Category: Devotions

Yeast

Luke 13: 20-21 “Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

1. Take the yeast. It’s small but it can actually be hugely significant. A smile. A touch. A word of encouragement. A box of chocolates. Small maybe. But each and every small act of kindness can change a persons day.
2. Engage it with the larger proponent, the flour. Yeast on its own will do nothing. As Christians we have to be in the world to change our world.
3. As opposed to the mustard seed the yeast continues to remain hidden. It never surfaces nor does it grow into something else. It remains as an influence to the whole and it is what surrounds it that changes.
4. Don’t give up. Keep mixing until a dough is created. If you remain committed to the cause then you will soon move into a phase of readiness. The dough ready to be baked.

This is what the kingdom of God is like.

Mustard seed

Luke 13:18-19

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”

1. Take hold of what you have. Don’t despise the smallness. Don’t neglect it nor be embarrassed by its size. When you take hold of it then you assume ownership, commitment and authority of it. Don’t give it to anyone else. You are responsible.
2. Plant it. This is not burying it though the action looks the same. Both planting and burying are hiding the potential. The difference is that the planting is hiding for a season. Planting involves intent of growth. However initially there is nothing to show for your investment. Patience is plantings friend.
3. Watch it daily. Build expectation. In your own garden you can see the plant grow. What good would it be to plant in someone else’s garden or plant where you will never go each day. Every day the man would wake up and look out at where he had planted. He expected growth.
4. Let it become something it had been created to become. In your hand it didn’t look like a tree. You never become what you already are. You are meant to change.
5. You will attract into your garden what was previously not there. You planted a seed, it became a tree, you got the birds as a bonus. The power of attraction happens because you kept to the law of sowing.

This is what the kingdom of God is like

18

Luke 13: 10-17 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”

Remember this? “…Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?”

18 is the connection.

I am not an expert in numerology but if it means anything in the 2 stories it means pain and suffering.

Luke positions them together for a reason.

The general thought was that those who died under the collapsing of a tower in Siloam must have done something wrong. That was certainly the thought amongst the religious leaders. “NO” said Jesus. He went further and said unless they repented they would be the ones to perish.

Next, he is in the synagogue. A woman was there who for 18 years was crippled so badly she never saw the sky. No one could help her. No one seemed bothered either. What was of most importance? The rules were kept, rules of the Sabbath.

The synagogue leader is quoting the Ten Commandments, “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.” (Deut 5:15) Of course he is actually speaking of the interpretation of that verse. Namely, no one can be healed on the Sabbath because that is classed as work. The Sabbath was a celebration of being released from bondage and Luke tells us that this woman was also bound.

18 years of being held captive.

The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. (Judges 3:4)

For eighteen years they (the Ammonites) oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. (Judges 10:8)

What happened in the Judges happens in the synagogue that day. God sends a deliverer, a Saviour, to those who are bound. His mission is to release the prisoners from darkness and there was no better day than the Sabbath to do that. The day of celebration from bondage indeed and Luke tells us how the woman straightened up and praised God! She is free!

The synagogue leader is furious but he is humiliated. Jesus has shown that tied-up animals are treated better than this bound woman.

So throwing all that together:

• It is so easy to have a wrong opinion about a story like the 18 deaths. (Saying ‘I don’t know why’ probably needs to happen more often but it needs to be said with no passing judgment).
• Don’t build a philosophy of life on a tragedy. (The 18 people that died does not show that unless you are obedient bad things happen).
• How can someone celebrate a freedom story when for 18 years they have been held in suffering? (We have to answer the many who say, ‘what about me?’)
• The trauma of 18 (pain and suffering) needs a Saviour. (Look around today and you will see the trapped)
• Don’t let your interpretation of what God has done (the Exodus Deliverance) cloud who God is (the Sabbath Deliverer).

Don’t give up on people

 

Luke 13: 6-9 “Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

 

Every year for 3 years there was hope of fruit but none came.

How disappointing!

Do you know that disappointment?

Do you know the feelings of failed hope and promise? The thoughts that things will change but they don’t.

Do you know those times when people let you down? They told you they would be there but when it came to it they weren’t.

What it said on the tin wasn’t what you were getting inside.

What do you do?

I am sure you want to get rid of those relationships, walk away from that place, cut it down and start again. It is a waste of your time.

However, the parable says, give it more time and don’t rush into it. Instead work on it, dig around it and fertilize it. Create some space and pour into the good it is needing. Pour grace on it.

Some will call it a waste of time. If after 3 years there is no fruit then it is not going to start now. But Grace waits. Grace hopes. Grace goes again and again.

How easy it is for us to pass judgement on others. Maybe those struck by tragedy, killed at the altar or killed by a wall crashing down on them. How easy to look at those people who are not living our life, bearing the same fruit as us, who are producing nothing in our eyes, to root them out. How many times have we given up on people? Let’s get the axe and chop it all down. How many of us are glad that Jesus didn’t do that with us?

No. He springs into action and gets down into the dirt and he works for our salvation. He pours out his life. He gives of Himself that we might live.

Yes there will come a time for judgment but it doesn’t come quickly. It waits. And we are so pleased it did. So how about us waiting on a few people? Let’s not get rid just yet. Why not pour manure on them and help them to grow?

The blame game

 

Luke 13: 1-5 “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

 

Many years ago I went to speak to a group of Christians from different Church backgrounds on the subject of suffering. After my talk an old man came to me who clearly hadn’t heard much of my talk and said, “They should be forced not to have more than one child and then they wouldn’t have so many mouths to feed.” I was appalled at his understanding of why there is famine today.

We continually live our lives surrounded by blame. Whose fault is it? That’s what we want to know.

When sharing of what someone has gone through, do you know that awkward feeling of needing to hide what they may have done wrong because you know the listener is going to pick up on that and exploit it? Maybe the person over-reacted. Maybe they didn’t respond in the best way. Maybe they made mistakes. Maybe they angered Pilate? Were those 18 building the tower of Siloam? Were they lousy builders?

“Ah I see! They had it coming to them. They made it worse. They are to blame.”

People can go further in their judgment, “God judged them. That’s why they suffered.”

“Is that what you think?” Jesus asked. “If that is the wise judgment you use, then it will be used on you too. If failure, suffering and death is based on sin then you are as guilty as those you point at.”

Using this measure: Jesus was asking them if they thought they were so good they wouldn’t die.

Clearly, it is nonsense. In fact Jesus says unless you repent you will perish.

We may look down at people thinking they had it coming to them. But in the same way, so do we.

This same Pilate would sacrifice another Galilean: Jesus of Nazareth!

Therefore, was Jesus a worse sinner than us?

Ironically yes. He became sin for the world, all the sin was heaped on Jesus who had no sin so that we might be righteous. The judgment wall fell on Jesus that we might walk free in our repentance.

Therefore, if bad things happen to you now it is not because God is judging you. Even if you die, you die in Christ, you will not perish and you will rise again.

 

Don’t be so sure.

Luke 12: 54-59 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?  As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

 

We are so right aren’t we?!

We know what is right and wrong.

We know what is going to happen

Even today when I see a red sky I ask myself morning or evening? We know a certain prose, “Red sky at night shepherds delight; red sky in the morning shepherds warning.” Well, the Jews had something similar and Jesus quotes it.

We are so sure.

But maybe we are wrong. Perhaps there are times we cannot see what is right in front of us. Jesus had opened blind eyes and he had raised the dead. What more did they need to know he was indeed the Messiah?

I wonder what has been missed by us simply because we wouldn’t see.

Today as then we have time to make things well.

Today is the day when we can acknowledge our failure.

Before we move into new futures and who doesn’t want to start again? But before we do that this may be the time to say sorry, to send an apology. To say you were wrong.

Jesus is the adversary and you are heading to the magistrate. Will you get right with him?

Do it now whilst there is time.

Don’t be so sure.

This is tough

Luke 12: 49-53 ““I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

 

Remember what John the Baptist said of Jesus: I baptise with water; he will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Fire purifies. It judges. It separates.  Similarly Jesus’ baptism is a fire that separates us from sin. It is because of this separation that causes more disturbance than peace. The Gospel divides when it encourages conversion and calls for people to be living differently.

The Gospel is not a nice message of peace. It disturbs. It is a message that shakes us from complacency. It divides even families.

The other day some parents told me with sadness how their daughter no longer walks with the Lord and how they feel estranged from her.

The Gospel is a tough message.

Until Jesus returns the gospel will cause division between believers and non-believers.

That’s how it is. If there is no difference then there is no gospel.

Spiritual leaders care.

Luke 12: 42-48

“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

 

Who is the master?

The master gives authority and responsibility.

The master has concerns for people who He calls His servants.

Though the master is away He wants to care for them until he returns.

If they are cared for when he returns then he will give an increased responsibility to the manager.

Who is he? He is Jesus!

 

Who is the manager?

He is a servant but he is also a leader, a manager of people, the Master’s people.

The manager will be tempted to think the master is not coming because the delay is long, he will think he is free to treat the servants not as belonging to the manager but just as people and people he can abuse.

The manager will begin to act like someone who does not belong to the master. He will begin to act as if he was the master.

He will be surprised when the master returns and if he has fallen into the temptation of being ruthless, vile, abuser of people then he will be dealt with heavily. He will actually be dealt with worse than the leaders and managers who do not know the master.

Who is the manager? Spiritual leaders of the Church.

When the Master returns the Managers will be judged the most and they will be judged on how they treated people, the servants.

Think carefully if you desire spiritual leadership in the Church.

Consider your ways. Love people. Take care of them. Show that you are ready and waiting.

 

The Church is ready … surely?

Luke 12: 41 “Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

Jesus doesn’t answer the question. Peter had wanted to know who Jesus was teaching. Them or the crowd? Maybe he had wanted to know whether he should pay attention or not!

Peter wants to know:

Who are the servants waiting for their master’s return from the wedding banquet?

Who will be reclining at the table when the master serves them?

Who needs to be ready?

Surely the disciples are ready for His return because they follow him?

Surely it is those people who don’t know Jesus who need to be careful, it is the crowd who need to get ready?

In a world which has no thought for Jesus, surely it is to them who run the risk of failing in service and not having their lamps burning.

Surely Jesus is not thinking we are not ready for His return?

Surely we do not need teaching on His return?

Surely we know that this truth is for everybody else, not us?

We are ready aren’t we?!

Surely our vision and mission statements prove that?

Surely our programmes, plans and purposes reveal we are ready?

The Church … not ready? That can’t be, can it?

Surely, not us, not I?

What’s in you diary today?

Luke 12: 35-40 ““Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

 

On my Facebook newsfeed this morning I woke to a headline: FILM DISTRIBUTOR DROPS JOSH HARRIS DOCUMENTARY AFTER AUTHOR ANNOUNCES HE’S NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN.

The article goes on to explain how Josh Harris who had written a book in 1997 called ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’ had been working with Exploration Films on a documentary based on the book but had not disclosed his battle with the faith. On Instagram he wrote, “By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian.”

Sad news.

Josh Harris no longer dressed ready for service and whose lamps are no longer burning.

Today the whole world will do the same thing, we will get dressed and get ready for whatever today holds.

We understand this process.

Having told them not to worry about things Jesus is running ahead of his thoughts and is not only thinking of when he leaves them but when he comes back. He wanted them to be ready for His return. He doesn’t want anyone to fall away.

It will be good if we have not fallen away when Jesus comes back (v37). If we are waiting for Him and He comes to a brightly lit house it will show Him that not only are we desiring Him but we are living for Him, we are indeed seeking His kingdom as He asked us to do.

How much do you long to see Jesus?

Why will it be good for us if we are ready when Jesus come back?

In a most unusual twist to the scenario, the master of the house becomes the servant.

Can you imagine your boss arriving into the office today and says “Listen, I would like to do your emails today. I would like to answer your phone calls. Don’t do my diary, let me help you with your diary. Can I make you a cup of tea?” Now who would like their Boss to do that today?!

The master dresses down, gets ready to serve to wait on them as he makes sure they sit around the table relaxing.

Whatever this is actually going to be. It may well be the best feast we have ever had. It will certainly be a table-turner. When Jesus comes back he will turn everything upside down. Remarkably He will honour us.

However, we will never know when this is, we just need to be ready/

So along with how much do I long to see Jesus, the questions also is, am I ready to meet Him?

Perhaps we think there is a greater chance of us dying and then meeting Him than meeting Him when we are still alive. If that is true then we need to be more ready. For it could certainly happen, even today. Jesus will return when we least expect it and for many of us we are not expecting it today, we actually don’t have any room for the return of Christ in our diary today!