lack of understanding can be some of the mitigating circumstances that cause us to hold back. No doubt, this is how Simon Peter was feeling when Jesus told him to – “put out into the deep water and lower [his] nets for a catch.” Despite how Simon felt about it, he submitted to Jesus’ request and did just as He was told. And, because he did, his life was changed – as he not only realized the greatness of Jesus but, in comparison, the greatness of his own sin. Realizing the depth of His sin, he told Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Simon’s reaction is, no doubt, a beautiful picture of what happens when we truly see ourselves in the light of who Jesus really is. However, we must not miss that Simon Peter wasn’t the only one impressed and drawn to Jesus that day, for we read in verse 11, that “all who were with Him left everything to follow [Jesus].” I believe this is important, as it teaches us that our obedience to even the silliest and seemingly unnecessary tasks can have a huge and lasting impact that we may never realize this side of heaven.

But, Simon Peter said, at Your word I will lower the nets.

Luke 5:11 NET
The Recap

I see at least three things about obedience that we can learn from Simon Peter’s statement. First of all, obeying a request or a command that we do not understand, such as lowering nets again after you’ve already had them lowered and caught nothing, reveals our trust and/or respect for the one we obey. Not only that, but our obedience can lead to a broken and contrite heart, which can lead to a right relationship with Jesus, which leads to worship, and possibly to others seeing, knowing, and following Jesus.

Response to the Word of God

Father, let the greatness of Jesus wash over me every day. In the light of who He is, may the depth of my sin and unworthiness move my heart to yield in confession and to worship You – Holy three in one! Help me to faithfully encourage and invite others to share in what You’ve done and who You are! Let nothing Lord, absolutely NOTHING – stand in the way of You! In the great and mighty name of Jesus, I pray – Amen!

Worship in Song

Have you decided to follow Jesus today? I would love to know and rejoice with you.

Would you like to know more about following Jesus? I would love to share more of the good news and help you understand what it’s all about. Visit Know These Truths [link below] for more details –

If you answered yes to either question please leave a comment here or email me, m.black@lmbc.org – i would love to send you a small gift in celebration or in answer to your questions.

KNOW THESE TRUTHS

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

In the Power of The Spirit

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Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-30; SOAP / Luke 4:18–19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19 NET

In our most recent post, we read about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by the devil. Today’s encounter picks up sometime after His encounter with the devil, and it made me stop and think and appreciate Luke’s writing even more and Jesus’ life on earth just a little differently than I have before. Today’s passage, revealing yet another Jesus encounter as God in the flesh, caught my attention. Here’s what captivated my mind – as though I had never read it before. Picture it with me, this young man is God in the flesh and yet we’ve seen word pictures of His birth announcement, His circumcision, His presentation to the LORD at the temple, His baptism, and, what I can only imagine, was a grueling temptation by the devil in the wilderness. This brings us to today’s word-picture of Jesus, God in the flesh, being led by the Spirit of God, dedicated to God, Father for His life’s purpose. We so often focus on the price Christ paid on the cross, and rightfully so; However, as I look at these other encounters He endured on our behalf my heart is moved even more at what it cost Him to leave His place with the Father to die for us. Going through rituals meant for sinners, enduring temptations, mockery, insults, and all that we will witness moving forward may appear to be easy for this man who was God – but let us not lose sight of the fact that He was a man, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law. He felt pain, cried tears, sweat great drops of blood, worked hard, faced temptations, comforted the hurting, dealt with hunger, and needs just like us and He knew from the beginning that He was born to suffer and die a horrendous death that He did not deserve to die.

Following the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus, “in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee” and began to teach in the synagogues. This encounter finds Him in His hometown of Nazareth where He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He opened the scroll to a specific place and read, ironically – but not mistakenly, about Himself to the people – telling them that He was sent to:

  • proclaim good news to the poor
  • proclaim release to the captives
  • restore sight to the blind
  • set free those who are oppressed, and
  • to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
    • It might be helpful to stop here for a minute and explain what is meant by “the year of the Lord’s favor”. From what I read and understand, the statement describes not a particular year or literal time but a space of time that is characterized by God’s grace, redemption, and deliverance. In its original use by Isaiah it is said to specifically refer to the restoration of God’s people from Babylonian captivity. In it’s reference here in Luke 4:21 it is specific to Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2 through the reading of the Scripture.*

The people would have been familiar with the passage as it was from the prophet Isaiah, a passage they no doubt had heard or read often. However, when He had rolled the scroll back up He said to them,

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, even as you heard it being read.”

Luke 4:20 NET

This subtle announcement led to more conversation and filled the crowd with rage. Despite their rage and plans to throw Him down the cliff, Jesus was able to pass through the crowd and go on His way.

A Response to God’s Word

Thank You Jesus, for coming to set me free from spiritual captivity, blindness, and oppression – for apart from You there would be no way for me to come to the Father. Thank You for Your willingness to suffer not just on the cross but in this world for sins you did not commit. Thank You for Your Spirit within me, so that I can carry on Your work living as Your witness, and answering Your call on my life to encourage, equip, and empower others with Your Word. praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Be sure and visit Love God Greatly for today’s blog

*For more insight on “The year of the Lord’s favor, visit https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/the-year-of-the-lords-favor

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 3:1-4:13; SOAP – 3:21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.”

Luke 3:21-22 NET
Taking It All In

The length of today’s passage is long for sure but the beauty of it is worth reading and helps to highlight the focus passage. Starting off with the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry, including Jesus’ own baptism as well as His genealogy, and culminating with the temptation He faced in the wilderness and how He handled it. The scene Luke paints is helpful to understanding that Jesus was baptized, most likely, during the height of John’s calling to prepare a way for the Lord; and it is a beautiful picture of the trinity as both the Father and the Holy Spirit appear on the scene of His baptism.

Zeroing in

Matthew and Mark give more detailed accounts of Jesus’ baptism while Luke condenses his version and zeros in on the simple fact that Jesus was baptized. His description does seem to hint at a time line for the baptism – which appears to most likely be during the height of John the Baptist’s ministry. Which explains his statement – “when all the people were baptized”. “All” is not a literal term here but rather a reference to John’s many followers. My favorite part of the passage is the Holy Spirit descending on Christ, like a dove, followed by God’s voice from Heaven with a personal message to His Son for all to hear – “You are my one dear Son; in You I take great delight.” A fitting confirmation at the start of Jesus’ own ministry (23) not only that He is who He says He is, but that He walks in obedience to God.

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT

While our focus is on Jesus’ baptism, I believe it is vitally important to soak in the details of how He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days. I love that Luke doesn’t just say that Jesus was tempted but that “He endured temptations”, confirming the words of Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, and giving us great hope that we can do the same. As important as it is to know that Jesus endured temptation, it is equally, if not more important to know how. Luke details three specific temptations, each of which Jesus overcame by using the Word of God. He knew what God had said and He used it as a weapon in the warfare of temptation. So important is this concept that we see it used in both the new and old testaments. It is referenced in the words of David when he said that He had hidden God’s Word in His heart that He might not sin against Him (Ps 119:11). We also find an example of it in Ephesians 6:17–18, where Paul describes the “Word of God” as a piece of the “armor of God”. Perhaps the greatest hope concerning the temptations that Jesus faced is the fact that when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from [Jesus], a great example of James’ instructions and encouragement to “resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 NLT
How then should we live?

First of all, we should follow Jesus in baptism, as a sign of our faith and commitment to follow Him. Secondly we should use God’s Word as a weapon when we are tempted to sin, trusting that when we do this the devil will flee and we will be able to endure as Jesus did. To use God’s Word as a weapon we will have to know it – and have it ready as Paul told the Ephesians, putting it on as armor in order that we might stand firm.

My Response to the Word

Father, thank you for the life and examples of Jesus. How exciting to picture Him walking down into the waters to be baptized by John and then to see Your Spirit descend on Him and hear Your voice from heaven, declaring how pleased You were with Him. I thank You for the sweet memory of my own baptism and the choice I made to follow You. I pray for those who have not yet followed You in baptism, that they would be moved to do so. I praise You for the victorious example this passage gives us of Jesus being tempted by the devil, and how he overcame the temptations with the power of Your Word. May I/we be faithful to do the same so that we can stand firm, may we be alert and yielded to Your Spirit so that we will see and take the way of escape that He shows us. May we know and use Your Word as the powerful weapon that it is so that the devil will flee. This is my prayer in Jesus’ name and for Your eternal glory – amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Good News of Great Joy

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-52; SOAP – Luke 2:10-12

As inspired by Love God Greatly’s – He Sees, He Knows, He Cares – W1D4

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news[that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

Today’s larger passage, vv1-52 of Luke chapter 1, is familiar to all believers, and aside from John 3:16, it may be the most popular passage of the Bible. Before we zero in on verses 10-12, it is helpful to look at what comes before. Basically, God sets the stage, aligning all things with His perfect will and timing. From the ‘unexpected pregnancy’, to the census, the genealogy of Jesus, and heaven’s army joining the angel and filling the sky – God is clearly the orchestrator of all these events.

Many things jumped out to me – but the one thing that connected the dots back to the beginning of Luke chapter 1 was the other angelic messages. The first two announcing a shockingly unexpected birth yet to come and the third – found in our focus passage – announcing the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds in the fields nearby. In today’s story, as well as the others, we hear the angel, speaking on the Lord’s behalf, saying, “don’t be afraid! However, there were some notably unique messages in this third announcement from the angel, namely that he appeared to a group and not just one person … he encouraged them to listen carefully, because the message was one of good news – not just for them – but for all the people. Perhaps the most exciting news came when he clarified that the good news was the arrival of the Savior of the world – but not just a Savior – He was their Savior! And then he told them where and how they would find the baby.

The shepherds believed the message and wasted no time in going in search of the baby – “So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw Him, they shared what the angel had told them about this child. And, not just that but they also returned to their fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, for everything happened just as the angel had said.“

How then should we live?

It is vitally important for us to live glorifying the Father, sharing the good news of great joy by telling others what He has done. We see this played out not only in the Shepherd’s response, but in the beautiful portrayal of Simeon’s and Anna’s lives and their words to Mary and Joseph, verses 25-38. We see it played out in the life and words of Jesus, delivered through the virgin Mary – just as the angel said. We see it played out in the life of John as he lived out his calling to prepare the way for The Lord. And we see it played out in the lives and writings of the apostles throughout the New Testament. May our legacy be that others saw and heard it played out in our lives as well.

My Prayer Response to the Word

Father, I can’t help but think of the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, How lovely on the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says your God reigns. An angel brought good news of great joy to the shepherds as well as to Mary and Zechariah, and all of them made known what you had said and done. May this be true of Your people today Father. May we live obedient to Your Word and to the examples of Christ to be Your witnesses to the ends of the earth. For were we not chosen as a people for Your own possession, as Peter said, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light? Father help us to be faithful with the message so that others may share in the good news of great joy that is meant for all the people, for how will they believe if they do not hear? Thank You for Your intricate plans and timing and Your faithfulness to carry them out for us that we might know Your Son and share in the salvation He came and died to bring. Help us, as Mary did to treasure and ponder these things in our hearts – for from the the mouth comes the overflow of the heart! In Jesus’ most holy and powerful name! Amen –