Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 21 today we see a far greater prophet than Nostradamus, or any other futurist the world has ever known, as JESUS THE SON OF GOD foretells numerous historically verifiable prophecies alluding to the destruction of the temple and trampling of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and future end of the world events as we know it…

“As for this temple the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (vs 6)…

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near” (vs 20)…

“And there will be people fainting with fear for what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then they will see the SON OF MAN coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (vs 24).

Q. If your life were to end suddenly and you stood before God today, what would you say if He asked you…”What qualifies you to come into my perfect home (where only joy and love exist forever), and why should I let you in to spend eternity with me?”

🙏 Heavenly Father we know that this question will come for all of us, and is the most important one we will ever answer – So by your grace please help us to avoid all of the misguided and incorrect responses…

#1 I’m basically a good person, and I have done more good than bad in my life.

#2 I may have made some mistakes, but I’m better than a lot of people I know.

#3 I never thought my life would end so soon, and if you give me another chance I promise I’ll do a lot better next time.

#4 I’ve done many good works in your name, surely you will let me in, etc.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that we can come before the throne of grace having faith in YOUR GREAT NAME, and be assured of eternal acceptance and favor because of your shed blood and atoning sacrifice at the cross…

✝️ “Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with self-indulgence and the cares of this life, and the last day come upon you like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay alert at all times praying…for one day you will stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:34-35

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 20 today we see the most intellectually savvy, yet fully corrupted religious leaders of the day (who were the sworn enemies of Jesus), trying to bait Him into a verbal trap. But the divine wisdom and Spirit-led counter-questions of the Messiah confounded all of them time and time again, culminating with the famous phrase…

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s…and they marveled at His answers and became silent” (vs 25-26).

Q. In light of life’s many difficult struggles and challenges, do you find encouragement and solace in the fact that the biggest burden you will ever face has been fully removed forever by the finished work of Jesus at the cross?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much that in the same way Jesus silenced all of His enemies in this chapter verbally, You have silenced all of our enemies (sin, satan, death, and hell) eternally, by the atoning sacrifice of your Son at calvary.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that through your life, death, and resurrection you rescued us from our most overwhelming burden and eternal trap, as you canceled our record of debt and sin that stood against us with all of its legal demands, nailing it to the cross and disarming the evil rulers and authorities, putting them to open shame by triumphing over them…

✝️ Rejoice! “For you cannot die the 2nd death because you will be immortal like the angels in heaven, and you are children of God and partakers of the resurrection!”
‭‭Luke 20:36‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 19 today we see the inspiring story of Zacchaeus, whose initial reputation and identity as a bitter and depressed loner, and outcast of the town, was  remarkably transformed because of the compassion and kindness of Jesus…

“And when Jesus arrived in the town and walked among the crowds, He saw Zacchaeus sitting in a tree, and He said, ‘Come down my friend and come with me, for I must stay at your house and dine with you today!’ So Zacchaeus came down from the tree and received him joyfully” (vs 5-6).

Q. All of us, like little Zac, have experienced smallness in stature in one way or another, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, due to our own earthly brokenness and weaknesses – but is it fair to say that our most striking similarity to Zacchaeus is our overwhelming need for a compassionate and merciful Savior?

🙏 Heavenly Father thank you so much for putting the Gospel on full display in this familiar story, as you have graciously picked the broken (and the brokenhearted) out of the crowd and emphatically declared, “This one is mine!”

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for the powerful and transformational effect of your love – Please help us to respond like Zacchaeus and let go of the anger and bitterness within, replacing it with joy, hope, love for others, and enthusiastic service toward you. Thank you for your eternal friendship and costly sacrifice on our behalf…

✝️ “For salvation has come to our house, because the Son of Man (left the comfort of heaven) and came to seek out the lost!”

Luke 19:9-10

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 18 today we see the humbling illustration of the pharisee and the tax collector, as Jesus presents a vivid contrast between the self-righteousness of religion (seeking to earn God’s love and acceptance through doing our own good works ), and the beautiful news of the Gospel of Grace (being fully accepted and loved by God because of Jesus perfect works done on our behalf).

Q. Have you ever been confronted with your own sins & misdeeds and thought to yourself, I may have a few flaws here and there but generally I’m a pretty good person – after all, there’s lots of people who’ve done far worse things than me?

🙏 Heavenly Father forgive my lingering pride and self-righteous comparisons, thinking that somehow you are “Grading us on a curve” to gain your favor and salvation – Help us all to know that everyone stands condemned at the foot of the cross, and the only way to have a clean slate and right standing before you is by trusting in the righteousness of Christ alone.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your unwavering humility and perfect obedience, leaving the comfort of Heaven to redeem unworthy, selfish sinners like us, and allowing our prayers to be heard by our righteous and Holy God…

✝️ “God be merciful to a sinner like me…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:13-14

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 17 today we see Jesus miraculously healing a group of 10 people stricken with the terrible disease of leprosy, but just one of them displaying the true faith that results in a visibly changed life of humble gratitude and worship toward God…

“Then one of them, a Samaritan, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice as he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks” (vs 15).

Q. What caused the Samaritan to express such genuine gratitude, and the others who received the same amazing healing to remain spiritually unchanged, and maintain the status quo by presuming upon the kindness of God?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for so often taking your gracious gift of healing and salvation for granted – Praying that by the ILLUMINATING POWER OF YOUR SPIRIT you greatly increase our faith, and help us all to have a deeper understand of your goodness and mercy in Christ.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your saving and transforming grace – May we realize more and more the significance of being crucified with you, for it is no longer we who live but CHRIST WHO LIVES IN US, that we may live with consistently thankful hearts by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us…

✝️ “And Jesus said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:19

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke 16 today we see an entire chapter devoted to the spiritually dangerous and flesh enticing subject of worldly wealth and riches, as Jesus exhorts His followers to reorient their values toward His empire in Heaven, instead of trying to establish and build their own on earth…

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (vs 13).

Q. Why does Jesus commit so much time in the Scriptures warning people about the love of money as the root of all evil?

Q. If being a Christian is foundationally about what we love and worship, what can we tell about our hearts when we open our checkbooks and see where the money goes?

Q. Do you value money primarily because of the pleasure, comfort, and status it brings, or do you earmark the assets that God has given you as a resource for the advancement of His Kingdom?

Q. Do you look more to God or to money for your security – acid test…If all of your money was gone, would Jesus alone be enough to give you consistent joy, contentment, and peace?

🙏 Heavenly Father I know I’m not alone when I say that I feel so convicted right now. I humbly ask your pardon and forgiveness for my false reliance, frequent covetousness, and selfish greed regarding money and the fleeting treasures of this world – Help us all learn to prioritize wisely and seek your Kingdom values, turning away from hoarding and worshiping $, the most treacherous and deceitful of all idols.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that though you were rich, you left the comfort of heaven for our sake and became poor, so that by your poverty we might become spiritually wealthy beyond all comprehension, recipients of every blessing in the heavenly places.

🙏 Holy Spirit please grant us God-honoring stewardship of the resources we have, and guide us to avoid settling for mud pies, but instead look to Christ alone as our greatest treasure…

✝️ “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If you have not been faithful in the unrighteous money and wealth of the world, then who will entrust to you the true riches that are found in heaven?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:10-11‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 15 today we see a trinity of sweet Gospel truths, as the three reunion parables (wayward sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son) give absolute proof that our patient and compassionate God tenaciously pursues lost souls, and has a lifetime forgiveness policy for all who would respond to His grace and repent, placing their trust in Jesus…

“Let us celebrate, for these were dead and now are alive, they were lost and now are found” (vs 24).

Q. Have you ever been discouraged that your prayers for unsaved family members and friends were seemingly ineffective, and that their eyes would never be opened to the glory of Christ?

🙏 Heavenly Father please help us believe that all things are possible with you, because you are rich in mercy, forever faithful, and mighty to save! Thank you so much for being our Good Father and Prodigal God, and that despite the fact that we were dead in our sins and trespasses, you have made us alive together with Christ.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that you have searched out and rescued lost sinners like us, making us eternally your own by your costly and atoning sacrifice at the cross…

✝️ “And all rejoiced together, for the one who had been lost was now found. I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents!”

‭‭Luke 15:9-10

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 14 today we see Jesus explaining to the crowds the cost of discipleship, and what is required to follow Him…

“If you are not willing to give up all, you cannot be my disciple” (vs 33).

Q. How many of us find it very easy to fall in love with the beautiful and abundant promises of God…(mercy, forgiveness, adoption, provision, favor, protection, identity, purpose, preservation, salvation, fullness of joy, etc), and yet very difficult to let go of our white-knuckle grip on the treasures of this world…(money, status, approval, pleasure, comfort, possessions, relationships, control, entertainment, etc)?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for so often pursuing the temporary over the eternal, and loving the idea of kingdom inheritance without fully loving the Lord & King 👑

Help us all to hold the fleeting things of this world loosely, and cling tightly to the cross of Christ.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for a further understanding about counting the cost of discipleship toward you – Please grant us all an abiding belief and ever-increasing faith to know that in all situations, and in all circumstances, and in all ways, YOU ARE ALWAYS WORTH IT, AND ALWAYS ENOUGH!…

✝️ Therefore our true and better reward is waiting for us in heaven, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted…For we will be repaid for all earthly loss at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 14:11,14

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Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 13 today we see Jesus strongly exhorting His audience to turn from their arrogance, and warning the people against a “holier than thou” mindset, relying on their own standard of good deeds for approval and reconciliation with God…

“Are you thinking that you are more righteous than these who have died?…Anyone who does not repent will also likewise perish” (vs 3).

Q. Do you believe that being morally good and striving to follow the Bible’s rules and commandments is the answer to acquiring God’s eternal acceptance and approval?

Q. What does the prophet Isaiah mean when he says…“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like polluted garments and filthy rags?

🙏 Heavenly Father I confess to you and repent for my self-righteousness, self-justification, and self-centered lingering pride – Please help us to be fully mindful that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and the only pathway that leads to you is the righteous work of Christ.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that all who put their trust in you have been once-for-all cleansed by your precious blood, and saved by your grace through faith alone – And also that saving faith does not stand alone but is accompanied by a response of gratitude and repentance, as we are spurred on by your costly and finished work at the cross…

✝️ “And someone said to Him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many will seek to enter another way and will not be able saying, ‘Lord open to us for we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ And the Lord will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know you…But blessed are those who come with (humility and repentance) in the name of the Lord!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:23,25,35‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Luke chapter 12 today we see the comforting words and incarnate wisdom of Jesus Christ, as He explains in detail the futile practice of earthly anxiety to all who have ears to hear…

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life” (vs 22)…

* Don’t worry about provision – God will graciously provide for all your needs (vs 23),

* Don’t worry about approval – you are greatly favored and loved by God (vs 24),

* Don’t worry about the future – God is good and in full control (vs 25).

Q. What are you most worried about in life?

Q. Have you ever been anxious about something that never happened, only to realize later what a gigantic waste of time, effort, and energy it was to be so overly concerned?

🙏 Heavenly Father I confess my lack of trust in your good and perfect plan for me, and my often anxieties about the things of this world – Thank you so much that because of Jesus finished work on our behalf, it is your good pleasure to provide in every season, and never withhold even one good thing from your children.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that we can cast all our cares and anxieties on you our sovereign King, and that because you gave your life for us, we can fully trust our lives to you…

✝️ “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father in Heaven knows that you have need of them. Seek first His Kingdom and all these things will be added to you…For it is His good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:30-32