“But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.” Luke 15:32, NASB95
A parable is a heavenly story with an earthly application. In other words, the story brings attention to and clarity on a truth that is difficult to fully grasp in other ways. Jesus often taught in parables which is a testimony in itself of their effectiveness.
I think that Luke 15 is one parable with several moving parts. The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the two lost sons all serve to point to a single truth: God loves reconciling lost things. The main actor in the parable is the Father as he is depicted in the searching shepherd, the seeking woman, and the Father who waits, welcomes, and rejoices.
The chapter ends with an audacious claim: All of heaven rejoices with the lost is found! Now the centerpiece of heaven is God Himself. Everything exists to His praise. Honor, and glory. So, the picture of a celebrating God over the lost being found is spot on!
Picture, if you will, the Father leaping to His feet and shouting “welcome home” over the deafening applause of every creature in heaven—every time a lost son returns home, a sinning daughter repents, and a wayward Pharisee turns toward grace. Heaven erupts with joy and celebration when the rebel is reconciled, when the enslaved is set free, when the lost is found, and when the wicked are redeemed.
The point of the Lord’s parable of the Father is to remind us that we truly speak God’s “love language” (if you will allow me one more comparison) when we seek out the lost and gather them in to the family.
Question: Is blessing the Lord in this way your priority for living? Is it your highest ethic of worship? Is it your missional focus every morning? Is it your commitment every day? If not, you can start over, today.
“Do not fear, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:32, NASB
We are an anxious people. One thing that the recent pandemic has made clear is the rise of anxiety. Across all ages and stages of life, the circumstances of the day bring to light the fact that an ever-increasing number of people struggle with a lack of insight and a lack of control.
This is not really unique to us in our generation. In reality, people from the past also struggled with the lack of control they had in the world. Further, we are never told to think otherwise! We are never told to rely on our control or to get better control of the world around us; rather; we are told to place our confidence in the One who never lost control of anything!
Notice in this verse (which is a favorite of mine) a couple of key truths which bring me a great deal of comfort.
First, we are told to “fear not” or “do not fear.” God never instructs us to do the impossible; so, we discern here that it is possible to live without fear or anxiousness.
Second, we are reminded of our relationship. He is our “Father,” and we are His flock. Both of these powerful images remind us to trust our Shepherd King and our Father who guards and protects us. We are led to green pastures and still waters. Further, we are never abandoned in the in the dark valleys of the shadow of death.
Third, The Father has already chosen that our inheritance is the Kingdom. We cannot earn it; therefore, we cannot lose it. It is wholly His and therefore it is assuredly ours.
Finally, the Father does not do this begrudgingly, but gladly. He wants to give us the Kingdom. He wants to provide for us. He wants to care for us. He wants us to rely on Him.
As a child, I learned to sing “He’s got the whole world…in His hands.” We can still trust in the truths of this song today. He does control it all and He desires to provide all we need from His own abundance.
13And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.15“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Mark 10:13–16 (NASB95)
This text, in my opinion, is one of the most significant teachings of Mark’s Gospel. In Mark 10:13-16 we find families bringing children to Jesus. The crowds (I imagine) must have been overwhelming. The disciples, being dutiful and godly men, were trying to prioritize Jesus’ time and ministry obligations. They went as far as to turn back the children (v.13), presumably because there were more important things for Jesus to be doing.
“Permit the children to come to Me,” Jesus replied. He then embraced and blessed the children declaring that the Kingdom of God belonged to such as these.
The disciples had a set of priorities. Jesus’ priorities were different. The Disciples had schedules. Jesus had different ideas. The disciples had a perspective of importance and Jesus had different ideas.
We can all use some reflection on the principles in these verses. There are times when God brings opportunities (the children coming) and we can miss them because we had other things in mind. What might we be “missing” by trying to conform Jesus to our agenda rather than embracing His?
This devotional originally appeared in the e-connect series at Englewood Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC
17For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; . . . 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb. Mark 6:17–19, 27-29 (NASB95)
As I was reading this passage recently, my heart was stirred.
It is popular in many circles to think that when we walk in the will of God, we will be happy, healthy, and wealthy. Some conclude that if we experience difficulties, challenges, or tragedies, it must be related to our unfaithfulness toward God. In this type of understand, God is a giant ATM machine. If you put in the right card and the right pin number, you will get the proceeds you desire.
Yet, (as we see in this text) John the baptizer was certainly living out the will of God. He was imprisoned because he dared to confront the wicked life choices of Herodias and Herod. John’s actions required boldness and an undying commitment to his calling. As if prison weren’t enough, John is murdered in prison to appease the “grudge” that Herodias held against him (v.19). It was John’s faithful pursuit of the will of God that landed him in the circumstances of his humanly demise.
I think, at times, we do ourselves a disservice and blunt the sharp edge of dynamic faith in a powerful gospel when we draw a line from our faithfulness to earthly blessings. The world doesn’t need a god who gives you a car when you go to church four weeks in a row. They can just go buy a car. The world is not impressed with a faith that gives you “health” if you pray every day. Our world quietly desires the brilliance of a faith that looks beyond temporal amusements and proclaims God’s glory even in the midst of sickness, disease, discouraging cultural events and trials untold. Friends, the world in which we live needs to know of a God so good, so powerful, so capable, so involved that regardless of our circumstances, we would agree with Job and declare, “Though He slay yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15).”
If you’re struggling or suffering, do not fall into the trap that declares that this must result from either your sin from the weakness of an impotent or unconcerned God. You may, in fact, be suffering as a testimony of faith that others desperately need to see.
As I was reading this passage recently, I tried to think of how many courses I have taken on the “end times.” I think between undergraduate and seminary courses, I have had at least four different classes dedicated to the subject. What I have learned from all of these hours…is that I really don’t know what is going to happen in the “end times.” What I do know is that the church is taken up out of this world, it gets very scary on earth, and then Jesus comes back to make it right. In fact, that is what he says in our reading:
19“For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. 20“Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days…26“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:19-20, 26 (NASB95)
Now here is how the Lord applied this in my heart.
Things in this world are not easy. In fact, they are really, really difficult.
Even in the midst of the darkest days, God graciously controls the darkness so that it is not completely overwhelming.
No matter how difficult things get, the darkness doesn’t get the last word.
That’s right! As a way of comforting his followers as they considered the darkness, He reminded them that He was coming soon.
As you and I look about the world today, let’s remember, Jesus is coming soon. He is not unaware or unconcerned about our plight. He is not only aware and concerned but He is powerful to do something about the darkness. Further, He is not only aware, concerned and powerful, but He is coming again to make it right.
Be encouraged church…and on the days that seem overwhelming, look to the sky and get ready. He’s coming soon.
10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John….18Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” Luke 1:10–13, 18 (NASB95)
Sometimes it seems that you can pray for something so long and so earnestly, that when you finally do get an answer, it is hard to believe.
I love the opening account in Luke’s gospel of this man. Zacharias is described as a righteous man, walking blamelessly before the Lord in regard to all of the Law. What a testimony! His wife also was devout in every respect; however, even though they had been faithful, the answer to their heart’s prayer eluded them for many years. (Luke 1:6-7). It was in the course of Zacharias’ performance of Temple duties that God’s message came through. Zacharias was thrown at how to take the news. After all, he had prayed that same prayer for a son or daughter perhaps thousands of times. A couple of quick observations:
First, don’t give up praying. The answer may be closer than you think.
Second, God’s delay is not necessarily His denial.
Third, your desperation does not deter God’s able response. There was no physical explanation for how Zacharias and Elizabeth could conceive. It was practically and even physically impossible…except for God.
Fourth, stuff happens when people gather to pray. Did you notice that the people were assembled outside when Zacharias heard the answer. They were all praying together.
Finally, God’s will was not derailed by Zacharias’ lack of faith. If a lack of faith could stop God from bringing about His will, the world would be doomed.
*This devotional first appeared 03.19.2021 as part of the e-connect series at Englewood Baptist Church
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