Your faith has made you whole. (Ch 17)

 Luke Chapter 17

SUMMARY:  
v1-10 - Living for Jesus
- Means being careful about sin (v1-3), forgiving others 9v3-4), exercising faith (v5-6) and having a servant's heart (v7-10)?
v11-19 - Thankfulness to Jesus
- Means not just cleansed (v14) but 'made well' or 'made whole' (v19) (the same Greek word is used in Luke 19v10 where it is translated 'to save') 
v20-37 - Ready for Jesus
- Means like Noah and Lot - rescued from destruction (vv27, v29). 

REFLECTION: 
As I reflect again on the ten leppers it strikes me that so many are like them, and I should not exclude myself.
(i) In times of need crying out to Jesus for help for 'pity' v(13). It may be a physical, emotional, relationships, or financial need that brings us to Jesus in prayer or to reach out to his people for their prayers.
(ii) Jesus is gracious and ensures we receive 'common grace' which 'cleanses' us (v14) and satisfies our present need. 
(iii) We go on our way not bothering Jesus again. (v17) Just content to be 'cleansed'. That immediate problem dealt with and it is as if we resolve not to turn to Jesus again until the next 'big need'.
(iv) What if we come back to Jesus and praising God and throw ourselves at Jesus's feet like the samaritan. (v15-16) Then 'faith' can make us 'whole'. 
The one lepper made whole - has a thankful and faith-based relationship with Jesus. (v19)
Will we resolve whenever Jesus touches our lives to always come back to Jesus with thankful praise and in faith seeking to be made whole in body, mind and soul. To live continually under his 'divine saving grace'.

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father we thank you that you are a God of grace. Thank you for the many times you have heard my cry for help, and the cry of family and friends. We remember so many times of 'common grace'; providing for our material needs, protecting us from physical harm, guiding us away from wrong, and developing the ability to heals us from sickness. Forgive us for the many times we fail to return to Jesus with praise, thanksgiving, and faith so we might know the true Joy of being made whole as we live in that constant thankful relationship of faith. May we today dwell in your 'diving saving grace' and may many be drawn, like this one samaritan, to Jesus in praise and faith and be made whole. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

What are we planning for? (Ch 16)

 Luke Chapter 16

SUMMARY:  
v1-9 A manager with so little to commend him, at least he planned for the future. What about our eternity (v9)?
v10-18 Our attitude to money shows our heart (v15), a wrong heart cannot have eternal things (v11).
v19-31 Riches on earth makes no difference in eternity and God has given his word so people can prepare for eternity v29,31

REFLECTION: 
Planning is very much part of the run-up to Christmas. We don't want to get caught without a present to give, or without a turkey to eat. The manager about to be turned out of his job and his home did not want to get caught with no friends and no place to live. More important than this is the need to prepare for eternity. Loving money (v14-15) or being rich (v19-23) will not help. Preparing for eternity is a matter of the heart (v15) and listening to the good news of the kingdom of God (v16) which is found in the bible (v31). It is about Jesus and what we do with the good news about him and will we repent?

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father there are so many things we plan for so carefully and yet we think so little of eternity and planning for that. We think carefully about how we will spend this Christmas, and talk about how we will leave the EU and we wonder how we will face the coming months. Thank you that you have those things in your hands and help us to trust you. Lord, you have placed in the hands of people the bible to read. You have given us the good news of the kingdom so we might listen and come to know Jesus. This Christmas we pray that in the midst of so many other messages and plans the good news will be clearly heard and many will come to repentance and faith in Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Praying for a party (Ch 15)

 Luke Chapter 15

SUMMARY:  
v1-2 Muttering about who Jesus is welcoming? - poor reputation, different political allegiances, hurt them or their friends (financially at least). 
v5-7 One sheep in a hundred - Joy in heaven when a sinner repents v7.
v8-10 One coin in ten - Joy among the angels when a sinner repents v10.
v11-31 One son in two - Joy of the father when a lost son is found v32.

REFLECTION: 
So how do I respond to those who are lost? Do I follow a nursery rhyme or the teaching of Jesus?
The nursery Rhyne approach
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
and doesn't know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they'll come home
wagging their tails behind them.
The teaching of Jesus 
go after the lost sheep until you find it,
Joyfully carry it home,
call everyone and have a party 
Are we working and praying for a party and who will we welcome and rejoice over?

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father thank you that every time a lost sinner repents and comes to Jesus, heaven rejoices, the angels rejoice and you rejoice. May my life of repentance brings joy to your heart today. May many more come to repent and trust Jesus this Christmas so that heaven, and angels, and you can rejoice over them. Lord help me to quit my muttering about who you are welcoming to yourself.  Help me to see the ways in which you want me to go after the lost, find them, and carry them home. Lord, thank you for those who did that for me, parents, pastors, friends, teachers, youth leaders, and others. Raise up in these days many in our church family, in our community, and in our world with this heart to go, find, and carry the lost home. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Are you up for a challenge? (Ch 14)

 Luke Chapter 14

SUMMARY:  
v1-14 - A challenge to live filled with compassion (1-6), humility (7-11), and generosity (12-14).
v15-24 - A challenge to stop making excuses and come into the Kingdom, join the feast.
v25-35 - A challenge to give up everything to follow Jesus.

REFLECTION: Jesus never claimed it was easy to enter, or to live in, the kingdom of God.
What challenges do I need to hear today? 
What am I holding on to that might keep me from Jesus? v27v v33
What excuses am I making for not coming to Jesus, - possesions v18, activities v19, people v20
What attitudes am I not showing which are part of living for Jesus? Compassion, Humility, and generosity.

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father thank you that you love us as we are but you love us too much to leave us as we are. That is why you challenge our unwillingness to forsake all to follow you and to take up our cross for you. Lord today show us how you want us to do this. Forgive me for the excuses I make for not coming to you and I pray for all who are allowing possessions, activities, or people to keep them from coming to Jesus. Lord move in their hearts so that they might come and know the joy of the feast. As I seek to grow in my relationship with you Lord. Work in my life to produce compassion, humility, and generosity so that many would see you at work and be drawn to Jesus.  In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

Full of sorrow like Jesus? (Ch 13)

Luke Chapter 13

SUMMARY:  
v1-8 Repentance - What have I done with the need and the opportunity?
v10-17 Priorities - Am I just keeping my rules or concerned people are set free?
v18-21 Influence - Remember the kingdom of God is growing and spreading.
v22-30 Weeping - Make sure to enter the narrow door or miss out.
v31-35 Sorrow - Share the Saviour's sorrow over those who reject Jesus.

REFLECTION: 
In v31-35 Not even threats and danger could keep Jesus from doing the work his father had sent him to do. So what are the things which cause me to feel like giving up? Weariness, discouragement, opposition, or fear. Having the heart of Jesus spurs us on in doing the work God has for us. In v34 Jesus is longing for people who were rejecting Him to be gathered into God's protection, for them to be saved. Lord may I never grow tired of praying, giving, and working for the salvation of souls.

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father thank you for those who prayed, gave, and worked that I might hear the good news and trust in Jesus. Thank you for Jesus who faced not just danger but his death for me so that salvation might be mine. Lord forgive me for the times when weariness, discouragement, opposition, or fear cause me to falter in serving you for the salvation of others. In these challenging times when restrictions mean that opportunities seem limited, teach us to redeem the time, to seize the moments, so that many children would be gathered under your saving and protecting wings. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen

What are you afraid of? (Ch 12)

 Luke Chapter 12

SUMMARY:  Five words summarise this chapter - Fear, Foolish, Faith, Faithfulness, Friendship
Fear - v1-3 Something we often fail to fear but should - hypocrisy
Fear - v4-7 Sometimes we fear the wrong person - the Devil, rather than live in awe of our God who cares.
Fear - v8-12 Often we fear speaking up for Jesus - don't and the Holy Spirit will help us.

Foolish - v13-21 A man described as being so poor he had nothing but money - how foolish he was.

Faith - v22-34 Let worry give way to faith in our God who knows and provides.

Faithfulness - v35-48 Be faithful in using what God has entrusted to us in time, talents, finance, and opportunity.

Friendship - v49-59 Jesus brings spiritual division between those who know him and don't v51 but always seek to be reconciled when we can v58

REFLECTION:
How often am I afraid of the wrong things? I don't see the danger of my hypocritical attitudes, of favouritism, shown, of self-interest served, of saying yes to some and no to others.
How often am I more concerned about my physical well-being than for my spiritual health? I wonder how much time I spend thinking, talking and acting on each.
How often when it comes to speaking for Jesus do I hesitate because of what others might think? As our society turns from God and turns against God, will I continue to share what is becoming an increasingly strange message?

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father thank you that perfect love casts out all fear and that your love for me is just that - perfect. I never need to be afraid when you are with me may I know your presence today.
Father as I rest secure in your love, teach me to be aware of those things that are a danger for me and for your Glory - my hypocrisy. Lord, so often I am blind to the ways I say one thing and then do another, how I have rules for one person and different ones for another, the times when I expect more of others than of myself - open my eyes, help me to repent and to honour you with a consistent life. 
Father forgive me for the times when I am more concerned about what might affect my body and show less regard for what will affect my soul. Teach me to treasure the real world more than the physical world, to live in the light of eternity each day.
Father thank you for the Hold Spirit and that you have promised to give us the power and courage and words when we speak for you. Lord today give us the opportunity to share what you mean to us with others. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

A very powerful thing. (Ch 11)

 Luke Chapter 11

SUMMARY:  
Lessons about prayer (i) v1-4 a pattern for prayer, (ii) v5-13 persistence and expectancy in prayer.
Lessons about power (i) v14-28 Jesus is stronger than Satan, (ii) v16, 29-32 power is not used to impress but power would raise Jesus from the dead (the sign of Jonah - v29)  (iii) v33-36 the power of light.
Rebukes for the legalist (Woe...) v37-54 (i) Look inside v39, (ii) Love God and Justice v42 (iii) Seek humility v43 (iv) Life is seen v44 (v) Listen to the TRUTH v47, (vi) Point others to the TRUTH  don't take IT away v52.

REFLECTION:
Three little verses about light speak powerfully. v34-36.  
A life full of light is a beautiful picture  v36 "if your whole body is full of light, and no part of if it dark, it will be completely lighted", a life that radiates for Jesus. 
What do I let into my life? v34 "Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness."
"Your eye is the lamp of your body."
When I see God's blessing - does thankfulness fill my heart?
When I see others succeed - does jealousy grow in my heart?
When I see the hardship of others - does compassion fill my heart?
When I see impurity - does my heart dwell there?
When I see other Christians - does that longing for fellowship draw me to them?
When I see others hurt those I love - does an unforgiving spirit take over my heart?
When is see... what do I see today and how is that filling my heart?
In so many ways the eye is the lamp of your body.

PRAYER: Loving Heavenly Father thank you Jesus the light of the world who came to bring light into the darkness of this world, community, lives, and hearts. As I look to Jesus now help me to turn from every darkness and to let your light shine in its place. Forgive me for harbouring jealousy, for dwelling on impurity and for living with an unforgiving heart. Help me to turn to your light and to learn humility, purity and forgiveness and let THE LIGHT shine in my heart. I pray for those who are struggling in darkness and seeking the light, may they find Jesus and find forgiveness, life and hope today. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen