The good news of Luke

  Luke 20:27-40 What do you do if you're asked a question about a topic the person asks doesn't believe?  That was Jesus position.  He was asked about the resurrection by some Sadducees who didn't believe  in the resurrection.  Well Jesus answered them honestly; there is no marrying in heaven.  He then went on to show them why they should be believe in the resurrection. In Exodus 3:6 God says  Then he said, “I am the God of your father, [ a ]  the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”  At this, Moses hid  his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Implying they are still alive.  After this no one had the nerve to ask Him any more questions.

Luke 20:20-26   Leaders didn’t like Jesus in ministry probably because they were jealous of His following so they sent spies to try to discredit Him. Jesus however, was brilliant and He turned the question around on them. Lord Jesus, please help us when we come across opposition to rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit. Help us not to be so proud that we think we have to answer the questions that come our way and give us the wisdom to ask questions ourselves. Amen

  Luke 20:9-19 Again, this is just a story, not fact, but a story none the less to teach a lesson.  What lessons can we learn from it?  One could be to not to take God for granted.  He provides the sun and the rain, the creativity for the growth of food etc so when we have abundance we must be ready to give something back to Him. Second, church leaders need to be careful who they reject.  God shows up in some very interesting people...including the Son of Man! Third, we need to be careful as to how we respond to Christ; we don't want His teachings to trip us up.  Lord Jesus, please help us to be generous with what we have and respond to Your teachings the way You want us do.  Also Lord, please help us to accept those You send to us.  Amen.

 Luke 20:1-8 Jesus was a pro at handling questions.  For instance, in this case, He answered a question with a question.  Lord Jesus, please give us this kind of wisdom.  Wisdom that acknowledges that all questions don't have to be answered and a wisdom to ask the right types of questions.  Show us how we can make a difference in this world through our questions.

  Luke 19:41-44 There are times when I don't know what to do with sin!  Jesus says in this case their eyes were blinded to the truth.  Lord Jesus, I know we're in a spiritual battle but I ask that You show us what You see.  Open our eyes to Your truths.  Everything seemed to be okay the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem...except for Him, a Jew, that people were following and the temple/church leaders seemed threatened by; but a number of years later the vision that Jesus saw was fulfilled.  The same is true for us today.  Everything seems okay but everyone is going to his/her own way and ultimately I predict, God will have enough.  Lord Jesus, please show us, each step of the way, what we are to do about the sin that surrounds us and please protect us from the evil one. 12 steps of Christian Discipleship

  Luke 19:28-40 As I observe Jesus' life I note that life is full of it's ups and downs and this happens to be an up.  Everyone is rejoicing.  Jesus is entering Jerusalem...not on a horse but on a donkey (a true show of His humility...it also demonstrates He shouldn't be a threat!)  The people are cheering Him on and life looks good; even if some of the Pharisees want Him to shut the crowd up.  What I don't think they've realized is Jesus is coming in as the Passover lamb.  It reminds me of the times when life isn't as we expect.  We get really excited and then everything changes because it doesn't work out the way we expect.  Can we hold on to our faith and trust God with the future, which only He knows?  Lord Jesus, please help us trust You with our futures.  Amen

Luke 19:11-27   This is a story used to teach; it's not a fact in history; but none the less a teaching story.  First I find it interesting that the subjects didn't like the person who was going to be appointed King.  How many times have we had leaders that we didn't like?  This however, didn't stop the story.  3 subjects were asked to do something with money.  They were each given 3 months worth of wages.  The first one produced 10 times as much with it, the second one 5 times as much and the third one just returned the money.  The question is what would we do if we were given this much money?  Could we make it multiply as the first and second one did or would we just hold on to it?  Lord Jesus, please help us to use Your resources wisely.  Show us how to grow them in Jesus name.

  Luke 19:1-10 I think The Chosen has done a good job of portraying how Jews thought, in general, of tax collectors. ( The Chosen ) They made the life of the average Jew hard...yet Jesus had compassion on them.  It reminds me of how some Christians are responding to culture in regard to same sex marriages and transgender issues and I ask; "what would Jesus do?".   In this passage, Jesus, invited himself over to his house. (given that tax collectors weren't popular among the Jews this was a courageous move).  I think Jesus did this because Zacchaeus wanted to know more about Him.  So too, I think we need to look out for people who are searching for Jesus, and be prepared to hang out with them even if our friends look down on us for this.  Zacchaeus responded appropriately by making amends for his sins so Jesus accepted his actions and noted He came to save the lost.  Lord Jesus, please help us to accept the sinner but at the same time help us to kn...

 Luke 18:35-43 Here is a true story of a man who was rejected by the disciples(Christians)...and others in culture but Jesus heard him; asked him what he wanted...and in faith he asked Jesus to heal him....and He did. Lord Jesus, please help us to be compassionate with others; especially those who have disabilities.  The laws we are working on in Canada are disturbing in this regard.  Please intervene and show us what we are to do to help Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

  Luke 18:31-34 Jesus is preparing His disciples for the worst day.  The day He is killed.  They don't know it though so they don't understand...but the seed is planted for them to remember.  " on  the third day he will rise".  Have you ever journaled what God is saying to you but you just didn't get it?...then you re-read the journal and it was obvious.  This happened to me once.  I journaled for a month or two and really wasn't getting anything specific but then I re-read the journal and I could tell God was speaking to me on obedience all along!  Lord Jesus, please open our eyes to the truths you want us to see and help us to have the courage to obey You.

  Luke 18:28-30    I've heard it said that families disowned their children if they convert to Christianity.  Jesus says, if this is the case the children will be rewarded.  What sacrifice have we made to be a Christian? Lord Jesus, help us to recognize the privileges we have in being followers of You.  Watch over those who have had to count the cost of being rejected by their families.  Provide a deep fellowship in the Kingdom of God for them.

Luke 18:18-27 In evangelical circles you will hear a lot about being born again coming from the story of Nicodemus wanting to know how to inherit eternal life.  In his case Jesus confronted his intellect because his knowledge was keeping him from God. Today's story is different; it's money keeping the ruler from God.   With these two stories in mind and with these verses from Romans 1 20  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.   25  They [ ax ]  exchanged the truth of God for a lie [ ay ]  and worshiped and served the creation [ az ]  rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! we're challenged to glorify God, ...

  Luke 18:15-17 Have you ever noticed the faith of children?  Jesus says we need to accept the Kingdom of God like a little child.  Jesus also accepted the children when the disciples tried to turn them away.  Yes, without a doubt there is a place for children in God's Kingdom.  Let's encourage them to find Him in their childhood.  Lord Jesus, show us how to reach the younger generation for You and help the children hold on to their faith through their adult life.

  Luke 18:9-14 Sometimes it's hard to be humble when you've been raised in a good environment but if we can live our lives without God then we're probably not doing the will of God!  Lord Jesus, please take us on faith adventures as we walk the walk in Your very large Kingdom and help us to remember but for the grace of God there go I and Lord, help us to recognize that even acceptable sins like gluttony and pride are still sins!  Lord Jesus please help our friends who struggle with addictions.  If it is so hard to not over eat how can we imagine what it's like to not give in to an addiction!  Thanks for listening Lord Jesus.

  Luke 18:1-8 Have you been asking God for something?  Well don't give up, Jesus say, keep asking.  Right at the end of this passage Jesus throws in a teaching question...will God find faith?  It makes me ask the question what grows our faith?  Lord Jesus we believe, please help our unbelief.  Amen

  Luke 17:30-40 It seems to me that when the Lord comes to rescue us it will be in an instant and we will have to make instant decisions.  The question is are we prepared for this?  Lord Jesus, please help us to be prepared for Your return.  Help us to focus on You and develop a love relationship with You such that this type of decision will be natural.  After your death Your disciples went back to what they knew.  You gave them grace and met them where they were at.  Please provide the same grace for us and teach us how to live in this world but how not to be part of this world.  Thanks.

  Luke 17:28-29 Sin was rampant in Lot's day as it is today and instantly everything changed; like a volcano erupting or the world health organization declaring a pandemic we don't have control over the future. So are we prepared?  Have we got our focus on eternal things; things of God?  Lord Jesus, we live in Your Kingdom which we can't see so please help us from being contaminated with satan's Kingdom.  Teach us how to live in this world but not to be a part of it.  Help us to contribute to Your Kingdom in the best way possible.  Show us how to use the things that You have provided for us in this world for Your Kingdom. Amen

Luke 17:26-27   Have we thought of eternity or are we wrapped up in the here and now.  Today it is trendy to talk about mindfulness (focusing on the present), but we must carefully balance this with things of eternity.  Are we prepared for Christ to walk into our home?

  Luke 17:22-25 In this passage Jesus tries to prepare His disciples for the change.  He will no longer be on earth...because He will suffer and be killed by the hands of folks in power!  Lord Jesus, we long for others to know You. Please show us how to connect folks into Your Kingdom.

  Luke 17:20-21 The Kingdom of God is here.  It's in our midst.  It's not something we can see because it's all around us.  Lord Jesus, please give us spiritual eyes to see where You are working and how we can join in.

  Luke 17:11-19 This passage is a reminder to have an attitude of gratitude.  Is it true that only 10% of people have an attitude of gratitude?  Is it also true that if we give thanks we are healthier?  I wonder if any studies have been done on this.  What is also interesting is the person giving thanks is a foreigner.  It makes me think of people who are on the fringe of the church.  Do they show us up by giving thanks more than those going to church?  Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to earth; surrendering everything just to connect with us.  Help us not to take You for granted.  Your death was so sacrificial and it is so cool that your conquered death by rising again.  Thank You for Your obedience to God the Father.  Thank You for how You have provided for me and protected me through the years.   You are amazing!

  Luke 17:7-10 Jesus is saying we need to not expect appreciation for doing something we were suppose to do in the first place.  We should just obey because we were told to do it.  Lord Jesus, please help us to live a humble life.

  Luke 17:5-6 Dear Lord Jesus: Please increase our faith.  This prayer is powerful as Jesus says even a small component of faith can do significant things.  Lord Jesus, thank You for answering our prayer.

  Luke 17:1-4 Jesus is realistic.  He says we will struggle with others and we may trip each other up but watch out; God is watching and if we cause someone to fall we will be held accountable for it.  It's important to confront someone if they are causing you to struggle but it's also important to forgive...even if we have to forgive many times.  Lord Jesus, please help us to be aware of others around us so we don't cause others to stumble and heal our hearts so we can forgive when others cause us to stumble.

Luke 16:19-31   Have you ever thought on the after life?  We're only here on earth for but a dot in the time line of eternal life.  Today's passage gives a bit of a description of what it's like.  It also gives a huge warning!  Jesus rose from the dead and some people still don't believe.  Lord Jesus, please help us to believe in You and accept Your forgiveness of sins and make You Lord of our lives so we might inherit eternal life.

  Luke:16:16-18 We sing "I am not under law but under grace" and here we read that the law stopped at John; yet we need laws to function as a society.  Many of our laws have been based on scripture like "thou shall not steal, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not murder..." and here we have scripture  giving the implications of divorce.  These are strong words when we want to do our own thing but God made us and knows what is best for us so we need to analyze the laws He gave so we can live a happy, purpose filled life under grace.  Jesus didn't advocate a free for all, He advocated a partnership with God where the Holy Spirit helps us to do what is right in His sight.  Lord Jesus, give us the wisdom to live a happy and fulfilling life in Your Kingdom, under your grace, with the wisdom of Your laws. Amen

Luke 16:1-15   This passage raises the question; how does money affect our decisions?  We can't serve both God and money.  If we use it for our own benefits then God sees through it to our heart.  Lord Jesus, please help us to use money as a tool not a God.  Amen.