Category: QuietTimes

Posted on

BITE: The Narrow Gate…

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, I do not know you, where you are from,’ Luke 13:23-25 [NKJV]

Continuing my reading of Luke 13 tonight, the word that really became impressed upon me is “Strive”. This word denotes a character of continuance. When I read Jesus talking about ‘many will seek to enter and will not be able’, I think they are all of those who will try other things to EARN their way into heaven by some other avenue than putting their trust in the Savior.

I think the narrowness of the gate has to do with the criteria to be met and heart of the seeker. Criteria – surrender of our self and pride and acceptance and worship of the One True King. Heart – singularly focused on obeying and seeking the Lords will alone in their life. Only these people truly know Jesus and can Jesus know them.

Posted on

BITE: Power from Out…Inside Out…

...To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
  It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of wheat flour or meal until it was all leavened (fermented). Luke 13:20-21 [AMP]

I love to make bread and I know that only a small amount of yeast (leaven) is needed to make a large quantity of dough rise.

Yeast is often used in Scripture to denote a bad influence, but there seems no reason for taking that away from this example Jesus is using. The point is that a small quantity of yeast makes moves throughout a much larger mass. So, with the kingdom. yeast works quietly and unseen, and the kingdom works through Christ’s influence on people’s hearts, not in anything merely external and visible. It is worth noting that yeast works from inside: it cannot change the dough while it is outside. But it is also important that the power to change comes from outside: the dough does not change itself.

Everything we need from the Lord is deposited in us when we accept His Son as our personal ‘Sin Bearer”. We must allow ourselves to be changed from the inside out; that process, when we listen and apply what God is revealing to us, is one that results in nothing less than an outward demonstration of that work through fruit.

Posted on

BITE: Ignorance Is Sin…

And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many [lashes].
  But he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more. Luke 12:47-48 [AMP]

This is a very important passage in the Bible. We might be disturbed by the thought that someone who sins in ignorance will be punished. But we must keep in mind that there is no such thing as absolute ignorance.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 [ESV]

Additionally, our very ignorance is part of our sin. The emphasis is on the fact that the beating is light (few lashes), but we should not minimize the importance of doing God’s will. As a follower of Jesus, I must make every effort to find out what God’s will is and do it. Everyone is accountable.

Posted on

QTVOTD: Loins Girded and Lamps Burning…

Yesterday we flew back from Georgia after dropping off and saying goodbye to our oldest Bella for her 9-month missions’ trip around the world with Worldrace. Of the 44 people going, Bella is joined by 4 of her classmates from her Senior class who are also doing this for their Gap Year. It was a special treat to spend time with the 4 families that were there with us. What a huge support it was and will be as we have our own journey of sending these precious kids of ours off. (That’s right, for the next 6 weeks Bella and the rest of the ‘Racers’ will be living in tents.

My quiet time today was on Luke 12:35-40. Jesus is talking to the disciples about ‘being ready’. He uses that imagery of servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding celebration where they are ready to open his door and serve him when he returns. As you read in my Post Title today, Jesus says, “Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning.”.

Loins being girded denotes the aspect of preparedness. In the eastern cultures of that day, you would do this so you could work or fight. The graphic below is the best one I could find in short order. Step 6 could also be stuffing the extra material in the belt versus tying it together.

The reason this is important is because Jesus is saying that we must be in a posture that is ready for action. We must have our hearts and minds prepared for the arrival of our Savior. Not only that but we must have our ‘lamps burning’. Many times, our testimony is talked about as a lamp to the world; being a light in the darkness. So, we are to be ready and a lamp to the world when Jesus comes. Jesus then also tells us that when the master comes and finds his servants this way (prepared and lamps burning), he turns the tables and serves them. This unexpected twist cannot be taken from life but is something extra provided for God’s people. But then the reward of God’s people is never commonplace: it is always the unexpected.

For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table (the master), or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as One Who serves.

Luke 22:27 [AMP]

One of the things I have heard in the past and heard it again this weekend is that God’s Character makes Him predictable…but, when God acts it is very unpredictable. I would also say that the ways that God’s bestows earthly rewards/blessings are unpredictable as well.

Application:

I must be ready. One of the biggest helps I have on staying on the right path and living an upright life is that I would be mortified if I was both unprepared and sinning the moment the Lord returned. I don’t know the moment He will come back but I want to be living a life of Christ-Following-Action and my lamp lit when I see His face coming through the clouds on that day.

Posted on

QTVOTD: Trust in Riches Prevents Trust in God…

“Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!  Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:32-34 [AMP]

The BITE in yesterday’s post was that we should “Seek the Kingdon” and now we are seeing here that “its the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom”.  Then Jesus tells us what that looks like.

Jesus again discussing the comparison of earthly and heavenly riches.  He teaches His followers to concentrate on the ‘real’ riches, Heavenly Treasure.  This can look like selling our earthly possessions or even giving them or the proceeds away.  However, we should not take away a message that Jesus requires all His followers to sell all their possessions.  Jesus was entertained by Martha and He later set watch of His own mother under the roof of one of His disciples.  Jesus is not set on the mission to create a class of holy paupers; this would be to sin against love because those holy paupers would become a load on their hardworking neighbors.  In neither one of the cases of Martha or the disciple that took His mother in, did Jesus rebuke His follower because they had possessions.  Jesus and His followers had money to buy food and give alms. 

I think it is pretty clear that Jesus is not excluding private ownership; but he is placing emphasis on the fact that believers must not be dominated by their possessions.

“Trust in riches prevents trust in God.”

When ‘trust in riches’ takes place, the things we own become a deadly barrier to the life Jesus wants for us (His Kingdom). Real riches are a treasure that does not fail, found in purses that do not grow old. These riches are safe from thieves, from rot, and from moths (which eat away at some forms of earthly riches, e.g. clothes). The heart and the treasure go together. Anyone’s heart, the concentration of his energies and interests, is always with his treasure; in other words, the things he values most.

Application:

If I look deep down -> what do I treasure?  What possessions do I have that I don’t have loose hands with?  What earthly material am I chasing? Having just sent Bella off for a 9-month missions trip where all she has fits in a 65-liter backpack, can I grow to a place that when she returns, I too have made movement to have Kingdom.

Posted on

BITE: Only Aim for One Thing…

And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. Luke 12:22 [AMP]

Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Luke 12:31 [AMP]

I know I have been quiet the last few days but that has been because the focus has been on sending off Bella on her 9 month missions trip. We are here in Georgia spending two days meeting the rest of her team and their parents. Tomorrow we say goodbye for awhile.

This has been a special time and today I needed the Words the Lord gave me above. I have nothing to worry about as we release Bella into the care of the Lord (psst- He had her the hold time but let’s keep this moment) and face my aim on seeking God’s Kingdom. Not only for Bella but for us; for me!

I will miss my first born girl but I am so excited for her!

Posted on

QTVOTD: Bigger Barns?…Look out!

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, what shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’  But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21 [ESV]

This one hit both at home in my personal life as well as my leadership role at church. Our world and our planning sense (which itself is not a bad thing) can convince us that this a good way to operate; to set up a nest egg for retirement or ensure you can maintain a standard of living (when hard times hit) we have allowed ourselves to enjoy. One of the things that stood out to me is how many times the man in the parable said “My”.

  • My Crops
  • My Barns
  • My Grain
  • My Goods

Additionally, he also says “I” 8 times (in the Greek). This points to an ingrained selfishness. The man is not concerned with how to use his wealth wisely. He is not trying to serve God or help other people. He is not even concerned in having a richer and fuller life for himself. He is concerned only with self-indulgence. God calls this man a “Fool!”. The really stupid thing was the rich man’s self-assurance that the future was in his control.

Laying up treasure here on earth is an indication that we feel possessive of what ‘WE have EARNED’…that somehow it is something for us to decide what to do with for ourselves. I also feel like the person who is given a lot, yet only continues to extend 10% to the Lord, is a ‘check-boxer’ and the heart of that position is really no better.

Application:

As a man whose life hangs by a thread and who may be called upon at any time to give account of himself, I would be a fool if I relied on material things. I would also be a fool to not focus on the riches awaiting me in Heaven.

This devotion causes me to take a second look at where we (Marianne and I) position our reliance…is it on the things (money and possessions) of this world or do we demonstrate a heart of ‘open-handedness’…acting as a conduit for God’s resources He has given us the responsibility of managing?

Posted on

BITE: God Will Provide the Words…

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12 [ESV]

I love this encouragement by Jesus to the disciples. During Jesus’ ministry and the building up of His church, I am sure there was special intervention by God in the situations where the disciples would be in front of religious leaders and authorities. I am not sure that this is an easily transferable expectation of the Lord in every circumstance I might find myself in…however, I have direct experiences where I walked into a tough situation and prayerfully considered what the Lord would have me say. There are specific memories I have of walking away very emotional about what the Lord provided and helped me through in that circumstance. Those experiences were extremely faith-building.

An example of when I have petitioned the Holy Spirit to teach me what I should say is this last month when I led our church congregation in communion. I spent a lot of time praying that what the Lord had laid on my heart to say would be used by Him to glorify Himself alone in that moment. In the simple couple of words I said, I know that God was using what He laid on my heart to draw attention to Himself; that He would use it in spite of my failures and weakness.

I am so thankful for this provision when the Holy Spirit provides it.

Posted on

QTVOTD: Pride and Self-Assurance…

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  Luke 12:8-9 [ESV]

Continuing my reading of Luke’s account of this discussion with Jesus and His disciples has me both comforted and fearful at the same time. Comforted that when I stand at the judgement seat and stand in account for my life here on earth, I can rest assured if I have held the name of Christ up to those who are around me.

This week I was talking to one of my employees about several days they had taken off of be with their dad who had a stroke and was in intensive care. They talked about moments during their support of their dad where they had rested their hope in God. It was so great to be able to use this open door to tell them that I was praying for them and asking God to comfort them and give them peace through everything they were needing to manage.

At the same time, Jesus is saying that when we deny Him before men, we will be denied by Him before the angels of God…yikes. So what exactly does this look like? I think it is when we may deny the unique authority of His teaching, that on some points, we know better than He did, or that much of what Jesus said can be explained away. We may also deny his divinity and argue his claims. In either case it is the sin of pride and self-assurance, man’s ultimate denial of the supremacy of Christ and of God.

Application:

My confidence rests in eternity with my Lord and Savior. I have no one to fear here and so why would I not take every opportunity, when presented, to share the knowledge of Jesus and what He came to this earth to do for ever person who would believe.

Posted on

BITE: Save Men and Fear God…

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Luke 12:4-5 [ESV]

At first glance this passage looks super scary but this is Jesus speaking to His disciples about the Pharisees. We have been saved and justified by this same God. So, when I read this, I am comforted to know that the only One who can cast me into Hell is the same One Who has promised everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

When I look at my life here and think about what I have ahead, I have nothing to fear except one thing…the fear of disappointing my Father in Heaven. It is in His Son that I am redeemed but I still must inhabit this carcass here on earth that is susceptible to the evil ways of this world. Ergo, I must cling to the shins of my Father by immersing myself in His word and prayerful anticipation of His return!