Jesus is Praying for Us

 Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not...

Jesus, speaking to Peter, knew that Peter would deny Him when the going got tough. But he also knew that Peter had a tender heart and a desire to serve Him. The fullness of the Holy Spirit and the work He was to do had yet to be released. Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit comes, He will purify, fill, and empower the followers of Jesus to be a witness that would turn the world upside down. As determined as Peter was, fear gripped his heart, and he feared for his life when the pressure was on. Jesus knew that Peter would “drop the ball” and his faith would falter. Our humanity, without the grace of God, is so prone to fail. Jesus prayed for Peter that even in times when trails come, and we fail, that we do not have to quit and give up. Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God, is interceding for us even now. When Satan is doing all he can to shake us up and cause us to cast our faith away, Jesus is praying that we hold on and trust God who will find a way of escape. We sometimes come through the battle beaten up and sometimes wounded, but our faith in Jesus can remain true. It is good to have friends pray for us, and we are encouraged that our brothers and sisters in the Lord are praying, but to know that Jesus is praying for us, and His prayers are sure to reach the throne of God. If the cock crows in your life, don’t give up; turn to Jesus, who is praying that your faith will not fail.

Name Written in Heaven

 Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

There is no doubt that God has the power to cast out demons from people who Satan has imprisoned and bound for years. He came to set the captive free, and empowered His followers to cast out demons in His Name. The ability to heal, or cast out demons is not done by our own power or any intrinsic value we possess. We see throughout the Bible the Apostles doing great things in Jesus' name. Jesus made it clear that doing such a task does not give you any assurance that you will have eternal life. Many will come to Him on that day and say “... Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works? (Mat 7:22). He will say to them, “depart from me you worker of iniquity, I know you not.” Their names were not written in heaven, their names could not be found in the book of Life. How does one get their names written in heaven (the book of life)? Those who put their faith in the Lamb of God who was slayed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin are written into the book of life. Jesus, the Lamb who was slayed from the foundation of the world, provided a way of escape from the lake of fire. Confess and believe He died for you, let Him into your heart. Let Him be Lord of your life. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven, and rejoice when a sinner who is lost in sin finds Jesus, and their name is also written in heaven.

Exceeding Great Joy

 Luke 2:10, Mat 2:10
The angel brought “good tidings of great joy” to the shepherds… The wise men, when they saw the star, “rejoiced with exceeding great joy”

The shepherd’s eyes were amazed as they heard the good news! The Messiah was born, the Savior who will change the world had condensed into the human race. Like  the wise men, they probably rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Their joy exceeded the merriment of being happy. Joy filled their hearts to overflowing. They saw the significance of this historical event. 

Greeting others with, “Merry Christmas” is to wish people a happy holiday season as they gather together with friends and family. Smiles are seen on parents and grandparent’s faces as they watch the children unwrap their gifts, excitement in the air as the child opens the present they have been wanting for days. No doubt, happiness fills the home. The songwriter penned it well:
 “It's the most wonderful time of the year. 
With the kids jingle belling. 
And everyone tells you to be of good cheer.”
But to the believer, Christmas is more than being merry with our loved ones, it is a time of great joy! A celebration and remembering the joy of salvation that Jesus came to save people from their sins. Exceeding great joy transcends human emotion. It is an eternal joy that is sealed in the heart that all is well with our soul. Jesus came to earth that we might have joy and have it more abundantly.  Circumstances in life may not always be filled with happy emotions and merriment, but it can be filled with great joy that we are a child of the king, and he knows us by name. As welook at the star that hangs in the church or in your home, may we also rejoice with exceeding great joy, knowing that Jesus came and died for us. In Him, we have real joy. Joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Peace on Earth

 Luke 2:14, Col 3:15
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men….And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
The desire for most people is to have peace, freedom from disturbance, absence of conflict, war to be eliminated, and tranquility of mind and heart. Sin in the hearts of humanity is the root that makes lasting peace unattainable. The carnal nature born in man is at war with the nature of God, who is our Peace. Christ came to bring peace to mankind, peace that passes all understanding. But as long as sin remains, war will continue to be part of life. Jesus said that nations will war against nations, and His sword will bring division because sin is at enmity with God. The proclamation made by the angels on the day Christ was born, that this Christ would bring peace on earth. Peace is made available to every man, woman, boy and girl on earth. Through Christ, we can have peace in our heart. The war with sin is over, the blood of Jesus has made the heart clean, and He can rule in our hearts. We now have victory or sin and our way is now God’s way , we have surrendered everything over to God. Our plans, ambition, and desires are now His to rule. The Peace of God brings tranquility when everything else is chaotic. The world around us is looking for world peace, but real peace only comes when Christ is born in your heart, and He controls our destiny and journey in life. 

Choose the Good Part

 Luke 10:41,42
 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things...But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Much has been said and written about these two ladies. Martha cared about making sure everything was in place and ready when guests arrived. Mary didn’t stress out about being ready, she wanted to spend time with Jesus. It is hard to fault Martha. It could be said that she was showing her love for Jesus by doing acts of kindness. Martha was upset with Mary for not helping out and leaving all the work to her. There are many lessons here that can be made, but Jesus had something to say to Martha that we also can take notice. Life and doing good can cause us to stress out, especially if we are not getting any help, but Jesus desires that we take time out of our busy day to sit at His feet and spend time alone with Him. Tomorrow will take care of itself, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and let God fill us with His love and presence. He also desires that we serve and do good to others, but we best not neglect what is most important. Take time to be with Jesus. Choose the good part. Everything else can wait.

Crucify Him

 Luke 23:21
 But they cried, saying, crucify him, crucify him.

A week ago, the people were praising Him, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king that comes in the name of the Lord.” Some say that these were the same people now crying out to crucify Him, crucify Him! I like to think that they were not. The crowd last were filled with hope and anticipation that Jesus would be their deliverer. I believe many of them were heartbroken to see their hopes dashed by the events that were happening. Those that were crying out for the blood of Jesus to be put to death were those who felt threatened by His popularity and the large following He was gathering.  The Pharisee, Sadducees, Sanhedrin, and many of the religious sector who were blinded by their own self righteousness and greed for power. They were convicted by the life of Jesus. The crowd last week were fearful for their lives to be identified with Jesus, and I believe, feared repercussions from the religious leaders. But, their refusal to stand up for Jesus made them part responsible for Jesus being crucified. They may not have cried out, “crucify Him!” but like Peter, they were guilty of forsaking Him. His death on the cross was necessary for the salvation of mankind. It was prophesied many hundreds of years ago. We don’t have control over the events of life and what happens tomorrow, but we can still do what is right today, and live a life that is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Many still today are nailing Him to the cross and crucify Him afresh and anew. But we can take a stand for God and take up the cross and follow Him.

Bad Company

 Luke 15:2
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
It is important to guard our influence. The religious people in Jesus day thought this was necessary in order to maintain their reputation. They valued their reputation over seeking the lost. Paul admonishes believers not to be a stumbling block to others by the things they do and say. But on the other hand, he says “​​I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” It is prudent that we be careful with the kind of people we hang around with and guard against being influenced by evil. Guilty by association is often attributed to those who hang around bad company, but Jesus sees people who are lost and need to be found. He casted away any inhibition of being identified with sinners and meets people where they are to share His love and forgiveness. Christian who are the light of the world, a world that is darkened by sin are to live in the world, but are not to be a part of it. Let the light of Christ shine to those who are lost and so they can find a way out of darkness.

Asking God

 Luke 11:9
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

We don’t always get what we want, but God always gives us what we need. In His goodness and love, He knows what is best for us. He does not take pleasure in seeing his children suffer, but reasons only known to Him, He does not give us everything we ask for. For in our asking, we put God’s will before our earthly desires. We pray like Jesus, “Not my will, but your will be done” He delights in us asking, and He will fulfill it in such a way that works out for our good. For we know that all things work together for good to them that love Him and are called (follow) His will.

Let Us Ponder

 Luke 2:19
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

We all find ourselves pondering from time to time. Sometimes our thinking is carried away with things that could have been, if only. We stop and often think and dream of the possibilities in life. As the word went out that a baby was born in Bethlehem, and this baby was to be the Savior of Israel, Mary wondered and mused to herself what all this would mean. How would all this come to pass? How could this baby save the world? We often face situations in life that cause us to wonder what will happen next. Mary really had no idea what the future would bring. She only knew that this child was of God, and her life was dedicated to raising this child. We don’t know what the future holds, we only have today to do what is best. To follow the light that God gives us and to do as He commands. Let us ponder on faith to believe God to take care of our loved ones and trust Him that all will work out to His Glory.

Luke 23-24

Guilty of breaking the law, they hung side by side by the the guiltless one. The one who knew no sin. One malefactor still full of pride, anger and spite lashed out his resentment toward God and society. The other, seeing his profound sinful condition, humbled himself, confessed his deed and begged for mercy. The voice of Christ will ever ring in his ears through out eternity, “Today you will be with me in heaven”.  One died and went to hell, the other died and is with Christ even as I write. (Luke 23)

Morning came on the first day of the week. All seemed to be gone and hope destroyed. He who was to redeemed Israel had been nailed to a cross, pierced with a javelin, and buried in a borrowed tomb. But the circumstances of life were about to change. Sunday morning at the tomb turned from sadness to anticipation.  Many who’s faith was severely damaged by the death of Christ, still were hesitate to believe that He was Alive. But the word of Christ burned in their heart and He open the scriptures and revealed who He was. Indeed He is risen! Peace and Hope was alive. (luke24)

They were afraid that they had seen a apparition. How could this be? They saw him die on the cross, they witness his body being laid to rest. But, His words brought peace to their hearts, He calmed their trouble spirits and their faith began to grow. He touched their minds and truth was made real. He returned back to the Father, but hope and faith were alive. Let the world know, Jesus is alive and well. It was a day of celebration. (luke24b)

Luke 22

Even in the midst of pending death, the disciple’s only concern was who was going to obtain the highest seat of power when God’s Kingdom was establish. Before the days of Pentecost, they all sat around the table with Jesus for the Passover feast arguing and positioning themselves to be God’s special “pet”. The concept of being Crucified with Christ had not entered their minds. The price they were to pay to follow Christ was still in the shadows of their thoughts. The cup that they drank from had not yet become bitter to them. They would soon drink of that cup and realized the sting of death it represented. (Luke22a)

Being subject to the Father, Jesus prayed for strength to face the task that was set before Him. The life of the surrender is always ready to say, “Not my will, but thy will be done”. Peter’s carnal heart and love of self caused him to lose faith in the test of time. Peter learned a lesson that self determination is not enough to defeat Satan, He needed something bigger than himself to be what he needed to be in the time of crisis. (Luke 22b)

The power of darkness filled the night air as Judas kissed the face of Jesus. The power of darkness moved across the soul of Peter as he vehemently denied that he knew this man who was being arrested. The power of darkness caused the Roman soldiers to scorn and mock the Son of God and blaspheme His name. It was the power of darkness that caused men to hate and despise that which was good and holy. But, it was the power God that made it possible for the Son of God to give His life a ransom, so that the power darkness would be broken. (luke22c)

Luke 21

The last siege of Jerusalem and the desolation of her buildings will someday come to ruins and emptiness. The signs of the end of earth’s habitation have already begun and prophecy of Christ that those who love Him will be the outcast of the world. Christian will be the target of blame and many will give their live because they stood for what was right. They will testify of the grace of God and will be hated by those who despise the Word of God and hate those who stand by it. They can destroy the body, but they cannot destroy the soul, no, not one hair. (luke21a)

The events that take place before the coming of the Son of God can be seen and have been recorded in the history books of man. We live in a day where sin is the accepted norm and righteousness is scorn as a relic of the the past. The hearts of righteous men grow weary of the power of satan that has invaded the thrones of the world kingdoms. God has been forsaken and has been replace with liberal progressive tolerance of sin. Our hope is in Christ. He will return and those looking for Him will find redemption. The words of Christ will stand the test of time.(Luke 21b)

Luke 19-20

It matters not who you are in the world. Jesus is no respecter of person. He comes to visit any who are willing to open their doors and invite Him in. In the face of political opposition, Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to gather the attention of Jesus. He would not let the obstacle of life and his personal limitations keep him from getting an audience with the Savior. Zacchaeus was willing to come clean and make right his wrongs to obtain the approbation of Christ. Before one can be found, one must realized that they are lost. Jesus came to save the lost. (Luke19)

It is only fitting that one would praise God for His blessings. The presences of Jesus coming into the city Jerusalem caused the people to cry out in song. For years they waited the Kingdom of God to come and now the time had arrived. We were made to praise God. It is in the very nature of our spiritual being to lifted up our voices to Him. If we fail to do what God desires, then nature will shout out His glory. Surely we are more valuable to God than the rocks of the earth.(Luke 19b)

Christ came to save the world, even the scribes and the pharisees, but the pride of their heart rejected Him. They were threaten by sway that Christ had on the populous. Their power over the people was being challenged. The message of Christ was humility and submission, such was not in the nature of these men. Christ called them out and they were mad. People will find any way they can to do away with the voice of God that causes their hearts to be trouble. Sin stops at nothing. (luke20a)

Because God knows the hearts of men, there are no “trick” questions that He does not already know. Manipulation of God is foolishness. His answers will always cause  the questions to backfire. The scribe and sadducees walked away shaking their heads and the deceitfulness of their heart revealed for all to see. You cannot pull the wool over the eyes of Jesus, He is God and knows the hearts and motives of men. (luke20b)

Luke 17-18

Forgiveness is often a hard pill to swallow especially if we have doubt of the sincerity of the apology. It seems once again to be unreasonable to continue to forgive when the offense is often repeated. It takes an “other world” grace to be able to truly forgive someone who is a repeat offender. I too would cry out, “Lord increase my faith”  My mustard seed is having a hard time sprouting.(Luke17a)

The returning of Jesus is unknown, but Jesus did give some indication that His return will come when many have turned away from God and have left the paths of righteousness. The minds and hearts of man will be immerse in the pleasures of this world, God will be place on a shelf and people will turns their heart away from God and live for self gratification. They will only be concern about the things of this world and taking no though the the Kingdom of God in their hearts. Jesus said they will be left behind when He returns. (Luke17b)

Whose prayer does God hear? For certain, a man who thinks highly of himself and exalts his station in life has no need for God. Such a person is wrapped up in self and self-righteousness. They preceive that goodness is derived from good works. They brag of their life of sinlessness and take credit for their purity. Such a person, God cannot help and they will someday realized that they have come short of God’s Glory. The humble and meek spirit of dependence will cause the ear of God to bend low and take notice. It is the humble that God will lift up and draw nigh. (luke18a)

Mercy, Mercy! The cry of the beggar. Blinded and unable to see Jesus, he was able to recognized that the God in the flesh was passing by and He only had the power to give him his sight. The faith of the mustard seed was blooming in the heart of this blind beggar. He believed, and because of his faith, Christ stopped and paused to listen to the cry of this man. Miracles take place when we cry out to God and believe that He is able to perform that which is impossible to man, but possible for God.(luke18b)

Luke 14-15

The excuses that are given today will fall short in the day judgement. Many will say that I was busy prepare for my life and the future, and didn’t have time for God. Other live to work and there whole life is focus on their job or career, leaving no time for God, and others find that family is more important and put their spouse or their kids before God. All of these reasons have a good cause and we are to be mindful that we do our best to provide for the future, do good work at the job and care for our family, but living for the  kingdom requires that one give it all to God and come to the table of God and feast at the feet of Jesus first.

The price to be a follower of Jesus is not to be taken likely. Claiming to be a disciple of Jesus comes with the willingness to forsake everything in your life that would draw you away from following Him. The decision to follow is more than a mental state of mind, but it is one of action and determination. Yes, before the cross can be carried, one must decide and be willing to carry it. But, the test of discipleship is in the action and not in the intention. There are people full of good intentions, but very few actually will carry their cross to calvary. (luke14b)

The desire of God is to see sinners come to the knowledge of the light of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to be a friend to sinners and went out of His way to reach them. His love for his creation extends to all who are lost and He makes every effort  to meet people at the point of their need no matter their station in life. All have sinned and come short of the kingdom of God, rich and poor alike. He seeks all that are lost to bring them into the fold (Luke 15a)

The wayward son who left his father’s house and his father’s faith and values learned a hard lesson about the real world. The world’s values are to make sure that self is served first. As a general rule, the people of the world are more concerned about self preservation and self interest than the needs of others. The prodigal son soon realized that life outside of God is the pits and it eventually takes you down a road that is desolate and hard. Thank God for His faithfulness to those who leave the fold, and then wake to realized that they missed it. His mercy reaches to the backslider and those who have wander away from their moorings. Those who have lost their way can find their way back to God. (Luke15b)

(Luke 16) ?

Luke 11-13

Not a person who likes to beg, I find the admonition of the Lord to ask, seek, and knock to be difficult truth for me to understand. I also realize that God knows what is best and it would seem unprofitable to continue asking for something that He knows may not be in my best interest. I could also confess that often my faith would rather submit to His will in resignation, rather than keep asking for Him to do the impossible. This is the part of prayer that I find challenging. Help me Lord to better understand how to pray. (Luke11a)

A distress signal has been sounded out by Jesus, “Woe!” A proclamation of sorrowful warning if not heeded, the future does not look good. The observance of rules and rituals is not the essence of true religion. They are not to be totally discarded, but on the other hand, they are not to be the focus of serving God. Many have high expectation of others, but are not willing themselves to follow the same expectations. Jesus calls these people hypocrites. (Luke11b)

(Luke 12)

How difficult is it to get to heaven? It is so easy that many will struggle to make it. Sounds like a oxy moron. The simple truth is Christ has made it possible through His death and resurrection that not even a fool could error if he desires God. But many will rely on their good works and humanitarian efforts to insist on eternal life. Some will even claim that they were doing such act in the name of religion. It is not is the acts of goodness that given us access, but our obedience to God’s will that allows us to come boldly to His throne. We claim the blood of Christ as our only plea. Christ desires to gather us all under His wing, but many have resisted His love and protection.(Luke13a)

The excuses that are given today will fall short in the day judgement. Many will say that I was busy prepare for my life and the future, and didn’t have time for God. Other live to work and there whole life is focus on their job or career, leaving no time for God, and others find that family is more important and put their spouse or their kids before God. All of these reasons have a good cause and we are to be mindful that we do our best to provide for the future, do good work at the job and care for our family, but living for the  kingdom requires that one give it all to God and come to the table of God and feast at the feet of Jesus first. (Luke 13b)

Luke 9-10

The message of the Kingdom of God is given to those who follow Christ. The power to rebuke evil and cast it out was authorized by Christ to demonstrate His desire that sin and unrighteousness had no part in life of those who claim the Kingdom of God. It was time to move forward and proclaim that Jesus Christ was here, the message of love, mercy, grace, and healing was to be proclaimed. Those who refuse to accept this message were left to their own demise. 

Confessing Christ is not merely an acknowledgment that He is God. A confession of Christ requires one not only to forsake the life of sin they once lived, but to go against the nature of man and deny oneself of their rights in order to see the Kingdom of God come to pass. Leaving self behind is not a decision of determination, it is an experience that is accomplished by the Holy Spirit that empowers the believer to count the cost, pick up their cross and to follow the steps of Jesus. (Luke9a)

Following Christ is more than living by his teachings of morality and goodness. The implication of following Jesus will require one to give their life in full surrender to the whole will of God. To be willing to go wherever He leads, to do whatever He says. In other words, Jesus becomes the priority in a person’s life. Everything is done with Christ at the center. All decision in life are made with the focus, “What would Jesus have me to do” Following Christ also implies that one has already confessed Christ and is now ready to serve Him. (Luke9b)

Seeing God move in miraculous way is awesome, but the greater miracle known to man is knowing that your name is written in the Book of Life. Brought from death to life is the greatest miracle of all time. “I was blind, but now I see” “I was dead in trespasses and sin, but new life through Christ has brought my dead soul into a new beginning. The healing power of God is something to behold, but it is all in vain if your life is still dead in sin. Jesus, said, ”Rejoice that your name is written in heaven“. That is shouting ground. (Luke10a)

Equality is best demonstrated when all men are equally treated with kindness and mercy. God is no respecter of person, and will show mercy to every man who is in need of help. Our neighbor is all of humanity. It is the responsibility of all Christians to show kindness, and be willing to give of our resources to help those that are suffering regardless of their race, greed, or station in life. May I have a heart like the good Samaritan and show mercy. (Luke10b)

Luke 6-8

The test of Christianity is found in the actions and reactions of the believer. Words spoken carry weight, but it is acts of kindness and compassion that show the true nature of a person. Showing love and mercy to those who desire to hurt you is to show the love of Christ. His love is what carries us through to love others in spite of the circumstances or situations that we face. It is only through the grace of God that a Christian is able to obtain the love of God that it may be manifested to others. (Luke 6)

in the prison cells of Herod, John the Baptist sat pondering and wondering the purpose of his life. The greatest prophet of all time began to feel that his work was for nought. Discouraged with the turn of events, locked up in a cell and waiting execution, he seeks to find the answers to his nagging doubts. “Jesus, is it really you? Are you the one? Can you give me some assurance I can hold on to? It is just like Jesus to bring hope to the heart of John. ”You did your job John, you prepared the way, the people are receiving the message and their hearts are open to the gospel.“ (Luke7a)

The measure of gratitude is often seen and demonstrated when the debt of forgiveness is great. It is not until one sees the gravity of one’s own heart condition that one is able to express the depth of gratitude of being forgiven of their sins. We all must see ourselves like the woman who fell at the feet of Jesus in humility and unworthiness. When we come face to face with our sins and realized that we are headed to eternity without God, it is then that God can reach down in loving mercy and grace and give us new life and hope. It is this kind of forgiveness that will cause us to give everything to Him, bow at His feet and begin to wash His feet. (Luke7b)

My faith often goes into hiding. The practically of life and the reality that we live in a world that is fallen makes it a challenge to believe that anything can be done. The storms of life and unanswered questions cause faith to go into hiding. How does one muster faith when one is drowning in the sea of discouragement. Grasping the ore of the boat, endeavoring to steer the boat through the bolstering waves of life. Where is God? Where is my faith? Calm the storm Lord, Let me see the work of God manifested. My faith is weak, help my unbelief. (Luke8) 

To only hear the words of the Savior speak to me, would be the solace of mind to calm the fears that I face. To be able to just touch the hem of His garment and sense the virtue of His power flow into my life, would be bliss. He says. “Only believe” The people throng around me, and it is difficult to find my way through. I know He is able, I have seen Him work miracles, but I need to find a way to push through the cares of life and touch Him that my spirits may be renewed. (mark8b)

Luke 3-5

John preached a radical gospel of repentance, humility, and selflessness. He cut to the root of the heart, pride and rebellion against God. If one is to truly turn their life over to God, it will require more than lip service. The choice to go with God will require a full surrender to God’s commandments. Such requirements can only be fulfilled when one gives their life to Christ and allows the Holy Spirit to Baptize the Heart with fire, purging the heart from all sin. (Luke3)

Temptation comes in many forms. We are often tempted to put our trust in earthly things and satisfied human desires in a way that is unholy, when we should be trusting God’s Word. Achieving position and power through unrighteous methods has corrupted many. Some will presume upon God’s love and mercy and recklessly do things that God has not required, one cannot ties the hands of God and demand that God do things that are not His will. Christ showed the way out of temptation. resist the devil, speak the Word, and stay focused on worshiping God alone. (Luke4)

He only needs to speak the word and it shall be done. The Devil fear and tremble when in the presence of Jesus. The blind see, the lame walk, and the demons of hell are cast out when He speaks the word. The devils that roam the earth are no match for His power and might. It is through the name of Jesus, the power of His will that we can overcome the wickedness of this day. Let us go forth baring the cross and invoking His Name and His Blood that was shed for sin and unrighteousness. (Luke4)

You will never know what might happen when you launch out in the deep. Spiritually, God will often call us to go into deeper waters, for it is only there where we will be able to experience what God has for us. As we begin to see the workings of God in our life we begin to understand how unworthy we are. He showers us with His blessings and does things that go beyond are expectation. No wonder the disciples were willing to forsake all that the world has to offer and to follow Christ in full obedience. (Luke5a)

Desperation calls for desperate means. Getting through to God will often require us to get earnest. It must become the overwhelming priority in our life if we want God to do great things in our lives. For the man with palsy, he convince others around him to see the need to go beyond the reasonable to accomplish the impossible. What may seem strange to others, is often the only way to get through to God. “Whatever it takes, to draw closer to you Lord, that is what I am willing to do.” (Luke 5b)

Luke 1-2

Believing God in the face of logic would seem to be unreasonable. Even the upright and obedient Zacharias struggles with what seem impossible. It is hard to go against reason, but such is often the case when it comes to trusting God to do the impossible. Zacharias did not ask for the impossible, he was told that the impossible would happen, and his faith refuse to grasp the significance of the promise. I don’t fault Zacharias, most of us would also fail the test of faith to believe God in the face of seemly impossible situations. (Luke1a)

The impossible is about to happen in the life of Mary. The Christ child will be her son in the flesh. The father would be the Holy Spirit. The promise given to her changed her life. Mary was overwhelmed with this news, but wavered not at the promise given to her. The angel already informed her, “With God nothing shall be impossible” All Mary could say was, “Let it be…”  Luke 1b

Magnifying the Lord and praising Him for His mercy is from every lasting to every lasting. He is good and all blessing come from above and are shed on those who take time to magnify and glorify Him in all of life’s situations. Such was the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Luke1c)

Fear of the enemy and fear of living in darkness is something to be concern with.  Serving God will allow one to live a life that is free of fear, and give one the freedom to serve God in holiness and righteousness until the day God calls them home. Those who sit in darkness and live in fear, He shed His light and shows the way out into the marvelous light of peace. (Luke1d)

What a glorious day for the shepherds watching their flock that evening. God fearing men who looked for the coming of the Messiah. Fear momentarily seized them, but were soon assured of God’s presence and His blessing. Without any hesitation, they obeyed the voice of the Angel and made their way to the foot of Jesus to give praise to God for the deliverance that was soon to come. (Luke2a)

Much is said about Jesus being left behind at the Feast of the Passover. The implications that Mary and Joseph were negligent to keep Jesus the focus of their lives can be made. That seems to be a human tendency found in many of us who often forget about Jesus as we go about the business of the day, but Jesus point out that the most important business of the day is doing the Father’s business. How often do we neglect the business of the Father because we are too busy with our own business. (Luke2b)