The Everyday Prayer

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

“We are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”–v 41.

Traditionally we call him a thief.  The word actually means “evil doer, so murder, robbery or kidnapping are just as likely.  His story lifts up the grace of God.  Mercy “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23)  Patient God. Long-suffering.  Pursuing a man to the door of death.

Marvelous miracle!  In the chaos and pain of crucifixion, this man still has the perception ( gift from God) to perceive his own sinfulness and the perfection of Christ.  As God opened His eyes, he called out to Christ in saving faith.

The Puritans said of this death-bed conversion, “To keep us from despair there is one story in the Bible, but to keep us from presumption there is only one.”

I must not delay!  When He comes near, I must receive Him.  Today is the day.  Now is the moment.

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

“One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. -Luke 18:22-23

“For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” -Luke 18:25

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. -1 Timothy 6:10

A simple concept exceedingly complex in practice.  Amoral monies unwittingly transform us into nasty devils.  With $3 in our bank account we battle pride, greed, gluttony, and selfishness in a single second.  This whiff of independence causes most to fall, all the while Jesus whispers

Be on guard
affluence is steering you away
from your God.

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

‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

The message God has given us through the scriptures is enough for the human heart to hear and believe the saving call of our Heavenly Father.  “From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus would interact with people preaching/teaching the scriptures.  Not all would “hear” or even be interested.  But there were some.  He would then begin a more personal interaction with them.

Great strategy for us. Speak and share the message of the scriptures (Gospel, Biblical Truths).  There will be some who are interested and want to know more.  Continue the conversation. Invite them to trust and follow Christ.  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Will you share so people can “hear”?

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 16:19-31 (day three) 

“Send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them.”  If we’ve gotten it into our heads that one’s post-death circumstances after a life of selfish disregard for God and others will result in regret for a life poorly lived, this story Jesus tells should disabuse us of that notion.  The narrative clearly shows us a man who is just as self-centered and self-important now as he ever was before: “Grant me a favor; send Lazarus to serve me; accord my family special status,” etc.  Privilege is his only language.  But that was a way of thinking and living he had learned long before now.  All the years of his mortal existence had steadily formed his character, and so the way he lived life was now the way he lived death.  Is it somehow different for you?

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

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.” vs. 19

It was clear from both chapter 15 and 16 of Luke’s gospel that he had an affluent audience. The parable of the prodigal son also told of an excessive lifestyle that ultimately led to destruction. What is clear in these texts is not the size of their bank account, but the size of their hearts. Remember the words from Matthew that say: Where your treasure is, there your heart is also. Ultimately everything we have is a gift and resource for God’s kingdom work here on earth. How are you choosing to use your time for him. Are you spending it with your kids telling them the truth of Jesus? Are you dedicating energy towards helping our community realize the beauty of Christ as Lord? Does your checkbook reflect a life focused first on Heavenly things? These are thing matters that matter to God.

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

“There was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.  And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with crumbs.”–v 19-21.

Some read these vivid words from Jesus as a general condemnation of rich people and a promise of universal blessing to the poor in the coming age.  In a “class struggle” (Marxist view of history), God will side with the oppressed.  So the narrative goes.

Others hear a more nuanced message aimed at the heart of every man.  The man was not condemned because he was rich, but because he was extravagantly rich AND extravagantly unconcerned. (Lazarus was no stranger.  The rich man saw him every day, or should have)

Do you think Heaven notices how we spend money?  Is it a damnable crime to not care?  Jesus thought so.

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

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:1-2

The Jewish community in Jesus’s day was taught to give alms to the poor.  They knew God cared deeply for the poor, and they went out of their way to be generous.  However, they never rubbed shoulders with the poor.  The poor were seen as lesser people never to be invited into your home, and meals were completely off the table.  They kept this same attitude toward sinners and tax collectors.  You may say a prayer for them, but you never fellowship with them.

Jesus turned this thought upside down.  Jesus would have lunch with anyone: a sinner, a Pharisee, the poor.  Whoever wanted to come to the table was allowed, and the intimacy of a meal allowed the conversation to sizzle.

If we are going to be a witnessing church we are going to have to do likewise.  We must sit down with the lost in our communities.  If we will be intentional about sharing meals with non-Christians fellowship will be strengthened and the world will know who Jesus Christ is.  Rarely are we accused of eating with sinners, but hopefully there’s a new day coming when our lunch will turn into witness.