The Struggle is Real . . . So is the Answer.

Scripture: Luke 22:45-46 "When [Jesus] rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow. then he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Observations:
There are several observations I see in this passage. Prayer is indispensable. Prayer protects. The apostles and Jesus were united in heart ache. Prayer is supreme. Sorrow is dangerous. All these concepts are buried in the passage of Luke 22:31-46.

Luke describes an emotional roller coaster in Chapter 22. The excitement that any Jew would experience during preparation for the Passover was overshadowed by Jesus' affirmation that he would be rejected by the people. The joy of the Passover meal, which was based on God's salvation from the Egyptian captivity, was covered by the looming betrayal of one of Jesus' disciples--betrayal that Jesus knew would lead to his own death. John's description of this time period shows a closeness--an intimacy--with strands of fear and uncertainty woven into it. To make matters worse, Jesus (seemingly) changes his peace-loving tactics and says they should arm themselves for protection . . . more pending danger? We can see the sadness was overwhelming for the disciples, for Jesus, for all of them.

It is this context that Jesus uses to teach on the perils of the soul and the protection of prayer.

Twice Jesus warns them to pray. But why? He said, "so you don't fall into temptation." Wait. What? "Jesus, we're hurting. We're afraid. We're saddened to even think of you leaving and now you're even telling us you're going to die! We've given up everything to be with you; if you're gone, we have nothing--no where to go. And we love you. Why are you disregarding our pain with preaching on sin?"

Why, indeed?

Emotional distress and pain will come to all. And it's dangerous, Jesus says. The truth is in my sorrow often I'm tempted to abandon God. We've experienced time and time again that it's an opportunity to turn to a thousand things that promise to satisfy and comfort us, but, alas, satisfaction and comfort are the very things God desires to give us and, in fact, are the things that he alone can actually give. He is also the guard rail to keep us from careening over the cliff of selfishness into-self-pity. When I'm reminded I'm not in control of things--and consequently, that I can't truly protect what I hold dear--abandoning God is ultimately a sure path to a spiraling descent into mental suicide.


So, we should pray.

Imagine the deep gash I would inflict on my wife if in my pain I ran to another woman instead of her. That would be insanity. It is the same with God. He has jealousy over his children and his relationship with them. The question here usually is, "How is that okay?" But's it's not just "okay"; truly, it's a good thing! After all, he is the greatest good in the universe--the greatest comfort--the greatest satisfaction. If anything else becomes the salve for our wounds or the source of our joy, we are in fact settling for something far, far, far less good, comforting, or satisfying.

Finally, prayer is the dam stopping the flood of sins (and, indeed, they are sins) that result in making something else god or striving to control it all (trying to be God). So, it's not just a matter of exchanging the greatest Good for a lesser satisfaction. No, as Jesus warned, failing to seek God in our pain, loneliness, fear, or disappointment (or even all joys and happiness and successes) will cause us to sin each and every time. How can I say that so confidently? Doesn't that require an unsubstantiated judgment on everyone? I do not think so simply because it is in and of itself a sin--the sin of idolatry that replaces God with something we think will better meet our needs. If the first step of replacing God is a sin, then necessarily, without immediate repentance and returning to God, walking down that road will only lead us into more sin.


Application:
So, pray. Pray when we hurt. Pray when sorrow seems to be our most loyal friend. Pray when disappointment grips you like a jacked up wrestler. Pray when doubt trips you in full sprint. Pray when fear gathers an army to assault your dreams.

Why pray? Because God is stronger than all these emotions. Pray because God knows, feels, and understands your turmoil. Pray because God is a good Father who wants to hold you in his arms until the thundering storm fades into the distance. And pray because God is the the only one that can actually do anything about your "enemies."

Begin today--set a daily appointment. Make time on your schedule to thank him, ask him for help, pour out your heart to him, LISTEN to him, and tell him what he means to you. That last bit may seem pointless if in fact he already knows, but here is a thing we do not always realize--always our pleasure in a beautiful sunset of our favorite song is incomplete until we praise it--speak of it--tell someone about it. It is the same with praising God; our joy in him must be expressed if our joy is to be full.

Prayer: . . .

Take Me To Your Leader

Scripture: Luke 20:1-8 "One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, 'Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.' He answered them, 'I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?' And they discussed it with one another, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," he will say, "Why did you not believe him?" But if we say, "From man," all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.' So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'"

Observation:
The religious leaders of the day challenged Jesus’ authority. How did they go about it? They did so by their own claim to authority. We know from other passages in the gospels that the pharisees were greedy and unjust and selfishly motivated. It makes sense that they would feel so threatened by a man who calls them out and brings repudiation to their position. Thus, in fear of losing power they demand an answer from Jesus. In ignorance, they sought to enslave the God they purported to serve. Jesus refused them that authority. They, by their question, implied he to be lower than them. They demanded an answer and Jesus replied by reaffirming his independence and preeminence.

Furthermore, it is not just to those that ask sinfully that Jesus withholds the resolution to some requests. He often does not answer the cancer patient, the barren mother, the orphaned child, and the abandoned spouse just as he did with the pharisees. What is the difference then? Jesus responses are categorically different based strictly on our heart's approach to the throne. Psalm 18:27 says, "For you will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks." And so it is.

Application:
Guard my heart from arrogance. Jesus is the authority over all things, so when I seek an answer, guard my heart from a wrong expectation just as the clay cannot demand an answer from the potter.

He will not answer all questions, but he will be wholly faithful, loving, and patient as I struggle through that which I don’t understand.

Prayer:

Be "That Guy"

Soap Dentures?

Scripture: Luke 17:15-16 "Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus 'feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan."

Observation: The Samaritan (there may have been other Samaritans among the lepers, but this one came back) returned to Jesus because he recognized Jesus' lordship. As far as the story describes they were all healed and very likely all responded in faith. Jesus, however, says in verse 19, "Your faith has made you well."

What was significant about this man's faith that separated him from the others? The answer, which verifies my conjecture about this man's recognition of Jesus' deity, comes in verse 18, where Jesus says, "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" The truth is that the other nine did give glory to God. They did it at the temple just as Jesus commanded. What does Jesus mean then? I think that this "foreigner" came to Jesus himself. He saw Jesus for who he truly is rather than just a healer. He saw Jesus as greater than the priest, greater than the temple; Jesus was worth of the praise and worship. Incredibly, Jesus took his praise, which according to Jesus fulfilled th Law's requirement to show himself to the priest: "Arise, go your way . . ." (vs. 19)

Application: Jesus is the new covenant. He has finished the requirements of the Law. I cannot, and should not try to, earn God's approval. First, it never was nor ever will be possible for me to get anywhere near heaven or God by doing or being good or good enough. According to the one setting the standard (God) only perfection is "good enough" and, frankly, we've all blown that 1,000,000 times over already.

Second, to even attempt to be good enough is an offense to Jesus of the most grotesque kind. Why is that? We all know the offense of someone's attempts to repay us for a gift. The offense only grows as the cost of the gift climbs--and that "cost" doesn't does not alway indicate financial burden. How can anyone price the cost to Jesus that my forgiveness required of him? Jesus not only freely died in my place, but he also lived in my place. His entire 33 years, every day of them, were for me . . . for us. What a scandal it is when we--I--purpose to repay him with Sunday morning service attendance, or a tithe, or prayer, reading the Bible, volunteering at a non-profit or youth group.

But even more than that, Satan and our own blind thinking would have us thinking God doesn't view us in love. We erroneously believe that God puts up with us so long as we tow the line. We fail to see that he desperately and passionately loves us! We forget that God pursued us first! He didn't do that just to turn around and require some slavish effort. No! God bought us and brought us into a life of freedom.

He's not glaring at us with arms crossed! His arms are wide open waiting for us to notice that he is running to us and wants us to run to him. Application? Run to Jesus!

Prayer: . . .

Treasures Untold or Treasures Unclaimed

Scripture: Luke 16:11 "If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches."

Observation:
"unrighteous wealth" - simply not of eternal nature; not part of the promises of God.

Jesus described being unfaithful in unrighteous wealth in the preceding parables. In Luke 15:11-31 the "prodigal son" left and "squandered his property in reckless living." Later, the older son said they knew that included prostitutes. In Chapter 16, the rich man's manager had "wasted" the master's possessions. The wasteful manager was commended for being shrewd, but he should have used it to manage the finances.

Application: What are the distorted perspectives that cause one to be unfaithful? How do those attitudes relate to true riches? And why should my treatment of it here impact eternity?

It has been noted the Bible talks about money almost more than anything else (that fact makes it kind of ironic that so many people find it inappropriate for leaders of the church to talk about it at all during a service). Why is that? Perhaps it is because the Bible has two main categories of content. I'll call them the spiritual and the natural. Finances have been around since jump street. They say it makes the world go around.

In truth money impacts both realms.

What I mean to say is, I think the spending and allocation of one's money is the most visible indicator of the state of one's heart as it pertains to God. A love of God necessitates a trust in God above all else, money not excepting. Jesus was clear that you cannot have two loves; it's God or money, but not both. So, the distorted perspective is that money, not God, is the ultimate safety net. It believes money, not God, bring the best life has to offer. It reasons money, not God, will satisfy a hungry soul and protect from hazard. Perhaps most pitiably, it believes the highest quality life requires sufficient amount of money instead of sufficient amounts of God.

But why should my present attitude affect my future residence? The easy answer, though no less true, is "That's the way God wants it." So be it. But perhaps a more refined answer is "What you don't want now, you won't want in the next life." The reverse is the essence of the Christian heart--"What I yearn for now is what I'll long for in the ext life." The believer longs for God, for Jesus, for the Spirit, for the promise of a home that cannot and will not be found in this present domain. We've seen through the facade. We know money cannot buy happiness. We've accepted we cannot, regardless of how hard we try, have our best life now. To ascribe to that, frankly, is to cup our ears to the venomous deceit of Satan himself.

In fact, to believe otherwise I would say is to levy an expectation upon a world that is simply too heavy a burden for it to bear up under. As Seth Stewart recently purported (paraphrased): "God created us for a station too high for this created place to deliver."

The question Jesus left to those who will hear is, "How do you need to adjust your heart today toward money and God?"

Prayer: Father, can I separate the pursuit of success from the perspective of sanctification? Is there space for wealth in the separation from wordiness? I'm not asking theoretically. Truly, can I walk both the path of righteousness and the road of physical prosperity? If so, where are the guard rails to keep my soul from abandoning the narrow road to the narrow gate of your presence?

Where Did These Shackles Come From?

Scripture: Luke 13:15-17 "Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him."

Observation: This verse ends a passage in which Jesus is scolded by a ruler of a Jewish synagogue because he healed a woman on the sabbath. Jesu harshly rebuked the Jewish spiritual leader by pointing out that the same man would care for an owned animal on the sabbath; therefore, to not be the same present help and compassion to a person based on a man-made rule was a great hypocrisy.

And look at the crowds reactions! They "rejoice." Over what were they rejoicing? I think all who followed Jesus lived under the spiritual rule of men who maintained the exact same hypocritical standards. The people's reaction to Jesus' declaration is revealing. It clearly demonstrates that Jesus' words brought emancipation to people under oppressive, stifling, and lifeless religious rules and carries them into refreshing, invigorating, and liberating hope in a God who loves us as a perfect father or care-taker. This was new to them. This was life-shaking.

Prior to Jesus's words the people labored under the weight of works-based righteousness. After Jesus' words of encouragement (at least, they were encouraging to the masses) the crowds had the hope of a God who is for them, who knows their need and pain, who pursues them and comforts them, and who welcomes all, especially those who are looked down upon, who are just seeking open arms--not critical eyes.

Application: Rejoice! Surely the crowds who heard Jesus drew nearer to him after this. The same words are spoken to us today: "You are a treasure to God. He knows your pain. He knows your trouble. He knows your need. He knows all your sin and failures. And he does not turn away from you. Rather he is seeking you and wants to give you what you need. He wants to give you himself, which is the only truly satisfying thing."

James 4:7 "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

Prayer: . . .

I Hear You

Scripture: Luke 11:13 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Observation: Clearly Luke chose "the Holy Spirit" intentionally when he recorded Jesus' instructions on the need to pray, pray specifically, pray frequently, pray expectantly, pray passionately, pray with faith, pray unguardedly, and pray confidently. But such a response--the promise of the Holy Spirit--seems, at first, strange. It seems strange until I begin to see God Himself as the first and greatest answer to prayer.

What do I mean by that? Jesus main point in this context is that God will give good things to his children when they ask. Thus, Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit is a sure gift to the asker makes perfect sense--God Himself is the greatest good! God seeks those that will first and foremost pursue him and desire him when they or those they care about face struggles, hardship, and lack in this life (Matt. 6:33).

Proverbs 30:8-9 says ". . . give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal
 and profane the name of my God." In this Proverb the writer is expressing his passion for God. He asks God to arrange his life in such a way that it does not become a hindrance to his faith in God nor a distraction from his pursuit of God. Priority #1 is the experience of God and with that God will fill all the gaps that are bound to come. In this Proverb the request centers around money, but it applies to fame and shame, health and sickness, popularity and loneliness, and accomplishment and failure alike.

But is this a right request? I see a danger in it. There is a sense in which I could pray for a life free of extremes under the auspice of "contentment," but while contentment is good (Heb. 13:5), when it comes to our desire for God it is a poor descriptor.

Therein lies the danger.

I do not need to be reserved in my pursuit of God. As C. S. Lewis wrote, I am not unfilled because my passions are too lofty. I am dissatisfied with things in my life because my passions are too base! I wallow in the mud seeking treasure when all the while the purest and strongest pleasures which are only found in God Himself are offered freely to me. My fervor is set on a target too low. In seeking contentment, I have mistakenly categorized the relationship with my Creator with cookies, cars, square footage of my home, and accolades among my profession! Be content with such things as I have, but be content with no less than the fullness of God!

Application:
Pray. Pray specifically. Pray frequently. Pray expectantly. Pray passionately. Pray with faith. Pray unguardedly. Pray confidently.

Believe that Psalm 16:11 is true. Treasure the presence and knowledge of God like a suitor cherishes being with and learning about his betrothed.

Prayer: . . .

Not Good.

Scripture: Luke 7:4 "And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, 'He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.'"

Observations:
"Jesus, you should help out this most honorable man. After all he has done so much good--he deserves it. He has earned it."

This passage reflects some deep concepts and truths. Foundational ones. Is there any such thing as a "good" person? Can we earn God's favor? Or to put it another way, can God's favor be earned? What is the benefit of the good things we do--the things that bless others? These questions should be answered individually

1. Is there any such thing as a "good" person? That question is answered on multiple levels, but the answer is pivotal in grasping the error of what the Jewish elders said. If we judge according to what people can see, the answer is "Yes," and not just religious people would be judged thus. Most unreligious persons live morally good lives. This fact leads to the objection, "Then does religion have anything to do with morality? Is religion dispensable?" In a way, yes; but ultimately, no. Why? Because there is a difference between the state of a thing being good and the reason that such a thing is good. [This is way too extensive a subject to discuss here, but it is the difference between our epistemology and our metaphysics. I've seen many, if not most, people confuse these two and the consequences of doing so have been frustration on my part and really bad logical processes on their part.] Essentially, people are generally morally good because the moral law is written on our hearts. God wrote it there to testify of himself. So, even if we were not taught a set moral code by society we would still arrive at many of the same moral decisions most cultures hold as right and good. So, "yes" there are good people.

However, if we answer the same question by climbing high into the mountains and looking down upon the moral value question, taking the sight of God, the answer becomes "No" and a resounding one at that! Some may ask, "Is it arrogance to assume to know the mind of God on this?" But luckily it is not arrogance, but rather this question has already been clearly given by God Himself, "No one is good, but One, that is, God" (Matthew 19:17 spoken by Jesus). The same truth is affirmed through the Holy Spirit by the Jewish disciple Paul when he said, "There is no one good; no, not one . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10 and 23).

That last statement is so key to this first question: "the glory of God." As Jesus stated that God alone is good, God is the actual standard for good. I can walk at street level and identify the good things people do, but from God who stands in the skyscraper looking across the city of humanity the term "good" becomes my--our--impartial judge and condemning jury.

Alas, if the God of all creation condemns us as evil, whatever shall we do?

2. Can we earn God's favor? Or to put it another way, can God's favor be earned? I group these two questions together because I think the second is really just a more appropriate way of stating the first. The answer to the latter is, "Yes, God's favor can be earned." . . . if I'm perfect . . . and by perfect I mean, entirely sinless for my entire life. So, now the question has transitioned from theoretical to practical--and now the answer is "No," or rather, "Not by me" (or any other person). But that is exactly what the Jewish elders were claiming. This centurion deserved God's blessings. He had earned it. The Jewish elders sought to convince Jesus to give healing to the centurion's servant based on the merit of the centurion. They brought a resume of accolades for him. This very concept is what Jesus rebuked the Jewish leadership on over and over and over. They were living their whole lives as hypocrites . . . knowing they weren't good, but pretending like they were and trying to earn eternal life by following rules. They were fooling themselves.

Of course, now I'm in just as dismal as a place as at the end of the first answer. Now no one is actually good and no one can earn God's favor. The situation seems hopeless.

3. But the centurion's own words tell a much different story and reveal what Jesus saw and why he would go with the elders at all. The centurion revealed humility and a recognition of his real standing before a holy God (vs. 6 and 7). The elders thought they could argue or convince God into blessing the centurion with healing; the centurion knew he could never--not with decades of "good" works--earn favor. Jesus responded to the heart of the centurion, not the hard work of the centurion. Jesus was attracted to the lowliness of his attitude, not the lavishing of praise by the elders.

This is the summation of it: Jesus always offers grace to the humble, but resistance to the proud. His favor is a gift only made possible by his very own grotesque death on a brutal cross. And the only work that could be done to make one acceptable before God has already been completed by Jesus--it is a finished and complete work. This then leaves to us only the work of submitting ourselves to God as unworthy of his presence and falling into the gentle arms of his wonderful, endless, comforting, tireless grace.

So, can we be good truly? No. Can we earn acceptance from God? No. But in this passage the exact reason for Jesus' life and death and resurrection from the dead are revealed. He lived to fulfill every rule that God has given us in our place. He died to take the true penalty for our sin in our place. He rose from the dead as Lord of everyone who will accept him for who he is and for everyone who will accept what he has done.

But that still leaves one question unanswered, but this is long enough at this point.

Application: Stop trying to flaunt my impressive qualities; God sees the truth of my sinful character and Jesus died for it. Stop trying to earn God's approval; Jesus did that for me. Rest in the finished work of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, you are so, so good. Bless you, bless you. I just say Amen and I love you.

What Food Do We Long For? Where Do We Look To Find It?

Scripture: "And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you."

Observation: Jesus' primary mission was (is) the spiritual restoration and revival of people. The spiritual has priority over the physical. That holds true for everyone, everywhere, in all times, even those on a deathbed where the physical need has almost brought the physical life to an end. Why? Because after the physical life (this present one) ends, the spiritual continues on. At first glance, my physical sins appear to cause the my spiritual separation from God and the subsequent spiritual deadness, but in fact the latter has caused the former.

Were the crowds looking for spiritual salvation? No. The people wanted Jesus to deal with the physical--physical freedom from Rome and masters, physical healing, physical monetary longings, physical hunger, physical aloneness, and whatever else they felt. I--we--often respond to Jesus similarly. Yet, the spiritual trumps the felt physical needs. Why? Because what we fail to see is that there is a spiritual equivalent that drives the physical longing or that represents or symbolizes the physical need. The physical is meant to point me to my deep spiritual need. Therefore, Jesus makes clear his true mission: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Luke 6:32)

Doesn't that trivialize the physical needs of people? Not at all. Did Jesus trivialize them? No. Rather he never lost sight of the fact that the physical (1) is temporary and (2) never ceases to have needs (during this life, I mean). We will always want for food or healing or relationship in this life. It is an "endless" vacuum. Unfortunately, we can--and often do--meet all those needs, but fail to recognize or address the spiritual need that is also constantly calling for our attention. And if I give myself physical food, but fail to seek the food God offers through Jesus I am lost eternally to the consequences of my own sin. However, if I fail to feed my physical need, but I feast on the sustenance of God in Jesus this body may die, but I will immediately pass into eternal life with complete wholeness and no lack forever.

Application: In every moment that I have a need or desire in the physical, give pause to consider the spiritual lack that is driving said physical longing. Often after reflection on my spiritual emptiness and subsequent turning to God in prayer for satisfaction of that need, the physical becomes either less significant or more bearable. Let the physical needs remind me of my need for God and drive me toward deeper relationship with him.

Prayer: Lord, I bless you; oh, how I bless you! Your goodness is limitless. You have no need for anything--you are perfected perfection--and therefore you are here to give freely all that I need. And you give liberally by grace. I am free from any requirement to earn your favor and blessings. Jesus has finished it. But I continue to feel the need to be "better" and somehow deserve what you offer as a gift. Please open my eyes that I may see my real need in light of my true state of spiritual emptiness. Teach me to come to you for completeness and satisfaction. I love you. Amen.

What Food Do I Offer To The Hungry?

Scripture: "And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages"

Observation: There are plenty of things to draw out of these verses, especially in the acts of repentance that John gave to the people. But this morning I'm drawn to something else which is more needful for me at this point.

My attentions drawn to the groups that came asking questions of John. Everyone is recording asking questions--even the pharisees and lawyers--but there is a notable difference in the tone and types of questions being asked, and I think it reveals hearts.

The Jewish leaders came inspecting and testing. There were some good reasons behind these, but there were some sinful as well. John was bold enough to call those evil motivations for what they were.

The other groups, however, came seeking truth, and I think it is easy to see that they were motivated by purer things, namely, a desire to draw near to God due to an aching of the soul brought on by the  Spirit.

The groups mentioned: the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers.

The crowds no doubt included the leaders who received the harshest rebuke (compare Luke 3:10 w/Matt. 3:7). The others that came, tax collectors and soldiers, were among society's scorned. They were derided by general public, especially the leaders. Consequently, the extensive interweaving of Jewish society w/its religion meant that they were not only publicly separated, but also spiritually opressed. Attendance at the synagogue would have been uncomfortable and may have drawn so much disdain from others that they may have avoided it all together. (Thus, Jesus' rebuke of the leaders that they refused to enter god's kingdom and refused to let others in, too [Matt. 23:13].)

And then along comes this John. The original Bear Grills with a Jesus message . . . how to survive this world. Because they were outcast, John was attractive to these others. They felt comfortable confessing their sins and seeking guidance from him. John directed their attention upward and inward rather than to himself. He didn't dodge the command for holiness, but he didn't leave them feeling condemned.

Application: Can this be said of me? John clearly made paths for the "arrival" of Jesus, but he also made paths for the coming of those who felt the deep wooing of the Spirit and who wanted to be restored to God. Can this be said of me? Response to this passage I think must include the words "intentional," "pursue," "outcasts," and "uncondemning."

Prayer: Lord, impossible for me unless you change me. I confess my failures here. Give me your eyes and heart for the marginalized. You've given me the only message of true hope. There is only one God and one Savior and one way of salvation from a hell we will all face apart from you. But your offer of grace and forgiveness and restoration is there for everyone to take. Please give a John heart for your kingdom. I love you. You are so, so good. Ready me to be a useful conduit of your grace through Jesus. Amen.

Take It To The Bank

Scripture: Luke 1:13, 14 "But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,"

Observation: The visitation of Gabriel to announce the promise of John's birth by Elizabeth obviously brings up thoughts of Abraham, Sara, and Isaac. There are many similarities between the promises of the sons-to-come. But really strikes me today is the promise of "joy," "gladness," and the "rejoicing" by others.

Gabriel does not waste words. These all count so why does Gabriel include among the rest the affirmation of how the birth and subsequent days will be characterized?

A few thoughts arise:
1. Elizabeth was apparently concerned with how the pregnancy would go. She became quite recluse (vs. 24) likely because of what people might think, but also I believe for the same reasons mothers these days delay in revealing a pregnancy (especially at an older age): fear, concern of the thoughts of others, and protection during tender stages of pregnancy. All these things must have been swirling around in her mind, and her thoughts must have been even more difficult due to Zacharias' inability to verbally communicate with her. Further, there no doubt was some trepidation about how such a scandalous thing would be taken by the public.

2. This should be a joyful experience and I've no doubt the couple needed the reassurance that mortality was not going to be a factor for John.

Consequently, I see this:
1. The promises of God come to fruition. Luke was certain to include verse 58 just for that reason. In fact, the fulfillment of this joy and rejoicing began very early and continued throughout the pregnancy on into the days (months...years) that followed. We read in this one chapter that Mary's arrival brought joy from John in utero, Mary rejoiced in song about the amazing work of God in both of them, the neighbors rejoiced, and Zacharias rejoiced in song and prophesy. And then we hear from Jesus 30-some years later that there has been no one who walked the earth who was more great than John . . . God clearly rejoiced exuberantly over John!

2. The promises of God, when fulfilled, also bring praise to God's goodness and grace. In Chapter 1, Luke records that Zacharias, Mary, the neighbors, Elizabeth, and John (via Elizabeth) all praised God (vs. 41, 42-43, 46-55, 58, 64, 65, 68-77).

Application:
1. Read the Scriptures daily to know what promises he has already made and then rely on them in faith.

2. Pray daily to hear the specific promises the Spirit will reveal in due time for my specific needs and work.

3. Praise when they come to pass. (Of course, I should always praise the Lord for he is good forever, but I must be intentional about praising God for fulfilling his promises to me and I must do it to the world . . . not to a closet.

Prayer: Bless your name, Father. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and your greatness is unsearchable. There is no one trustworthy like you, God. Spirit, open my eyes and ready my hearth and mind for more of your truth and will. I love you. Amen.