Luke 6:27-36

In Luke 6 Luke is recording one of Jesus sermons about the character of a true disciple. Jesus reminds us that true generosity begins within our heart and is expressed through our character. In this particular section of scripture Jesus deals with something that seems so contrary to the way our world works. We work hard to achieve certain social and economic status, we struggle to obtain certain possessions and now Jesus tells me that if someone wants what I have worked so hard for then I am to just give it to them? This doesn't seem very fair! He even goes on to say that we should do good and pray for those people that seek to harm us or to use us. How can this be?

Well, when we begin to understand that generosity is not simply about my possessions but is a state of mind it begins to make sense. Jesus is not telling us that we should not have things but what He is telling us is that our things should not have us. See, generosity means freedom from a small minded attitude or character. It means to be willing to give at any time. What Jesus doesn't tell you, in so many words, is that true joy and happiness come from a generous lifestyle! We seem to forget that all that we have was ultimately provided by God or atleast the ability to earn our resources comes from God's design of our life. Too many people are so wrapped up in what they have and if they are not they are wrapped up in how they can keep what they have. Generosity is not limited to our possessions either. We are never more like God than when we give. We are like God when we give forgiveness, when we grant mercy in place of revenge, when we grant grace rather than a punishment. Jesus reminds us that to truly experience love and give godly love it must be to people we see as our enemy. Jesus reminds us that to love those that will love us in return is no different than even the worst people in this world. Generosity through the act of love is telling yourself and the world that you will not define a person by their worst act but will provide for them mercy and grace as our heavenly Father provided for us. Trust God fully and generosity will be a character trait that you find will set you free! 

Every day we should set out the day with our focus completely fixed upon Jesus; apart from Him we can do nothing! As we approach Easter Sunday it is my prayer that we prepare ourselves for worship. Let Easter be a day of reminder, let it be a day of rejoicing, let it be a day of total surrender as it is a day of remembrance that Christ not only died on the cross as He took upon Himself all our sins but that on the third day He arose again and He now sits at the right hand of Father God and intercedes on our behalf (Prays for us continually) as the victor over sin and death! I pray these simple devotions will light your path to a closer walk with the Lord.

God bless!

Jesus Stayed on the Cross

He saves others but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

Matthew 27:42

As Christ hung on the cross the religious leaders came by mocking Him for the things that He had said and done in His time on earth. We must remember these are the same men that saw Christ do miracle after miracle. He healed the lame and gave sight to the blind. He performed so many miracles it is said that if they were to write them all down there would not be enough room in any library in the world that could hold them. Yet, with all these signs the religious leaders tell Him that they will believe if He will just get Himself off the cross. They only said this because they knew He was not coming off the cross. The problem is they believed He could not come down but the reality is He would not come down.

Do you believe even for a second that those religious leaders would have bowed before Christ if He came down off the cross? Too often in our lives we make the same type deals with Christ. We can see God work in all kinds of ways but in reality we draw the line a little further out. God if you will only do this for me I will believe in you and obey you. The reality is God draws the lines. We are a smaller part of a much bigger picture. As Christ hung on the cross, the religious leaders declared He could only be God if He took Himself down but what made Him God was His willingness to stay on the cross. Our belief and obedience should not be contingent on what God will do for us but what He has already done for us. He showed His love for us that while we were still His enemy He stayed on the cross. While our actions defy Christ at every turn He stayed on the cross! As we draw lines in the sand Christ stayed on the cross! I pray today that you will wipe away any line in the sand of belief and come to the foot of the cross that Jesus stayed on to take upon Himself the sins that were once yours to bear! Christ stayed on the cross to prove He was God so do not ask Him to come down to prove something to you. His proof is His willingness to stay on the cross!

Pray today to ask God to forgive you for your lack of faith based on a line in the sand you drew. Remember today that God draws the lines because He sees the bigger picture. Be thankful today that God has allowed each one of us the measure of forgiveness we need and that through that forgiveness He calls us to be a part of His kingdom work; all because He was willing to stay on the cross!

Every day we should set out the day with our focus completely fixed upon Jesus; apart from Him we can do nothing! As we approach Easter Sunday it is my prayer that we prepare ourselves for worship. Let Easter be a day of reminder, let it be a day of rejoicing, let it be a day of total surrender as it is a day of remembrance that Christ not only died on the cross as He took upon Himself all our sins but that on the third day He arose again and He now sits at the right hand of Father God and intercedes on our behalf (Prays for us continually) as the victor over sin and death! I pray these simple devotions will light your path to a closer walk with the Lord.

God bless!

Who’s Will Be Done

My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.

Matthew 26:39

As believers we have two wills that struggle to be heard. We have the will of the flesh and the will of the Father. Jesus is demonstrating this struggle in His prayer to His Father. Just hours before Christ is to go to the cross He comes once more to the feet of the Father and asks that this cup pass from Him. The cup He is referring to is the cup of wrath for all sin. Christ came to this earth that He might receive the just punishment that was meant for all of us in sin (Romans 6:23a). When sin entered the world and separated man from God, God already had established a plan for reconciliation and His plan was Jesus Christ! Jesus came to earth to walk as we walk, to be tempted as we are tempted but He walked without sin. He did this that He may be found worthy to pay the penalty for all sin. In this time of prayer to the Father, Christ revealed the will of the flesh in that He desired to remove the cup; or to find an easier way. But never once did it cross the mind of Christ to not accept wholly the will of the Father. There was no sense of bartering or argument; there was just a sense of the will of the flesh being revealed and the will of the Father being obeyed.

Just as Christ has shown us there resides in each believer two separate wills, the will of the flesh and the will of the Father. In every decision we make we are fulfilling the needs of the flesh or the needs of the spirit. Jesus showed how both wills were available to Him but how in His mind and heart there was only one will to choose; that of the Father’s. As we approach Easter I would like us to think through the decisions we make. The impact of every decision, even seemingly small choices, can reap great rewards or grievous consequences. Think about an act as simple as inviting someone to church on Easter Sunday, just acknowledging someone you have never met, helping a friend or even sharing your testimony with someone. Think about how Christ drew you to Him. Think about the person or people that shared the gospel with you, what if they had chosen the will of the flesh and remained quiet. Where would you be without the people in your life that answered the will of the Father and shared Christ with you? Maybe someone is waiting on you to share with him/her. I pray that today can be that day!

I pray today will bring you opportunities for God to use you in a mighty way. Thank Him today for His willingness to be obedient even to the cross!