Author: Larry Soape

Re:Verse reading–Luke 24:1-12, 33-49 (day four) 

The angels spoke to the women at the tomb…”Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,“  In verse 8 it says, “And they remembered His words.”  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus spoke to the two men.  Verse 27 says, “He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”  These are exactly what the Holy Spirit does for us today.  The Spirit causes us to recall the words of Jesus.  With divine timing, we are reminded of things Jesus has said.  The Spirit also explains the words of Scripture to us.  Our eyes are opened and we see new truths in the pages of Scripture.  Verse 45 says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”  Just as the followers of Christ received peace from the words of the angels and from Jesus, we have peace when hear from the Spirit.  Thank you Lord for the gift of the Spirit and the truth of the Word.

Re:Verse reading–Luke 23:1-27, 32-49 (day four)

He was one of the primary players in our story…Pilate.  In his own mind, he was a man of importance and great authority.  As Rome’s representative, Pilate was responsible for maintaining order in Judea.  The truth of the matter was that Pilate was on shaky ground due to his mishandling of several prior incidents.  Tiberius Caesar would not tolerate another misstep.  Pilate was under great pressure to maintain order with the Jewish religious leaders.  He even addressed Jesus, telling Him that he (Pilate) had authority over His life.  Pilate was not in control…God had preordained the events in eternity and even the prophets had foretold the course of events.

How often do we try to take control of our lives?  Thinking that we can handle the outcome or control the direction of our lives?  There is a word…it is sovereignty.  God is sovereign over all things.  He has ordered our lives and history and we need to remember that He is God…and we are not!

Re: Verse reading–Luke 16:19-31 (day four) 

One of the questions we would ask if we were doing an inductive study of this passage would be…”who was Jesus speaking to?”  Look back at verse 14…”Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things…”  The Pharisees considered wealth to be a blessing from God and a confirmation of their privileged relationship with Him.  The rich man in our story shared this common Jewish belief and was caught by surprise when he ended up in Hades.  He had no change of heart though, even there, because he still saw Lazarus as a servant to meet his needs.  He was also oblivious to the sufficiency of Scripture to call us to repentance.

Are we blinded to the obvious message of God’s Word in any area of our lives?  Forgive others…be reconciled…it is better to give than to receive…love your enemy?  Ask God to search your heart today so you will not be ‘caught by surprise.’  (Psalm 139:23-24)

Re:Verse reading–Luke 15:1-2, 11-32 (day four)

In Jesus’ parable, the older brother represented the Pharisees.  The younger brother represented the tax collectors, sinners and gentiles.  The Pharisees rejected those who were not ‘pure’ in their obedience to God (the father in our story).  In their own eyes, the Pharisees believed they were righteous before God.  Just as Saul believed that he was doing God a favor by purging the sinners from the world, the Pharisees were angry at the thought that God might show mercy to the sinners and forgive them.  They were blinded to the love of God the Father.

Saul too was blinded…it took a face to face encounter with Christ to open his eyes.  In His parable, Jesus pressed the Pharisees with the need to submit to the love and authority of God.  They needed to recognize themselves as sinners in need of forgiveness and restoration.  How about you?  Do you have an accurate picture of your position before God and your need for repentance?

Re:Verse reading–Luke 7:36-50 (day four)

Be careful what you think!  Jesus knew the thoughts and intentions of the Pharisee’s heart.  This religious leader, who held strictly to the letter of the Law, undoubtedly wanted to trick Jesus into saying or doing something that could be used against Him.  An uninvited guest interrupted his plan though.  This sinful woman was overcome with emotion…her tears flowed freely.  She was lavish with her attention to Jesus’ needs as she anointed His feet with perfume.  “Your sins have been forgiven.”

Was it her emotional feelings or her works to serve Jesus that brought her forgiveness?  Many believe if they have more good works than bad ones, they will be judged righteous and forgiven by God.  This woman’s actions were the overflow of something else…Jesus gives us the answer.  Verse 50 says it was her faith that saved her.  Remember…Jesus knew the intentions of the heart.  “By grace you have been saved through faith; not of works, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Re:Verse reading—Luke 6:17-45 (day four)

The crowds were growing…people were coming from, all over the region.  Jesus’ followers recognized His power and authority.  His disciples likely were pretty impressed with themselves.  Here was this popular, charismatic teacher with great popularity and they were His chosen followers.  Their importance should bring some reward, shouldn’t it?  Jesus addressed His disciples…things were not going to be as they expected.  The blessings they would receive were much different than material reward.  To be like their teacher, they would give up the things of the world and would respond completely opposite to what the world taught.

These responses that Jesus taught were not our ‘natural’ responses.  We want to gain, to preserve, and to protect.  What was the difference in what Jesus taught?  It was the heart…’out of the good treasure of his heart.’  What we fill our heart with overflows into our lives!  Jesus said that we must fill our heart with heavenly responses.  What is your heart filled with?

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 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 passage – Luke 4:1-13 (day four)

Jesus had just returned from His baptism.  A voice from heaven had proclaimed God’s pleasure with Him.  Now, as He returned from the Jordan, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Certainly, this had been a mountain-top experience.  We’ve all had them…experiences that draw us near to God and bring blessings overflowing.

What happens to Jesus next?  Often times, following a mountain-top experience, we face some of the greatest tests of our lives.  Jesus faced a grueling round of temptations that challenged Him to choose any way but God’s to move forward in His ministry.  Spiritual highs can prepare us to face those lows of temptation.  Guard yourself against the wiles of Satan…when you least expect it, he is poised to spring the trap!  We are lulled into carelessness with those feelings of euphoria after being in the presence of God.  Be vigilant…stand strong…Satan prowls about like a hungry lion, seeking those whom he may devour.