"Someone in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." (Luke 12:13, NIV)
In other words, "I want you and everyone else in my life to give me everything I want."
Reality Check: "Warnings and Encouragements"
This is the title of a NIV translation for Luke 12. It describes Jesus' Words which we are about to read. Most people of the present generation think that Jesus' Words are, and should be shared only as, "encouragements"; forget the "warnings." They can "rework" all of this, of course, but they are not reading and proclaiming, "the Words of God."
Personally, I am glad for reading the Bible and allowing Jesus' Words to come to me, all of Jesus' Words. Otherwise, is sort of like a little child, this reading only what we want to read. We are telling Father that we will "take it from here" and create our own religion; we know best, and want a "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." Our Living Triune God, however, just keeps being our loving Father, Son and Brother, and Guiding, Sustaining Holy Spirit. If I read, listen and obey, I am the one who is in, "whatsoever he does shall prosper", the Biblical definition of, "prosper."
Luke 12 opens with, "....a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another...", sort of like America's "Black Friday", people scrambling for quick bargains, getting more for less and not caring who they may "trample" in the process. Our text reflects such a culture. But those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," are of a different species. Our lives are to reflect the next Words of Jesus to the greedy demander, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.... Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes....Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"
If a person wants "life," he/she prefers Jesus' Words over all others.
Father, in Jesus' Name, even though there have been times in my life where I preferred my words and ways, thank You that You never changed Yours----------- for me. Amen.
**********************
In other words, "I want you and everyone else in my life to give me everything I want."
Reality Check: "Warnings and Encouragements"
This is the title of a NIV translation for Luke 12. It describes Jesus' Words which we are about to read. Most people of the present generation think that Jesus' Words are, and should be shared only as, "encouragements"; forget the "warnings." They can "rework" all of this, of course, but they are not reading and proclaiming, "the Words of God."
Personally, I am glad for reading the Bible and allowing Jesus' Words to come to me, all of Jesus' Words. Otherwise, is sort of like a little child, this reading only what we want to read. We are telling Father that we will "take it from here" and create our own religion; we know best, and want a "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." Our Living Triune God, however, just keeps being our loving Father, Son and Brother, and Guiding, Sustaining Holy Spirit. If I read, listen and obey, I am the one who is in, "whatsoever he does shall prosper", the Biblical definition of, "prosper."
Luke 12 opens with, "....a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another...", sort of like America's "Black Friday", people scrambling for quick bargains, getting more for less and not caring who they may "trample" in the process. Our text reflects such a culture. But those who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," are of a different species. Our lives are to reflect the next Words of Jesus to the greedy demander, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.... Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes....Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"
If a person wants "life," he/she prefers Jesus' Words over all others.
Father, in Jesus' Name, even though there have been times in my life where I preferred my words and ways, thank You that You never changed Yours----------- for me. Amen.
**********************
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
