Mindset

Luke 15: ¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

²⁰ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

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“Aw man, am I going to get punished this time!” I thought to myself. I mean I had promised GOD I would not do this particular sin anymore, yet there I was. My mind started racing as I tried to come up with things to say to GOD. “Maybe I’ll start out with, ‘Remember that time I served those people’?” was the practice in my mind.

• There were many times when I thought about GOD as this ‘graceless’ being.
• There were many times when I looked at GOD as being the ‘ultimate punisher.’
• There were many times when I viewed GOD as an ‘unforgiving tyrant.’

JESUS continues with the illustration of the son who left his father to squander everything. The son was now homeless and worse off than before. When he reasoned that even the father’s servants had it better than him, he decided to practice begging, still having a very wrong view of who his father was.

• GOD wants to have a real relationship with me so I can truly see who HE is.
• GOD wants me to change my sinful view of HIM and stop blaming HIM for not doing enough for me.
• GOD wants me to humbly seek HIM, not demand or command HIM to do stuff for me.

Compassion and love are GOD’s strongest qualities to those who love HIS SON. Yes, HE does allow consequence to happen as part of HIS love, but HE forgives me in spite of my actions. HE has already seen all of my sins, so my temporary goodness is always mired with gunk.

JESUS tries to explain the love of the FATHER who sees my heart a long way off. HE can tell when I have truly given my life to HIM rather than doing life “my” way. HIS compassion is great to me.

• What is your view of GOD?
• Do you think HE has left you?
• Will you stop thinking of GOD negatively and ask GOD for compassion and love today?
• Will you allow GOD to be GOD in your life by confessing how much you are trying to control HIM?

Walking Away

Luke 15: ¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

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Tired of the hypocrisy, I stopped going to church. I mean they tell me to “stop sinning” and “give money” yet their actions only pointed to sleeping around and sustaining their salaries, as if GOD were a business. When I left I decided that “sleeping around” and “sustaining my salary” was a good idea. Things did not go well.

• When blame is on my mind, sometimes it is actually a desire.
• When I get mad at what other people are doing, sometimes I’m seeing what I “want” to do.
• When leaving a good place is my first thought, I may have misread why I was there in the first place.

JESUS had just spoken about a lost sheep then a lost coin, now HE provides a parable of a son who saw his father as nothing more than money. In fact, he demanded an inheritance in a way to claim his father as being “dead” to him. He squandered everything and could not sustain himself when life became difficult.

• GOD sees my hurt and understands it.
• GOD sees my tantrums and puts up with it.
• GOD sees my blame, lust, gullibility and rage, yet HE allows me to keep going.

 

With no argument from the father, the son got what he wanted and needed. He received money and compassion. I do not see an argument from the father nor an attempt to explain the dangerous path the young man was going down. GOD allows me to decide the paths I travel. Walking away from GOD was not a good choice for me.

• Are you considering walking away from GOD because you think your life should be better?
• Is life difficult right now and you are tempted to pull away from those who follow GOD?
• Will you put your trust in GOD today in spite of what is going on in your life?

Searching for Treasure

Luke 15: ⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

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“What is that?” I said to myself as I peered at the cluttered lawn on my way to school. It looked like money so I broke the rule of not stepping on anyone’s grass. To my excitement, I found a dollar! I quickly stuffed it in my pocket and smiled all the way to class. The next day I stared intently in the lawn and the day after and the weeks after that.

• Three were times when money caught my attention.
• There were times when I got a little bit of money and it made me search for more.
• There were times when money made me look for it, seek it and desire to have more of it.

JESUS deepens HIS explanation of lost people by giving another parable. HE illustrates how a woman spent a great amount of time looking for lost money in her house. This analogy was probably used to make the people hear because most could relate to losing money. But money was not the true treasure.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIM as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom as the true treasure.
• GOD wants me to bring HIS lost sheep and lost coins back to HIM as the true treasure.

People are clearly the true treasure GOD wants everyone to focus on. Those I hate, HE loves so somehow I need to quickly change my mind about what is important. HE values all lives and the more I can do the same the more treasure HE gives me. Prayers and preaching for more cash is sometimes okay, BUT GOD is elated when I ask for healing of my and other’s souls.

• Are you down because you don’t have money?
• Do you seek more things to make you happy?
• Will you take the time to seek GOD’s true treasure which are HIS lost children today?

Weakness in Numbers

Luke 15: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

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After a while I felt comfortable attending church. I mean the people looked like me, acted like me and smiled in my face when I told them “I” did something good. “You want to go to the club with us?” was the question from one of my “former friend’s.” “Nah. I’m just going to stay at home” was my response.

• Somewhere along the way, I stopped hanging out with “sinners”.
• Some path led me to stop being around those who blatantly did “sinful” things.
• Somehow I determined it was not good for me to hang out with “those” sinful people.

JESUS spoke to the “churchy” people when they complained about “those” HE chose to hang around. HE responded in a direct way towards their implied accusations of “being sinful” by hanging around “sinners.” HE says “Heaven will rejoice over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine people who “think” they are clean.”

• GOD says to me “Be one of the sheep who needs to be cleaned.”
• GOD says to me “Do not think more highly of yourself, lest you shall fall.”
• GOD says to me “I found you, so go and look for MY lost sheep.”

Gatherings with people who believe in JESUS as their personal Savior should be so much more than a money collecting hut, filled with self-claimed righteous people. GOD wants me to have enough grace for myself to be able to go out and tell HIS loving story to many people.

HE wants me to drop my judgment on others, as much as I can, so I can approach those who are rejecting JESUS and HIS gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. I do know I have limitations. In other words, I must respect GOD’s power and know HE created many people to reach those I cannot. Instead of complaining about my neighbor HE wants me to reach my neighbor. I am a found sinner.

• Do you look down on someone?
• Have you judged someone and feel they are helpless?
• Will you drop the judgment you have of others and show them compassion so maybe, just maybe, they can turn their eyes to CHRIST today?

No choice but to keep going

Luke 14: ³⁴ “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? ³⁵ It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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When I left a place I shouldn’t have been in the first place, I was nervous of my surroundings. I could see thugs looking at me so I increased my pace towards the bus. When the bus pulled off without me, I ran shouting “wait.” I kept running at the disappearing target, but I felt like giving up. After the fourth attempt, I finally caught up to the bus. I had no choice.

• There have been many times when I felt like giving up.
• There have been many times when I felt defeated.
• There have been many times when I felt distressed, distracted and dejected.

JESUS doesn’t minimize HIS words when HE speaks to the crowd. HE spoke directly to those who felt like giving up. HE mentions the value of salt which preserves, penetrates and permeates. But when salt loses its power to do so, then what good is it?

• GOD wants me to keep going especially when I don’t feel like it.
• GOD wants me to stop looking at the situation and look only at HIM.
• GOD wants me to keep the salt HE gave me so I can multiply it amongst many.

Saltiness is a multitude of things in my relationship with GOD. It’s bold, overpowering, sometimes subtle, and only a little is needed. It penetrates, melts and keeps things whole. It corrodes, burns and scratches, yet it soothes. But when I give up my saltiness, I can do none of the above. What am I giving my saltiness up for? Nothing.

I mean what am I trading it in for? Nothing. Where else would I turn? Nowhere. GOD wants me to keep my mind focused beyond the current situation and set my eyes permanently on HIM. In spite of the latest sin I just committed, GOD is my forgiver. HE guides me to the truth and that truth is JESUS.

• Do you feel like giving up?
• Are you only focused on money or the lack thereof?
• Is GOD minimized in your life right now because you think HIS grace is insufficient?
• Will you stop believing in lies and know GOD’s grace is sufficient and you are special to HIM?

Valuable

Luke 14: ²⁵ Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

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“Where are they?” I fretted, flustered. With no way to get in touch with the missing DJ I felt “my” reputation melting away. Fortunately I had other, non-DJ related events planned so it wasn’t so bad. After an hour passed someone came to get me saying they had arrived. I was just about to go on stage to lead the step show, but alas, I had to go help the late DJ unload the car. “I wonder if I should pay him!” I was furious.

• There were times when I wanted to be in the spotlight.
• There were times when I wanted to be the center of attention.
• There were times when I wanted to be in control of “my” life so everyone could see what “I” could do.

JESUS says some very blunt words about being HIS disciple. I believe HE is not breeding hatred when HE states “hate everyone, even yourself.” I believe JESUS is speaking about prioritizing “value” in people.

• GOD wants me to value JESUS over any and everything I can.
• GOD wants me to see JESUS as all of the answers to any of my problems.
• GOD wants me to place JESUS over everything in my life.

Life is given from GOD. “My” life is not really “mine” rather it is GOD’s to do as HE pleases. Sometimes the sin in me rages war at this setup. I mean why can’t GOD just do XYZ in “my” life and things would be better. These words usually stem from my blindness towards who is truly in control.

GOD tries to show me over and over that HIS way is better and sometimes I accept HIS loving way. But there are times when I feel sad and lonely and I raise a fist at GOD, angry at HIS methods. GOD forgives my selfish blind times and picks me up anyway. HE is my priority over all.

• Is your life, “your” life or GOD’s?
• Do you think other people should be acting different or should you?
• Can you give your life to GOD to do as HE pleases so HE can be glorified?
• Will you change your expectations of GOD and allow HIM to rule the day while you offer praise to HIM anyway?

Excuses

Luke 14: ¹⁵ Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

¹⁶ Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, ¹⁷ and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ ¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ ²⁰ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ ²¹ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ ²² And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ ²³ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

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“Will you tell people about GOD in a 30 second message?” someone asked me. Afraid of offending my following and for fear of my job, I said “Not this time, I believe someone else should do this.”

• I remember times when I was too important to speak about GOD.
• I can recall moments when I could have spoken about GOD, but did not.
• I reflect on times when GOD wanted me to speak on HIS behalf, but something “I” wanted got in the way.

JESUS seems to be telling a statement rather than a story as HE speaks to the crowd. HE spoke of three people who made excuses for not coming to the “Great Supper.” Possessions, business or jobs and family were the excuses made for not answering the Master’s call. What should I do when GOD calls me?

• GOD wants me to respond when HE calls me to do something for HIM.
• GOD calls me to serve HIM daily, all I have to do is listen.
• GOD wants me to be excited about speaking about HIS SON, especially to those who will hear it.

Age, race, gender, time, health, finances or worry are all great reasons for me not to speak about GOD. I mean I’m only one person right? Kinda. GOD wants me to see I will always have an excuse not to speak about HIM. There will never be a good time for me to talk about HIM. BUT GOD is still worthy to be praised.

HE wants me to see opportunity to speak about HIM on a daily basis. No longer am I ashamed of JESUS and HE is no longer ashamed of me.

• Are you making excuses for not speaking about GOD?
• Do you speak about GOD only during times of plenty?
• Can you stop being ashamed of GOD and speak of HIS grace today?

Can’t Pay Back

Luke 14: ¹² Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.¹⁴ And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

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“Here are a pair of shoes” a person said to me. I had worn my shoes down to the point where I had holes in my soles. “Thank you” was all I had to give him in return.

• There were times when I was given a lot and could not repay.
• There were times when people gave me a lot but I had nothing to give them.
• There were times when I stood around with no gift to give yet I was invited to the party.

JESUS tries HIS best to guide the church leaders onto a different path. HE explains that inviting people who can easily repay is not the goal, instead invite those who cannot repay.

• GOD says to me, “Go. Seek those who cannot do for themselves.”
• GOD says to me, “Give. Do not seek repayment for money given to those in need.”
• GOD says to me, “Grow. Be strong enough to leave the rich and support those I want you to serve.”

Help the poor, maimed, lame and blind is what GOD wants me to do. But what about my problems? GOD says “I have sent you help and I desire to make you whole.” My wholeness comes from GOD and HE desires to share HIS healing to those who will accept HIM. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborer’s are few. HE wants me to seek those who cannot repay.

• Are you in a position where you can celebrate with those in need?
• Can you take a little of your blessing and give it to someone in need today?
• Are you the one in need and do not feel like asking for help?
• Will you ask GOD to deliver people who can supply your need today?

Misread Ticket

Luke 14: ⁷ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: ⁸ “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; ⁹ and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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“Would you like something to drink” the flight attendant asked me. I was shocked because not only were we still on the ground, passengers were still boarding. “Sure” I replied thinking to myself, “First class is wonderful!”

This elation was followed by “Excuse me. You are in my seat.” I misread the ticket and was in the row just behind first class. Everyone on the plane seemed to watch me move.

• There were times when I wanted the best places.
• There were times when I felt I “deserved” fist class treatment.
• Three were times when I got upset at “those” people who did not know how to travel right.

JESUS spoke in a parable about choosing the lowest seat first otherwise the person may get embarrassed when told to move. HE wasn’t just speaking about chairs, HE was speaking to the church leaders who loved their titles, numbers of people in their congregation and most of all the amounts of money to be had. These leaders had overlooked the ONE who deserved the best.

• GOD wants me to seek true humility that resonates from HIM.
• GOD wants me to need JESUS to be first instead of “me” getting the credit.
• GOD wants me to accept being a servant seeking to bring people to HIM.

Having a title is not the problem, its needing the title that caused blindness, When I seek to be more and more, then GOD may say, “That seat is reserved for someone else” and tell me to sit somewhere outside of HIS kingdom.

GOD wants me to recognize HIS power and accept HIM as being GOD. HE is supreme and JESUS has the rightful seat above everyone. I seek to be less so HE can make me more. HE is my savior.

• Do you feel you deserve more?
• What are you seeking in your heart?
• Can you place GOD above all things and allow HIM to guide you to the place you need to be?

Fatally Right

Luke 14: Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. ² And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. ³ And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

⁴ But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. ⁵ Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” ⁶ And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

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After the rededication I felt something needed to change in my life. I decided not to do certain things I categorized as “sin.” I did notice positive changes in my life so I decided to “make” others do the same.

When they did not respond well, I pointed out what the Bible said about the topic at hand. Not only did they stop listening to me, they went further in the opposite direction I was trying to steer them to.

• There have been many times when I judged people’s actions.
• There have been many times when I watched people to see if they were doing as “I” expected them to do.
• There were times when I thought “If people would just follow every word in the Bible, then they would be fine.”

Incapable of being righteous, the church leaders placed heavy burdens on the people to be “perfect” according to their made up rules. When JESUS went to their house and healed on the Sabbath, there was no rejoicing over another human who was made whole. There was silence. JESUS then challenged their interpretation of the law of the Sabbath and further silenced them.

• JESUS wants me to study HIS word in order to bring people together.
• JESUS wants me to understand HIS grace in order to restore people back to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to learn of HIM so I can grasp the grace and mercy HE has shown me.

Knowing the Bible is one thing, knowing why the Bible is here is another. Simply put, GOD recounts how HE has shown love to a world HE cursed. With Satan’s decision to “be GOD”, Satan was thrown out of heaven to the world, and he tried to ruin humans. GOD has already redeemed mankind through JESUS and desires my free will to choose HIS gift of grace.

• Are you full of pride that you have reduced a few sins?
• Are you fooling yourself about your righteousness?
• Can you seek grace and mercy even for those you feel do not deserve it?
• Will you seek restoration versus segregation today?

Too Busy

Luke 13: ³⁴ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁵ See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

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Bored was a mild word for how I felt. With nothing to do, in a town I did not want to live in, I felt stranded more than bored. I got another job and moved. I did this again and again until I was extremely busy. “Would you like to serve the poor and the lost?” someone asked, in so many words. “I’m too busy” I thought to myself.

• There are times when I am too busy for GOD.
• There are times when I am too overwhelmed to listen to GOD.
• There are times when I am too frustrated at others to hear what GOD wants me to say to them.

JESUS feels sad for the society and lifestyle people sought. Instead of being able to hear GOD, they wanted to follow the rich and powerful people of Jerusalem. These ungrateful politicians would kill anyone who stood in the way of their “power.”

• JESUS cries over me when I forget “I” am made for HIM.
• JESUS weeps over me when I think “my” life in “mine.”
• JESUS laments over me when I blame HIM for “my” situation rather than listening to HIM.

“How often I wanted” were the hurt words JESUS uses to express just how deeply concerned HE felt for those who would eventually kill HIM. HE feels the same for me when I seek HIM in my own way, get disappointed and leave HIM, only to fill my life with timewasters.

GOD wants me to seek HIM in spite of my situations. If I am “bored” HE wants me to fill my life with HIM so I can reach others. The same goes for when I am scared, hurt, angry or any other distracted state. GOD loves when I seek HIS people. HE is my healer.

• Where are you right now?
• Are you too busy blaming GOD or are you seeking HIM?
• Will you turn your face to HIM and open your heart to the thankfulness HE has in store for you today?

True Power

Luke 13: ³¹ On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

³² And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ ³³ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

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Threats from a bully ruined yet another day, only this time is frightened the entire school. Somehow, the rumor of another school coming to ours to start fights, was taken seriously. “How am I going to get home?” I thought to myself.

• There have been many humans who threaten other humans.
• There have been times when the powerful try to force their power on other humans.
• There have been situations that seem wildly out of hand.

There were church leaders who believed in JESUS, but feared for HIS life, for they did not truly know who HE was and is. They said “Flee, for Herod wants to kill YOU.” JESUS called Herod a fox and expressed HIS power as GOD. Why didn’t JESUS fear for HIS life?

• JESUS knew when HE was going to lay HIS life down for me.
• JESUS knew the date, time and location of HIS death, and still faced it for me.
• JESUS knew HE had all power, yet HE chose to lay it down for me.

Fire from heaven sounded like a great idea as a quick judgment on Herod’s threat. That’s probably what I would have done. BUT JESUS showed restraint, which is the true power. HE allowed HIS own creation to murder HIM even though HE committed no crime or sin. But what about the bullies I face.

On my walk home, I was scared but I believed I would be protected. The school let us out a few minutes early and I could feel a weight lifted from my fear. Daily it seems like there is a threat on my peace, BUT GOD is there to protect my soul with HIS true power.

• Are you down?
• Did humans threaten your plans and now you don’t know what to do?
• Can you give GOD more credit for loving you and believe HE is protecting you today?

But I went to Church

Luke 13: ²² And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ²⁵ When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ ²⁶ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’²⁸ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. ²⁹ They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.³⁰ And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

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Returning back to church was a serious mind-shift. A taste of the “good life” made me want more. When I went, I could feel a bit of a conflict. I enjoyed the sin I was doing and figured I could balance the sin by attending church. I mean, everybody’s a sinner, right?

• There were times when I sought to be at “church” instead of seeking GOD.
• There were times when I did “churchy” stuff instead of seeking GOD.
• There were times when I listened to sermons instead of seeking GOD.

JESUS says the most frightening words in the Bible to me. HE says there are plenty of people who claim to be with HIM yet HE will say “Depart from ME, for I do not know you.” The argument will be, “But we ate the bread and drank the juice of communion and listened to countless sermons.”

JESUS then insisted that people from all over would enter HIS kingdom, but those who sought to be first would not.

• GOD says to me “Seek MY kingdom even when it is not popular.”
• GOD says to me “Stop playing “church” and truly seek MY face.”
• GOD says to me “People are far more important to me than jobs, houses, cars, vacations and worldly pleasure.”

The world says “obtain a lot, eat a lot and pleasure yourself a lot.” Then the world lies and says It’s alright to join the crowd. BUT GOD says, “Seek MY kingdom first.” Each day, I should look for the person GOD has sent to me. If no one is there then I should ask “Who do YOU want me to go to?”

Living for GOD is a very “narrow” decision. It is not gimmicky, nor is it manipulative. GOD wants me to truly give and that doesn’t always mean giving to support salaries. HE wants me to pray and not always for buildings. GOD wants me to seek those who reject HIM. This is a very narrow path. I am grateful for GOD.

• Are you going to church as a habit or to seek GOD?
• When you attend church is it to seek the “brand” or to seek the lost?
• Is GOD asking you to step up to do something entirely different for HIM, yet you are refusing HIS calling?

Filled Up

Luke 13: ²⁰ And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

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In a hurry, I placed the gas container in the back seat of my car. Unfortunately the rubber gasket was missing which left the top loose and a little spilled out as I turned the corner sharply. Those few drops made the entire car smell.

• Sometimes a little can be a lot.
• Sometimes it only takes a little of something to take over everything.
• Sometimes just a tiny amount matters.

JESUS says a rather confusing analogy about the kingdom of GOD. HE compares it to leaven or yeast, that a woman baking bread, places in the mixture. Only three measures were used to permeate the entire batch. What does HIS analogy have to do with me and my problems?

• GOD says to me “The kingdom of heaven grows because of ME.”
• GOD says to me “Once MY presence enters you, I will fill you up.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the great I AM who is made of the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT, three in one.”

Such few words describe so much. GOD’s kingdom is growing exponentially in spite of any force trying to stop it. HIS kingdom cannot be yielded in any way. HIS presence inside of me saves me eternally. That cannot be changed. When I ask for more of HIS kingdom, HE give it to me generously.

• Are you seeking the world’s kingdom or GOD’s kingdom?
• What is permeating your thoughts and actions?
• Are you bearing fruit for GOD or does your mind get torn apart with the today’s problems?
• Can you allow a little of GOD to permeate your entire life by letting go of your worries today?

Growing

Luke 13: ¹⁸ Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

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Furious, I stormed into the grocery store. I grabbed whatever I was purchasing and went to the counter. The cashier looked at my face and did not bother to say anything but the amount owed. Silently I paid and left.

• There are times when I show my anger to many people.
• There are times when I show my disappointment to many people.
• There are times when I show my hatred, fear, lust, prejudice and greed to many people.

JESUS describes the kingdom of GOD as a mustard seed planted in a garden. This seed grew and became a large tree for which many birds nested in its branches. How does a seed parable apply to me?

• GOD says to me “Each day you plant something whether you like it or not.”
• GOD says to me “You can sow seeds for MY kingdom or sow seeds for yours every day.”
• GOD says to me “You are MY seed and I plant you where I need you, for the time I need you, and I will grow you into a large tree.”

Each and every day I have a choice to make. I can make people miserable and adversarial or I can choose to be with people and show them GOD is in control in spite of my problems. Even my absence speaks volumes and plants a seed. Once I realize GOD has placed me somewhere for HIS purpose, it makes me think differently.

Wicked people aren’t as wicked and the argument I was about to jump into doesn’t seem worth winning when I choose GOD. Showing GOD’s love is important to HIM. When I choose to do so, especially when I don’t feel like it, HE grows me beyond my belief.

• What seeds are you growing?
• Are you making many people miserable around you?
• Can you choose to have GOD grow you to a point where you are growing other people for HIS purpose on a daily basis?

Control Freak

Luke 13: ¹⁴ But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

¹⁵ The Lord then answered him and said,  “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? ¹⁶ So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” ¹⁷ And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

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“Look at the people singing the song wrong. Some people aren’t even singing. Why are we singing this song anyway. I wonder if I should put in a few suggestions for some “better” songs” were the flood of thoughts at the beginning of the church service.

• There are times when I think I have all the answers.
• There are times when I think I know better than those around me.
• There are times when I am distracted by “form.”

One of the church leaders barked out a rebuke towards JESUS for healing on the Sabbath. JESUS immediately calls him a hypocrite and had to show how ludicrous his thinking was. Should “form” be placed over following the SPIRIT? This was the gist of JESUS’ reply.

• GOD wants me to bring others to HIM and so they can have their own relationship with GOD.
• GOD wants me to stop trying to control people into how they serve HIM.
• GOD wants me to allow HIM to grow people so they can see HIS marvelous power.

Worshiping, learning and serving are all extremely important to GOD, but not as important as I can sometimes emphasize to others. When I get to the point where I am criticizing how much or little someone prays then I suddenly fall into the hypocrite category JESUS spoke of.

GOD is the only ONE who can see if someone is truly worshiping HIM or not. HE would rather have me praying for the population who is rejecting HIM all together than focusing on correcting a believer’s pattern of church attendance. GOD gives grace, not control. HE allows me to be as wild as a tornado without sending me straight to hell. I am grateful GOD guides others and me.

• Is someone worshiping GOD wrong?
• Do you notice what others are doing wrong when they are supposedly serving GOD?
• Can you reduce your judgment on others and allow GOD to lead you to people who really need HIS live today?