WITH OR AGAINST
Luke 11:23
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Personal challenge
Jesus continues to remind His disciples, and ultimately us, that there really is no middle ground as a Christian. We are either with Him and doing things His way or we are not and therefore working against Him. This is so contrary to what the world expects from us. We must make a choice. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Luke 11:17
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
Personal Challenge
When our Lord Jesus Christ started the Church over 2,000 years ago, did He start up the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, or the myriad of Protestant churches that we have today? No! He started up the "one holy catholic and apostolic Church". The definition of Catholic here is referring to the church universal and not the Catholic church as we know it today. Jesus even prayed later for us to have unity amongst ourselves as His Church. It appears to me that we have veered Very far from His desire for His Church and have actually become a divided house. Isn't it time that we unify around our Lord and work together to build rather than divide His Kingdom? Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Saint of the Week
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK
Luke 11:9-10
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Personal challenge
Context is so important. These two verses are so often used by those who believe in the "name it and claim it", or prosperity, gospel. By themselves, it is possible to see why this happens. In the verses prior to this, Jesus gives the parable of the man who has some visitors show up late at night and he has nothing to give them. Hospitality is an extremely important part of this culture. So, he goes to his neighbor to see if he will give him what he needs to entertain them properly. The neighbor is already in bed and refuses to answer the door. However, through persistently knocking on that door and calling out to the homeowner, the door is opened and the request is granted. Jesus tells us to be persistent askers, seekers, and knockers, to pursue Him relentlessly, so that He will take care of us when the time is right. Glory be to God!
BUSINESS OR BUSYNESS
Luke 10:41-42
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Personal Challenge
Is there a difference between business and busyness? There definitely is, especially in our relationship with God. What is His business that we should be involved in? It really is simple to articulate. Loving Him and loving our neighbor. If we make this our business, then we too, just like the apostles will change the world around us. Unfortunately, what we so often do is get caught up in busyness. This is doing all those things that look good in the eyes of man as if we are doing His work. We are checking off the lists that we have created that we believe describes the things we need to do to be good Christians. However we become Martha's and get too busy to love God and love our neighbor. We lose our joy in Him and eventually, if we keep this up, we lose Him. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, hare mercy!
WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
Luke 10:19-20
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
Encouraging Words
We can rejoice in the truth that as followers of Christ, our names have been written in the book of eternal life. This is more valuable than any of the blessings that God would bestow upon us while we live here on earth. Knowing this truth helps us through every trial and tribulation as we take each step closer to our home in heaven. Glory be to God!
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Luke 10:9
And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Personal Challenge
What has happened to the Church in the past 2,000 years that has made us so different from when Jesus started us up? In the passage leading up to this verse, Jesus had just commissioned His disciples to go out and proclaim His God News. They were able to heal the sick and perform miracles on His behalf. As we continue reading through the Scriptures we see that after His ascension the apostles and disciples continue to do the same. And yet today, we see none of this. Is it because God can no longer work through us, His followers? God is the same. It is us who have changed. Jesus often showed us that faith was needed to be healed by Him. If we do not truly believe in the power that He has and that He has the power to work miracles through us, then we will not be able to be used by Him. When He said that the Kingdom of God has come near to us, He meant that it is here and now and that we can live in that Kingdom today, if we believe in Him. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner and forgive me of my disbelief!
