SHARING BREAD

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.‘ Do not follow them.

Luke 21:8 (NIV)

Here Jesus gives His disciples of that day and His future modern day disciples (that would be us!) a heads up regarding both the imminent event of the destruction of the temple and the future events which would occur prior to the Great Tribulation.  We are to set our sights upon with interest what we hear and take to heart so that we will not be deceived.  Let’s face it, we are easily duped – it has been this way since the Garden of Eden.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus again tells us:

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.   Matt 7:15-20 (NIV)

Their words can sound so palatable, so correct, so on target – like fruit which tastes so sweet on the lips yet turns sour when ingested and applied.  It is therefore important for Christians to have a firm grasp of the Truth of God’s Word.  It is His revealed will to us and He never goes counter to it.  We can trust it.  It is true Truth.  When people are taught how to spot counterfeit money, they are made to examine the genuine.  There is no end to false doctrine.  We could spend all of our time in the study of that which misses the mark.  In my opinion, as believers, our efforts are much better invested in both the learning and application of God’s Word.  We are to be zealous in this pursuit as Scripture tells us:

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.   2 Tim 2:15 (NIV)

In knowing and understanding God’s Word we will be able to discern when faced with false doctrine.  Always take what you hear back to the Word of God for confirmation – otherwise it is just someone else’s opinion and what does that matter?  God’s Word can be very convicting and if we are unwilling to deal with the light that He gives us through His Word – not changing but continuing to go our own way, we will most certainly quit reading it because it is simple too difficult to be face to face with our guiltiness if we are unwilling to turn.  God never goes to the next “issue” in our life until we deal with the one He is working on!  Sometimes I wish He would pick another flaw instead of the one He is dealing with!  I may want to stay angry or selfish or prideful!  Yet He lovingly always draws me back into fellowship through His Word.  We do ourselves a great injustice by not giving it priority in our lives.  It helps us to maintain proper focus – equipping us with the spiritual “food” we desperately need to function in the abundant life God desires for His children.  Scripture tells us:

⁴⁵ When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, ⁴⁶ he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ They are not just idle words for you–they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”   Deut 32:45-47 (NIV)

Psalm 119 is a beautiful Psalm regarding God’s Word.  A few of the verses below may whet your appetite for further study:

³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. ³¹ I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. ³² I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.   Psalms 119:30-32 (NIV)

⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. ⁴⁶ I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, ⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands because I love them. ⁴⁸ I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.   Psalms 119:45-48 (NIV)

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. ⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.   Psalms 119:89-91 (NIV)

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.   Psalms 119:130 (NIV)

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.   Psalms 119:165 (NIV)

“I am sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day.  I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and of the pleasure.”  Woodrow Wilson         

What I glean from this:

• I am to be on the watch that I am not deceived by false doctrine.
• The way I can discern deceit is to know God’s Word.
• God’s Word is living and profitable for me – it encourages, exhorts, teaches, rebukes, corrects and trains in righteousness to equip me for every good work.

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SHARING BREAD

⁷ ”Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

Luke 21:7 (NIV)

In our verse for today, we have the disciples asking Jesus what finger-marks of God they could expect to take place prior to the destruction of the temple.  They wanted a heads up, so to speak, to be prepared for this upcoming future event.  Confident in the Word of Jesus, it certainly should be noted that the disciple’s questioning was not if this event would take place but rather when this event would take place. It is a natural thing to desire to know future happenings yet we must also be concerned for our duties in the prospect of these things. As modern day disciples of our Savior, we too should be preparing in anticipation for the coming of the Son of Man with the clouds in power and glory:

⁷ Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;
 and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.   Rev 1:7 (NIV)

“Tomorrow’s history has already been written – at the name of Jesus, every knee must bow.”  Paul Kauffman

Jesus clearly gives us “birth pain” warnings in Scripture as to what we may look for prior to His return:

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.   Mark 13:5-8 (NIV)

Peter also sets forth a pattern for our behavior in light of Jesus’ certain return:

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. ¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. ¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.    2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV)

As believers in Jesus, we are exhorted to conduct our lives in purity and holiness – unstained, blameless (not perfect) and at peace with Him.  Paul tells is in Philippians:

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.    Phil 1:9-11 (NIV)

Oftentimes, we as believers get caught up in the trivialities of life – busyness tending to rob us of intimacy with God – the old tyranny of the urgent creeps in and if we are not careful will slyly steal our zeal and alter our priorities.  With our mouths we espouse our most important yet our actions prove these words to be wrong.  It is important how we live our lives – particularly in light of Jesus return.

“Man’s sensitivity to trivia and his insensitivity to matters of major importance, reveal he has a strange disorder.”  Blaise Pascal

I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.  - Frances Willard

 “Sometime after 1950 we forgot what Jesus said to Peter and what was passed on to us.  ‘Take care of my sheep’ (John 21:16).  There are ferocious wolves (Matthew 7:15).  ‘You are to be a witness to the ends of the Earth’ (Acts 1:8).  This is a commission that still holds true today.  This is a very personal command to each believer, personally, privately.  The all important question is whether you are getting out the work of God, or have you retired?”  Wales Goebel

“Every hour we make decisions on whether or not to be to others what Christ has been to us.”  Wales Goebel

What I glean from this:

• In light of Jesus sure return, I must be watching and prepared.   “Every revelation of God is a demand, and the way to knowledge of God is by obedience.”   William Temple
• I am to walk as Jesus walked pointing others to Him.  “According to the New Testament, God wills that the church be a people who show what God is like.”  Stanley J. Grenz

·       I am not to be consumed with the trivialities of life.  “Oh that I may be roused out of my slumber, and be watchful and ready against the coming of my Bridegroom…Even the wise virgins fell asleep.  Let this be a warning to me, O Lord.  Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame:  thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time.  Watch, therefore, over this unsteady heart of mine, O Thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it begins to wander from Thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a serpent.  Give me grace to look upon every hour as my last; so that being ever wisely upon my guard I may meet Thee with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please Thee to call me hence.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

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SHARING BREAD

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

Luke 21:5-6 (NIV)

While Jesus in our verses for today refers to the coming literal destruction of God’s temple, I am reminded of Peter’s words to us as well regarding the future total destruction of both the heavens and the earth:

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. ¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.    2 Peter 3:10-13 (NIV)

God’ timing is interesting is it not?  While what we may perhaps consider slowness on His part, God considers patience and forbearance as Peter alludes to in the verses just prior to the ones above:

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.    2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed God’s timing and ways to be much different from our own (that’s probably the biggest understatement of the century!)?  I want things to happen yesterday – I often lean toward the microwave mentality – the quick fix, the quick growth so to speak!  Long range planning and goal setting are a bit laborious and tedious for me! Therefore, I am in the ever going of process of learning to embrace with joy His ways and His timing – leaning into them so to speak – as for my very best.  He is always working on something in my life conforming me to the image of His Son.  Indeed, all who claim faith in Jesus and who are still walking with feet of clay on this earth are in this same process. I have discovered throughout Scripture that it takes years for God to prepare His vessels for use.  The wonderful blessing for us all is the certain assurance of God’s love for us as demonstrated by the cross of Christ and God’s plan for our lives given through the promises of Scripture.  We can trust God.  There is no fear in this love as to His motive behind each circumstance that He will always be working things out for our ultimate best – our good, His glory.  Remember, we are most satisfied when He is most glorified. He is worthy of all praise.  Many scripture come to mind as I write this but a few speak out clearly:

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Jer 29:11 (NIV)

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.    Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)

As believers we have been justified by the blood of Jesus looking forward to the consummation of our glorification.  Paul tells us in Colossians:

³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.   Col 3:3-4 (NIV)

 “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”   Corrie Ten Boom

 “It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.”  Corrie Ten Boom

What I glean from this:

• God’s timing and ways are often very different from my own.
• I can trust God with my life.
• I must depend on God’s ability not my inability.

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SHARING BREAD

¹ As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4 (NIV)

I am reminded of another time in Scripture where a poor widow gave all she had and the blessings that she and her son reaped.  The story takes place in the Old Testament.  There had been no rain in the land due to the disobedience of God’s people and famine was occurring yet we find God supplying His prophet Elijah with water from the brook at Kerith Ravine.   Interestingly, the ravens also, commanded by God, would bring Elijah bread and meat in the morning and in the evening.  When the brook dried up, God commanded Elijah to go to Zerephath and remain – a widow would be there to supply him with the necessities of water and food.  Obediently, Elijah sets off to Zarephath.   The story continues:

¹⁰ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”   1 Kings 17:10-11 (NIV)

Did you catch that? There has been no rain in the land – meaning nothing to drink and nothing to eat and Elijah is asking her to supply him with water out of her want – not her plenty.  His need is to have his thirst quenched and she selflessly complies.  When she leaves to get him a drink he yet calls out to her again to bring him some bread too!  Hell-o, does he not understand her predicament of being a poor widow trying to support a son through a terrible drought and famine in the land (unfortunately, this would have perhaps been my poor reaction!)?  Yet her response to Elijah is this:

 ¹² ”As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread–only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it–and die.”   1 Kings 17:12 (NIV)

Recognizing Elijah to be an Israelite, and her status to be a poor Gentile widow, her words spoken to Elijah represent an appeal to Yahweh to confirm to the prophet her present position of need and lack of supply.  Her statement also affirms her belief that God was indeed alive.  While yet willing to share, this poor widow has nothing of which to give.  Elijah replies the following:

¹³ Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’” ¹⁵ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶ For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.   1 Kings 17:13-16 (NIV)

It is very interesting to me that throughout Scripture, while we may find many shaking in their boots as they follow God’s will in obedience to His commands, God constantly sent forth those three wonderful words:  “Don’t be afraid”.   I guess the two words which closely followed or were perhaps implied would be: “Be obedient”.   They were not to be afraid and they were to do what He commanded – just exactly like we are supposed to do!  And so from Genesis to Revelation the story goes.  The command is given by God – the obedience is expected from man.  How often we shirk the responsibilities of our duty, capriciously living as if what we do does not somehow matter – big mistake here!   In the instance of our verses for today, Scripture sheds more light:

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”    Luke 6:38 (NIV)

The idea of “firstfruits” is also brought to our attention – giving to God off the top and not the bottom.  This certainly does not pertain to money only, as shown by this poor widow in sharing her food and water, but also for our talents, time or whatever else God has blessed us with and instructed us to freely use for His glory and honor.  God greatly desires and rightly demands our obedience in this.  Interestingly, one can never out give Jehovah.  Whatever we give as a sweet smelling sacrifice to Him, He so abundantly blesses they we are left wondering over any hesitancy we may have had to begin with.

⁸ ”Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. ¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. ¹² ”Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.   Mal 3:8-12 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• God desires my obedience in giving in my plenty or my want.  “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”  Edmund Burke
• God honors my giving out of a pure heart – a cheerful giver is pleasing to God.

·       I cannot out give God – He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift.   “The heart that gives, gathers.”  Marianne Moore   “Giving is true having.”   Charles Spurgeon

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SHARING BREAD

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Luke 20:45-47 (NIV)

Proud and haughty these teachers of the law loved their flowing robes and movie star waves amongst the flock.  Covetous and oppressive they were hardly what they appeared to be.  Jesus has a “woe” for them – they will most certainly be punished.

“Hypocritical piety is double iniquity.”   Matthew Henry

James tells us:

 ¹ Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.   James 3:1 (NIV)

“Teaching has to be done, but those who teach must understand their responsibility, as those who teach will be judged more strictly. A teacher’s condemnation is greater because, having professed to have a clear knowledge of duty, he is all the more bound to obey it.”   Bible Knowledge Commentary

I am reminded of a Proverb that tells us what God really thinks of man’s pride:

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.   Prov 6:16-19 (NIV)

Looks to me as if pride is at the top of the list!  It is no wonder our Creator would feel that way – we who cannot add a single hour to our lives (Matthew 6:27) should get a grip!   We must beware of thinking too much of ourselves or, in the same light, being too overly concerned with what others may or may not think of us.  God has a way of humbling our prideful hearts – trust me, better for us to do it than He.  Been there, done that, not too interested in going back either!

“In the Kingdom, there are no great men of God, just humble men whom God has chosen to use greatly.  How do we know when we are humble?  When God speaks, we tremble.  God is looking for a man who trembles at His word.  Such a man will find the Spirit of God resting upon him; he will become a dwelling place for the Almighty.  God asks for nothing but ourselves.”   Francis Frangipane   

“To inoculate me from the praise of man, God baptized me into the criticism of man, until I died to the control of man.”   Francis Frangipane

Again, in Proverbs we are told:

¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.   Prov 8:13 (NIV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.   Prov 16:18 (NIV)

Indeed, we find this true of King Nebuchadnezzar whom God took from the throne to the field to graze – literally!  The entire story, found in Daniel 4, is well worth the read but here we are only focusing on the happy ending.  After a period of time, King Neb looks up (smart move!) and God restores him to his throne.  The following is his testimony:

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.   Dan 4:36-37 (NIV)

“All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts…..If we forget to live at the foot of the cross in deepest lowliness of spirit, God will not forget to make us smart under His rod.”   Charles H. Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• It is a double iniquity to be hypocritically pious.
• I should not be controlled by the praise of man but rather by the praise of God.
• God detests haughty eyes – a prideful heart will bring me low while a humble heart is given grace.  ²³ A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.     Prov 29:23 (NIV)

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SHARING BREAD

⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?  ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
⁴³ until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”‘

⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Luke 20:41-44 (NIV)

Ever like Jesus to pose a question to get His hearers to think!  In our verses for today Jesus quotes from David’s amazing Spirit filled words of Psalm 110 – containing pure gospel concerning Christ the promised Messiah – the Pharisees well understood this Psalm to be referring to their coming Savior.  The Psalm itself references the Messiah as the Redeemer, executing His offices of Prophet, Priest and King.  They were fully aware that David was prophetically writing on the coming Messiah therefore Jesus takes the offensive and poses an interesting question to them by asking:

⁴⁴ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”   Luke 20:44 (NIV)

It is plain through many Scriptures that the Messiah was to be through the line of David.  God speaking through the prophet Nathan tells David:

¹⁰ And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning ¹¹ and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: ¹² When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.   2 Sam 7:10-13 (NIV)

This was common knowledge among the Jews – even the blind man in Luke chapter 18 proclaimed:

³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” ³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.   Luke 18:37-41 (NIV)

It is just as plain in Scripture, as Jesus notes in our verses for today, that David calls the Messiah his Lord.

“Now if he is his Son, why does he call him his Lord?  If he is his Lord, why do we call him his Son?  They could not reconcile this seeming contradiction; thanks be to God, we can; that Christ, as God, was David’s Lord, but Christ as man, was David’s Son.”   Matthew Henry  

Fully God and fully man – Paul describes Jesus as such:

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,   Col 2:9 (NIV)

I am reminded of the Apostle John’s words regarding Jesus in his gospel:

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.   John 1:1-5 (NIV)

“There’s not a thumb’s breadth of this universe about which Jesus Christ does not say, ‘It is mine.’”    Abraham Kuyper

Paul echoes the same sentiment in Philippians:

 ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!  ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Phil 2:5-11 (NIV)

“Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.”  Claire of Assisi 

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.   Rev 1:17-18 (NIV)

“The only Christ for whom there is a shred of evidence is a miraculous figure making stupendous claims.”     C. S. Lewis

What I glean from this:

·       Jesus appeals to my reason – He desires for me to think through Truth.

• Jesus is fully God and fully man.
• I am to have the same humble, submissive and loving attitude as Jesus.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁹ Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” ⁴⁰ And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Luke 20:39-40 (NIV)

I am reminded of the Proverb which states:

¹¹ A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Prov 25:11 (NIV)

An appropriately timed and properly fitted word – even if it is a rebuke – can be most profitable to the hearer.  When we say the right things at the right times it benefits both us and those to whom we are speaking.  Proverbs also tells us:

²³ A man finds joy in giving an apt reply–and how good is a timely word!  Prov 15:23 (NIV)

I have a confession to make; I am a bit jealous of those who possess the ability to proclaim the Truth in love in such a fashion that penetrates to the heart of the hearer.  I stand in awe of  silver tongue orators of the Truth who succinctly wield the Sword of the Spirit, awakening and convicting those dead in their sins, encouraging those struggling in their infirmities and sorrows, and bringing hope to those who are downtrodden and hopeless. God’s Word is powerful and not boring – shame on us for making it so!  It is alive and penetrating judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Is that not what the writer of Hebrews claims God’s word to be capable of?

¹² For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Heb 4:12 (NIV)

God’s Word is powerfully relevant to any audience albeit how unaware they are to this fact.

“The Word of God is very living and active, in seizing the conscience of the sinner, in cutting him to the heart, and in comforting him and binding up the wounds of the soul.  It is powerful.  It convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully.  It is powerful to batter down Satan’s kingdom, and to set up the kingdom of Christ on the ruins of it.  It is sharper than any double-edged sword.  It will enter where no other sword can, and make a more critical dissection:  it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, the soul and its habitual prevailing temperament; it makes a soul that has been a long time of a proud spirit to be humble, of a perverse spirit to be meek and obedient.  This sword divides between joints and marrow.  This sword can make men willing to undergo the most painful operation for the conquering of sin.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  The word will turn the inside of a sinner out, and let him see all that is in his heart.”     Matthew Henry

The promise of Scripture, penned by the Prophet Isaiah, states that God’s Word will never return to Him void:

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.   Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

We are to humbly “hold out the word of life” to others, through the power of the Holy Spirit, always pointing them  to the source of God’s Word which is the first and the final authority.  We are to be a conduit for the Spirit’s power but we are not the source. 

“Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.”   Oswald Chambers

We are to challenge others to seek the light from the same source as we – beware of Who not who it is that gets the glory!  If the praise and glory of man is attributed to another of like nature then it is wrongly applied.  The glory belongs to God alone – let no flesh ever glory in His presence!

“To be sought after for wisdom is flattering to the ego.  Recognize this snare, and be on your guard against it, and bring the flesh to quick crucifixion.  Do not be used as a substitute for God to anyone.  Be a channel for the ministries of My Spirit, but never be a free giver of advice.  Curb the impulse.  Give to the other the source of your knowledge – even the Scripture passage where the answer may be found – so that My Word is constantly the first and the final authority.  I will honor My Word, and I will honor those who give My Word the sacred preeminence it deserves.  My Word shall never return void.  It shall accomplish My purposes.”   Frances J. Roberts

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. ⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. ⁹² If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. ⁹³ I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.   Psalms 119:89-93 (NIV)

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.  Psalms 119:165 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• An appropriately timed and properly fitted word is both beneficial to the hearer and to the one speaking the word.
• God’s Word is powerfully relevant to any audience – whether they are aware of it or not!
• God’s Word never returns to Him void.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁷ But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ³⁸ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Luke 20:37-38 (NIV)

Indeed, while Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s feet of clay had departed this earth at the time of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, God refers to these patriarchs as being very much alive by stating “I am the God” of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob rather than putting it in past tense:

⁵ ”Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.   Ex 3:5-6 (NIV)

Job, whom God referred to as “blameless”, also states his belief in his future eternal state – meaning he was confident of continuing on in a conscience existence.  Job was aware that he would be gazing upon God throughout all eternity with his own eyes.  This thought brought him much comfort as he dwelt on the expectation of a blessed resurrection:

²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. ²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; ²⁷ I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!   Job 19:25-27 (NIV)

“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.”   D. L. Moody

In all actuality we reside now in the land of the dying – unless Jesus first returns, all of our clocks tick towards death.  In our eternal state, as believers in Jesus, we will find ourselves very much alive, throughout all eternity, in the paradise of God.  Conversely, those who do not trust in Jesus as their Savior will be very much alive, throughout all eternity, in the fires of hell.  In light of this fact it is no wonder that Jesus’ half brother Jude entreats us:

²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. ²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.     Jude 1:21-23 (NIV)

“(Jesus’ return) is not a reason for star-gazing, but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost.” Charles Spurgeon

“Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for even the Prodigal Son who had fallen most low could still be saved.”  Seren Kierkegaard

Paul certainly had a grasp on the temporal verses the eternal.  Indeed, his focus on his heavenly home was extraordinary.  His purpose and passionate pursuit was to exalt and glorify Christ through his person – all the while grasping the necessity of pointing others to the Lord for salvation through the faithful presentation of the gospel.  He writes in Philippians:

 ²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.    Phil 1:20-26 (NIV)

“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”   A.W. Tozer

It would behoove us also to treat trifles as trifles in this world and important things as important.  How we live in this blip of time here effects how we will live eternally after this life has passed.

“We’re in spiritual combat – cosmic combat for the heart and soul of humankind.”   Charles Colson

“Our identity as Jesus’ followers should define and dictate our lives.”  Joseph Stowell, III

“You and I were created to tell the truth about God by reflecting His likeness.  How many lies have you told about God today?”     Ian Thomas

What I glean from this:

• God is not the God of the dead but of the living.
• A clear knowledge of what lies ahead eternally should motivate my actions.  “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”    C. S. Lewis

·       Like Paul, my passionate pursuit should be to know Christ and to glorify Him in my body.  “Catch on fire with enthusiasm, and people will come for miles to watch you burn.”   John Wesley

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SHARING BREAD

³⁴ Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, ³⁶ and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Luke 20:34-36 (NIV)

Remember being a child at Christmas time and peeking on tiptoes through a crack in the door in order to catch a glimpse of the gifts beautifully arrayed under the Christmas tree?   In our verses for today, Jesus is giving us such a glimpse into heaven.  I believe that He not only wanted to set the record straight with the Sadducees regarding resurrection, but He also desired to give His followers a bit of glorious hope regarding their future. Clearly, the Bible teaches that we will not be able to comprehend all that awaits us, yet we are often given snip-its, if you will, into our future eternal bliss.  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians:

⁹ However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” —   1 Cor 2:9 (NIV)

Jesus also tells us in John:

¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   John 14:1-3 (NIV)

“It is because of faith that we exchange the present for the future.”  Fidelis of Sigmaringen

“Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.”   Matthew Henry

Jesus tells us that those who will be inhabitants of this future eternal bliss are those who are “considered worthy of taking part in it” – those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior and are therefore standing in His righteousness in lieu of their own righteousness which God, by the way, considers as “filthy rags”.

⁶ All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.   Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

The Bible teaches that Jesus was made sin for our sins so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  Scripture states it like this:

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.   2 Cor 5:21 (NIV)

 “It is a worthiness imputed by which we are glorified, as well as a righteousness imputed by which we are justified.”   Matthew Henry

As believers we are able therefore to stand confidently in the promises of Scripture just as Paul tells us:

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ We live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.    2 Cor 5:6-9 (NIV)

“What sustained Paul was the realization that this was a temporary and transitory state. He focused not on present but on future conditions, not on the seen but the unseen. To live this way is to live by faith, not by sight. It is to live in light of ultimate rather than immediate realities, to be obedient to God’s commands despite the hardships that obedience produces.”    Bible Knowledge Commentary

“The future belongs to those who belong to God.  This is hope.”  W.T. Purkiser

While on earth, death reigns yet in heaven there will be no more death – it is forever excluded – for the old order of things will have passed away.  This is why He compares our eternal states to that of angels as we, like they, will never die.  Yet, unlike angels, Jesus calls us God’s children – co-heirs with Him.  Paul tells us in Romans:

¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.    Romans 8:15-17 (NIV)

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing; not being but becoming; not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”  Martin Luther, “Defense and Explanation of All the Articles”

“Do you know who you are? Do you know who you were designed to be? Do you know the Father’s intent for your life? You are meant to hear in your spirit the same thing Jesus heard when he came out of the waters of baptism at the beginning of his ministry: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’….J I Packer puts it simply. ‘What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father’…Our highest privilege and deepest need is to experience the holy God as our loving Father, to approach him with out fear and to be assured of his fatherly care and concern.”  Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials

What I glean from this:

·       Jesus is preparing a place for me in heaven that I cannot even begin to imagine.

·       I must remember that earth is my passage and heaven my home.

·       As a believer in Jesus, I am a child of the King.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁷ Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. ²⁸ ”Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. ³⁰ The second ³¹ and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Luke 20:27-33 (NIV)

Now this is indeed interesting – the Sadducees who do not believe in a resurrection ask a question that directly pertains to the certainty of one!  Oh they are a tricky brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7-8)!  They were not trying to elicit information they were just striving to stir in a big helping of confusion.  Sounds like a set up to me!  Scripture tells us in Acts:

⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)   Acts 23:8 (NIV)

“In every age there have been men of corrupt minds, who have endeavoured to subvert the fundamental principles of revealed religion.  The Sadducees deny that there is any resurrection, any further state, no world of spirits, no state of reward and retribution for what was done in the body.  Take away this, and all religion falls to the ground.  It is common for those who intend to undermine any truth of God to confuse it.  So these Sadducees did when they wanted to weaken people’s faith in the doctrine of the resurrection.”   Matthew Henry

Seeking to undermine revealed Truth, the Sadducees strum up an extreme hypothetical question for Jesus to both confuse the crowds and make Him look foolish.  FYI – it is never good for one to set out to make Jesus look foolish – I’m thinking egg on the face here or worse!

Man has quite the audacity does he not?  Throughout the ages he has sought to be on the same level as God – from the attempt at the tower of Babel in Genesis Chapter 11 to the antichrist in Revelation and on – man mistakenly thinks that he can take on God!  Big mistake!  The correct position for man before God is on his face!  David rightly attests to the majesty of our Creator in Psalm 8:

¹ O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!   Psalms 8:1 (NIV)

³ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? ⁵ You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.   Psalms 8:3-5 (NIV)

In giving us an apt description of ourselves, King David speaks the Truth in love to us in Psalm 103.  While the entire Psalm gives a wonderful description of humanity, the following verses sum it up for me regarding the frailty of man particularly in light of a holy God:

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; ¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; ¹⁶ the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.   Psalms 103:13-16 (NIV)

When we start getting a little “too big for our britches”, Paul asks of us a very poignant question:

²⁰ But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”   Romans 9:20 (NIV)

The prophet Isaiah puts it like this:

¹⁵ Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” ¹⁶ You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pot say of the potter, “He knows nothing”?   Isaiah 29:15-16 (NIV)

“A haughty heart is the prophetic prelude to evil. Pride is as safely the sign of destruction as the change of mercury in the weather-glass is the sign of rain; and far more infallibly so than that….Pride made the boaster a beast in King Nebuchadnezzar, as once before it made an angel a devil.  God hates high looks, and never fails to bring them down.  All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts…..Pride can get into the Christian’s heart as well as into the sinner’s; it can delude him into dreaming that he is ‘rich and increased in goods, and hath need of nothing’…..Thy flaunting poppies of self-conceit will be pulled up by the roots, thy mushroom graces will wither in the burning heat, and thy self-sufficiency shall become as straw for the dunghill.  If we forget to live at the foot of the cross in deepest lowliness of spirit, God will not forget to make us smart under His rod.”  Charles H. Spurgeon         

³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.   Dan 4:37 (NIV)

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• It is foolish to think that I could trick Jesus.
• It is amazing that God is mindful of me!
• My pride goes before my destruction!

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