New Format for Devo

We started our 3rd time reading through The Gospels this past week. This time through will be a little different. We are slowing the pace a bit, less reading and more meditation. Each day's reading has an assignment for you to complete. The daily activities are designed to familiarize you with the content of each chapter. The latest handouts are available in the church foyer at Welcome Desk.

Week 6 - Reading Schedule

Week 6 - Reading Schedule

Mon, Nov 10: Luke 12-13, Psalm 52-53, Proverbs 26

Tue, Nov 11: Luke 14-16, Psalm 54-55, Proverbs 27

Wed, Nov 12: Luke 17-19, Psalm 56-57, Proverbs 28

Thu, Nov 13: Luke 20-22, Psalm 58-59, Proverbs 29

Fri, Nov 14: Luke 23-24, Psalm 60-61, Proverbs 30

Luke 10-11

Luke 10:25-37 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
(see the teaching: "Love One Another", for a more complete study of this passage. Available in Church Resource Center)
This story of the "Good Samaritan" is Jesus' picture illustration of what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself." Important for us to understand that this is not our way to life but it is our way to live. Let me explain. Faith in Jesus Christ and His life, death and resurrection is our only way to life (John 14:6). Loving your neighbor as yourself is the way Jesus instructs all of us to live. Loving your neighbor does not earn salvation. But it is a huge part of the fruit that proves we are saved. Jesus ends the story with, "Go and do likewise." This is a pretty tall order. How can we live like this?

Luke 8-9

Luke 9:51-56, stood out as I read these two chapters. Jesus is walking to Jerusalem and His route is going to take Him through a Samaritan village. Jesus sends disciples ahead of Him to make accommodations and provisions for their journey. The Samaritans refuse to let Jesus and His disciples pass through their village. Remember, Samaritans and Jews are arch-enemies. When James and John (the sons of thunder) saw this injustice, they were enraged. They cannot believe these people would treat Jesus like this. Their solution: call down fire from heaven and kill them all (Luke 9:54). Jesus turns and strongly rebukes the disciples for their attitude, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." How does this story apply to us? As believers, the world usually disagrees with us - in life, in family, in politics, in morals, in the treatment of people, etc. How are we to handle these disagreements? Let's be honest, sometimes we wish God would just come and wipe "the sinners" off the face of the earth (or let us do it). But Jesus rebukes this attitude. This is not the heart of Jesus, but rather the view of the spirit of darkness and destruction. But some will say, "God is going to judge the sinners anyway and wipe them out. And my anger is righteous and just." Be very careful here. The disciples in this story felt they were righteous and just in their anger, as well. They even gave Scriptural precedence to justify their wrong attitude - Elijah did it. Do not twist the Scripture to fit your attitude. Rather, change your attitude to fit the Scripture. The most dangerous believer alive is one who feels justified by their sin, anger, bitterness, gossip or unforgiveness. Jesus teaches us not to hope for destruction, but rather hope for their salvation. Hoping for destruction and judgment will cause us to fail in our mission of sharing The Gospel. We will still disagree with the world, but watch your anger and attitude. Repentance is needed!

Luke 5-7

Notice the fishermen's response to the call of Jesus in Luke 5:11 - "they forsook all and followed Him. Is anything less expected of us?

One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is found in Luke 5:17-32. Jesus heals a paralytic man from the inside-out. He first forgives his sin and then Jesus heals his legs. The dispute brought up by the Pharisees is this, "Who can forgive sins but God?" Jesus' response is amazing. He responds in two ways: with a statement and then with an illustration. The statement: "Which is easier (or better), to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins - I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go to your house." The illustration: Immediately after this, Jesus goes and chooses Matthew, the tax collector to be one of His disciples. Jesus is now illustrating His power to forgive sins. Tax collectors were often considered the most sinful people of their day. Jesus is saying, "So that you may know I have the power to forgive sins, I'm going to forgive the biggest sinner in town - Matthew, you are forgiven! Follow Me!"
For a more complete explanation of this story, get the teaching - "Matthew, the Tax Collector - A Picture of Forgiveness" in the Church Resource Center.

• Meditate on the teachings in Luke 6 - The Beatitudes, The Woes, Love Your Enemies, Do Not Judge, A Tree is Known By It's Fruit, Build on the Rock. These teachings capture the essence of a disciple of Jesus Christ. These are character traits He desires to develop in all of us. Can you see some growth in your life in these area?
• Notice how many of Jesus' miracles are to the 'outsiders'. The outsiders or the poor had been neglected by the religious insiders, but Jesus takes the Gospel to them, heals them, forgives them and eats with them. Most of these people had been neglected by the merciless religious system of legalism and the poor were often considered cursed, judged or unclean - not to be touched or associated with. Jesus is declaring to everyone, "God loves the poor!" Questions: Are we satisfied to stay with the religious "insiders" or do we go and proclaim the Gospel to the "outsiders"? Are we more like the legalistic Pharisees or more like Jesus in this kind of compassionate ministry? How can we be more like Jesus?

Luke 3-4

• Luke 3:1-2: Notice the historical information that Luke gives. He sets the Jesus Story in a specific time and place. This info helps prove these events as actual history and not just mystical or spiritual ideas.


• John the Baptizer: Called, anointed, bold and obedient. John confronted the people in his day with repentance, godliness and the preparation for the coming Messiah. He is given the privilege of pointing out Jesus as the Messiah. He baptizes Jesus in the Jordan. He completes his assignment. He later dies in faith. Up to this point in history, John is the greatest man that has ever lived (according to Jesus).


• Luke's genealogy traces Jesus all the way back to Adam. These are names of real people many of whom can be read about in the Old Testament. Luke is establishing Jesus' rightful claim as the Messiah. The historical aspect of all this comes into play again. Interesting to see how God uses people to establish His Kingdom. Father could have had Jesus descend out of the clouds or rise up out of the sea but He didn't. He worked His plan and used people to establish it. He still does the same thing today and we have a part to play.
• Just think, if Jesus' family tree was traced forward all the way to today, you and I would be in it. You could say that the Lamb's Book of Life is basically God's family tree.
  

Luke 4 - The Temptation
See these parallels between Israel, Adam and Jesus:

Israel in the desert, hungry, tempted, failed, diobeyed, unfaithful, sinful.
Adam in a garden, hungry, tempted, failed, disobeyed, unfaithful to the Father, sinful
Jesus in the desert, hungry, tempted, overcame, obeyed, faithful to the Father, sinless.
Adam listened to the adversary, Israel listened to the world and the flesh. Jesus listened to the Word of God. In fact, He spoke the Word to defeat the adversary.

Jesus is being presented as the Son of Man who remains faithful and overcomes the adversary. Where all the rest of humanity and Israel had failed God, Jesus lives a sinless life and pleases the Father. This is what qualifies Him to be Messiah and to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. For more clarity on these parallels, read Deuteronomy 8 and Genesis 3.

Luke 1-2

• John the Baptizer's birth is announced to his father, Zechariah, a priest. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, is barren and now the couple is older and past child-bearing age. It is Zechariah's turn to burn the incense on the altar of incense in the Holy Place. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the Holy Place within the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. The angel proclaims to Zechariah, "...for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John." When do you think Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed this prayer for a child? Could this have been a desire they had prayed many years ago? If this is the case, what does this teach us about our prayers and God's answers?
• Zechariah is muted by Gabriel. He will not be able to speak until the baby is born. Zechariah's question to Gabriel in verse 18 is real similar to Mary's question in verse 34. Why was Zechariah muted and Mary was not?
• In Luke 1:46-55, Mary sings a beautiful prayer song to the Lord. This song is a collection of Scriptures from the Old Testament. Everything she says can be traced back to The Text. This young lady knew her Bible by heart. No wonder the Lord judged her to be faithful. Note: It's interesting to see how Mary expresses her heart to God by quoting Scripture back to Him. In the most exciting time of her life, she chose to express herself with the Word of God. Her words would not be adequate. Only God's Own Words could praise Him like this. What can we learn about praise, worship and prayer from Mary's use of The Text?
• John the Baptizer is born and Zechariah's speech returns, just like Gabriel promised. Zechariah immediately prophesies over the child in verses 67-79. This prophecy is a collection of Scriptures from the Old Testament. Zechariah does not prophesy out of his feelings or his thoughts. These words come straight out of The Text. What can we learn about prophesying from this passage?
• Luke 2 - Messiah is born. The Genesis 3:15 promise along with countless others is being fulfilled. This event shows how God changed the world by sending His Son, Jesus. Notice how humble all of this is. A young virgin, a young couple, a long journey, a cave, a baby, a manger and shepherds. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is born in a sheep stable (cave) and laid in a feeding trough. Very little pomp and circumstance, only a few angels to some young shepherds. God loves humility - this is how His Son was born, this is how He lived, this is how He died and this is how He instructs us to live - humble.
• Notice how God honors the shepherds, Simeon and Anna in the birth of Christ. These were all humble servants of the Lord. God loves humility.
• Simeon prophesies over the Christ Child. His prophesy is a collection of Scriptures from the Old Testament. Again, what does this teach us about the marriage of Scripture and prophesying?