Give God what is God's

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

GIVE GOD WHAT IS GOD’S

Luke 20:20-26

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"  25 "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."  26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

NIV

Although this was a setup to trap Jesus, his response gives us a truth that has to be explored. First, it is right to pay the governmental authority we live under the due amount owed to them, “Giving to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s”. Living in this country supplies us with benefits that can only be paid for by our taxes. However, what is owed in taxes is always based on a percentage. When it comes to owing God what is God’s, no percentage is acceptable. We are to give God all of what is due him, which is our “self”. There is nothing of ourselves that we can withhold from God. We cannot live our own lives, and include God, and church as a part of our lives. The whole of our being, the very core of who we are must be bent toward God, for we are his people, and He is our God. He has formed every fiber of our being, down to the last detail, our breath which gives us life. Without the breath of God that he put into Adam, and thus us, we would be inanimate objects, art sculptures to display on a shelf. However, God put his breath into us, making us in their image, displaying us to the world, his creation, the crowning glory of all he made. Therefore, we owe him everything, our whole undivided self. We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship. We cannot do that based on a percentage of ourselves unless we consider one hundred a percentage of one hundred. Although we must concern ourselves about the percentage we owe Ceasar, let us be fully engaged in the amount we owe our Lord and Savior, our creator, the Lord God Almighty. 

Hating or Loving Jesus

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

HATING OR LOVING JESUS

Luke 20:9-18

9 He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!" 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 

NIV

Although the people said, “May this never be!”, it had already happened by the ancestors of those Jewish people. Of course, God is the owner of the vineyard and he sent prophets to tell of their dome should they reject the owner, which they did, they worshiped other gods, and as a result, they always were captured by other empires. They killed the prophets because they did not want to give God his due by worshipping Him only. After killing several of the prophets, God then sent his one and only Son whom he loved to the people, but we know, that ultimately they killed him too, so they could have their own form of God, their own form of religion, they had devised and even using the commands of God for their reason, but they did not worship him., but instead worshiped their own brand of beliefs. However, we have come a long way from them, yet we still have those three people groups. Some consider there is no God, basically putting Jesus to death. Then some profess to be Christians but decide to live under a set of rules and regulations they make up using the word of God as an excuse for the worship of their own brand of beliefs, much like the Chief priests, teachers of the law, the Pharisees, along with the elders. Finally, we have the people who see who God is, know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, have decided to follow Jesus, and live a life of faith, because they are born-again, Spirit-filled, believers living under the influence of God’s grace. They understand living by faith means a transformation will happen within them, and a change will occur in the way they live in this world, but their lives are not based on the rules of men but on the word of God. These believers live in a living Christ, and He lives within them, Jesus and they are one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Living by the grace of God brings peace, contentment, love, joy, kindness goodness, gentleness, patience, and courageous endurance faithfully waiting for Jesus to return. Oh, How we love Jesus because he first loved us. 

By Whose Authority

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

BY WHOSE AUTHORITY

Luke 20:1-8

20:1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?" 3 He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 John's baptism — was it from heaven, or from men?"  5 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."8 Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." 

NIV

Of course, we know by what authority Jesus taught the people. It was by his own authority, or by the authority of the Father, but Jesus and the Father are one. However, that is not the point of this narrative. What happened here is those who thought they were authority, the chief priests and the teachers of the law together with the elders wanted to silence Jesus by asking who gave him the same authority they thought they had over the people. Some men take it upon themselves to have authority, while only God can give someone the authority to teach the people and preach the gospel. It is also interesting that Jesus did not answer their challenge but challenged them in a way that put them in a trap so they could or would not answer. It is also interesting they had to discuss among themselves as to how they could answer him. If they were indeed men of God, they would have instinctively known the answer and would not be afraid to declare who John was and by whose authority he baptized people, declaring repent make straight the way for the Lord. John was sent by God to declare Jesus was here. We always have to be aware men are pretending to be religious and acting spiritual in an attempt to have authority over people. But their motives, seen in the fruit of their labor, can be seen by their self-edification, self-indulgent and lavish or luxurious lifestyles. They are the silver-tongued purveyors of deception much like those who tried to challenge Jesus. We can also clearly see those who have been called by God, gifted by God, filled with the Spirit by God, by the fruit of their labor, and by their living out their faith among the people God sends them to. God has given his church those gifts of prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers,  to prepare God’s people for works of service, and to build them up until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, which is defined as attaining the full measure of Christ. This is only accomplished by God calling some to be those gifts to the church, having His authority rather than the authority of men. 

Hanging on his words

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

HANGING ON HIS WORDS

Luke 19:45-48

45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"  47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

NIV

Having thought through how we consider the house of God our church and what appears to be a normal way for us to act in the sanctuary, there is this other truth we should look into. This is his last week arriving in Jerusalem on the day of the Sabbath, which would be Sunday on a calendar, he is spending his days teaching at the temple. It was most likely one of the colonnades where he taught the people. Luke does not record what he taught, but we know two people groups are reacting completely differently to his presence at the temple. The first are the chief priests, teachers of the law, along with the leaders among the people. Matthew records conversations between Jesus and those who were looking for a way to kill him. Some of it was about by what authority does he teach these things. However, we do not have the full exchange recorded by Luke, he just says they were trying to find a way to kill him. The other people group were hanging on his every word. Nothing has changed over these last two thousand-plus years, since the time Jesus taught at the temple. There are people today who want to put to death anything that has to do with Jesus or God. First, it was taking prayer out of the schools, then not wanting any reference to God in the public square. We could spend weeks going on and on about the ways this people group is trying to kill the idea of God. But it is the other people group that we find ourselves attached to, as we hang on every word of Jesus, in fact, on every word of God. We base our lives on the word of God. We form our way of life because of our faith in Jesus and the truth of his word. If we have an opinion it is because it aligns with the word of God, in fact, some might say that we are too opinionated and unwilling to accept any other idea about how to live. We do not know about everything that went on in the culture of that day, but today we think there is one other people group, the apathetic group. These are the people who sort of are right knowing God exists but have no concerns regarding him, or his word. They are not trying to kill the idea of God but they are in no way hanging on his every word. We must always be true to our faith, and our belief in every word of God. All of the scriptures are God-breathed, so we hang on every word. 

A Place of Prayer

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

A PLACE OF PRAYER

Luke 19:45-48

45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"  47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

NIV

Jesus quoted both Isaiah and Jerimiah as he entered the temple, where there should have been a prayer and spiritual contemplation but had been turned into a common marketplace. What made matters worse was that men were taking advantage of those who did not have the proper type of currency or sacrifice, engaging in dishonest gain, a den of robbers. This is what men who love money rather than God have disgraced God’s house. We have to put the indignation of Jesus in context and not think it is right for us to become angry. This is all about the house of God. Of course, our church today is nothing like the temple in Jerusalem, but it is still a place of worship, a sanctuary where we meet with the living God. Certainly, we know that God is always with us, and in fact, the Spirit dwells within us. However, there still is something special about the sanctuary in our church. The whole building is just a building, and it has been used for all sorts of gatherings or events that have nothing to do with spiritual matters as it has been used as a voting place for example. But the sanctuary has been kept sacred and held as only the place to meet with God, to worship him there. Yet, it has not been as sacred as it should be as we enter for worship. Perhaps we should be more reverent in this special place of worship, holding it to a higher standard than the rest of the building. Perhaps we should leave our bantering laughter, and social hour exchanges at the door and be a little more quiet as we prepare to enter worship to our God. We wonder if we have, in a sense, turned our church into a den of money changers. Let us remember, that this is the house of God and a place of prayer. 

How Could We Tell Them?

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

HOW COULD WE TELL THEM

Luke 19:41-44

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." 

NIV

These words of Jesus came true about forty-some years later as history records how the Romans, in AD 70, laid siege on the city and took the whole of the temple down, every stone, and it is said by Josephus some of the stones were 6 feet high, 8 feet wide and 40 feet long. Tons of stone were gone, so much so it was said that Titus the Roman commander put a plow over the temple area, so much that anyone who came later would never know the temple ever existed. Although all this is good history, what does it mean in our lives? How do we apply this truth to the world we live in today? We know we are not in danger of the enemy building an embankment against us, or encircle us within, for we have recognized that time God came to us. We have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and so the enemy, who would be the enemy of our soul, cannot encircle us. He is not able to tear down our lives, stone by stone, so to speak. However, there are people whom the enemy has encircled and is destroying their lives, even if they cannot see it. When there is no hope, there is nothing left but despair. We can see the sadness in the eyes of those who live hopelessly, although they think they are slaying the world, busy getting ahead while satisfying every craving. The day is coming when they will be laid bare before the Lord and cast away into everlasting destruction. Our task, our calling as believers, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ is to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them the commands of God. Jesus told his disciples to go and do that and if we are disciples of Jesus our task is to follow and go out into every aspect of the world and do what he said. We cannot do it, if we keep our mouths shut, or hide ourselves off, wall ourselves in, keeping company with only the saints of God. Perhaps we should take a note from Jesus and weeep over the lost in the world around us. If only they knew, but they could, if we tell them. How can we tell them? If they are still like Jerusalem, destruction awaits. 

Cry Out Forever

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

CRY OUT FOREVER

Luke 19:28-40

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'"  32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." 

NIV

This entry into Jerusalem on a colt follows Zechariah's prophetic words, which the people would have some knowledge of, especially those Pharisees telling Jesus to rebuke his disciples for singing the prophetic words of Psalm 118. Everything happening has already been spoken pointing to Jesus being the Messiah, the anointed one of God to bring salvation to his creation. What is interesting is that if for some unknown reason, his disciples should be silenced, then the stone would cry out. Here is where the rubber meets the road. All creation will cry out if we the people of God do not. We can never be silent in our praise and passion for our Lord. Let all men hear our voice crying out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. All creation is already shouting out the praise of Jesus, the creator of all that has been created, for nothing has been created that he has not created. Men cannot create, only God, only Jesus can, and thus as we look at creation, we look at his spoken word, the reality of His voice at work. How can we not walk through our daily lives without praise and passion for our Lord and Savior who being the creator of everything created and the one who formed us from the dust, go to the cross to bring us salvation, to reconcile himself to us and us to him. Right now, on this very day, the sun and the moon will cry out his glorious creation as we witness his power in the heavens and on the earth. Let all the voices of men, let our voice forever cry out, “Glory in the highest, praise and honor to our Lord Jesus, He is God almighty come to save us”. Now Jesus lives in us and we live in him, so never will our voice be silent. We will cry out forever.