Month: January 2018

Re:Verse reading–Luke 5:1-11 (day four)

It is a principle taught in Scripture…Paul told us about it in Philippians.  “And my God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  (4:19)  Simon witnessed it firsthand.  Jesus provided a catch of fish that was overwhelming.  It was impressive, but it was not the miracle that awed Simon.  Simon recognized that only the creator God could do what Jesus did…he recognized Jesus for who He was.  The amazement of Simon quickly resulted in his recognition of his own sinfulness.  In the presence of the glory of God, our sinfulness is magnified to its reality.

Simon’s response was to repent and worship…what is your response?  Everyone responds to the gospel, one way or another.  Some respond like Simon, some reject the truth.  When we recognize our sin and know the consequences of our sin, what we do next is critical to our eternal life or death.  We are without excuse…God has made it plain…how will you respond?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 5:1-11 (day three)

“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  Peter is convinced of his own sinful state because Jesus…is the better fisherman?  Clearly there’s more going on here than a demonstration of superior net-casting techniques.  The sense of the passage is that Peter has also been listening to Jesus’s teaching.  And that teaching consisted of unalloyed, unmitigated, unprecedented good news.  God’s compassion for people regardless of rank or station?  Check.  The eternal nature of life in God’s kingdom now open to all who will receive it?  Check.  News doesn’t get any better.  Or does it?  Jesus’s fishing instructions extend the concerns of the kingdom of God from spiritual realities by and by to material realities here and now.  No longer is there religious life and regular life.  There’s just life, and Jesus is trustworthy in all of it.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 5:1-11 (day two). But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” vs. 8

Sound familiar?

Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5

Most of my career was spent in the performing arts world. Generally teaching others to love and foster the art of singing. As such artists are always listening to other artists, attending concerts, and finding new ways  to perfect their craft. I have often found myself saying after hearing another group or singer “I have no business in this business!”

When you encounter greatness there is an instant humility in your own life. You are instantly aware of your short-comings and weaknesses. Isaiah and Peter experienced this at the most profound level. A simple word from God and they saw their sin. We shouldn’t be afraid to confront the almighty just because he will expose our inadequacies. We should run to him so that he may fill those places with his sufficiency.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 5:1-11 (day one)

“Do not fear, from now on YOU will be catching men.”–v 10.

Jesus was contagious.  No doubt about it.  A change agent.  His life bore fruit.  Results.  Wherever He went, crowds gathered and lives were changed. He was dynamic!

But, I am not always as certain that I can do the same.  Luke 5 records a significant moment/miracle that the Lord used to teach his disciples this confidence.  Not only is Jesus competent to catch people, He is competent to multiply Himself, transferring this skill into the lives of His disciples.

Have you grown discouraged at this point?  Do you wonder whether effective evangelism is a thing of the past?  Don’t!  Failure in achieving results in Christian service is, most often, an indication that something is wrong in method or spirit.  Unfruitful followers must only draw near to the contagious Savior to relearn His lessons.

He guarantees HE can/will make US fishers of men.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 4:14-30 (day seven)

Human nature tends to cause us to think of ourselves uniquely.  Our heart tells our mind that we would never fall down the same traps as everyone else.  Warned of great danger ahead, we scoff, thinking we are different somehow than all the other people who have ever walked this earth.  We do this with Jesus too.  He calls us into discipleship with him, and as He tries to shape us we give Him that “unique” spiel, “Jesus I’m different than all those other people, I don’t need the restriction, I don’t need the beginner stuff.  Just walk a mile in my shoes and you’ll see.”

In that moment, our pride is beaming.  We mean well, but our self-assessment is flawed beyond comprehension.  Jesus did walk a mile in our shoes.  He came down to earth to show us exactly what He would do this week if He were in our shoes.  Frankly, He didn’t even have to show us, it was already written in Isaiah.

If Jesus were walking in your shoes this week he would take care of the poor, he would take care of the captive, he would take care of the blind, he would take care of the oppressed, he would take care of the widows, and he would take care of the foreign lepers.  Jesus would seek out those things this week.  He is here to help whomever is in spiritual or physical trouble today. Jesus already walked two miles in your shoes, and that is what he did. What are you going to do?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 4:14-30 (day five)  vs. 16 “and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”

The first week in January is when many of us will make resolutions.  Changes, course corrections, and new patterns are all possibilities-  diet, exercise, Bible reading plans.

“Everything Jesus said and did was to make us trust him and imitate him.”- John Piper Jesus’ place on the Sabbath was the synagogue.  It was where reverence and recognition were given to the Lord’s day and His Word.  He was faithful and consistent.  Will we trust and imitate Jesus pattern of attendance?

Will you resolve this year to be in your place on Sunday mornings-  giving reverence to the Lord’s Day and Word?  Will you resolve to be a constantly engaged in the growth and life of a New Testament Church?  Will it be said of you…”As was your custom”

Re:Verse reading–Luke 4:14-30 (day four)

V. 18 – Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah…in our Scriptures, it is Isaiah 61 and 58. This passage was written following the Babylonian exile. It was a passage recognized by the Jews as a messianic passage.  The Jewish concept of the messiah was a warrior who would exalt Israel and free their nation from their oppressors.  In Luke 4, the Jews of Nazareth waited to hear what Jesus, one of their own, would say about this passage.  “It is fulfilled today in your hearing…”  Not what they expected to hear!  Jesus was giving a view into His ministry in Galilee.  (He would meet spiritual needs as well as a physical needs.)  He was claiming to be the messiah, but He did meet with their expectations.  They rejected His claim.

How do you reject Jesus?  If Scripture does not say what you think it ought to say…do you reject it?  Or ignore it?  Or justify it?  We are quick to condemn the Jews of Nazareth, but are we guilty as well?

 

 

Re:Verse reading–Luke 4:14-30 (day three)

“All spoke well of him.”  Jesus will eventually warn people that the “yea-sayers” pose a particular kind of danger to the human soul. We’ll gravitate toward those who give us good press, and pretty soon, we’re not loving people, just using them to prop up our self-regard.  Jesus remained unfazed by the initial rave reviews.  How did he do that?  Well, it’s not insignificant that immediately prior to his visit to Galilee, he spent an extended time away in solitude. The Bible indicates that Jesus often did this.  Jesus understood that one must be able to live alone if one is going to live with others.  In these times of separation, he could listen for neither supporters nor detractors, but only for the voice of God.  And then he would return to the presence of people in love and discernment.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 4:14-30 (day two)  And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. vs. 15

Before he challenged their comfort with the prophecies of Isaiah the people of Galilee were astonished by Jesus’ knowledge of scripture, and his ability to unpack it for them. Jesus was not out creating new doctrine or shouting outside the temple. He was with the people. Teaching them. They already had all the texts they needed. What Jesus was doing was helping them connect truths in ways they were never able to consider before. A good teacher will do that for y0u. Even if you have all the facts it can be a very daunting task to try and put it together without someone who knows what the final outcome should be.

Jesus can still connect the dots for you if you struggle with making sense of life, of faith, of him. He is still a good teacher.