March 17, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 7 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Growing Opposition
Read Sections 4.57 through 4.60 (pages 115-119)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Wow some great parables in these sections! Priorities and in particular our priorities are in question in all of them. Where are we placing value in our lives?? Are we consumed by the things of this world, wealth and fame, or are we servants of God dedicated to a life worthy of His favor.
We know that the end result of a sinful life is death but we can find hope in the fact that like the prodigal son when we stray away and make poor decisions that are motivated by selfish and prideful thinking our Father is always waiting and always thrilled to see us return!
On lent day 6
The lost coin: ‘it’s a happy time for the angels of God when one sinner decides to change’.
The lost son: my son was dead but now alive, was lost, now found’. So they began to have a party.
Both parables show very happy and celebratory imagery regarding ‘the lost but found’. The following parables, not so much.
4.59-4.60:
‘You make yourselves look good but God knows what is really in your hearts’.
‘He is comforted and you are suffering. There is a big pit between you and us. No one can cross over to help you and no one can come here from there’.
I always liked the parable of the lost son. This parable could have a few applications to us. I think that that the older son who has served the father throughout his life is self righteous and he was angry when the father treated the younger son so well when he came back. He wasn’t glad that his brother came back. He was instead angry. He should have been joyful for his brother like his father was. For as the father said he was dead but now is alive. The younger son came back with a repentant heart. Willing to be a servant. The younger son could be an unsaved person coming to the Father or a backslidden Christian coming back in full repentance. And of course I think of my 4 children. Crystal [not saved ], Jessica [saved by praying with melodye as an adult,] ,Michael [ saved as a child but not walking with Jesus], and the youngest Sarah [ we don`t believe is saved]. So I do think of this parable a lot. But we also need to check ourselves also as scripture teaches that if we take our eyes off of Christ, we become back slidden. Thank God that we have a loving Father that we can come back to. He understands us better than we know ourselves. In ourselves we are weak and limited, but in Him we are strong. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [ Philippians 4; 13].
Day 7
4.57-4.60
Day 7
When something is lost, there is a hole that exists even though we possess other things. That hole is only satisfy when that which was lost is found. How true that is for possessions, but even more significant for people…especially family. What a stark difference there is between the father and the eldest son in their reaction to the younger son in the account of the prodigal son. The father is full of grace and affirmation of the son as being His son and the eldest son is full of judgement and rejection. How grateful we can be that the father is a picture of how God reacts to us when we return to Him, and the eldest son is a picture of the legalistic perspective of the Jewish leaders. There may be a point to address the wrong that the son had done, but today is the day to rejoice because the one who was lost has been found.
And the account of the dishonest manager is a tough one. I get the overall point that what we do with a little, we will do with a lot and so don’t be surprised when God doesn’t trust you with a lot when you are being unfaithful with a little. I even understand that the business practice of getting a portion of a debt is better than getting nothing at all (banks do that all the time!). But I don’t understand why his motives and actions are validated by the boss. We should certainly be honest and upfront about all our dealings, business and otherwise. We can also be glad that our relationship with God frees us to not have to serve money or seek satisfaction from possessions. How important it is for us to serve one master, God. Once we make something else our master, that thing will always crowd out the priority that God should have in our lives.
And that account was about the priority that the Jewish leaders placed on money and so is the account of the rich man and Lazarus. The Jews believed that a person’s wealth was an indication of God’s favor on them. How shocking to them that poor Lazarus is with Abraham in paradise and the rich man is in Hades. But it is instructive that there is a gap between the two and no one can go from one side to the other….the locations are permanent. And God will not do something special to reveal the reality about eternal destinations. His word is enough. Although God does in fact give greater testimony to Himself, even providing someone who does rise from the dead that testifies to the truth and reality of the salvation that God offers from hell.
The prodigal son realized that what he did was wrong, and he was very sorry for it. His father was kind and caring and welcomed him back with open arms. God does the same for us, he does not beat us up over and over again for our sin. He forgives, forgets and moves us forward to the things he purposed for us to do. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Amen Shelly!
The ladies did a Bible study on Luke a while ago and I was looking back at my notes about the shrewd manager.
I believe Jesus is being sarcastic in a way as the Pharisees overhear the whole conversation with His disciples. The unrighteous steward and the master are men of the world, both value shrewdness. These are the characteristics of an unbelieving generation and all the trappings of wealth.
Jesus basically says, “go make friends with the rich people so that when you die they can give you eternal life.” This is obviously not true. The Pharisees are the unfaithful steward, they were unfaithful spiritually and shrewd at making money for themselves. Luke16:14 says, “the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Him. He said, “you justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God…”
The message, “he who is unfaithful in little, is unfaithful in much” is a message for the disciples and for the Pharisees. If you are unfaithful in righteous mammon, who’s going to give you true riches?
Shrewdness in the Bible is commended when seen in wise words and actions directed toward a worthy goal. Shrewdness is condemned when cunning, deceitful, scheming is used for sinful or selfish means.
thanks for sharing that Amy….