Poor and Happy

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

POOR AND HAPPY ABOUT IT

Luke 6:20-22

20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

NIV

Although this is the same account that of Matthews which we refer to as the Beatitudes the word order and usage in the Greek text is a little different. Matthew records that Jesus said, “Poor in Spirit” and in the Greek text Luke does not include the word, spirit. Is this important? Did Jesus mean the poor in spirit, or just the poor? Is there any significance why Luke leaves this word out of his account? Perhaps we might be making more of this then should be. The point is that it does not matter the amount of material wealth a man has, either the abundance or the lack of it entirely. This word poor certainly carries the meaning of a beggar, one who has absolutely nothing and is public in the square totally dependent on the gifts of others. Here is where spiritual pride must be, in the public square, being seen as a beggar, completely dependent on the gift of God for eternal life. There is not one ounce of any spiritual wealth which will gain the kingdom of God. When we are not poor in spirit, poor spiritually, that in itself implies we think we have some spiritual wealth, which would prohibit our having the kingdom of God. Can we have great spiritual knowledge and still be poor? Is there a difference between being poor in spirit, totally dependent of the gift of God, and being spiritually enlightened? If we understand there is no deeds, no good works, which qualify us for the kingdom, we can have knowledge of the scriptures, have insights in them in order to see the truths for our life. But in that we also know, without any reservation that our only hope, our only source of salvation is Jesus, that our spirit is bankrupt, we have nothing by which we can gain the kingdom. This is the first lesson, all others from here on are dependent on us learning this. Poverty in our spirit, nothing but a beggar seeking the free gift of God. Never having anything is also the truth here. Jesus did not say that we would be happy because our being poor would be rewarded with wealth. That we would become wealthy in spirit, but only that we would be happy because we are gaining the kingdom. This word blessed does in fact mean happy. So no matter what life brings our way, if we know that we are beggars, understanding all we need is Jesus, we will be happy because at the end of this life, we will be in the kingdom of God. It is when we get distracted by the good works, the list of do’s and don’ts of denominational doctrines, or the emphasis on being a good Christian, we may not be blessed or happy. We get so focused on our failure to fulfill all those expectations, either by the church, or ourselves there is no source of happiness in our spirit. We become burdened, weighted down with so much a load which we cannot carry, and any sense of happy escapes us. But when we know there is nothing we can do, or not do that makes us rich in spirit, then we can realize we are truly poor and then we can be happy.  So we can be poor and happy about it. 

See the Power

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

SEE THE POWER

Luke 6:17-19

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

NIV

We are about to get into a whole of what Jesus told his disciples at this meeting of this large crowd of them as well as this great number of people from all over. From this description we gather there was a whole number, perhaps hundreds, or thousands of people. It is impossible to actually know just how many, but the fact is they all were trying to get close enough to Jesus to touch him because power was coming from him. We cannot be sure what exactly that looked like, but it must of have some physical appearance, or at least there was physical evidence of this power coming from him. It is difficult to image that Jesus prayed for each of these people who were healed. That would have taken days, or weeks and maybe even months, if the crowd was as large as it is described. There was simply power flowing from him and as many as there was who needed to be healed were. It was not his fine word filled prayers, but his power that was healing them. Perhaps we can take a clue from this when it comes to our prayers for the sick, or for healing, or for that matter anything. Perhaps all we need is to be near him and allow his power to flow through us. Oh sure we can impress all the people with waxing on in prayer, giving either mini sermons or life lessons to those in need of his power, but maybe we just need to allow his power to flow. Do we think because the scripture says that the prayer of a righteous man avails much that we need to pray as though we are trying to prove how righteous we are? Would it not be more effective if we just allowed his power to flow through us so people would be healed? How many words does it take to see his healing power, or does it just require faith? There is power in the name of Jesus! All we need is the name of Jesus! Now maybe some of the people need words, because that is how we all were raised, hearing prayers filled with words, but if they saw the power of the name of Jesus at work, no words would be needed, and all of them would be healed. We all need the power flowing from him. We need to see the power. 

Betrayal

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

BETRAYAL

Luke 6:12-16

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

NIV

From here we have to notice as Jesus had been walking around, and when he told Simon to follow him and he would make him a fisher of men, which was not the time Simon became an apostle. It is apparent there were many who Jesus called to follow him, and there were many who became his disciples, but only twelve were designated as apostles. Is there anything we can apply to our lives from this historic account of Jesus choosing the twelve? For one thing we know, as Jesus knew the hearts of all men, he knew the heart of Judas Iscariot before he chose him. We have already seen Jesus saying things to the Pharisees because he knew what they were thinking, so it was with Judas. Although it is somewhat different, in the sense Judas became a traitor. This might indicate at the time of his choosing his heart was not bent on betraying Jesus, yet Jesus had to also know that he would and still, because that was the plan, chose him. Yet within the heart of all men exists the ability to betray Jesus. Maybe that is the lesson we should learn. We have the ability within us to betray Jesus, even though he has called us to himself, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Judas had to believe in Jesus. He was one of them, in fact chosen to be designated an apostle out of all the other disciples. Was it just because he would betray Jesus? When we answered the call of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus surely we did not do so with the intent of ever betraying him, yet once deciding to follow Jesus, when we act out of our own self-serving motives have we already betrayed our Lord? That Greek word, traitor, carries the meaning of giving over to another’s (the enemies) hand, a surrender. So it is when we surrender our will to the temptations of either our own evil desires, or of the devil. When we give over those truths we hold so dear, to the desires of self, are we not betraying our own self, and therefore Jesus? So let us not think too poorly of Judas, as he shows us that which can exist within our own heart. Let us pray we have the strength to overcome any moments of betrayal. 

Restored Completely

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

RESTORED COMPLETELY

Luke 6:6-11

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"  10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

NIV

What is amazing here, is there seems to be no doubt in the mind of the Pharisees that Jesus has the power to heal. It wasn’t a question whether he would heal this man, but if he would do it on a Sabbath day. Evidently healing was considered work, which was considered unlawful on the Sabbath. Jesus, on the other hand posed the question to them about which is better, to do good or evil on the Sabbath. This was one of those damned if you answer good, and damned if you answer evil questions. It simply did not matter how they answered they would be either giving him their approval to heal this man, or they would be admitting they approved of evil doing on the Sabbath. We have to notice they had no answer at all, knowing Jesus had caught them red handed so to speak. Of course this narrative also does not record that Jesus told the man, “I will heal you” Or “Your hand is healed” He simply told the man to stretch out his hand and it was normal when he did. It is implied, of course, that Jesus did in fact heal the man’s hand, and in doing so absolutely infuriated the Pharisees. Why are they so entrenched in a law that prohibits doing good on a Sabbath? Was that God’s intent? Surely it was not, but man has always, and will continue to add his own beliefs to the word and will of God. This is also showing us how they their perceived authority over the people was being disrupted by Jesus and this was the real point of their anger and frustration with him, which lead them to kill him. This was the will of God, of course, the killing of Jesus, for the redemption of mankind. God used the evil hearts of self-proclaimed righteous men. Jesus was pointing this fact out to them right there in their self-righteousness, that their hearts were in fact evil. We need to be aware of not getting trapped by self-righteousness all the while having thoughts that are not pleasing to God. How can we escape those thoughts? Are they evil if no deed accompanies them?  How some believers say they do not sin, in thought, word or deed is beyond actual reality, in fact in saying so, they have sinned in thought and word, lying both to God and themselves. Yet how are we to deal with our thoughts? How can we be perfect in thought all the time? It seems this is more the point Jesus was making rather than about doing good or evil on the Sabbath. The fact is they were doing evil in condemning Jesus doing the good. It is always right to do good, and always wrong to do evil, no matter what day it is. So this was more about seeing into our own hearts and applying the blood of Jesus to any evil that is present in our thoughts, words or deeds. This is about stretching out our life before Jesus and allowing him to restore it completely. 

Rush to Judgment

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

RUSH TO JUDGMENT

Luke 6:1-5

6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" 3 Jesus answered them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."  5 Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." 

NIV

Although the timing of this moment happened on a Sabbath, which so many scholars have focused their attention on which Sabbath it was, the first of the second, or the second of the first and how that related to certain feasts and whatever, of course based on a translation which may or may not have words which are not included in the original Greek text, they have lost sight of the truth which is the purpose of this narrative. There is no doubt it was a Sabbath and the Pharisees felt compelled to complain about the disciples of Jesus picking some grain to eat as they walked through the field. It was not about the property of the grain, but they were working on a Sabbath. It does seem odd that some Pharisees were following Jesus and his disciples through fields on a Sabbath day, when they should be in church or at least at rest, honoring the Sabbath. But instead they were working, judging the actions of others instead of themselves. It is historically recorded the Pharisees did eat rather large on the Sabbath, big prepared feasts, yet they judged men who merely ate out of necessity. A few kernels of grain, certainly nothing like the delicacies eaten by the Pharisees. How quickly we are ready to judge the actions of others all the while excusing our own. As far as Jesus being the Lord of the Sabbath, his disciples may not understood that either, but we, because of the scriptures do. The Pharisees certainly did not accept that statement, but nevertheless it is the truth. Jesus also reminded them about David, one of their beloved kings, the one in fact the Christ would come through. Perhaps this is why Jesus used David as an example of eating on the Sabbath, even that which was consecrated to God. But the truth here, as we have already stated, is about being so quick to judge and overlook our own offenses against God. Certainly the Pharisees had many offenses, although because of their self-righteous attitude, could not or would not admit any to anyone, must less themselves, yet they were looking for opportunity to judge. Had they been in church or at least at home with family being respectful of the Sabbath, they would not have seen the actions of the disciples. But there they were looking for and taking every opportunity to judge and to do so on the Sabbath. Was it lawful to judge on the Sabbath? It is lawful under the old covenant or the new, to judge at all? We know the answer and in both cases it is; no. Judge and be judged. With the same measure we judge we will be judged. It always comes down to the simple question, who is judging who? It is bad enough to judge one another, but to go out of our way to find faults in others, so we can judge them seems even worse. The only result in judging others is to feed our own self-righteousness. It would be to our advantage not to rush to judgment. 

The Old and the New

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

THE OLD AND THE NEW

Luke 5:36-39

36 He told them this parable: "No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'" 

NIV

Perhaps we should have included the first response about fasting and the bridegroom, yet that is rather self-defining about Jesus being there and then not and when he is gone it is time enough to be sad, yet why sad as he will be at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us. In addition if he did not go, then the Holy Spirit would not be sent. Nevertheless let us examine these other two illustrations of Jesus. All three of them deal with the law which the Pharisees abide to religiously, or as the point Jesus is making, the old doctrine of the Law and his new doctrine. You cannot mix the new with the old and that is it in a nutshell. We cannot apply Jesus to the old way of thinking. When we encounter Jesus, we cannot simply apply him to our way of life, we have to apply him to a new life. That is why we are told that the old is gone and all things become new, we are a new creation in Christ. We are new wineskins. If we try to fit Jesus into our old life, continuing to live as we always have, then we will not survive, we will burst open, tear apart. The same goes with the patch from a new garment, Jesus being that patch, he simply does not match our old way of life, and if we try to use him as a patch on our old way, trying to keep that old garment, it will be torn by the new patch when washed. The fact is we have to put all the old way of thinking out of our mind, and think as a child of God should think. All that we once believed was the way to think is old and useless when we accept Jesus into our life. We can apply the principle, that truth to every aspect of life. What we think about life and death, heaven and hell, morality, material gain, security, along with so much more. All the old must be left old and everything must be new in order to apply Jesus. It is that simple. Yet Jesus is making a point that once we live the way we want to live, most of us prefer to stay that way, because we do not want to change, to become new. We want to retain the old ways and simply say we are Christians. Can we really do that? Jesus says, not a chance, we have to think according to his new way. We have to think the impossible. We have to rid the old and be the new. 

Invite

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

INVITE

Luke 5:27-35

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  33 They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking." 34 Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." 

NIV

Although we have so many truths within this narrative we simply cannot parcel it as each parcel would be incomplete without the whole. First we should deal with once again someone encountering Jesus by his telling them to follow him. Why Luke prefers to call him Levi when Matthew calls himself Matthew. But nevertheless it was the man we know as Matthew who in fact wrote another gospel. We know of the dislike for the tax collectors as they were working for Rome and it was customarily thought these men collected more than Rome demanded thus keeping the balance, their ill-gotten gain, for themselves becoming rather wealthy on the backs of their fellow Jews. Yet when Jesus speaks to him only to say, Follow me, he gets up and does so, leaving everything behind. We need to know that word Follow is not just follow, as we follow another car down the road, but it carries the meaning of accompany me, be a follower of me, be my disciple. This then is an offer to become a disciple of someone who heals people, teaches great truths about the kingdom of God and does all with incredible authority. Why would anyone refuse to accompany him? What magical attraction does the ‘everything’ hold over people, they would not leave it to follow Jesus? Levi, or Matthew was so excited about his encounter with Jesus he held a great feast in his honor, inviting all his friends, specifically the other tax collectors, as well as some others who are nameless for this narrative. What we are to garner out of this is when we encounter Jesus we should be so grateful, so overjoyed that Jesus has called us to follow  him to accompany him, to be his disciple, that we invite the people we so closely associate with to meet him and dine with him, to hear him speak truths about the kingdom of God, to touch their lives the way he has ours. We will get to the conversation between Jesus and the complainers later, but let us remain focused on this truth about inviting those who we know to meet him. It is unlikely as long as we only associate with other believers, we will not be having any banquets for those who need to meet Jesus. Sometimes it seems we have isolated ourselves from them, at least in our own self-righteousness. We call us saved and them unsaved. We call us saints them sinners. We call ourselves church goers, them the unchurched. We say we are Spirit-filled and they are controlled by the evil one, or at least by their own carnal nature. We find every way we can to divide ourselves from their way of life, rather than inviting them to a banquet with Jesus. Matthew was so excited he could not contain this wonderful thing that had happened to his life, he had to have his friends know about it. Maybe we have just run out of unsaved friends to invite, so all we can do it hang out with other believers. Maybe we should be making new friends, even other dreaded tax collectors, those not highly thought of by the righteous. Maybe it is time to invite. Maybe we get too focused on our own lives we forget to see the needs of others, or why the Lord has us where he does, so we can invite someone to the banquet.