Daily Encouragement

October 18, 2009 - Obedience To God's Word

Meditation on Luke 5

Luke told us in this passage how Jesus called four of His disciples, cleansed a leper, forgave and healed a paralytic, called another disciple, Matthew and ate with His friends who were also tax collectors and sinners, and made a clear distinction between His new teaching and the old tradition in answer to the question of fasting.

Each of the account demonstrated that He was the son of God who came to call sinners to repentance. Does His Word and work speak to you personally as you meditate upon them?

At least, we all can be fascinated by the miracle He performed for the four professional fishermen. Jesus told them to launch out to the deep and let down their nets for a catch. (v. 4) Peter was reluctant because they had worked all night long and caught no fish. But he obeyed Jesus' word nevertheless. From that obedience, he and his companions caught two full loads of fish to the point that the boats almost sank.

As a result, Peter recognized that he was a sinner and worship Jesus. Eventually, all four fishermen followed Jesus immediately.

This sequence of events all began with an act of obedience to God's Word.

Are you today willing to obey God's Word? If you do, then you will experience His abundant blessings in you life which causes you to admit that you had been a sinner because of your faithlessness. Finally you will be happy to be His disciple.

October 19, 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.

October 20, 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)

October 21, 2009 - Priority Misplaced

Meditation on Luke 13

On a Sabbath, Jesus had healed a woman who had problem with her back for eighteen years due to the oppression of a disabling spirit. But a leader of the Jewish religion was enraged because the healing was considered working on the Sabbath. That was a violation of their religious law. Why did Jesus not heal the woman on the other six days? he said to the congregation in the synagogue where Jesus was teaching.

This so called ruler of the synagogue was more concerned of keeping religious rules than for the sick who needed to be cured. Why was his priority so mixed up? I believe we can learn from his terrible mistakes.

First of all, the Jewish laws at that time was more concerned with what they could work to achieve holiness than how they should submit themselves to God's mercy and justice. They are simply legalistic rather than having the heart of obeying God's requirement. Secondly they had completely failed to see God's deep love to people specially to those who needed help immediately. Thirdly the Scriptures say that Jesus told them that their laws were more favorable to animals than to people on the Sabbath. They had misinterpreted God's law by creating more laws for protecting their own property yet had little regard for the sick and needy. (v. 10-17)

It seems to us that many church people today can make the same kind of mistakes. We may not create laws, but we do care more of properties and materials than a person. We pay more attention to keep our rituals, custom and festivals than ministering to those who have infirmities among us.

May God help all of us to place the right priority in our lives. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves more than just budget and retirement plan.

October 22, 2009 - How To Spend Your Money

Meditation on Luke 16

These are two stories about two rich men. The rich man in the first story had called upon his unfaithful steward to give a report for his dealing. This guy quickly forgave the interests of all the debtors of his master. This is a very shrewd way to protect the reputation of his master as an adherent of the Jewish law yet he himself gained the favor and friendship of the debtors so he would be taken care of in the future.

Jesus used his story to teach His disciples the importance of preparing for eternal life. The wisest way to use money is to make friends now and lead them to the Lord. In commenting the action of this steward, He said, "For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light." (v. 8 NKJV) We must prepare for the future and in particular our eternal abode.

But we must understand that none of the characters in this story were righteous or faithful. Immediately Jesus cautioned the disciples that one needed to be faithful in handling the unrighteous mammon before he could be trusted by the true riches in heaven. Also one cannot serve God and at the same time be controlled by the love of money like the Pharisees were.

So Jesus told about another rich man. He cared only about his entertainment and enjoyment to the point that he was indifferent to the sickly beggar, Lazarus who was right at his front door. This was totally unacceptable in the teaching of the Law of Moses, and the prophets. His arrogance was even manifested in Hades where he was suffering. He still wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to do things for him. What a jerk!

Those who love money more than any thing else can have no place in the kingdom of God. But those who love God would also love his neighbor too by providing for their needs.

October 23, 2009 - Counted Worthy Before Jesus

Meditation on Luke 21

In our devotions of Matthew and Mark, we have studied the passages on Jesus' prediction of the signs of the times, the end of the age and the destruction of Jerusalem. (Please feel free to go back to our archive for some background.)

This time let us seek to understand what Jesus meant after He talked about all of the above and then said, "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things are fulfilled." (v. 32 NKJV) Certainly Jesus would not mean the generation at that time though indeed Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD., but He did not come back from heaven yet. There are various interpretations for this statement. I believe the proper one should be the alternate meaning for the Greek word, "generation" (genea γενεά) which is "race". So Jesus was saying that the Jewish race will by no means pass away. It then would be a promise of God for the Jewish people that they will survive the catastrophes at the end time. We can thank God for His protection of His chosen race.

Continually for all of us Jesus admonished this, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (v. 34-36)

For the Christians who watch and pray always, we have the hope that we will be raptured before the great tribulation will come onto the earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) Let us pay much attention to Jesus' warning above on how to live.

October 24, 2009 - The King On The Cross

Meditation on Luke 23

When Jesus was delivered to Pilate, He was accused of considering Himself a king. (v. 2) So Pilate asked Him saying, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He answered him and said, "It is as you say." (v. 3 NKJV)

On the cross of Jesus, there was an inscription written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, "This is the king of the Jews". The Romans soldiers did this for a form of mocker. They said to Jesus that "If you are the king of the Jews, save Yourself." (v. 38)

But one of the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus recognized that he himself was a sinner but Jesus had done nothing wrong. Furthermore he really considered Jesus as king. So he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom." It was a desperate nevertheless a marvelous request with insight. Jesus answered him, "Assuredly. I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (v. 43)

After Jesus had died, a council member, Joseph went to Pilate to request for Jesus' body. The Bible says that this man was also waiting for the kingdom of God. (v. 51) Whether he knew it or not, he was laying in his tomb the body of the King of the universe. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Yes, Jesus the King had died on the cross for us to conquer sins and death. Three days later He would be risen from the tomb. He not only can save Himself, He can save all of those who believe in Him like the thief on the cross. What a KING!