Read the Bible in a Year (30OCT19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, October 30’s Bible reading is Luke 14-16.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, October 31’s Bible reading is Luke 17-18. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

LUKE MOMENT – (30OCT19) “All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1-2). The Pharisees had a self-righteous attitude where they thought that they were better than the tax collectors and sinners. In so doing, they were sinners themselves. They believed that as long as they followed the laws of Moses that they were going to enter the kingdom of God. Their hypocrisy blinded them to their need of a Savior. They prayed long prayers, were experts of the law, and tithed of all their money, but they missed the most important things -- love, mercy, grace and compassion which is a repeated theme in many of Jesus’ parables. Therefore, when they saw Jesus sitting with the undesirables once again, they had a problem with Him.

Jesus gave the parable of the lost sheep and how a shepherd would leave the ninety-nine to go find that one that was lost. Upon finding the sheep, he would celebrate with his friends and neighbors. This is how it is with God. We were all lost sheep at some point, but Jesus came and restored us back to the fold. When we sin, it separates us from God, but Jesus’ blood restores us to the Father. Therefore, Jesus wants us as believers to be just as compassionate with the lost so that they may find their way as He was with us.

So many Christians are like the Pharisees and when sinners are trying to draw close to God, they throw stones at them to circumvent their spiritual recovery. Yet, what did Jesus do with these types of hypocrites when the woman who was caught in adultery was brought before Jesus? “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). We will revisit this story when we get to the book of John. For now, let’s ensure that we do not place ourselves higher than the person whom we think is the worst of all sinners. Jesus said: “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” (Matthew 20:16). Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (30OCT19) “Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). Jesus gave the parable of a rich man who had an unfit manager. The manager was wasteful in his practices, so the rich man decided to fire him. The manager did not know how he would survive, so he went to his boss’ debtors and made arrangements for them to pay off their debt at a lower cost. He figured that if he could get in their good graces, they would help him in return. The rich man commended the manager for acting wisely. Jesus went on to say that if a person can be faithful with a little, they can be trusted to be faithful with much. The opposite is true if they are unfaithful with a little.

Sometimes, people wonder why God hasn’t blessed them to have more money, a job promotion, larger ministry, etc. They may, however, want to ask themselves the question: “Am I faithful with what God has already given to me?” If not, why would He increase your territory? God will not bless us with more if we are not being faithful with a little. If you want more money, faithfully budget what you already have. If you want a job promotion, ensure that you get to work on time and do well with the position you already have. If you want God to increase your ministry, be faithful with the handful of people He has already entrusted in your care. In other words, operate as you would if you had already been given what you are believing God for. Maybe then, in His timing and will, God may bless you with more. The Bible says: “Jabez was more honored than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I bore him in pain.’ Jabez called on Israel’s God: ‘If only you would greatly bless me and increase my territory. May your power go with me to keep me from trouble, so as not to cause me pain.’ And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). God granted Jabez’s request by increasing his territory because he was honorable at his current status. Something to ponder…..

 

LUKE MOMENT – (30OCT19) “Then his son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’  But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet!  Fetch the fattened calf and slaughter it. We must celebrate with feasting because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24). Jesus gave a parable about a son who wanted to receive his portion of his inheritance from his father. Upon receiving it, he went away and squandered all he had on foolishness. He found himself in a position that was less than the servants hired by his father, so he decided to return home and ask his father to become a servant. The father saw his son returning home from the distance and ran out to welcome him with a kiss and embrace. He threw his son a party to celebrate his return. The eldest son objected upon finding out, but the father let him know that his brother was dead, but now alive.

Jesus is the Good Father. We have all been like the prodigal son and went out into the world of darkness to live a life of sin. Yet, Jesus remained faithful and anxiously awaited our return with open arms. He kept looking, waiting, calling, pleading, and beckoning us to come back home. Some of us did, and He restored us to the family as if we never left. Then there are some who Jesus is still working on, but He can see them from the distance as they are coming back to Him. Let us not be like the eldest son who was unable to celebrate his brother’s return. When even one soul comes out of the enemy’s grasp, we should be the welcoming party to embrace that soul with open arms as the Father did with us. Something to ponder….