And You Have What You Need Today, Too

Yesterday's lesson: you have what you need.

Today's lesson: you have what you need today, too.

The disciples have seen amazing things happen in the name of Jesus. But immediately after their successful ministry trip, they are then confronted with another problem: a huge, hungry crowd. And it's as if the size of this problem has caused them to forget everything they previously learned. So, Jesus teaches them again as he uses 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the five thousand.

The point: in the name of Jesus, you always have what you need, even when it seems as if you don't. Don't let the size of the problem intimidate you.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 9:10-17

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You Have Everything You Need

When Jesus sends the Twelve out on their discipleship residency training, he tells them "Take nothing for the journey." The implication is that the Twelve have everything they need to do ministry in Jesus name.

For us, it's the same:

You have everything you need today.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 9:1-9

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Do Not Be Afraid; Only Believe

That sums it all up, doesn't it? Jesus tells Jairus, the father of the girl who has just died:

Do not be afraid; only believe.

A good reminder today (and every day).

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 8:40-56

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What's Next?

After Jesus heals the man with the Legion of demons, the man wants to stay with Jesus. Instead, Jesus sends him on mission:

"Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

Luke 8:39

Jesus heals so that we can go on mission.

What's your mission today?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 8:26-39

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Nothing Hidden That Will Not Be Disclosed

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed," says Jesus. So, why do we think we can hide? Even in this life, our choices will often eventually become public knowledge. (Look at all the "Metoo" disclosures.) But God sees everything already.

Rather than trying to pretend you are better than you are, why not just confess in prayer today and ask the Lord for mercy? Honesty is the best policy for your soul.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 8:16-25

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The Key to Understanding The Parable of the Sower

The key to understanding this parable is to realize it's all about proper hearing. The way to know if someone has properly heard Jesus is if that person actually does what Jesus says. The way to know if someone has not heard Jesus is if that persons does NOT do what Jesus says.

Why doesn't everyone respond with obedience when he or she hears the Word of God? Jesus doesn't really explain why, but he does say (quoting from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah), that, though the Word of God might be right in front of some people, they can still totally miss it:

though seeing, they may not see;
    though hearing, they may not understand

Luke 8:10

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 8:1-15

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"What Kind of Woman She Is"

The reason Simon the Pharisee is so scandalized when Jesus lets the sinful woman come near and weep all over him is because Simon can't imagine that if Jesus really knew "what kind of woman she is" that he would let her approach. But that's what's so amazing about Jesus: he neither condones sin nor pushes away sinners.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 7:36-50

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Why Does John the Baptist Lose Faith in Jesus?

John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one that is to come, or should we expect someone else?" In other words they ask,

Are you really the Messiah, or should we keep waiting?

This seems strange--didn't John baptize Jesus? Doesn't he know?

The reason for John's doubt is because Herod has put him in prison. (See Luke 3:19-20 and 9:7-9). If Jesus is the Messiah, shouldn't the bad guys be losing?

John's doubts come from the same place ours come from: suffering and difficulty. Suffering and difficulty cause us to question whether Jesus really has things under control.

What's causing you to doubt today?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 7:18-35

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Who Will Jesus Save?

The centurion's interactions with Jesus give us a model for saving faith:

1. He humbly approaches Jesus, not presuming the he is entitled to anything but believing that Jesus is able to save his servant;
2. He asks Jesus to do something he cannot do for himself.

That's what saving faith is: believing that the Lord is able to save, understanding that we can't save ourselves, knowing that we don't deserve mercy, but humbly asking for it anyway.

Jesus will not turn anyone away who humbly asks for mercy.

If you have asked the Lord to save you, be assured: the Lord will never turn his back on you.

If you haven't asked him, why haven't you?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 7:1-17

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The Connection Between Forgiving and Forgiven

Jesus tells his disciples that there is a connection between giving and receiving forgiveness.

"Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Luke 6:37b

What if giving forgiveness is accessed through the same door through which we receive forgiveness? What if the handle that you use to open the door to forgive another is the one that opens the door so you can be forgiven? What if there is no way to open the door to forgiveness apart from opening the door for the purpose of forgiving?

What if Jesus is giving us a stone cold fact about the universe?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 6:27-49

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The Sermon on the Level

Jesus was an itinerant preacher, and said similar things on many different occasions. On one occasion he gave a long sermon "on a mountainside," which Matthew records as the Sermon on the Mount. On another occasion, he gave a shorter sermon "on a level place," which Luke records as the so-called Sermon on the Plain. The two sermons are similar, but there are noticeable differences, including the series of "woes" that only Luke includes:

²⁴ “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
²⁵ Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
²⁶ Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

Luke 6:24-26

I think the key to understanding what Jesus is getting at here is to think of the blessings and the woes in the Sermon on the Plain as commentary on what Jesus will later tell his disciples:

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Luke 9:23-25

In other words, if what you have keeps you from following Jesus and receiving eternal life, it would be better to have nothing; if you have nothing, but you are Jesus's disciple, then it means you have everything that matters.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 6:12-26

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24/6 Is a Better Way to Live

Jesus makes an important point about the Sabbath: it is a gift from God to humanity. It is meant to be a blessing. The 24/6 lifestyle is a radical way to live, and a better way. But it is difficult to achieve!

How do you need to start preparing now so you can have a day off this weekend?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 6:1-11

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Why There Were Tax Collectors in Capernaum

When Levi becomes a disciple of Jesus, he invites Jesus over for dinner, along with a large group of Levi's fellow tax collectors. Capernaum (on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee) was right on the border between two administrative regions, and so it was a natural place to collect taxes and customs. In the photo above (taken on our trip to Israel earlier this year), you can see from the excavations that Capernaum was a thriving village at the time of Jesus. Maybe Levi lived in one of those houses?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 5:27-39

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Is This the House Where Jesus Healed the Paralytic?

In Capernaum today, you can see the foundations of houses that archeologists have uncovered, foundations that date from the time of Jesus. Is one of these houses the place where the friends of the paralyzed man broke through the roof to lower their friend down to be healed by Jesus? Check out the video:
[I know some folks have been having trouble with my videos, so I hope the fix below helps. Sorry this post is later than normal.]

https://vimeo.com/350107582

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 5:12-26

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Jesus's View Every Morning

Here's a brief video showing what Jesus saw from his window in Capernaum every morning:

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 5:1-11

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What I Saw in Capernaum

Jesus was raised in Nazareth, but moved to Capernaum as an adult, and Capernaum is where he performed many miracles. You can still see the foundation of the Capernaum synagogue today! Check out the video below:

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 4:31-44

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They Tried to Throw Jesus Off This Cliff

Until I went to Israel earlier this year, I had very little feel for the the topography and geography of the Holy Land, which is funny, because now that I have eyes to notice, I see topographical and geographical details everywhere in the Bible. (Which, by the way, is a strong argument in favor of the trustworthiness of scripture--you couldn't make all these little details up.)

Today's account in Luke contains a great example of the kind of topographical detail I previously overlooked. I was astounded when I was standing on the cliff that overlooks Nazareth and realized that this is where Luke tells is that the townspeople of Nazareth tried to kill Jesus.

Here are some pictures:

• 

  That's the modern city of Nazareth behind me.

• 

• 

• 

  The modern city of Nazareth.

• 

  Mount Carmel is in the distance.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 4:14-30

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What Temptation Is

Each of the devil's temptations is about receiving something legitimate but in an illegitimate way.

• Jesus is hungry--food is a legitimate need;
• Jesus is Lord--having the authority and splendor of the world's kingdoms is his right;
• Jesus is Messiah--it is right that all the people in Jerusalem see his power.

The problem is that each of those legitimate ends can only come through suffering, and this is the temptation that the devil puts before Jesus: have what you need or what is rightfully yours, but have it without suffering for it.

Remember, though, that it's Cross before Crown.

What temptations are you facing today?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 4:1-13

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Joseph Was and Wasn't Jesus's Father

Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus; as Luke has already told us, Mary miraculously conceived. So, why does Luke give us Joseph's genealogy? Because he was born into Joseph's family, and raised as Joseph's son.

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 3:21-38

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Stone Children

John the Baptist really lets the Jews who have come out to be baptized by him in the River Jordan have it:

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Luke 3:7-9

Apparently, there were Jews who thought that just because they were descended from Abraham (i.e., ethnically Jewish), then they could live however they want: their status as the covenant people wouldn't be in question.

John's point is that it's not enough to self-righteously claim your spiritual status: you have to actually live like it by "producing fruit" that comes from repentance (v.8).

Not that this is a relevant message for us, right?

Today’s Scripture:

Luke 3:1-20

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