Set Apart

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:80

It wasn't normal for a young person in the first century to live in the desert, but because of God's special calling on his life, John the Baptist did just that. In doing this, he imitated the prophet Elijah who lived in the desert and was fed by ravens during the famine.* 

And more than just imitating Elijah, "in the Old Testament, the wilderness was the place where God met with His appointed messengers."** For example, it was in the wilderness that God met with Moses at the burning bush. And it was in the wilderness that God met with His people and gave them the 10 Commandments at Sinai. So, John likely lived in the desert not only to emulate Elijah but also to commune with God and to keep himself separate from the world. 

Now, in my opinion some of the monks of the Middle Ages took this mindset too far. I don’t think you should go live in a cave and not see another living soul for years on end. But that isn’t the error that most Christians in our day and age fall into. We aren't in danger of separating from the world too much but too little.

Let John the Baptist serve as a reminder that we are called to live separated lives. Christians ought to be holy, set apart, and different from the world around them. As 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

Let’s strive to live that kind of Christian life.

* Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

** Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Careful Investigation

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:1-3

The gospel is worthy of careful investigation. Far too often it is skimmed over or given only a cursory explanation, but it is worthy of so much more time and attention. 

Luke knew that many had already undertaken to write an account of Jesus' life. He knew that there were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (including the apostles themselves) who could testify to what had happened. Luke could have decided that these were sufficient to tell the world what Jesus had done and accomplished. But He didn't.

Even with all those testimonies already out there, Luke felt that it was still worth his while to carefully investigate all that Christ had fulfilled and write it down in an "orderly account." No doubt this was ordained by God, but it also sets an example for us to follow. 

Far too many of us fail to give the gospel (or God's Word as a whole) the time and careful attention it deserves. Far too of us many barely read our Bibles, let alone study them. There are precious treasures waiting to be discovered in the pages of God's Word. Yes, these pages are well trodden. Many have gone before you and written sermons and Bible studies and commentaries. And you may very well come across passages you have read countless times before. But they are still worthy of your time! They are still worthy of careful investigation and ordered explanation. These are the words of life and we dare not skim over them. 

Elizabeth

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

Luke 1:39-40 (NIV)

The first thing Mary did after the angel Gabriel appeared to her was hurry to see her relative Elizabeth. Why Elizabeth? She didn't hurry to see Joseph or her mother or her best friend. She went to see Elizabeth right off. Why? Because Elizabeth was the only person in the whole world who might understand what she was going through and believe her!

The angel Gabriel had told Mary that her Elizabeth was also experiencing a miracle pregnancy. Elizabeth had long been barren but was now with child. If anyone was going to believe Mary’s miraculous pregnancy it would be Elizabeth who was experiencing a miracle of her own. So, Mary hurried off to see Elizabeth, because she knew she needed that support.

And you do too! We all need someone who understands the crazy things God has called us to do, someone who encourages us and cheers us on as we timidly take those first steps of faith. It can be very scary to trust God at times. It helps to have someone who will support you as you step out in faith. Those kinds of people are very important in our lives. 

Moses had Aaron. Paul had Barnabas. And Mary had Elizabeth. Do you have anyone in your life like that? If God called you to do something crazy today, who would you run to to talk about it? If you don’t know, then you need to cultivate that kind of Christian friendship with someone. You need to find your Elizabeth.

And I also want to encourage to be an Elizabeth for someone else. Find someone whose faith you can strengthen, someone you can pray for as they step out in faith. Find someone you can encourage and support along the road of faith. Be someone’s Elizabeth! You never know how you might impact eternity simply by helping and encouraging someone else that God has called to do amazing things.

The Humility of Mary

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:29

Mary's response to the angel Gabriel appearing to her and announcing God's favor on her shows her humility. It was a wonder to her that she should be chosen for such an honor. She didn’t think, “Well, of course an angel would appear to me. Of course, I am highly favored by God.” No! She was very perplexed, greatly troubled by what the angel Gabriel had said to her. She wondered or pondered what this could possibly mean because she was so humble.

This is another way in which Mary shows us an important qualification for being used by God. One that we often overlook and under appreciate. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 

Are you proud? If so, God opposes you. How can He use someone He is actively opposed to? No. If you want to be used by God, then start by humbling yourself. Because “God shows favor to the humble.”

How can you humble yourself this Christmas? Maybe, you can start cultivating humility in your life by focusing more on others this Christmas than you do on yourself. And maybe, you can even go one step further and strive to focus more on God this Christmas then you do on others and yourself. Make your Christmas about Jesus this year.   

The Lord's Servant

"I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said."

Luke 1:38

Considering all that the angel Gabriel told Mary, she must have known that God was calling her to make a great, personal sacrifice. Gabriel told Mary that God’s plan was for her to get pregnant out of wedlock while engaged to Joseph. Mary had to know that no one would believe this was a miraculous conception… a virgin birth. She had to know that this would bring shame and judgment on her. She had to worry that Joseph wouldn’t believe her and that he would end their engagement, which Matthew’s gospel tells us he very nearly did.

Don't get me wrong. Mary was highly favored. It was a great honor for her to be chosen to bear the Messiah. But at the same time, that calling cost her dearly. It threatened her happiness. It altered the course of her life. And it required great sacrifice of her. As Simeon says in Luke 2:35, a sword would pierce Mary’s own soul too as a result of God’s plan for her life.

Mary surely must have understood at least some of this, but look at how she responds to the angel Gabriel's announcement! She didn’t do what Moses did. She didn’t try to convince God to choose someone else. She didn’t ask God for a sign like Gideon did. She didn’t run away from God’s calling on her life like Jonah did. No, Mary simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

First, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant (or slave).” Oh, that those five words were the motto of every Christian! How different our world would be if more of us saw ourselves not as free individuals, but as God’s bondservants, created by God for His use for His glory. That’s how May saw herself... as God’s slave. That’s why she didn’t hesitate to say, “May it be to me as you have said.”

Following God, submitting to His will, would cost Mary dearly, but she was willing to risk the life she wanted to obey the God she loved. Are you? What is God calling you to that might mess up all your plans and alter the course of your life? Are you willing to say to Him today, ““I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said”?

The Fear of the Lord Leads to Worship

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”

Luke 7:16

In Luke 7 we read about Jesus raising the widow’s son back to life. And Luke 7:16 tells us how the people responded to this amazing miracle. It says, “They were all filled with awe and praised God.” Now the NIV says awe, but most other translations say fear, because the word here, ‘phobos,’ is related to the word phobia. When the people saw that Jesus had the power to raise the dead they were filled with fear and awe, and that drove them to praise the Lord.

When you really get how big and powerful and amazing God is, fear and awe are the only right responses. But fear can push you in two directions. Fear of the LORD can push you away from God, but it can also push you towards Him, especially the kind of fear that includes awe. The awe of the Lord should lead you to worship.

When you see how great God is, you ought to tremble before Him, you ought to stand in awe of Him, and then you ought to fall on your knees and worship Him. It may seem odd at first, but worship is the right response to the fear of the Lord. Why would I worship a God that wasn’t more powerful than I am? Why would I worship a god that I didn’t stand in awe of?

And consider this, Psalm 19:9 says, “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.” Think about that. The fear of the Lord endures forever? That means that we will still fear the Lord in Heaven for all eternity. And I believe the reason for that is because the fear of the Lord is part of worship. Even in Heaven we will revere the Lord. Even in Heaven we will stand in awe of Him. And yes, even in heaven, our worship will be mixed with the fear of our Holy God.

So, fear God... but draw near to Him. Tremble at His presence… but fall at His feet in worship as you do. And be glad that God is so fearfully powerful and mighty. Because if He weren’t, He wouldn’t be worth worshipping at all.

The Pharisee's Prayer

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Luke 18:10-12‌

The Pharisee’s prayer is 33 words long in English, and it contains 4 favorable comparisons for himself. It’s long and arrogant and all about himself. When you look closely at his prayer, you realize that all the Pharisee did was thank God for making him so superior to other men. 

His prayer is full of pride for himself and contempt for those he believes are beneath him. The Pharisee doesn’t ask God for anything. He makes no requests. And the reason why is obvious enough. In his own estimation, he doesn’t lack anything. So, he prays about his own greatness. He uses prayer as an opportunity to sing his own praises to God.

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Jesus is teaching us in this passage that not all prayers are pleasing to God. In fact, some prayers can be downright sinful. God hates pride! He hates arrogance! Don’t use your prayers to exalt yourself. Prayer should be a time to sing God’s praises, not your own. 

And don’t use prayer as an excuse to look down on other people. Don’t allow your prayers for other people to turn into an opportunity to slander them or pour contempt on them before the Lord. Make sure your prayers for other people are seasoned with grace. "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

Revolutionary Christmas

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

Luke 1:51–53

‌

Theses verses from Mary's Song in Luke 1 highlight the great reversal of fortunes that is inherent in the Christmas story. I don’t know if you've ever thought about it before but the Christmas story is inherently revolutionary. For a baby to be born who will become king, necessarily implies that God is taking someone’s throne away.

‌‌Add to that the fact that this baby wasn’t born to a member of high society but to a low-born girl, a social outcast, and the revolutionary theme gets even stronger. Mary was almost certainly a plain-looking 12-15 year old girl from a poor family in Nazareth. But God chose her, a nobody from nowhere town, to be the mother of His Son!

‌‌Christmas and the Christmas story is about a great reversal of fortunes. It’s about God’s desire to exalt the humble, and cast down the proud. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Mary’s song reminds us of this truth that God shows mercy (kindness and gentle goodness) to those who fear Him, to those who are humble and hungry. But not so with the proud. God performs mighty deeds against those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He scatters them with the strength of His arm. He brings them down from their thrones and He sends them away empty handed.

‌‌This means that Christmas is a time for humbling ourselves… for rooting pride out of our hearts. It’s a time for making sure we are on the right side of this great reversal that is still going on. ‌‌Humble yourself and live in the fear of the Lord this Christmas. Don’t exalt yourself. Don’t make it all about you and what you want.

‌‌Think about what we find God the Father doing in the Christmas story. He is remembering those in humble circumstances and lifting up the poor. You should do the same.‌‌ Who’s hungry that you can feed? Who’s lonely that you can visit? Who’s discouraged that you can encourage? Who’s cold or doing without that you can help keep warm and well-fed? Think about them. Do for them.

Prayer at the Crossroads

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:15-16

As I look back over my life, I realize that at many of the major crossroads God used prayer to guide me and reveal His will for me. It was through prayer that God called me to ministry. It was through prayer that He led me to my wife. And it was through prayer that God led me to each of the three churches I’ve served. And what I realized this week is that we see the same thing in Jesus’ life. At every major crossroads, at every turning point, we find Him praying. 

It was when Jesus was praying at His baptism that heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him and anointed Him for ministry (Luke 3:21-22). This was Jesus’ ordination, the birth of His ministry. And what was He doing when it all began? He was praying.

Then as Jesus became more popular, and the demands on Him grew, what did He do? He didn’t spend more time crafting His sermons or going fishing to get a little R&R. No! Luke 5:15-16 says "He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." That time alone, speaking to God was a lifeline for Jesus. It no doubt recharged and refilled Him so He could continue pouring Himself out in ministry day after day after day.

Later, when the time came for Jesus to select 12 men to designate as apostles, how did Jesus go about making this big decision? Luke 6:12-13 tells us that He prayed the entire night! Then, at His transfiguration Jesus revealed to a few of these twelve apostles who He really was. And wouldn’t you know it, Jesus was praying when He was transfigured! (Luke 9:28-29) He was praying when His divine glory broke through.

And what about that last major event in Jesus’ life? His death. How did Jesus prepare Himself for all that He would suffer? He prayed! We often ask people how they would spend their final moments if they knew they were going to die. Jesus chose to spend His last free moments, praying…seeking God’s guidance and strength for what lay ahead (Luke 22:39-41).

So, make prayer a regular habit in your life. If you aren't sure how to pray, use the Lord’s Prayer or one of David’s prayers in the Psalms to get you started. Pray their prayers until you feel comfortable praying your own. In time you’ll see that praying isn’t difficult. It’s just talking to God: thanking Him, praising Him, confessing your sins, and bringing your needs to Him. Prayer isn’t difficult, but prayer is important, especially when you’re at a crossroads. In those moments especially, you should pray and ask for God’s direction.

Make Them Wait!

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

Luke 12:1

Many thousands had gathered to see Jesus, to hear Him speak, to be touched and healed by Him. Can you imagine the weight of those expectations? I can't. I can't imagine what it would feel like to have thousands of people all wanting to see me and hear from me at the same time. But notice what Jesus does. He ignores the thousands for the moment and speaks directly to His disciples first.

It strikes me that Jesus always does the most needful thing. He never seems to get distracted by the pressure to meet people's expectations of Him. Because Jesus doesn't care about pleasing people. He only cares about pleasing God with each and every second of His life. 

How often do you run yourself ragged trying to please everyone, or even trying to please only one person, when what you ought to be doing is living to please God?

Lord, help me to be like Jesus. Help me to do what is most needful. Help me to be immune to the pressures of other people's expectations of me. Help me to be comfortable allowing everything else to wait while I do the one thing that is most needful: living to please You. Amen.

It's Never Too Late!

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43

Jesus hung on the cross, naked, and suffering, for six hours. Six hours of agony compounded by the flogging and all the beatings that came before it. But even then Jesus wasn’t allowed to suffer in peace. People gathered to revel in His misery. The chief priests and teachers of the law came by to admire their handiwork, to gloat in their victory, and dance on His grave. They insulted and mocked Him. The soldiers likewise mocked Him and gambled for His clothes. The crowds of people that passed by spewed hate at Him. Even, one of the other criminals being crucified with Him hurled insults at Jesus. But there was one man there who looked at Jesus and saw Him for what He really was.

One of the robbers who hung beside Jesus looked over at Jesus, broken and bloody on the cross, and saw His Messiah. This man acknowledged his sin. He said, “I deserve what I am getting.” And he believed in Jesus. He said, “this man has done nothing wrong.” And he confessed him as lord, as king. He said, “remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This criminal, in the midst of his own execution, has to be perhaps the least likely convert in all of Scripture. But what does Jesus say to him? “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story proves once and for all that NO ONE is beyond hope. Maybe you thought it was too late for you to ask for forgiveness. Maybe you thought you had nothing to offer. Maybe you thought you were too far gone. Scripture records this man’s deathbed conversion as a testimony to the fact that it’s never too late! That no man is ever too bad! That there is no such thing as being too far gone for God’s grace. 

And we find this truth presented not only here but all throughout the pages of Scripture. Rahab was a prostitute whose people had been marked for death by God, but because of her faith she not only became a child of God but an ancestor of Jesus as well. Gomer was a prostitute who became the wife of a prophet. Saul was a murderer, a persecutor of Christians. He became an apostle, church planter, and biblical author. I could go on. I could tell you about how David was an adulterer and a murderer. Or how Abraham was a coward and a liar. I could tell you about the church in Corinth and how it was full of people who had been idol worshippers and criminals and addicts. Yet God changed them all.

You are NOT too far gone for Jesus to save! It is NOT too late! You haven’t done anything so bad that God can’t forgive you! Just like the robber on the cross, right up to the moment of your death you can be saved! You can acknowledge your sin, believe in Jesus, and confess Him as your King. Do that today, and God will forgive you.

Fear and Bravery

Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.

Luke 8:37

Jesus had just done the unthinkable. You see there was a man who was notorious in this part of the country. He was demon possessed. Not by one demon. Not by two. But by so many that when Jesus asked the demon its name it replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many" (Mark 5:9). Having been possessed by so many demons, this man had uncommon strength. He could not be bound or restrained even by a chain. But he also lived the tortured existence that the enemy wants for us all. He was driven out from society into solitary places. He lived among the dead in the tombs. He no longer wore clothes but went around like a wild animal.

So, you can imagine the stir that it caused when the people of the area heard that Jesus had cast the demons out of this man. When they came to investigate and saw the man clothed and in his right mind, sitting at Jesus' feet, Scripture says they were afraid. 

Now, you may disagree with what I am going to say next, but I would argue that fear was the right response. Scripture says that the "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). When you glimpse how big and powerful and amazing God is, fear is the only wise response. But fear can push us in two directions. Fear of the LORD can push us toward God or away from Him, and this is where they went wrong. Their fear ought to have caused them to fall at Jesus' feet asking for mercy and forgiveness. Instead, it poisoned them against Jesus, causing them to reject Him. Perhaps... if I can suggest this without sounding heretical... perhaps they saw in Jesus some of what they had seen in the demon-possessed man: great power that they could not restrain or control. They wanted to be free of such power, so, they sent Him away. 

Don't make the same mistake. Fear God. But draw near to Him. Tremble at His presence. But fall at His feet as you do so. Be glad that God is so fearfully powerful and mighty. We need Him to be so, because the devils among us are more powerful than we are also. Only a God who is more powerful still can save us. So fear God, but be brave enough to draw near to Him.

Be Rich Toward God

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21

On earth he was a rich man; in Heaven he was a pauper. He had hoarded up wealth for himself on earth but had made no provision or preparation for Heaven. In other words, he had a bad investment strategy. Heaven doesn’t take Visa or America Express. The almighty dollar has no value there. Neither do euros, pesos or yen. If you and I are to be rich toward God then we need to convert earthly wealth into heavenly currency. Don’t be a fool! Don't let greed for something that is temporary (earthly wealth) keep you from riches that last forever. 

In this passage, Jesus gives us a key principle. The Christian's entire life, including how they steward their money, must be rethought in light of the coming kingdom of God. So, a Christian's financial outlook ought to look different than a non-believer's financial outlook. 

A typical investment portfolio might have bonds, mutual funds, an IRA, and even some real estate. And a Christian's investment portfolio will necessarily have some of the same. I understand that it is necessary for us to make money and even save money to prepare for our future, BUT don’t forget to be rich towards God! So a Christian's investment portfolio should also include investments in the kingdom of God. This would include things like giving to the poor, helping save a family member from bankruptcy, supporting an orphanage in Africa, sponsoring a child, supporting a missionary in Nicaragua, giving to your church, etc.

When you get to Heaven you are never going to look back and think I wish I drove a nicer truck on earth or had a bigger house or more expensive clothes but you very well may regret what you didn’t invest in the kingdom of God, what you didn’t give. So, be wise in diversifying your investments! Don't hoard all your wealth on earth, store up treasure in heaven. There it’s permanent. Here it’s temporary. So be rich towards God!

That One Time Peter Told Jesus to Go Away (W.o.W. Rewind)

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Luke 5:8

Everyone wanted to get closer to Jesus. Once, while Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee, the crowds pressed in on Him.  As the crowd inched forward I imagine Jesus' feet finally met the water. Seeing Peter's fishing boat nearby Jesus put it to good use. They put the boat out a little from the shore and Jesus sat down to teach.

When His sermon was over Jesus told Peter to go out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Peter knows this breaks every rule of fishing. There is a zero percent chance this is going to work. Yet for whatever reason, Peter did it. The nets were so full of fish that Peter couldn't haul them in by himself. He called his partners over and they filled two boats so full of fish that they were both in danger of sinking. 

That's when Peter looked over at Jesus. This miracle that was tailor made for a fisherman had given him a glimpse of who Jesus really was. So right there in the boat, knee deep in fish. Peter falls down before Jesus and asks Him to leave. 

Peter's response seems odd at first. Everyone wants to get closer to Jesus. The crowds had been pressing in on Him. But here is Peter, enjoying next level intimacy with Jesus and wanting to get away. He's sharing a small boat with Jesus receiving personal miracles, and yet he's telling Jesus to get away from him.

But Peter's response isn't all that odd or unique really. Consider Isaiah's response when he entered God's presence in a vision. "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips..." (Isaiah 6:5). When God first spoke to Moses at the burning bush Moses hid his face in fear (Exodus 3:6). When the people of Israel heard God speak at Mt. Sinai from the midst of the cloud and the fire, they were so afraid that they told Moses not to let God speak to them anymore (Exodus 20:18-21).

The key to understanding Peter's response is in the second half of verse eight. Peter asks Jesus to leave him because he is a sinner. When Peter got a glimpse of who Jesus really was it made him more acutely aware of his own sinfulness. Far from a rejection of Jesus, Peter's statement is a form of worship. It's like he was saying, "I am unworthy to be in Your presence." 

When was the last time you felt unworthy of God? How long has it been since you were so moved by a passage of Scripture or so overwhelmed by the power of His presence in some place that you said to God "I am unworthy of You. I don't deserve You." This is the appropriate human response to entering God's presence. If we don't occasionally respond to God in this way then we have a problem. Either we think too highly of ourselves, we think too little of God, or we simply aren't seeing how good God really is. Take some time today to fall down before the holy God and declare yourself unworthy.

Will He Find Faith on the Earth?

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up... And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:1, 7-8

Above we read the introduction and conclusion of Jesus' parable of the importunate widow. She managed to secure justice from a wicked and uninterested judge simply by persevering in making her request day after day without fail. Take note of the question Jesus asks at the end.

"When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

By asking if he will find "faith on the earth" Jesus is asking whether or not He will still find people praying. You see faith and doubt are at war in all of us, and nowhere is this clearer than in our prayer lives. Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Certainly the idea of "coming" to God includes prayer. Prayer itself is an act of faith and is a victory over the doubt the remains in us. Faith presses on when doubt gives up. So that means when we give up on prayer it is because we lack faith. Doubt has won.

So if we are to persevere in faith until the Lord returns, then we must persevere in prayer. Consider this example from the life of George Muller. Muller is considered by many to be the quintessential example of Christian prayer. In his personal journals he recorded more than 50,000 specific answers to prayer he had received, thirty thousand of which were answered the same day he made his request to God. ("What George Muller Can Teach Us about Prayer" by Donald S. Whitney) Yet, even this giant had to learn to persevere in prayer. In George's own words:

"In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without one single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land or on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God, and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God, and prayed on for the other three. Day by day I continued to pray for them, and six years more passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three, and went on praying for the other two. These two remain unconverted [though I have] been praying day by day for nearly thirty-six years for [their] conversion." (George Muller: Delighted in God. p193)

One of Muller's biographers notes. "Of the two individuals still unconverted at the time of this sermon, one became a Christian before Muller's death and the other a few years later" (ibid. p194). Muller died in March of 1898 meaning he likely prayed for more than fifty-three years for these two men before he finally received the answer to his prayer. Will Jesus find you exercising your faith in prayer like this when He returns? 

O Lord, teach us to pray without ceasing, without doubting and without giving up that we may be found faithful at your return.

The Only Retirement Plan Jesus Endorsed

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Luke 16:8-9

Here Jesus points out one area in which worldly men actually excel beyond the community of the redeemed. Their shrewdness in dealing with one another. They are practical, even artful in how they ingratiate people to themselves and by so doing, provide for their own future. Jesus says we should do the same. 

This is a tricky saying. In the context of the parable as a whole it could appear that Jesus is commending dishonesty and stealing. But if you read carefully, what Jesus is actually commending is how the dishonest manager used the wealth at his disposal to provide for his future. Jesus challenges us to do the same. But what does He mean?

Jesus is confronting us with our love of money (see verse 13) and He is accusing us of being unwise both in how we deal with other believers and in how we provide for our future. In short, Jesus is telling us to give generously to the needs of other believers. When we do, it accomplishes several things. 1) It fights against the love of money taking root in our hearts (as any sacrificial giving does). 2) It strengthens the community of faith by drawing us nearer to one another in friendship. 3) It is a way in which we can lay up treasure for ourselves in Heaven. In verses ten through twelve, Jesus discusses how God will reward those who prove faithful with their money. But if I understand Jesus correctly in verses eight and nine, He is actually suggesting that if you use your worldly wealth to provide for believers here on earth, then they might invite you over to their Heavenly pad in eternity and thank you there. What a thought! 

In case you aren't convinced yet, here's my argument: First, Jesus says that these friends we are supposed to make with our money will welcome us into eternal dwellings. Who could do that but believers? Second, notice that in verse eight Jesus explicitly compares how the people of this world deal with "their own kind" and how believers do. For the comparison to hold, Jesus must be talking about how believers deal with our own kind. Third, consider that the parable of the rich man and Lazarus follows hard on this parable's heels in the gospel of Luke. Much of the emphasis is the same. The rich man ought to have used his money to provide for Lazarus' needs on earth; but, as he did not, it reveals his true god to have been money and he was not welcomed into eternal dwellings but suffered in Hades. 

So how can we live this out? Simple. Check your bank and credit card statements. We all spend money on the people and things we love. Are you providing for the needs of poor and suffering believers both near and far? Are you giving to ministries who help lead the lost to salvation? Life experience teaches us that we can't hang onto our money forever, but we can use it to provide for our future. Be generous with your Christian family, they're the only ones who have an eternity to pay you back!

For further reading:

• Luke 16- Read the whole chapter.

God Hears Even When He Doesn't Answer

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was... Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years...

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth." 

Luke 1:5-7, 11-14

If you have kids or are around them at all, you've probably noticed that they don't take no for an answer. When they want something they'll ask and ask and ask again. Even when you succeed in getting them to stop asking you today, chances are it'll be the first thing out of their mouths tomorrow. Although this behavior might be frowned upon from a parent's perspective, God actually encourages it. Repeatedly Scripture implores us to persevere in prayer, to keep asking God for what we need even when He doesn't answer right away (Luke 18:1-8, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18). Zechariah's story reminds us of this.

As Zechariah prayed for a child I imagine he took comfort in Proverbs 15:29, "The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous." He and his wife were righteous people. Surely God would hear their prayer. But God never answered. Months turned into years and still he prayed. Zechariah prayed until he and Elizabeth had passed the age of childbearing. And then he stopped praying convinced that it simply wasn't God's will for his life. (I know I've taken some liberties filling in the biblical narrative here but I think there is reason to believe this is likely how it went.)

Then one day Zechariah was chosen to burn incense in the temple. This was likely a once in a lifetime opportunity, a big day in his life, but Zechariah had no idea just how big. As he stood alone in the temple praying and offering incense on the altar just outside the Holy of Holies, the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to him. Gabriel had a message from God. Zechariah's prayer had been heard, he would have a son. His son would be the forerunner to the Messiah and the first prophet in over 400 years. His son would be John the Baptist. Zechariah was incredulous. He had a hard time believing that God had finally answered his prayer that he and his wife would have a child at their age. (This is one of the reasons I believe the prayer Gabriel is answering was likely uttered years before and not right in that moment.)

Be encouraged by this! God hears your prayers even when He doesn't answer them right away. Keep praying. Keep asking. Don't give up! He delayed in answering Zechariah's prayer so that when He did answer it would be all the more sweet to Zechariah and it would result in even more glory for Himself. God loves to answer the prayers of His children. Rest assured, if He isn't answering your prayer, there's a reason. God orders the events of our lives towards His ends. Trust Him and keep on praying.

That One Time Peter Told Jesus to Go Away

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Luke 5:8

Everyone wanted to get closer to Jesus. Once, while Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee, the crowds pressed in on Him.  As the crowd inched forward I imagine Jesus' feet finally met the water. Seeing Peter's fishing boat nearby Jesus put it to good use. They put the boat out a little from the shore and Jesus sat down to teach.

When His sermon was over Jesus told Peter to go out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Peter knows this breaks every rule of fishing. There is a zero percent chance this is going to work. Yet for whatever reason, Peter did it. The nets were so full of fish that Peter couldn't haul them in by himself. He called his partners over and they filled two boats so full of fish that they were both in danger of sinking. 

That's when Peter looked over at Jesus. This miracle that was tailor made for a fisherman had given him a glimpse of who Jesus really was. So right there in the boat, knee deep in fish. Peter falls down before Jesus and asks Him to leave. 

Peter's response seems odd at first. Everyone wants to get closer to Jesus. The crowds had been pressing in on Him. But here is Peter, enjoying next level intimacy with Jesus and wanting to get away. He's sharing a small boat with Jesus receiving personal miracles, and yet he's telling Jesus to get away from him.

But Peter's response isn't all that odd or unique really. Consider Isaiah's response when he entered God's presence in a vision. "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips..." (Isaiah 6:5). When God first spoke to Moses at the burning bush Moses hid his face in fear (Exodus 3:6). When the people of Israel heard God speak at Mt. Sinai from the midst of the cloud and the fire, they were so afraid that they told Moses not to let God speak to them anymore (Exodus 20:18-21).

The key to understanding Peter's response is in the second half of verse eight. Peter asks Jesus to leave him because he is a sinner. When Peter got a glimpse of who Jesus really was it made him more acutely aware of his own sinfulness. Far from a rejection of Jesus, Peter's statement is a form of worship. It's like he was saying, "I am unworthy to be in Your presence." 

When was the last time you felt unworthy of God? How long has it been since you were so moved by a passage of Scripture or so overwhelmed by the power of His presence in some place that you said to God "I am unworthy of You. I don't deserve You." This is the appropriate human response to entering God's presence. If we don't occasionally respond to God in this way then we have a problem. Either we think too highly of ourselves, we think too little of God, or we simply aren't seeing how good God really is. Take some time today to fall down before the holy God and declare yourself unworthy.

Your Are Not Your Own

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:26

He was thrown in jail in 1660 for preaching without state approval. He was a non-conformist, a Puritan pastor. Although he was uneducated, John Bunyan was known to be a powerful preacher who drew large crowds to hear the gospel. The Church of England considered him (and thousands of other Puritan pastors) to be dangerous outsiders. Thousands of these pastors were forced out of their pulpits. Some were killed. John Bunyan was imprisoned. 

He would spend twelve long years in his cell during this first imprisonment. He spent that time writing to his church, praying for his captors and worrying about his family. Astoundingly, Bunyan could have secured his release at any time but did not. Had he simply agreed not to preach any longer, he could have gone on his way; but his conscience wouldn't allow it. How many of us would have done the same I wonder? His willingness to endure for twelve years would be laudable even had he been a bachelor, but Bunyan was a family man. He had a wife and six children, the oldest of which was blind. As long as he was in jail, he was unable to provide for their needs. This caused him no small amount of anguish.

"Parting with my wife and poor children has often been to me like the pulling of the flesh from my bones... I have often brought to mind the many hardships, miseries, and wants that my poor family would likely meet with should I be taken from them, especially my poor blind child, who lies nearer my heart than all besides. Oh the thoughts of the hardship I thought my blind one might go under would break my heart to pieces." (Bunyan, John. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. p 123 as quoted by Piper, John in The Hidden Smile of God. p.56) [I've updated the language to make it easier to read]

Yet, despite his concern for his family, John Bunyan refused to be silenced. He remained in jail until religious freedom once again broke out in England and he was freed to both be with his family and to preach. Bunyan would be imprisoned two more times during his lifetime. It was during one of these later imprisonments that he wrote the book Pilgrim's Progress for which he is still known. This book is worthy to be remembered but it's a shame that Bunyan isn't remembered more for his unyielding commitment to preach the Word and to live for Christ.

Bunyan's life illustrates a truth that I believe he understood better than most. The believer's life is not his own. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then your life is not yours to do with as you please. Not one second of one day of your life belongs to you. Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Jesus said, "I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me" (John 5:30). Jesus didn't live His life as He wished but according to the will of God the Father. May those who follow Jesus and call Him Lord take the same attitude! If every Christian were gripped by this truth, much of the lostness and pain in our world could be defeated 

Who are you living for? Who would you say directs your life in the big decisions? And in all the small ones? Remember, "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Live like it!

Father, forgive me for living my life as if it were my own, selfishly assigning or witholding my time and resources based on my own preferences. Forgive me for not seeking Your will every day in the big decisions and in the small ones. Thank you for reminding me today that my very breath is a gift from You. My life is not my own, help me to spend it in service to You. Use me for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Upside Down Houses

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Luke 2:34-35

In recent years people have begun building upside down houses as tourist attractions. Of course it requires quite a bit of architectural ingenuity and construction know-how to make the house structurally sound while looking as if it is sitting on its roof. Tables and chairs bolted to a ceiling that looks like a floor. A bed, neatly made, with sheets, covers, and pillows glued in place, all defying gravity and hanging overhead. Imagine what it would be like to really live in a house like this, though. None of the furniture would be usable. Only a few of the appliances would be reachable. Can you even imagine how dangerous ceiling fans would be?!

This is the kind of topsy-turvy image I get in my head when I read Simeon's words in Luke 2. He prophesies that Jesus will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel. He will be opposed and will reveal the condition of people's hearts. Simeon says in essence that Jesus is destined to turn the world upside down. Or more accurately, He will turn the world right side up. 

You see, the world we live in is like those upside down houses. When mankind rejected God and began to worship ourselves and the created order instead of the Creator, we turned the world on its head. Deep in our hearts we all know this to be true. Our world is deeply flawed. Everything is not as it should be, but this is all we have ever known. We are like people who have lived in that upside down house for our whole lives. It is all we know. We get used to it. It makes sense to us. You can imagine how someone like that would react if a person came to set things right... to turn our home right side up again. That's exactly how many people react to Jesus. They think He is turning their world upside down, when in reality He wants to turn it right side up. 

Jesus flipped the societal expectations and order of His day in innumerable ways. And I believe He does the same thing in our hearts. When Jesus begins to work in a person's life, He systematically goes about undoing the perversion of sin in their life. One by one He walks around the little upside down houses that are our hearts and begins turning things right side up. How we respond to Jesus as He challenges our old ways of living reveals the condition of our hearts. Consider for a moment two ways Jesus flipped the script on people in His day, and consider how He may want to do the same today with you.

First, Jesus confronted religion that was merely outward ritual and form, and offered a close relationship with God in its place. He accosted hypocrisy. He attacked profiteers who had turned worship into a marketplace for their own gain. We all have flawed perspectives on God and religion, and Jesus must confront these flawed views. He will not be satisfied with worship that equates to giving God a day here and there, or to performing some outward ritual alone. Jesus wants your whole heart and will offered up to God. You can fight Him all you want, but He won't accept anything less.

Second, Jesus challenged people's views of what success looks like. He taught that the greatest among men ought to make himself the servant of all... and then He lived this truth. He lived it out not only in His life but also in His death. And in so doing He flipped our concept of winning as well. Success isn't about what you accomplish in this life; it's about what you accomplish for the life to come. This perspective is what makes great sacrifice possible for believers. Make no mistake, when you follow a crucified Lord, sacrifice is part of the deal. The good news is that Jesus promises rewards in the next life for all we sacrifice for Him in this life.

Maybe your life has been in upheaval lately. Maybe it feels like God is challenging you or turning your life upside down. It's tempting in those moments to complain. Instead, stop and ask yourself this question, "How might Jesus be using this situation to turn my life right side up?"