Tue.’s Devo - “Except you Repent”

Read Luke 13:1-9 The people told Jesus of some Galileans that were so cursed Pilate killed them and used their blood for sacrifices. Jesus called them on it and asked them if they thought these Galileans were worse sinners than them just because this happened to them. He was trying to let them know that they were all sinners and all needed to repent or their life would not be esteemed any higher in heaven than the ones sacrificed to idols. Then Jesus referred to 18 men who were crushed when a tower near the pool of Siloam fell. I couldn’t find any information about that incident but I know that the pool of Siloam was a pool that was stirred by angels at certain times and when the waters moved all who went into the pool were believed to be healed. Siloam means “sent”. Jesus was the pool of Siloam - the “sent”one to stir the waters of the spirit and bring healing for all who came in. Obviously, by Jesus reference to it, he knew that the people thought the men who were killed were cursed also. Jesus once again brought them back to the statement that except YOU repent, you will die also. Then he gave them a parable to explain his point. A man had a fig tree that was totally unfruitful. The owner of the land told the gardener that he wanted the unfruitful tree dug up because it was taking up space. The gardener pleaded with the owner to give it one more year and he would cultivate the land around the tree and then see if it bears fruit. Jesus was talking about Israel. They were unfruitful and God was tempted to uproot them and plant a new people. Jesus, as the gardener, asked God for time so he could cultivate their hearts to receive the Word and maybe they would be fruitful again. The only way to do this was to repent and be born again. Lord, open our eyes to see that we were all sinners condemned to die until you came and redeemed us. Help us to live in a state of repentance and gratefulness.

Mon.’s Devo - Discerning the Times

Read Luke 12:49-59 Jesus came to be a consuming fire and burn up all the chaff and sin. He came to cleanse the temple of its hypocrisy and man-made laws. Jesus also came to be baptized by sin and become sin for us. He came to take those stripes the we deserve on his own back that we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus came to be the standard - the Word: that is the two-edged sword that divides soul and spirit, bone and marrow, thoughts and intents. Even those of the same household will be divided by the teachings of Jesus and the spirit he brings. Jesus rebukes them for being able to discern the physical wind and what it brings but not being able to discern the spiritual wind and what it brings. Then Jesus gives them a parable of what happens in Satan’s court. If you choose to be judged in his court it will not be just and you will pay for every sin you have committed and then some. They were standing before the Righteous Judge and they couldn’t comprehend it. They didn’t understand the spiritual times they were living in. They had no idea that the Messiah they had prayed for for so long was in their midst so they were choosing Satan over the Messiah unaware. If they had been diligently looking for the Messiah as the wise men were, they would have known this was the promised King of the Jews. Lord, help us to know the times we are living in and help us not to miss your appearances in our lives. Let your Word divide our hearts and make us wholly yours.

Fri.’s Devo - Understanding the Parable

Read Luke 12:41-48 Jesus has just told the parable about the faithful servants that were able to wait for their master to come and were not robbed by the thief. When he finished telling the parable, Peter asked him if that parable was for them or for all mankind. Jesus answers Peter with a question: “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?” Jesus was trying to help Peter learn how to understand parables by picking a part the different people in the parable and asking questions about them. He was letting Peter know that the faithful servant is open to anyone who wants to be him. Then he explains who the unfaithful servant is: the man who gets tired of waiting and decides it is not worth living in expectation for something that doesn’t look like is going to happen. That man will become slack in his walk with God and start treating people unfairly, eating and drinking to get drunk. That man will be caught with his pants down and all he worked for on this earth will be give to the faithful servants. The unfaithful servant is a person who knows God’s will and decides to do his own thing. He will be punished severely. The man who doesn’t know God’s will and is still unfaithful will not be punished as harshly. To whom much is given, much will be required. Lord, we choose to be the faithful servant who waits as long as it takes for you to come. You are not slack concerning your promises but are slow to anger and compassionate. We trust in your timing.

Thur.’s Devo - Waiting in the Lord

Read Luke 12:33-40 Spiritual riches are so much more satisfying than worldly riches and the things of heaven are much more weightier than anything this world has to offer. If this concept is in our hearts then we will be willing to sell what we have, and give to the poor. It is always about what is in our hearts. It is not wrong to enjoy things money can buy as long as it doesn’t “own” your heart. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Verse 35 says “let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning”. Eph. 5:14 talks about wearing the armor of God. We are to have our loins girded with truth. Our lights are our eyes that are portals to our soul. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened to see things that were otherwise closed to them. If our eyes are burning then they can see in the darkness and see truth. Next Jesus goes into a parable about servants who wait and watch for their lord, even if he tarries. They are to watch and wait and protect their house so the thief won’t be able to break in. Our house is our spiritual being. We are all waiting for God to come and do something (heal us, save our children, give us a husband, fulfill our dreams), but if we get tired of waiting then the thief will be able to come and steal our joy, our hope, and our god-given dreams. Jesus is coming one day, just as the fulfillment of our dreams are coming if we wait in the Lord for them. Lord, guard our hearts from earthly lusts. May we wait patiently for you to come and fulfill our dreams. Show us how to “occupy” till you come.

Wed.’s Devo - God’s Kingdom First

Read Luke 12:25-32 I love the sermon on the mount because Jesus is opening up his treasure of wisdom and letting us in. Today, he is explaining that man cannot do supernatural things like God can, so it is senseless not to trust him. He asks us if we can just by thinking cause our bodies to grow taller. If we can’t do that simple thing then why are we trying to take on all the other problems we have. He tells us to meditate on the flowers that grow in the fields and how they are just a beautiful display of wonder yet they have no other reason to be there except to be beautiful. They don’t strive to be there, they are just a product of God’s hand. We can be that carefree if we trust in God. He has planted us here just like those lilies and we have an eternal purpose. Then he directs us to think about grass and how it faithfully grows every spring and dies every winter. If God can make that happen every year, he can certainly cover us with his provision and protection. We are not to doubt that God will feed us or give us water to drink. The key is to being in the Lord’s kingdom. This is a promise to God’s people, not the people of the earth. It is our responsibility to feed and clothe them so that they may see our good works and glorify God. Nations have always coveted the wealth of America because their nations have lived in poverty and want. Our president made a statement the other day that we are not a Christian nation but a nation of all religions, so today we see dire poverty and neglect in our own nation. God is dividing whose are his and whose are not. One of the ways of knowing which side we are on is his provision. God is going to supernaturally provide for us once again like he has done all through history. Our part is seeking the kingdom of God first. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Lord, we seek your kingdom in our lives and in the people of this world. May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you for being our provision and our protection.

Tues.’s Devo - A Teaching Moment

Read Luke 12:11-24 Jesus always teaches a principle then demonstrates it. Today’s reading is a perfect example of that. Jesus is finishing his teaching on the Holy Spirit and ends it with verse 11 and 12. When you are brought before religious leaders, people in powerful positions in the world, or demonic powers don’t try to reason your answer, but allow the Holy Spirit to give you the right response. As soon as he says that, a person comes up to him with a problem and Jesus demonstrates this principle. The man is complaining that his brother is not dividing the inheritance with him and he wants Jesus to be his advocate. Jesus explains that he is not here to judge or divide then the Holy Spirit in Jesus shows him the root of the man’s heart: covetousness. He tells them a parable about a man who was very rich and had an over-abundance. Instead of looking for people to share it with he decided he needed to build bigger places to store it. Then he could kick back and enjoy his life with no worries. God called this man a fool because he was going to take his life that night. All his “stuff” was not going to help him and his life would be in vain. It does no good to have an abundance of worldly goods and no eternal reward of knowing God. When you know God and honor him with your wealth, then you realize it is not “your” wealth, but his that he has in trusted you to spend wisely. We are not to worry about our future because God has promised to both feed and clothe us. If the ravens don’t do a thing to make their food and God feeds them, aren’t we more important than ravens to God? Of course we are. If we are rich toward God and trust him with our lives then we will walk in the promises of the Word and stand on them. So what is our part? To seek God’s kingdom first then all the things we need both spiritually and physically will be supplied. Lord, help us to seek you first and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us about every situation.

Mon.’s Devo - Honoring the Holy Spirit

Read Luke 12:1-10 Jesus was becoming more and more popular and his crowds were growing. Jesus took this opportunity to warn them about becoming like the Pharasees. Their leaven or sin was hypocrisy. He warned them from becoming a hypocrite because everything they did in secret would be exposed one day. He was trying to get they to think with eternity in mind, not just the present here-and-now. People may be able to kill your natural body, but it is your spirit that is going to live eternally. Don’t fear men who can only take your life; fear God who can give your eternal life. God knows the price and fate of every sparrow. He knows how many hairs are on our head so why would we think God doesn’t care about us or has forgotten about us if he keeps up with sparrows. Then he gave them a key to possessing the kingdom of God. He said, if we will be faithful to speak his name to men; he will confess our name before the angels of heaven. If we speak against Jesus, we can be pardoned, but if we speak against the Holy Spirit, we will not be pardoned. How do we grasp this? The Holy Spirit seems to be the untouchable one of the Trinity. He is so protected and honored by Jesus and God. I don’t know how we talk against him but I have sure heard people talk against his ways and his gifts. I don’t know if this falls in this “unforgiven” category but all I know is we need to watch how we talk about the things of God that we don’t understand. The Holy Spirit was the gift Jesus died to give us so it was very important to heaven. It is how Jesus moves in us and speaks to us. Father, forgive us for dishonoring the Holy Spirit and those that seem to walk in it. Give us a fear that will seal our mouths to only speak what is good, perfect, lovely, etc. Cleanse any leaven from our lives.