"Warnings and Encouragements"

"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.
**********************

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

"....More Than My Daily Bread"

"I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my daily bread." (Job 23:12, NIV)

Most think of the Book of Job as the book of suffering; perhaps this is accurate.  Job and his wife had lost their entire family and business.  Job's health took a nose dive.  Job's response to their plight was today's text.  His wife took the route of so many, "Curse God and die."  I know too many people such as she.  Suffering can produce this life philosophy.  But who wins with this?  What does this solve?

I could have done this.  One reason I did/do not is, How absolutely stupid is this?  I say of our Lord Jesus Christ what the hymn writer penned so long ago: "Oh, how could I this Friend deny when He's so true to me?...Eternal life, eternal joy, He's my Friend."  Friendship does not mean that the "friend" is and does exactly what I want.  That would be a stuffed toy.  A friend is one who is always "there for you," is honest with you, and will not "let you drive drunk." 

There was a Medieval saint who once said, "The worse He could do to me is still better than I deserve."  Now some do not like such a "theology."  It does not, however, change the reality.  Tell me, please, what do you and I "deserve?"  The main reason I have survived a deep "tragedy" is that I hold to today's text.  I hold on with the proverbial "death grip," for if I did not, death would be the result, physically and spiritually. 

O Lord Jesus, "I have not departed from the commands of [Your] Lips; I have treasured the Words of [Your] Mouth more than my daily bread."  Father, in Jesus' Name, O for grace to make this a life prayer and lifestyle.  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

"When the Chief Shepherd Appears"

"....Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."
 (1 Peter 5:2-4)

"....The Chief Shepherd appears...," more than most perhaps realize.  Reality has it that every time a Follower of Jesus Christ, one "in whom Jesus lives," walks into a room, "The Chief Shepherd appears."  The Church in a community is, "The Chief Shepherd appears."  Of course, it is unlike That Day, "....when the Chief Shepherd appears," heralded by, "The Trumpet of God."  But may we never marginalize the Biblical Theology of, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." 

The NIV title for 1 Peter 5 is: "To the Elders and the Flock."  We could say this about the whole Bible.  Beware of considering any passage for just a few or some erroneous category.  I always read the Bible as written to me, not just Apostles, Prophets, "the hurting," etc.  Note the attitude which Peter expresses here for elders and overseers.  None of them, however, apply only to elders and overseers.  "Serving.., not by compulsion but willingly,..eagerly;..being examples...."  This is a description of The Church.  This is Jesus Christ in us, walking among men, "serving...."  

All characteristics in our text reflect Jesus Christ.  And that is exactly what you and I are called to. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...serving...willingly,..eagerly;..being examples." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Words call me to "heights" I feel I have never nor can ever attain.  Then I realize, it is not my attaining, but Your mercy as I live, "crucified with Christ."  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

"....Water Gushed Out...."

"He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert." (Psalm 105:41, NIV)

Now isn't this one of the most beautiful statements you have ever heard?!?  What a word on a very cold, snowy, windy Monday morning, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

This is none other than the Living Triune God, opening, gushing, and flowing out Himself to and in us, and, if they hear and receive, to a lost, confused, turbulent humanity.  So, "Faithful and True," is our Lord Jesus Christ.  Since "the Fall," the Blessed Trinity has, "....opened the rock," to all who thirst, no exceptions based on anything but a, "hunger and thirst after righteousness," which is another way of saying, a hunger and thirst after, "Alpha and Omega," Himself, Jesus.

What refreshing to me this morning when I read our text.  O, that you and I can always hear, receive, delight and walk our days in such deeply profound simplicity.  I can say nothing more blessed to you this day than, "He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert."  Go forth and make that "desert" around you, "a...river...."  Jesus says, "He who believes in me Me, as the Scripture has said, out his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may Your, "rivers of living water," flow out of me today.  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