Do I realize Jesus wants to be a guest in my home today?
Luke 19: 5 "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Jesus found sinners and restored their lives. Same thing today. And it's all because He headed straight to Jerusalem to fulfill God's Plan. Luke 19:38 - Blessed is He Who comes, the King in God's Name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places! "When the city came into view, he wept over it. If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you (Luke 19:41). Jesus is weeping for Jerusalem not for Himself and what He must suffer. Today, I was wronged but my thoughts were for myself not for the city, the community, the church. Expose the pretense. Am I guilty of Luke 20:46-47 "preen in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function." Am I advancing His Kingdom or my own?
66 LL says: "If you miss everything in this letter but one thing, don't miss this: My Son wished forward. Seven times God has Luke record that He prayed, using the word proseuchomai, which means to "wish forward." That is the core of human maturity in Jesus' life. Jesus had no greater desire than to carry out His part in God's Plan. That is the center of spiritual formation, not more energy, not feeling more upbeat, but a clear awareness of the deepest truly human desire, a desire that releases resolve, an unflinching determination to follow the lead of My Son in bringing heaven's Kingdom to earth, a longing to love."
Luke 19:26 - “Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.” If playing it safe means doing it my way and not taking a risk and living for God, I need to re-examine where I find risk. Is it riskier not to believe? I feel safer relying on God than trusting my not so steady self.
ReplyDeleteLuke 19:14-15 – “But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.' "When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.”
Somehow, this little part of the story seems important to me this morning. For those who reject Him thinking their own logic is better, they will still answer to Him. Even when there is some part of His way we don’t especially like, He still reigns. it is the way it is—He is still God. There is reassurance in this: He is Lord over all, the righteous and unrighteous alike, and every knee will bow.
"Today is salvation day in this home!" Let Jesus exclaim that over each of our houses this first day of November!
So what does it look like for me to take a risk and believe God? John Owen says that faithful living does not always look the same. He goes on to say: If you don't watch your heart and if you are not exactly skilled in the knowledge of yourself, you will not disentangle from one temptation all your days. Pretty true bold statement.
ReplyDeleteLove your thoughts Annette.