November 6, 2021
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 Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 12 (NIV)
Warnings and Encouragements
1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs........Continue Reading
First few verses remind me of Hebrews 4:13. All things are laid bare before the eyes of God. And everyone will have to give an account. Luke reminds us to not fear man But fear God who controls your eternal destiny. Verse 8. Disown God. Maybe kind of like Peter. Disowning Christ 3 times. Quite a lesson. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Don’t know why this causes confusion. Anyone who csn blaspheme the Holy Spirit has no connection with God. And has judged themselves. Verse 16-21. I’m taking as a spiritual lesson. There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future. But if it’s only for yourself and not glorifying God with your possessions. Worthless. Verse 22-34. Do not worry. The creator of the universe knows exactly what we need as his children. Easy yo write. Not always easy to live in total peace when things are going wrong. So it seems! Verses35-47. Exactly what we spoke of at men’s retreat. Be ready in season snd out of season. Always prepared to give the answer why we have peace. Joy. Verse 49 -53. We can see the division the enemy is using today Family members not speaking over Homosexuality. Transgender. Racist. Etc!! And it’s only gonna get worse. It’s not a democrat. Republican issue. It’s spiritual Verse 54 to end. Easy to read the times we are in now. Orthopedic pains have started!!
Hahaha. Birth pains have started. Not orthopedic
Luke 12
30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
I have always loved this chapter and the reminder about how much stock we put into this life and the things of it! This is merely a blink of an eye compared to the eternity we are looking forward to in heaven with our Father and when we keep that our mindset it is hard to worry about things that then seem so trivial and our Father loves us so much He will care for our needs always
Being prepared for our Master even when He is not here or living our life in the knowledge that He is always present and end times will come and are we ready for that possible eventuality. Also the reality that a life lived in favor of God will bring division even amongst your own family and those closest to you may seem strange because God also brings such unconditional love and peace, however, especially in these days we must stand up for what we know is right and good in God’s eyes and that will not bring us favor from people of this world.
God never supports being different in private than we are in public…and yet that was the modus operandi of the Pharisees: all righteous around people, but in private corrupted and evil. Hypocrisy has at it’s core a desire to please people with a complete disregard for God and that is why Jesus says don’t worry about what man thinks about you, but be concerned about what God thinks about you. God is able to both judge you and care for you, so He should be acknowledged before man not rejected, to be proud of being a follower rather than ashamed. We certainly have a tendency to care about what man thinks more than what God thinks.
And this regard for God translates to how we handle money as well. Are we trying to amass a fortune without being rich toward God and generous to others…especially the poor? If we do that, building bigger barns to secure the product that we have, it invariably will lead to worry because once we have it and need it, we become worried about losing it. God welcomes us to a different dynamic. Certainly we work and do the things we are supposed to, but we recognize the stuff of life is not the essence of life. God knows what we need and far better to trust Him for it as well as in our pursuit of it, as opposed to trusting in the stuff. He supplies for plants and animals, although they do have their work to do too, and yet they don’t get all wound up about it. Yes far better to seek first God’s kingdom and let Him be the One who manages what we have and what our work produces.
Because what our job is, is to be ready. We recognize that one day Jesus will return, and so what are we going to be occupied with while we wait? Are we going to be following our priorities or God’s priorities? Are we growing our kingdom, or God’s kingdom? See the best way to be watchful for the master to return is to be doing the things the master wants you to do. And it is far worse to know what the master wants and not do them, than to be ignorant and not do them as well. But far better to be doing what Jesus wants us to do so whenever He comes back we will be doing what He wants.
Because as much as the message and life of Christ brings benefits to us, it also creates conflict between us and those who don’t believe. Jesus has come to bring fire on the earth and don’t miss that He wishes it was already kindled….ie ready to burn! So we recognize that conflict exists, but we still try to pursue peace and reconciliation. We stand strong in the truth of who Jesus is and the things He directs us to do and try to lead others to Him at the same time seeking reconciliation and harmony personally in conflict that may come around the stuff of life, all to His glory!
It is so hard to even comment on this chapter without summarizing the whole thing!
We should be watching and waiting for Christ’s return.
We should confess Christ before men, but not worry about what we will say.
We should not worry about daily provisions.
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”