Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse passage – Luke 16:1-18 (day two)

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” vs. 10

If you’ve ever spent time in a choir rehearsal that wasn’t going particularly well, you have probably heard someone say; “this is just rehearsal, we’re saving it for the performance.” These words irritate every director I’ve ever known. That kind of “we’ll do better in performance” mentality didn’t work well in a public school classroom, and it especially doesn’t work in the classroom of faith. When we practice our praise, we worship. There is no time when we are out of audience with the Lord, and therefore never a time when he is not the object of our praise. It is the same with any resource. We must steward as God would have us to steward: money, time, people, worship.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 15:11-24 (day two) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men. vs. 19

I hate to be wrong. The truth of the matter is that I often am…wrong, that is. It bothers me not simply because I didn’t have the right answer at the time, but it means going backward. It means admitting defeat or ignorance. It means starting over. In his landmark book Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis talks about this in terms of arithmetic. No matter how precise and exact your formulas, equations, and processes are, if you make a mistake in your arithmetic there is no amount of formulae that will make it accurate. Sometimes getting forward means going backward. Back to the beginning, to the mistake; addressing it, and then moving forward. In the case of believers it is a matter of recognizing how fallen we are. The reality of who we are in comparison to our great God puts a perspective of grave humility. We want to be near, if only to eat from the table scraps. But that is not how God meets us. Come with humility, receive the embrace of forgiveness.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 15:1-10 (day two) Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.² Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” vs. 1-2

Have you ever been invited to a function talks about charity, homelessness, poverty, or other societal woe and yet nowhere in the event is someone who looks, represent, or who personally knows these issues first-hand? Don’t get me wrong there are many wonderful organizations that raise awareness and funds for great causes, but I think you understand my point. Would those same people come to a banquet if everyone was disheveled and hurting? Similarly in our churches do we talk about helping the hurting world, and yet don’t welcome them into our walls? Yes, Jesus received and ate with sinners, do you?

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:12-24 (day two) 

…and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. vs. 14

What’s in it for me? Don’t feel bad, that is the normal response to about any sort of social interaction. If we are going to put effort, time, and resources into something we want to know what we can expect in return. In this exchange with Jesus, we are indeed promised a reward, but not in a monetary sense. The more immediate concern, however, is what it does for those we are called to serve. We have something to offer that they do not have. It may be something very temporal such as food or clothing. Your blessing to them is a gift far greater than you could receive. It also gives you currency when sharing the greatest gift, Jesus. What you are offering, through Jesus, is life everlasting. Stop thinking only of yourself. What’s in it for them?

Re:Verse passage – Luke 13:1-9 (day two)

And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; ⁹ and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ vs. 8-9

I’ve always felt a bit sorry for the poor fig tree in this parable. I mean, is it actually choosing not to produce figs? Since, however, this is a metaphor we need to look at the tree a bit differently. If the tree is an unbeliever how can we expect righteousness to come from them if they have never heard the truth of God’s Word? If our job is to tend and care for others we must give them every opportunity to bloom and grow. We must take the time to pray, share, and witness so that the Word can take root in their life. Look around you; who are the people who need that kind of care? God has given you the gardening tools of the gospel. Get to work.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 12:13-21 (day two)

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ ²¹ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” vs. 20-21

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; ²¹ for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Two sides of the same coin. The old adage states that you can’t take it with you, and if you look only at the passage from Luke, it holds true. If, however, you look to Matthew’s words there is a different message. It comes down to what “it” is. Money, real estate, possessions – things things will all disappear. The business of heaven deals with how you have invested in Kingdom work. How have you loved well? This will carry a heavenly reward. How have you ministered to the needy, the lost, the widow, and orphan? This will be measured against a life, and celebrated. Invest well.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 11:5-13 (day two) 

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. vs. 8

You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:2b-3

To be clear scripture is not saying that you are always going to get whatever you ask, but it also recognizes we don’t often bring our whole hearts to the Lord. Perhaps we feel like we don’t deserve whatever we are desiring, or we feel a sort of guilt. Why would the Lord think to bless me more than someone else? That kind of self-talk will only lead to a spiritual angst and anxiety that no-one needs. Be in constant dialogue with the Lord, always. You can be sure that he isn’t going to sell all the cattle on a thousand hills just because you ask, but if you are in a never ceasing conversation with the Lord of creation doesn’t it stand to reason that you will start to desire the things he desires? Spend more time with Jesus, and see how that begins to shape your prayer life.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 10:25-37 (day two)

But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” vs. 29

This is the question that initiated one of the most probing and penetrating parables in all of scripture. When reading this it occurs to me to ask; did he really want to know? There he stood as a student of the law, one who understood textual nuance. This man knew things. He knew enough to engage Jesus with a query about personal righteousness. That knowledge, however was not enough to save him. If we don’t put into practice those lessons taught to us in scripture are we truly Jesus’ disciples? How many of us stand with our toes right up to the line of a spiritual awakening, knowing enough to realize what can come from obedience, only to remain there and not take the leap into action? The world is gasping for breath, and we do well to hear it. What good is it to know these stories and let our neighbors tread the way of death? Jesus didn’t come to tell stories, he came to give the world the breath of life. Time to jump.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 8:1-15 (day two)  

“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.” vs. 11

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Do you do any investing? I confess that this is not an area that I have great knowledge of, but I am grateful for individuals who help me make wise choices. Whether you are investing your finances or into an individual or project one thing that you always hope for is a good Return On Investment. You want to know that your resources have been well spent and that you haven’t squandered your time on something that ultimately won’t bring great yield.

The Kingdom of God does not work in this way. While we are to be good stewards of what the Lord gives us, his Word is a different matter. Our mindset should be to spread the gospel wherever we go, wherever we are, with whomever we meet. We are to be faithful to that call, and then by the miracle of the Holy Spirit, the Word will accomplish what it sets out to do. On that you can be sure. Invest in the Word, invest in people, and let the Lord deal with hearts.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 6:46-49 (day two)  

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Vs. 46

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:21

Lip service is not heart service. Everyone of us, to some degree or other, finds ourselves in this situation. We give deference to whomever we are speaking with, and then act in a manner that is contrary to those words. It is often easier to just say what people want or like to hear in their presence. To honor them with titles, platitudes, or promises only to do whatever is truly dwelling in our hearts. Jesus, however, doesn’t operate on that level. His concern is for what lies buried in your heart. He is not  convinced by your words. Oftentimes it is easier to say what people want to hear, but if we form that habit with people what does that say about our relationship with Jesus? As James would remind us from our last study; let your yes be yes, and your no be no. You will never have to second guess what your promised if it is always the truth.