03/15/17 - Luke 10

March 15, 2017 – Luke 10

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." Luke 10:41

Focusing on many worries distracts us from the One Thing that brings focus to our lives – God Himself.

I have never really liked this story about Mary & Martha.  It seems to me Martha gets the short end of the stick, and she is the one working hard.  While Mary is honored for just hanging around and doing nothing.  After being raised to respect the value of work, and believing that work generates reward, I just didn’t understand why Jesus would celebrate the ‘lazy’ instead of the diligent.

But a little deeper look at the story gives a bit more insight.  This story isn’t about work, it’s about focus.  Jesus wasn’t honoring lazy people.  In fact, the Bible clearly says that laziness makes a person poor, considers laziness foolish, and says if a man won’t work he shouldn’t eat!   Jesus is not condemning Martha’s work ethic either.  She is honored by her work and loved by Jesus for it.  Her effort for Jesus is a primary reason she is in the stories about Him in the first place.

No, this isn’t about work.  This is about focus.  Mary’s focus was on Jesus.  Martha’s focus was on the meal.  Mary saw Jesus as the reason for the party.  Martha thought that the party would be ruined if the meal wasn’t done right.  Mary focused on the Lord, Martha focused on the work.  Mary worshipped, Martha worked.

I hate to say it, but too often we find ourselves thinking more like Martha than like Mary.  It’s not about whether you have a strong work ethic, driving personality, or leadership responsibilities.  Jesus is interested in our worship more than our work.  Yet too often, we worry about making our families happy, getting the kids on the right sports team, making enough money, keeping the job, and accomplishing the busy schedule … and are willing to sacrifice Sunday worship, time in devotions, or even the chance to serve Him.  We can say we’re doing it for God, but our focus isn’t on God, it’s on something else.

When life gets our focus, we find ourselves running in circles, and struggling to make any progress.  But when we focus on Jesus, He will take care of our progress and keep us moving forward in life.

Take stock on your life & schedule – is it looking more like Martha or more like Mary?  Put aside your busy activities and put more focus on Jesus.  That may be hard at first, and cost some initial pain, but you will discover a greater peace and much better results.  You might even find that the meal still gets done, and the worries aren’t as prominent.

Just go back to your First Focus.

03/14/17 - Luke 9

March 14, 2017 – Luke 9

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Luke 9:25

Our daily choice: whether to become what we want or become what God wants.

Years ago, soda bottles (and other beverages), were sealed with a bottle cap.  It was an effective way to seal the bottle, and kept the contents secure until it was opened.  Opening the cap required a bottle opener, either attached to the soda machine or in your kitchen utensil drawer.  However, there were times people had bottles but no opener, so creative ways had to be developed.  J  I saw people use counter edges, pliers, knives … all kinds of devices to open the bottle and get to the drink.  Probably the worst option (and one I am also guilty of using), was teeth.  Many times, people would pry open the cap using the side of their mouth!  (Is it any wonder why people would have teeth chipped or cuts in their mouth?  Not the brightest choice!)  Teeth were made for chewing through millions of items, but I’m sure God didn’t design them for bottle caps!!!

A logical person would realize that misusing teeth for the wrong purpose can both ruin them for life and actually prevent us from reaching our intended goal.  It’s not the wise thing to do!  But every day, we see people trying to force their life into a design that is driven by man’s immediate desires, instead of fulfilling the intended purpose God designed our life for.   Some try to be actors, musicians, athletes, executives, preachers, you name it --- not because they were designed that way, but because they want the perceived satisfactions from those activities.  Just like wanting the soda led to misusing teeth, wanting life’s desires can misuse the soul.

Our creator developed the body as a short term house for our SOUL, not the other way around.   If we were using our body for that intended purpose, we would NOT be spending it on short term satisfactions (sins).  Instead, we would use the Body to support the SOUL – becoming what God had designed in the first place.

Jesus challenged our thinking in that one statement:  What good is it to sell off your eternal soul to satisfy your short-term body?  Stop doing that!  Quit looking at the soda, start protecting your teeth.  Quit pursuing sensuality, start seeking purpose.  Quit living for ourselves, start living for God.

Every act of sin and righteousness gets down to one basic daily decision:  Who am I trying to become?  By becoming what God designed me to be, I will find righteousness, peace & joy.  By trying to become what I want (or what the world says is valuable), I end up with a broken life and a condemned soul.  BE CAREFUL with that choice!  We make it every day.

Don’t break off your one set of teeth for a single drink of carbonated water!

03/13/17 - Luke 8

March 13, 2017 – Luke 8

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14

Belonging to a community of faith fights off the weeds of sin & distraction.

Why is it that weeds and thorns can grow in my yard when drought conditions are killing the grass? 

Some with much more expertise than I tell me that’s because weeds are able to live off the moisture in the air, while grass and flowers tend to live off of the moisture in the ground.  I haven’t confirmed the theory, but it sounds a lot like what Jesus was talking about when He described the story of the four seeds.  The third type was seed among thorns … where the distractions of life ended up choking the life out of the seed.  Somehow the weeds sucked away the moisture, not allowing the seed to grow and mature.

My yard tends to be like that parable.  When the grass is thick and watered, then weeds can’t take root and the lawn stays healthy.  But when bare spots start forming, weeds show up and start taking over the grass, sucking away the moisture and separating the lawn.  It starts with one dandelion or patch of clover, and soon the whole yard is like a ‘natural foliage’ median along the freeway.

What we don’t realize is that humans are also like my grass.  When we are gathered together in a faith community, being watered by the Truth of God’s Word, it tends to fight off the weeds and give us thick healthy lawns in life.  But when we break away, pursue distractions, separate ourselves from the rest of the lawn, then bare spots form, weeds start taking over, and soon we find ourselves fighting off all of the world’s dandelions and clover trying to get back to healthy living. 

The only seed that produces healthy lawns and healthy lives is one grown in good soil --- the soil without weeds.  We need to be together in the church body.  We need the prophetic and instructive lessons of the Word of God.  We need the constant care of our Creator. 

These days, we hear the culture talking about not needing the church ‘community’.  Some support the idea of living faith out alone or only in a small group.  Others speak of the failures of the church and the doubt of community.  Beware of the weeds!   Thinking we can have healthier lives by standing as a single strand of grass is a sure-fire way to invite weeds to live around you.  We ALL need the Church to succeed.  We ALL need the body of Christ around us, and the Word of Christ to nourish us.   Don’t condemn the rest of the grass in the lawn just because of a few pesky weeds.  Embrace the good soil, and grow together to fight off those pesky dandelions & clover patches. You’ll be glad you did.

Because nobody says at the end of their life they regretted worshipping and serving God too much, but many speak of regretting decisions that took them away from God too often. 

We need each other in the community of God to fight off the weeds.

03/10/17 - Luke 7

March 10, 2017 – Luke 7

I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47

The main sign of receiving forgiveness is the outpouring of love for others.

Some stories in the Bible are far more powerful than the written word reads.  One of those stories is about the sinful woman anointing the feet of Jesus with her tears. 

Here is this woman, known by the whole community for her sinful life, likely considered a harlot (or worse), and shunned by both men and women for her poor behavior.  Either through revelation or contact, she comes to know of the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers, and discerns that her life can only be repaired by repenting before Him.  Out of love & repentance, she courageously and boldly enters the home of prominent people, facing the score and ridicule while she quietly humbles herself before Jesus.  Instead of being concerned about what the ‘church’ says or thinks, she worships at Jesus feet.  She cries tears of repentance.  She serves her Lord by washing his dirty feet and anointing him with costly oil, laying her heart and resources on the line publicly.  And to both her surprise and her hope – Jesus offers her forgiveness.  Shocking the crowd and setting free her heart, this woman came in feeling condemned and left feeling saved. 

But the story doesn’t end there.  Never one for missing a teachable moment, Jesus advises the onlookers about their own forgiveness issues.  Maybe they had fulfilled their sacrificial offerings and religious confessions, but had they been forgiven?  And more to the point, had they truly forgiven themselves?  Or were they still in a mode of proving themselves, or devaluing others, holding onto their guilt as a motivation for religious activity – and producing sinful superiority instead of full forgiveness?

So Jesus gave them the measure of forgiveness – love for others!  When we have been fully forgiven, it shows in genuine grace & love for others.  Judgment leaves when forgiveness reigns.  After all, we have no grounds to judge others when we realize the level of forgiveness we were given.

Sometimes we need a reminder of the level of forgiveness we have received.  How great is the love the Father has been showered on us!   Discovering your forgiveness motivates sharing that grace with others.  If we don’t sense that love in our life, maybe we have a forgiveness issue to get settled.

And some have never come clean with God on their sin.  Afraid to be publicly ridiculed or judged, they avoid ‘church’ and stay a distance away from Jesus.  Instead of repenting and serving the Savior, they wallow in their guilt and regret.  Better to boldly and humbly come before Jesus, fully surrendered to His will, and discover the life-altering forgiveness available than to sit outside wishing for freedom.

If love for people comes out of freedom from sin, then run to Jesus and be freed.  Let the sign of your complete forgiveness be the outpouring of your love for others.

03/09/17 - Luke 6

March 9, 2017 – Luke 6

For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

God's general measure principle --- the spirit you give will decide the spirit given back.

I want the best ‘bang for my buck’ that I can get.    When it comes to purchases, I want the best value.  When it comes to incidentals, I’ll look for the sale.  When it comes to phone apps, I check the ‘free’ category.   That’s not to imply I won’t spend money – but want to maximize the value I get.

Jesus taught his disciples something similar, but it had nothing to do with value and cost.  It had to do with spirit.  When it comes to giving, Jesus didn’t say the value would be returned, but the spirit would be received.  When it comes to service, the spirit you give in serving will be the spirit given back.  When it comes to love, the spirit of your loving expressions will be the spirit you’re loved.  It’s not about cost & results --- it’s about spirit.

Consider the person who is a giver, but does so out of a spirit of manipulation.  Instead of responding with gratitude and care, people will respond with resistance or caution.  A spirit of manipulation will result in manipulation.  When people give of themselves to that person, it will also come in the form of manipulation.

Or consider the person who serves with an attitude of superiority.  Their commanding personality may get the job done, but at the cost of lost team capacity and enjoyment.  Those willing to serve such a person will likely either develop some resentment or use it for coarse joking – both reactions of superiority.  The spirit that goes out will become the spirit that is returned.

But then consider a person who gives of themselves freely, with no obligation, purely out of love.  While some may take advantage of that kindness, many people will be motivated and excited to give of themselves to a gracious person like that. 

Jesus is right – the spirit of how we live will be the spirit of what we receive in life.  Don’t go looking for a friend, be a friend and you will find friends looking for you.  Don’t go looking for love, love people and you’ll be surrounded by people loving you.  Don’t grip tight on your money, give it generously and generous people will surround your life.  Spirit attracts spirit – so be the spirit you want to be surrounded with.

It’s a principle worth living!

03/08/17 - Luke 5

March 8, 2017 – Luke 5

Simon answered, "We've worked hard all night, but because you say so, I will let down the nets." Luke 5:5

We have tried our own ways, maybe it's time to obey Jesus' ways.

Considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, crab fishing involves long hours at rough seas, dealing with high-risk weather conditions and 24-hour work shifts.  Worse, all that work & risk can lead to no money if crabs aren’t found. But a good catch can earn thousands in short time.  That’s what makes fishing careers attractive in spite of conditions and risks.

So when Jesus tells Simon Peter to drop his nets into a warm lake at the wrong time of day, of course Peter would push back.  Not only that, but they had already been working all night and needed some sleep, with the hopes of making a better catch the next day.  Fishermen in that day were hard workers, known for their strong work ethic (as well as their strong smell! L) 

But then Simon Peter said something dramatically surprising.  Instead of dismissing Jesus and His instruction, Peter responded “because you say so, I’ll do it”.  Peter was willing to obey Jesus in spite of his doubts.  Instead of trusting his own instincts or ways, Peter chose to try our Jesus’ ways.  And what do you know… it worked!!!  Peter pulled in a catch that required multiple boats and more help.  They went from a paltry night of fishing to the catch of the century!  All because Peter was willing to try Jesus’ ways instead of sticking with his own.

So many times, we too work hard at our own ways and just need to obey Jesus:

-          Instead of spending years angry about a hurt or violation, forgive and turn it over to God.

-          Instead of defending our rights, walk the extra mile and be free of feeling violated.

-          Instead of measuring marriage by your happiness, make marriage about knowing & growing.

-          Instead of drowning sorrows in alcohol or drugs, let worship be your pain remover.

-          Stop working so hard to make this life successful, and invest in your eternal success.

Maybe we could learn from Peter’s example.  Maybe the challenges we face are related to a lack of obedience, creating more work than we need.  Maybe our extra effort is really a sign that Jesus has a better way.  Who knows, we may be a simple change away from seeing great results!  Or it’s just a matter of waiting on the timing of Jesus to see a better catch.

Whatever the case, don’t be a crab fisherman that spends days working hard on the boat and not seeing a catch.  Choose instead to try Jesus’ ways and see what the catch can be.

03/07/17 - Luke 4

March 7, 2017 – Luke 4

Satan said to Jesus, "I will give you all the world's authority and splendor; if you worship me." Luke 4:6-7

Satan offers us worldly pleasures to give us eternal separation from God---God offers us Himself to give us eternal pleasures.

If you sold your eternal life, what would the price tag be?

We don’t think about selling our eternal life.  We view life in eternity as our right and expectation, assuming we have either earned it, received it, or deserve it.   So to imagine selling our eternity away seems satanic or silly – eternal life isn’t for sale!   Or is it?

Satan certainly thought so.  He was willing to tempt Jesus in several ways to get him to sin, hoping that one act of sin would sell off eternity for all mankind.  It would be the ultimate defeat of not only humanity, but God Himself.  So satan offered a bid for our eternal life – just bow down for one small act of worship and you can have everything else.  ‘You can have everything you want in this life’, satan offers, ‘if you’ll sell me your eternity.’  An incredulous offer – but nevertheless one that created a deep temptation for Jesus.

Of course Jesus refused, and our eternity was bought and paid by Jesus continuing His journey to the cross.  Sadly, many are more willing to sell their eternity for much less of an offer. 

-          People sell their eternities for things like weekend trips, retirement plans, & high-paying jobs.

-          There’s many eternal lives sold for positions & power, or for the pursuit of happiness.

-          For others, the price tag is even as deceptive as pursuing family time or some extra sleep.

-          We see eternal lives sacrificed on the sports field or gymnasium.

-          And for many, the selling price is much less – simple pride or arrogance.

ANYTHING that can distract you from pursuing a personal relationship with Jesus and a family relationship with His Church Family is an idol being swapped for your eternity!

So really… let’s be honest… what’s your pricetag? 

Satan knows what price would work for you, and he is probably already offering it.  Be careful, he’s an excellent marketer and reads people well.  Your price-tag may be unique, but certainly won’t be hidden.  Watch out for ANYTHING stealing your eternity for something that is temporary.

We need to make the motto of our lives: “Not For Sale”.  Take off the price tag, close the store, and never negotiate away your eternity for something temporary.  When you make decisions about your schedule, carefully consider what time is first allocated to eternity versus the temporary.  Guard yourself & your family from Satan’s subtle attack on your worship and family devotional time.  Never choose worldly pleasures over eternal relationship.  Take a look at your life and watch out for weekend sales or special offers you may be running.  Eternity lasts MUCH LONGER than this temporary life.

Pursue your relationship with Jesus, and you’ll get rid of any ‘Sale Price’ for your soul.