burning hearts
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [Luke 24:31] What strikes me in this passage is how elusive Jesus is. The disciples are kept from recognizing Him [Luke 24:16], then when He finally reveals Himself He disappears. He ‘opens’ their minds so they could understand the…
forgiveness
In today’s reading, Jesus does the unimaginable, forgiving the very people that were crucifying Him. Even more He asks God to let them off the hook!!!! If we think this is because He is divine, that He could do this, remember that Stephen (the first christian martyr), also forgave his murderers [Acts 7:59-60]. This kind of…
struggling, desperate hope
SCRIPTURE: Luke 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [Luke 23:34] I try to imagine what it was like for Jesus to say these words, and to mean them. Father, forgive them, do not hold this against them, release…
battlezone
October 22, 2009 SCRIPTURE: Luke 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. [Luke 22:31-32] Satan is moving against Jesus: He agitates the religious leaders against Jesus [Luke 22:1-2], fills Judas with…
seeing what Jesus sees
SCRIPTURE: Luke 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [Luke 21:3] Jesus sees things differently, and His perspective is good and right. Worldly eyes measure the amount of money gifts, but Jesus weighs the heart. Worldly eyes are impressed by great buildings, but Jesus…
the ‘not-being-a-jerk’ part
more than being right!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘John’s baptism–was it from heaven, or from men?’ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, From heaven, he will ask, Why didn’t you believe him? But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet. So they answered,…
now that’s a miracle!!!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer ; but you have made it a den of robbers.’ [Luke 19:46] Again and again the Lord stresses WHY we are blessed. God lives among us (symbolized by the temple) and blesses us so that we can lead…
one thing?
Hmm, what “one thing” would Jesus challenge me to give up?