Day 12: Luke 14-19 Opening Reflection

In today’s prescribed text Jesus is being closely watched by many people.  Many of these people are the same people that ridiculed Jesus, talked about Jesus, and discarded Jesus’ ministry.  These same people, however, were all watching Jesus for various reasons: some were secretly watching Jesus because they desired to be like Him, some were watching and waiting on Jesus to make a mistake or do something wrong and some were watching Jesus just to be nosy.

What ever the case, Jesus gives us the perfect example through a parable.  For Jesus doesn’t do his ministry to be exalted and neither should we do anything for reward.  Jesus says those that humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled

It is not possible as humans similar to sheep no matter how much we humble ourselves and no matter how cognizant we try to be of whom is watching us, to not go astray.  Luke recorded various examples in today’s listening that outline the occurrence of entities being lost and then being found.  There is nothing more exciting than finding something you lost.  Therefore, God is always ready to accept a lost soul into His loving arms.  But there is a responsibility, however, for being in God’s arms: servant hood and being responsible with your blessings.

People are watching you…is your light shining bright, brightly enough to lead people to Christ?  How forgiving are you? How much do you desire to serve?  How humble are you?  How righteous do you attempt to be?  Are you willing to lose your life in order to gain true life?  God has the ultimate last word and there will come a day to judge the living and the dead.  This means that when that day comes you can not be one of the living if you have not given your all to the Lord to the point of death.

Day 11: Luke 10-13 Opening Reflection

THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW…

            Why is this? There is plenty of work to do but not enough workers willing to do it or who possess the knowledge of how to do the work.  I see the harvest as those people who are ripe and ready to be brought to Christ.  Unfortunately people do not know enough about harvesting Christians nor desire to do the work.  What is your work schedule look like?  How hard are you working to bring in the Harvest? – If you leave the harvest out too long it will spoil

            There is work to be done…WORK… we see that Jesus describes work as the act of being a servant and Luke gives various examples in his gospel detailing how to be a true servant.  Work, however, is constantly praying you are doing the right thing but ultimately true servant hood and being a true worker entails letting your light SHINE!

            Therefore, how can you bring in the harvest?  By being a Lighthouse and letting your light shine in order to direct people to Christ – for in the end Light is the only thing that will shine in the dark days of our society that we very well might be in the midst of.  And your light must always shine bright for you never know who is watching or who is finding their way to Christ by your light. 

            What wattage is your light bulb? 

·        Hopefully you have an “unconditional love” watt light bulb connected to the power of the Lord!

Day 10: Luke 5-9 Opening Reflection

           In today’s prescribed text we see people with practical faith going to Jesus asking Jesus for healing, along with a few men being called by Jesus to his disciples.  These people who needed healing would all submit to Jesus’ authority bowing and worshiping Him and the men who were called by Jesus left everything they had.  Jesus also healed many people in all the surrounding areas for he had great compassion for all who were brokenhearted, poor, sick and in need of healing.  You have Jesus being reached for and pulled on in hopes of healing.  You have Jesus who can just speak words and healing take place.  He did not discriminate between situations for all are sinners.  Jesus was even able to forgive sin.  What stands out to me most, however, was that there are many things that we do not wish to continue to do even though we may feel a coercion to try again because on our own time we have done them before and our efforts did not create any produce.  How much better things work when it is own Jesus’ timing and in the presence of Jesus.In Luke we have the teachings of Jesus and the saying, “Blessed are those who are poor, and hungry and woe to those who are full and rich for they have already received their reward.  I began to think – being rich and poor or hungry and full are all perceptions.  So I would like to suggest that Jesus was saying that those of you who are on your egotistical pedestals thinking you are rich and full have a perception that does not allow you to yearn for the Kingdom of God because you are satisfied in your current position.  A yearning is a burning desire – How many of us yearn to be more like Jesus?

Day 9: Luke 1-4 Opening Reflection

For today’s prescribed text you have an introduction to 3 men who were diligent in proclaiming what thus sayeth the Lord.  You have Luke who was willing to really step up to the plate and “tell it like it is.”  Luke was confident in his knowledge and his ability to tell THE STORY.  Luke’s overall theme was “you have heard how the others tell it but let me tell you the real deal.”  Then you have John the Baptist who was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth – so much so that his father became a mute.  He was a leader through his actions.  He would not conform to society and his message was simple.  Repent for the Messiah is coming – One who is greater than I.  Then you have Jesus – the Son of God who made it clear that all things are possible through Him.

            These are three examples of men who were not afraid to live out what they believed in and what God had instilled in them.  Each has their own story outlining how the arrived to their esteemed status in the Bible.  At the time you had priest in the temple and around the area preaching in the churches.  These three men were not your so called pulpit preacher.  They were men who were preaching though their evangelical proclamations and righteous behavior.

            This reminds me that all of us have our role to be the best Proclaimers of the WORD!  What’s the overall theme of your message?

Day 8: Mark 12-16 Opening Reflection

           The opening parable allegorically foretells what the world was going to do and did to Jesus, the Son of God.  Jesus told the parable before the latter came to pass even though Jesus knew what would come of his life.  I know it would be very hard for me to press on knowing Exactly how I would die, why I would die and on top of everything knowing I was not guilty but Jesus pressed on anyway.

            PRESS ON…Jesus was able to press on in the face of adversity, trials, tribulation and an embarking assassination.  Ultimately Jesus died for our sins making Jesus our intercessor.  So if Jesus is constantly praying for us and allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell and guide us, how can we be anything but conquerors? How can we do anything but praise the Lord for what The Lord has already done in our lives, why can’t we understand there are going to be trials, tribulations, and adversity but know that we are conquerors and look to Jesus for our strength – why have we not accepted our position as the undisputed children of God – how is it possible for us to Lose this race?

            What is the key to victory? Love God with all you mind, heart, soul and strength while loving your neighbor as yourself – If you can muster up enough faith to give God your all, God will take care of the rest!!!

            Jesus tells of trials and tribulations that will come to those who follow Christ.  Jesus says this will be a dark time but upon a dark time is the approaching morning.  We know there will be a dark time in this world and in our individual lives (and it may be taking place now) but love God with your ALL, stand firm in your FAITH, and hope (EXPECT and WATCH) for Morning – the coming out of your dark times!

            It is not easy to stand when many are against you trying to trip you up, but if you follow Jesus’ lead and Give thanks in your times of trouble, you can remove yourself form darkness because morning will be on your mind.  PRESS ON in dark times letting your light shine.  Just like Jesus’ life, there will be certain challenges we will have to face in life regardless of how much we pray, plead, and request God to intervene – but you should Press On anyhow thanking God all the way for you have the privilege of knowing that God can resurrect anything (your situations – your relationships, your finances, your job situation, your house, your children, your health, your attitude)….God can do it all so don’t worry about anything!!!!

Day 7: Mark 7-11 Opening Reflection

Traditions – Customs…

What are traditions?  A tradition has been defined as both an inherited pattern of thought or action and/or a custom: a specific practice of long standing.  The latter definitions outline things done to preserve a culture.  When, however, does tradition and culture out rule the Word of the Lord?  Hopefully we can see and are not naïve to the fact that all traditions are not righteous and those that stand for upright purposes sometimes may hinder needed change.  Culture is normally considered to encompass certain foods, traditions, and customs.  Don’t let the culture of your environment prohibit God’s ability in your life.

In our prescribed text for today we see that Jesus can heal people without even being in their presence, feed the hungry, and meet all your needs.  We find that Jesus was and can be labeled and referred to as many names but cannot be confined.  The Lord can do all things so stop trying to fit the Lord into a preconceived box of predictability.

Why don’t we make it a tradition to faithfully and humbly submit ourselves to the Lord?  For everything is possible for him/her who believes…

 

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Day 6: Mark 1-6 Opening Reflection

Simplicity…The Gospel as recorded by Mark is very simplistic in its narrative form compared to the other Synoptic Gospels.  Mark gets straight to the point. Maybe as Christians we need to adopt Mark’s philosophy on religion.  He might have been the first to suggest the KISS method (keep it simple stupid).  We try to complicate God’s message so often but maybe we just need to look at it from a simplistic point of view.

 

 AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT OUR FATHER WELL IF NOT OUR FATHER’S HARSH JUDGMENT AND PUNISHMENT IS ON THE WAY.  AS A CHILD OF GOD, HOWEVER, YOU HAVE EVERY RESOURCE IMAGINABLE AT YOUR DISPOSAL!!!

Day 5: Mat. 25-28 Opening Reflection

GET READY…As we found out through today’s prescribed texts, being unprepared is not an excuse and will cost you every time.  You have to learn how to get ready – which means understanding your full potential and talents.  Once you know your talents and your capabilities you must learn how to faithfully use them for the fulfillment of God’s will.

            Not only must you Be Ready, you must position yourself on the right side of the Lord, by looking after the least of those around you.  I realize that you never know who you are dealing with but if you treat every one as if they might be Jesus you will never have a problem.

            Along with positioning yourself and being ready you also must reconsider our busy schedules and determine what we are doing for the Lord – are you taking care of the Lord like the lady with the perfume who massaged Jesus or are you doing things to tear down Jesus’ vision and ministry for His people like Judas?

            GET READY…which means accepting Jesus for who He is, was and will be, following Jesus’ example of diligent servitude, praying persistently and perseveringly like Jesus, and being able to stay awake and wait on Jesus.

·        If you are ready, you are familiar with the spiritual weapons in your possession as a direct result of being a descendant of Jesus and a Child of God. 

·        If you are ready, no false witness can bring charges against you that will hold weight in the sight of God.

·        If you are ready, you can stand behind what you believe no matter what the consequences. 

·        If you are ready, you wont betray the Lord in any of your actions, words or deeds

·        If you are ready, and know the purpose of your work the n you can be still while God does his will

Just as Jesus was ready and was resurrected you should know that God can resurrect anything, person or situation.  Jesus Ministry last for 3years and he was able to map out all three years from the first day of his ministry so following Jesus we need a plan

WHAT IS YOUR 3 YEAR SPIRITUAL PLAN?

Day 4: Mat. 19-24 Opening Reflection

The text prescribed for today ties right in to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The early chapters of today’s listening are focused on the Family – specifically the components that contribute to a family as well as the rituals that bring a family together: Marriage, Children in the need of prayer, and a man seeking eternal life and having to deal with his perception of worldly wealth.  This may sound like some entities of our every day family in today’s society.

            Family, however, doesn’t care who is first nor who is last, family doesn’t care who makes more or less and should encourage each other to pull there own weight but at the end of the day they are satisfied that the work gets done.  In every family, although everyone has their own dynamic and plays a different role, the most important person to the family is the person who no is willing to serve and be the servant – you know the one who cooks the Thanksgiving dinner and wont sit down to eat his/herself until every one has eaten, the one who makes sure everyone had all they wanted, the one who made sure everyone found a nice comfortable pillow and felt comfortable, the one who would not even sit down until everyone was finished eating and the kitchen is clean, the servant of the family.  And so in our spiritual lives Jesus comes across as being the Servant of our lives – so willing to make sure we were ok that he paid the ultimate price for our sin.  How can we become the servant in life similar to Jesus?

            It is time for us to accept our roles as True Christians – Just as the parable about the wicked tenets explains – the prophets have been sent to us and we have not listened, God has sent signs and even His son, yet we still have not became serious about what it is we need to be doing in life to service God’s will.  A true Christian who is ready to accept his/her role means:

• Not trying to trick the Lord
• Not trying to manipulate the Lord’s words in order to get what you want
• Not trying to disprove whom Jesus and God really ware
• Not trying to be exalted with titles for the only title you should truly seek is: CHILD OF GOD

It is time for us to focus on the inside (heart) and not the outside which can be decorated to cover up what’s really going on in the inside.

            It is not an easy task following Jesus and allowing God to do His work in us and through us but are you so immersed in society and secular values that you cannot follow the Lord?

Day 3: Mat. 13-18 Opening Reflection

            Parables…Today’s prescribed text leads us into the parables.  The parables were used by Jesus and the text says that he used parables so that the people listening could not understand – he was willing to give some people the secrets and keep them form others.  This is a difficult way in looking at Jesus – someone that would intentionally deprive you.  Who is this Jesus character?  When the text is read literally and we remove our preconceived notion of Jesus being ALL GOOD, Jesus is presented as a deceiver in the use of his parables, a sexist and an elitist in his role in the story of the woman with a possessed daughter because looking at it from a contemporary sense – he ignored this woman’s most sincere plea and on top of that calling a woman a dog in today’s society is equated to basically calling a woman a B…

On the other hand Jesus is also portrayed as the Christ, the Savior, a cross-bearer, a leader, son of God, a healer, a teacher, a miracle worker, a provider, a safe hold for us to step on in troubled water, a collection of answers, a discerner of people’s heart and situations, a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer, a sanitation worker, a mortician, an orthopedic surgeon, a chef, a mariner, but amongst all these titles – Jesus is an entity that can be challenged , tested and questioned but moreover an entity who’s mind can be CHANGED!!!

            How do you change the Lord’s mind? SHOW THE LORD YOUR FAITH!!!

Just like the Disciples we often wonder how Jesus was able to do things that we are not able to do, why things don’t always work out like we want, and why we are unable to accomplish certain task that seem so attainable – is it that we are like the Disciples and the Lord is looking at us and still saying But You of Little Faith?

            How can you work on being more faithful and what do you consider being faithful?