Daily Encouragement

February 1, 2009 - Spiritual Satisfaction

Meditation on Luke 6

One thing Luke emphasizes in his Gospel is the vital importance of spiritual satisfaction. If a person is not satisfied by God and His kingdom, he is not satisfied at all. Eternal woe is waiting for this person. Luke presents four beatitudes similar to the Sermon on the Mount by Matthew. After that he continues with four woes rather than four more beatitudes.

First woe is concerning the rich on earth. They have already received their comfort here but they will obviously suffer in eternity for they do not care for the life to come and they are not rich toward God. (v. 24, cf. 12; 16-21)

Second woe is again against those who are full on earthly possession but are spiritually hungry. Men will never satisfy unless they are fed by God in their hearts and minds. (v. 25)

The third woe is against those who laugh now without any concern for spiritual needs. (That means their relationship with Christ.) Jesus said that they will mourn and weep when they realize what they have missed.

The fourth woe is cautioning to those who are only concerned with popularity of the world and reputation in the religious community only. When they only aim to please men, their words no matter how religious they may be are only false statements in the eyes of God. God is interested in the truth. (v. 26) Only God's word will satisfy man's heart.

February 2, 2009 - Authority And Grace

Meditation on Luke 7

We should develop our trust in the authority and grace of Jesus deep within our hearts. Many Christians recognize Jesus' power and mercy intellectually. But they do not apply those beliefs in their own lives.

Here in Luke's account, a Roman centurion believed and accepted Jesus' authority therefore he requested Jesus' healing for his servant even without Jesus' coming to his house. The next day Jesus again demonstrated his authority by raising the dead son of a widow.

But John the Baptist began to doubt the authority of Jesus while he was still confined in the jail. He sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah whom he himself had testified of before. Jesus said he was the greatest prophet but the least in the kingdom was greater than he. Jesus wanted all of us to recognize his authority and identity without doubt.

From the incidence of the weeping and anointing of Jesus' feet by a sinful woman at the Pharisee, Simon's house, we also see that Jesus has the authority to forgive sins.

At the same time we appreciate the grace of Jesus. He raised to life the only son of the widow so that she will receive comfort. He was willing to let a sinful woman to touch his feet and forgave her many sins because of her tears of repentance. Jesus granted her much grace.

Today in your situation, do you trust in His authority to answer your prayer and meet your needs whatever it is? He has the grace to understand your condition and the power to accomplish His will in your life.

February 3, 2009 - Your Attitude Toward God's Word Matters

Meditation on Luke 8

Luke's language toward those who fail to receive God's word is even more severe than the words from Matthew 13. Luke 8:10 says. “And He said. ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest, it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’” (NASB)

What should be our attitude in receiving God's word? Verse 15 says. “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance” An honest and good heart means that the hearer has an heart of obedience and willing to apply the Word in his or her life. Therefore he or her will keep on treasuring it and obey it with patience until it bears fruit.

Going on, Jesus points out that those who obey God's word will reveal the light they receive from God in their lives which cannot be hidden. (v. 16-17) And He continues to emphasize the importance of the hearer's attitude in verse 18, “So take care how you listen, for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

Look at verses 22 to 25, the disciples were taught a great lesson in the stormy experience that even the winds and the water obeyed Jesus.

In the subsequent healing of the violent man who was possessed by a great host of demons, Jesus showed that they also trembled at His word. (v. 26-39)

Listening to God's word with an obedient heart means that the hearer has faith in God. The woman with the issue of blood was cured completely because she had faith in Jesus. (v. 48) Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead as Jesus exhorted Jairus to have faith. (v. 50) Therefore we must listen to God's word with an attitude of faith. Then you will understand His word even more as well as seeing the power of His word manifested in your life. God's word is also a mystery. If we do not listen with faith, we will never understand it at all.

February 4, 2009 - The Way Of The Cross

Meditation on Luke 9

Jesus talked about his cross twice in this passage. Moreover, Jesus was heard discussing his death with Moses and Elijah on the Mountain, where he was transfigured.

Then He said to the twelve, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (v. 23 NKJV) All of us who follow Him must go through the way of the cross. What is the way of the cross?

It involves rejection and humility like what Jesus have experienced and taught the disciples. We are to be like a little child. (v. 46-48) We are to accept others who are different from us. (v. 49-50) We are to show tolerance even in the midst of rejection. (v. 51-56) We are to live a simple life style by trusting in divine provision. (v. 1-6, 57) And we should put our relationship with Jesus even more important than our family relationship. (v. 58-62)

At the same time this kind of life style will have the power of God to serve Him. We will see God's miracles in our lives and ministries like the twelve did. And we will see God's glory when He comes in His glory. Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what advantage is it to a man if he gains the whole world but is himself destroyed or lost?" (v. 24-25) The way of the cross saves a life for each us. But the way of the world costs one's life. Which one do you take? Do you just rely on yourself or simply have faith and trust in Jesus?

February 5, 2009 - Working With God

Meditation on Luke 10

From Jesus' sending out of another seventy disciples to reap spiritual harvest for Him, we get the confidence and expectation of the joy of witnessing. First of all, we should realize that we are entering into a harvest field. We will reap if we faint not. Then we also take heart to the fact that we are witnessing for Him and therefore He is with us. Those who hear us hear Jesus. If there is any rejection, it is rejecting Christ and not just us. (v. 16) The seventy returned later with joy to report to Jesus. Even the demons subjected to them. Jesus has promised us that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church whom we represent and are part of. (Matthew 16:18)

But each worker with God must first of all have a life relationship with Jesus. That means that each of us must have eternal life from Him. A very smart lawyer gave Jesus the right answer from the standpoint of the requirement of the law to have eternal life. (v. 25-37) That is to love God with our all and love our neighbor as ourselves. The lawyer knew quite well that it was impossible to fulfill that requirement himself. So he continued to ask who is my neighbor in order to justify himself for the impossibility. Indeed from Jesus' story of the Samaritan, he would further realize that how impossible it was to do what was right. Basically he, a Jew would never even come close to a Samaritan let alone taking care of a wounded man since the Jews at that time despised the Samaritan.

From God's Word, we know that "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God, for 'The just shall live by faith.'" (Galatians 3:11 NKJV) Therefore those who want to work with God must first establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by trusting in Him totally. Then each of them will have eternal life given by Jesus. (1 John 5:11-13) Only then they will find joy in serving Jesus. Personal relationship with Jesus and listening to His Word is most important in His kingdom. (v. 38-42)

February 6, 2009 - Inside Is More Important Than Outside

Meditation on Luke 11

When the Pharisee criticized Jesus for not engaging in ceremonial washing of hands before meal as their custom dictated, Jesus responded by pointing out that the Pharisees emphasized cleanliness outside but was so foolish that they did not clean the inside of their hearts. They were so careful to keep thousands of their self imposed regulations yet they failed to give generously to the needy and walked righteously in their own lives. Instead they were greedy, wicked and cheating on people. They thought that their care to tithe ever thing will gain them favor and position before people. They liked the best appearance outside and others to honor them but they were corrupted in their thought life. Jesus condemned them as grave yards under covered. (v. 37-44)

Some of their teachers and lawyers were so blind and rotten in their hearts that they loaded people with unnecessary burden yet shut the way to God's kingdom by their misinterpretation of God's law. Those who testified the Word of God as true prophets had been killed or persecuted by their ancestors and themselves. Therefore, Jesus predicted the culmination of God's judgment upon the generation in His time at Jerusalem. (v. 45-54) Indeed, Jerusalem we destroyed in 70 AD.

So we learn that Jesus is more concerned of our inner life than our look outside. Jesus wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit who will come into our life as we pray sincerely and earnestly. (v. 1-11) Then our inner eyes will be bright and shining to see the direction of God. (v. 33-36) Also, if our inner life is not filled with the Holy Spirit, there is a danger that our inner life may be occupied by evil spirits as we oppose Jesus. (v. 24-26)

How is your inner life today?

February 7, 2009 - Your Choice: Pleasing God Or World

Meditation on Luke 12

The Pharisees pretended to choose God but Jesus said their hypocrisy would be revealed for sure. (v.1-3)

Those who choose to fear God need not to be afraid of the world. God values them very much and will teach them how to answer the world's hostile questions. (v. 4-11)

Those who choose to please themselves with worldly possession only will face eternal poverty in God's kingdom. (v. 13-21)

But those who choose God rather than the world do not need to worry, for God will provide them for this life as well as inheritance in His kingdom. (v. 22-34)

Those who choose God will serve Him faithfully. But those who choose the world will be punished by God even thought some may be servants of God. (v. 35-48)

Those who choose God may face divisions and disharmony at home for Christ's sake. (v. 49-53) The implication is that those who choose to accept idolatry at home for the sake of peace will deny Christ.

We must realize that now is the time to take a stand for Christ. (v. 54-56)

However, Jesus encourages us to make peace with our adversary if at all possible without denying Him. (v. 57-59)