The good news of Luke

  Luke 15:11-32 Jesus told this story to illustrate a point...He cares for the lost.  It is  interesting to note though that the Father waited for the lost to return to Him.  He didn't go to him.  Lord Jesus, please implore those who have left You to return on their own accord. This passage leaves us with an interesting question...what about those who have never left the fold.  Jesus says to us we have everything that belongs to Him.  This makes me ask the question are we enjoying our time in the Kingdom?  We have the fruit of the Holy Spirit available to us; love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self control, goodness, patience and faithfulness  Let us walk with the Spirit and enjoy the adventure God has for us so we can rejoice when those who walked away come back.

  Luke 15:8-10 Did you know you are valuable?  So valuable that God is asking us to search for you.  He wants each one of us to come to Him, even if we are dirty because of our bad choices....and when we come to Him the angels in heaven rejoice! Today's passage is a story Jesus told to let us know how valuable we are to Him.  Check it out.  Lord Jesus, even when we fail You, You continue to seek us out.  Thank You for not giving up on us!

  Luke 15:1-7 Jesus gets excited about a sinner who returns to Him; do we?  Jesus encourages us to go out and find the lost.  Lord Jesus, please help us to see this world as You see it.  Give us Your eyes to see the hurt, the lonely and the lost.

  Luke 14:25-35 This is a tough passage.  Jesus is saying it costs something to be a Christian.  Sure there is a banquet and the reward of heaven and the help of the Holy Spirit but it costs everything. You can't serve two masters or you will love one and hate the other.  Jesus wants all of us including our relationships with our family.  Lord Jesus, if there is anything we're holding back from You please let us know and give us the courage to surrender it to You knowing that You make all things beautiful in Your time.

  Luke 14:15-24 One of things we need to be aware of is whose invitation are we turning down.  We can become so busy we miss the invitation to God's banqueting table.  It is said we'll be surprised at who is in heaven because Jesus sent His servants to the poor, crippled and marginalized when the original guest list was too busy to come. Here's a song of the story

  Luke 14:7-14 1) Choose a low position and allow others to lift you up 2) Don't invite folks who can repay you as when you do you'll receive your reward.  Instead, wait for your heavenly reward. Lord Jesus, please help us to bless those who You want us to bless and help us to accept our low positions in humility.  Amen

  Luke 14:1-6 There is a Jewish commandment to keep the Sabbath as holy and as a day of rest but what does that mean?  Jesus makes it clear that it's okay to heal on the sabbath; or rescue a child or ox.  In fact in another passage He makes it clear that the sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath. So what is the purposes of the Sabbath?  It's a time when we can take a break and rest and remember God.  Given that it's a Jewish law I think God knows we need the break for our own health; but if the rules become enslaving it no longer works. Lord Jesus, please help us to enjoy the Sabbath rest that You have given to us and help us not to be enslaved by the rule.

Luke 13:31-35   Jesus highlights that Jerusalem is known for killing prophets.  He was warned not to go there because of it but He went about His Father's business instead.  It's interesting that He has a passion for Jerusalem but the people don't want Him.  This makes me wonder what each of our cities are know for.  I've prayed passionately for my city.  I want it to be a city known for it's faith and healthy love, not violence, theft, drugs and sexual promiscuity.  Lord Jesus please protect our cities from satan.  Raise up people with a practical faith.  Show us where we can met to connect and share our love for You.

Luke 13:22-30   We must not take God's invitation for granted.  There will come a time when the narrow door will close and we want to be on the inside.  Lord Jesus, we want to be at your banqueting table.  Please guide and direct us.

  Luke 13:18-21   Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, or like yeast.  It starts small and grows into something big. Lord Jesus, please grow our faith that seems like a small mustard seed into a strong tree that is planted by Your refreshing stream.  Use us in your Kingdom as yeast that affects the whole batch of dough with Your love and influence. Thanks in advance for answering our prayers.  Amen.

  Luke 13:10-17 I love the sabbath law. It gives me an excuse to relax one day a week. It became obvious to me that God blesses us when we take a needed day of rest, when I was in university I restricted myself from studying on Sunday...even if I had a Monday exam....and I did okay. Yet there are some things one needs to do on a Sunday...like a dr or nurse needs to work on Sunday. Jesus pointed out in another place that the Sabbath was made for us not us for the Sabbath. Recognize we need a day of rest but don’t let the day of rest rule you...I for instance baked on an occasional Sunday during university...it helped to relax me. Note too that this story today is a true story about a real woman in church. We must not forget to provide our healing touch to those in our own congregations when we can. 

Luke 13:6-9   This story is fascinating.  It's obvious that Jesus wants fruit but the man's solution to the lack of fruit is to work with it's environment.  Dig a little and add some fertilizer.  Our environments do make a difference and notice it's not necessarily pleasant stuff going on with the fertilizing and the digging.  Lord Jesus, through our struggles please help us to grow the fruit of Your Spirit.

  Luke 13:1-5 Jesus implies it doesn't matter what awful things happen to us we all require forgiveness.  Jesus wants us to repent (turn away from our sins) because the alternative isn't pretty.  Lord Jesus, we are so often caught up in the schemes of the evil one (lies, gluttony, pride...) we miss out on You.  Please help us to repent and seek Your Kingdom first.  Amen

  Luke 12:54-59 Knowing and understanding what to do requires the wisdom of God.  Jesus wonders why we can interpret earthly things but not matters of the soul.  He challenges us to reconcile with folks before we end up in court and lose the case.  In other words, He sees the fact, "when we point our finger at our neighbour, there are three more pointing back at us".  Lord Jesus, please help us to understand our current times and live Godly lives with in the current culture.  Amen.

  Luke 12:49-53 John 17:21 Here are two verses that seem to contradict each other.  In the first one Jesus says He's come to bring division but in the 2nd one He's praying for unity.  Could this be like the clean up process; it requires a mess before things get better?  In order to raise the standards division is invoked; it's okay to drink, you can't sleep together under my roof, I follow Peter you follow Apollos...yet Jesus's heart's desire, and goal is for us to live in unity like He and His Father.  Lord Jesus, I pray for the broken families in our culture.  I think of Abraham's family and the issues that have risen because of a step brother and then I think of all the folks in our culture who have step siblings.... We live in such a broken and divided world, yet You long for us to live in unity.  Father, please help me to be part of the answer to Your prayer and show me how to enhance unity in my relationships with others.  Amen

  Luke 12:41-48 Jesus is preparing His disciples to be leaders so when Peter asked if the information on being ready was for them or for others Jesus highlights the responsibilities of a leader.  Lord Jesus, please help us to educate those we lead so they may follow You well.  Amen.

  Luke 12:35-40 We don't know when our time of death is or when the Lord's  return will be so we must be ready. Live a life of no regrets, live a prepared life, live a life that honours God; be ready.  Lord Jesus, help us to just obey the next little thing You tell us to do so we're ready when You return or when  You call us home. Amen

  Luke 12:22-34 Jesus is saying the birds and flowers are taken care of so why wouldn't we be taken care of.  This trust takes faith yet Jesus is encouraging us by saying God is pleased to give us the Kingdom.  Jesus also points out that if you don't have possessions you don't have to worry about being robbed. There is a catch though; we need to seek His Kingdom first.  Lord Jesus, please help us to trust You with our future needs and help us to be wise with the resources You give us. Amen

  Luke 12:13-21 This passage is a warning to us all to watch what we focus on.  Are we focused on things in this world or are we focused on the Kingdom?  It is wise to plan for the future but it is also wise to be rich towards God.  Ask God how to spend your money and what to save for only He knows the future.  Dear Lord, please help us not to get caught up with possessions and help us to recognize You are where we get our fulfilment from. 

  Luke 12:11-12 Jesus promises us words to say when we're brought before church leadership.  Dear Lord Jesus, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your site O Lord .

  Luke 12:8-10 It should be easy to acknowledge Christ given that our date system even acknowledges something significant happened around 2021 years ago.  If you want to study theology more C.S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity is helpful and/or his argument liar, lunatic or Lord .  Lord Jesus, please help us to have the courage to acknowledge You.  Amen

Luke 12:4-7   This is an interesting passage.  Jesus is saying "don't be afraid, fear God"  because God cares a lot for you. I think this passage is calling for the love and respect of God and if someone kills you because you are a Christian they ultimately will face God!  Lord Jesus, please give us courage and a healthy respect for You.

  Luke 12:1-3 Be real!  God doesn't like hypocrites and He promises to expose them so it's important that our public life matches our private life and that we walk with Him as He teaches us how to do better.  Lord Jesus, please "teach us how to love You, teach us how to pray, teach us how to serve You better day by day." Teach me how to love Thee

Luke 11:37-54 I'm sadden when I hear of church leaders who have taken advantage of their position and harmed others.  Jesus was too and He address it here in this passage.  Lord Jesus, please help us to lead by loving the You, our God, with all of heart soul and mind; and loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.

  Luke 11:33-36 Jesus says our eyes have the power to change us from the inside out.  They are like a light to the body...so we need to watch what our eyes see.  Dear Lord, please help us to light our whole body up with what we see so "the light within us isn't darkness". Amen.

  Luke 11:29-32 What do we require to believe?  Jesus isn't happy that we expect a miracle.  He wants us to be content with His teachings.  Lord Jesus, please help us to learn from You.