Category: Creation

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 19 Part 3–The Triumphal Entry to Holy Week

Posted on by Michael Smith

Luke begins the look at Holy week with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This was the most difficult journey that the Lord embarked upon in His ministry.  Jesus knew every step in the playbook.  He had seen it since before the creation.  It is a very telling hint for us when Jesus sends His guys to retrieve the colt.  The detail of where to go and what to say; reminds us that this video had replayed many times in the Lord’s thoughts.  

Then, as Jesus started into the city, the crowds welcomed Him as a conquering hero.  We must not miss the irony of the colt.  Conquering heroes paraded in on beautiful chargers with banners waving and trumpets blaring.  Conversely, when a king came in peace, would he do so on a colt, non-descript.  Still, the crowds roared and pronounced Jesus’ arrival.  While His men basked in their celebrity, Jesus felt the anguish of His coming fate, and the fate of His chosen ones. Still, He proceeded into Jerusalem, knowing that He would soon complete His mission. Jesus was prepared suffer the pain, humiliation, and separation from the Father.

It is that sacrifice that redeemed us.  Jesus, as the old hymn reminds us, could have called 10,000 angels to stop the trial and crucifixion.  He did not.  In exchange, the Lord simply asks us to trust and follow Him.  Jesus knew all about our lives and all our issues even as the Father proclaimed, “Let there be Light!” We cannot shock or surprise the Lord.  We can, however, follow Him and experience peace and an abundant Life here on earth; as well as, an eternity with Him in Glory.  What a great gift, and what an amazing promise.

God Bless You

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, Marraige, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 18 Part 2–Child Like Faith and Wealth

Posted on by Michael Smith

Dr. Luke continues to recount the principles that Jesus taught while He was wrapping up His ministry on earth.  It remained important to Luke for those that read his account to see as many sides of the Lord as was possible.  In this account, Luke looked at how Jesus felt about children and childlike faith.  Parents were bringing their children to meet Jesus, and have the Lord bless them.  What a nice change for Jesus–pouring out blessings to the young.  The disciples, however, saw it as a bother, taking Jesus from the important duties.  Jesus called the kids to him and told the disciples not to interfere.  Jesus saw the children and their faith as pure and undamaged by life.  He wanted all to understand that it was that pure and complete faith of children that pleased God most.  It was a picture of the relationship God longed to have with His chosen.

Next, Jesus was asked what it really took to receive eternal life.  The man that asked was very wealthy. Jesus said that he should follow the law and prophets.  The man smugly said he had done that all his life.  Then Jesus dropped the bombshell–“Sell your stuff, give the proceeds to the poor, and then come and follow Me.” The man became sad. Jesus then told the group that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. 

God told Israel at Mount Sinai that They must have no other God before Him.  Sadly, time has revealed repeatedly that money and wealth are some of the most difficult gods to release.  They give the illusion of independence and control.  They make one feel safe and unstoppable.  Jesus knew and showed us that those feelings were not real and were as temporal as a morning fog. 

Wealth is never satisfying, and unless its owner is willing to lay it at the Lord’s feet, it will take the Lordship of their lives.  Jesus was simply stating that to have eternal life, we must lay whatever controls us at his feet. Wealth, power, relationship, family, career, or anything that we consider our ticket to independence or control must be laid at God’s alter.  

Fear not, however, as He told the disciples, whatever we lay at God’s feet, He will restore exponentially back to us.  He is a loving Father that only wants us to enjoy peace and freedom.  That peace and freedom comes from trusting and following Him.  It has been the same since the beginning and will remain so until His return.

God Bless You

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 18 Part 1–Tenacity and Humility

Posted on by Michael Smith

As Jesus continued to prepare His disciples for His departure, the Lord stepped back and addressed some basics.  In this discussion, Jesus focused on things that move God and on things that put barrier between us.  First Jesus discussed tenacity.  He told a parable of a heartless judge and a tenacious old woman. The woman hounded the judge day after day until the judge relented.  The judge that did not fear God or man, finally succumbed because the lady wore him out.  Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that they needed to be passionate and tenacious as they sought God.  He needed them to know that there were times when tenacity became more effective than might or craftiness.

Next Jesus addressed the issue of pride.  He told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.  The Pharisee stood before God proud and smug that he had checked all the boxes and was one of the good ones.  He was so happy he had it all together.  He thought it only polite to drop by ad high 5 God, since the two of them were so much alike.  Meanwhile,  across the room, a sinful tax collector kneeled, in need of a touch from God.  This man knew he was far from perfect.  Infact, the tax collector knew God was his only hope.  Jesus wanted His guys to understand that both of those men were hopeless without a touch from God, but only the humble one was ready spiritually to receive God’s touch.

In our lives, we face a broken world each day.  We do our best to meet the daily challenges, and we seek the Lord’s mercy and provision.  As we do, we can never quit.  We must be as tenacious as the widow and as humble as the tax collector.  None of us has arrived, in fact, we are not even close.  We need to seek God with all our hearts, daily, in fact, continuously, as we recognize our own inability to manage this life without God and His grace.  We are not perfect, nor, have we somehow spiritually arrived.  David, Moses, Elijah, all men God adored were frail and defeated on their own.  Their greatness came as they humbly sought the Lord.

We can do the same–recognize our imperfection, seek God, and follow Him closely. Finally, we must never stop praying for the Lord’s blessing and direction!

God Bless You

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 17 Part 1–Forgiveness, Faith and Duty

Posted on by Michael Smith

As Jesus ministry was rounding the last turn, He began to focus on the relationship, first with others, then with faith, and finally duty.  As it relates to others, Jesus told His men to take responsibility for their actions and then forgive others that do the same.  It can be difficult to admit when you are wrong, but if you will and turn from your wicked ways, forgiveness is yours.  That applies even if people fall multiple times. 

 Next, Jesus reminded the disciples that they had plenty of faith, but that that faith had to be placed in the eternal and not in their own abilities.  Jesus reminded the group that if they had mustard seed size faith, that faith was sufficient to move mulberry trees.  We all want more faith, but Jesus reminded the disciples that it was the object of that faith that was the important thing.

Finally, Jesus reminded the disciples that doing their duty was not something to be overly proud of.  Instead, it is what is expected. As his servants, we are called to deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily and follow Him.  In that, they do not get “brownie points” instead, they should look for ways to do more.  This is the training and discipline, and that is never fun.  If His people will do their duties and seek to do even more–then the blessing will follow. 

For us, this passage reminds us to take responsibility for our lives, forgive others that do likewise.  We are to have faith, even a little–but that faith needs to be in the Lord and allow Him to direct our paths. 

Finally, we need to do what we have been called to do.  We cannot back away from the faith.  But following the Lord is not a super special extra.  It is simply our lives.  We must do our duty without complaint and seek no extra pats on the back for simply doing the things for which we have been called.  This is war and we are warriors.  Live accordingly.

God Bless You

Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 16 Part 1–Money and Masters

Posted on by Michael Smith

MONEY…Jesus tells His disciples that while money is not everything, it is one of the greatest competitors for the throne of our lives.  Jesus tells the story of a manager that has been fired and the manager’s shrewd plan to preserve his future by cheating his boss.  One would think the master would be angry, but, instead, the master is impressed by the manager’s shrewd dealings. 

Jesus then reminds the disciples that they live in a selfish world that gladly lies, cheats, and steals to preserve and better their own lives.  In one recounting, Jesus tells the disciples to be as shrewd as serpents and as gentle as doves. (Mathew 10:16).Jesus also reminds His chosen that no person can serve two masters.  You will love one and hate the other.  It is the struggle with being a believer.  Nothing in our world encourages selflessness.  Everything points to and worships fame, fortune, and everything that goes with it. 

As God’s people, we are called to live differently.  We are called to be good stewards with what he has blessed us with but, not to worship the stuff, worship the Provider.  It truly is a tough journey. 

If we can adopt Paul’s attitude of being content with whatever circumstance we find ourselves facing; then we can be as shrewd as serpents and as gentle as doves.  It is a matter of knowing that God created and owns it all.  He distributes what we need in His way and His time.  We must trust Him and allow the Lord to lead, guide, and direct us through the journey, and, like Israel in the desert, accept God’s daily provision for our lives and be OK with it.  

God Bless You

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 11 Part 1–Praying Made Perfect

Posted on by Michael Smith

Prayer is not the preparation for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.  Jesus was praying and His disciples were confused.  So, they asked for direction.  Seems fair, He was, after all, the great Rabbi.  So, Jesus broke it down for them.

First, He made it personal.  Father, not “Oh Great and Mighty One that inhabits the Heavenlies!”  Jesus wanted His chosen to understand that their relationship with God was personal. 

Next Jesus helped the guys to see that God was not a cosmic piggy bank.  He started by showing God respect and speaking words of adoration and reverence.  He acknowledged God’s kingdom and will–were supreme. 

Next Jesus acknowledged that it was God that meets one’s physical and spiritual needs.  Give us our daily bread and forgive us our trespass, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE that have wronged us.

Finally, Jesus closes with asking for direction–in the Matthew version, He also closes with a renewed acknowledgement that God was large and IN-Charge!

The magic really happens after the prayer, though.  Jesus imparts some of the most critical wisdom after the prayer.  In short, He helps His disciples to understand Who God really is.  What decent person when asked for something won’t respond just to get you off their back!–BE Tenacious.  What dad when you ask for something you need; would give you something harmful?  Jesus wanted these men to know that God is a Father filled with a desire to make them their best; but, also, to love and care for them unconditionally.

These men were going to change the world, but they had to trust God and see their relationship with Him as personal, not national. So, do we! Jesus’ model prayer was designed to show them and us our relationship and power–if we follow God.  I learned many years ago about the ACTS prayer model.  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.  First, we acknowledge God’s greatness and supremacy.  Next, we must acknowledge we miss the mark and need God’s forgiveness. Then, we need to look at what God has done and simply thank Him for that.  Finally, with the right heart, we need to tenaciously ask God for what we need–big and small, as we would any loving father.  We need to be confident that God loves us and wants the best for us.

Prayer is so much more about our attitude than our words.  It is talking to God as a Father, and not as an aloof cosmic being.  His entire reason for creating us and sacrificing the Lord, was to be in personal relationship and fellowship with us. Let’s make 2021 the year we embrace that and follow Him closely, humbly, and believing He has this life under control!

God Bless You

 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 9 Part 3–Who Jesus IS

Posted on by Michael Smith

Luke continues to spotlight amazing moments in the life and ministry of Jesus.  One of those moments was the moment when Jesus asked the group who people were saying that He was.  Jesus knew, of course what the people were thinking and saying, But He wanted His chosen guys to ponder it a bit.  So, when He asked, the answers were all over the board–John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the other prophets from old.  In Jesus discussion, that was warm up question.  Then Jesus asked the main question.  “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter, always blunt and always 1st says, “You are God’s Messiah!”  

That statement must have exploded through the group..  It would have been stunning to see the eyes of the other disciples and the reactions they gave.  Jesus had performed some amazing miracles.  He spoke of life and of God in a way no other prophet or preacher had done.  He was a man of authority and His following was great.  He calmed storms, cast out demons, healed the sick, fed the masses, and raised the dead.  Still, at the end of the day, it was a huge leap of faith to acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah.  Peter was the faithful one.  He rose and took the lead.  Scripture shows that Peter was not perfect, but there is little doubt that he was all in.

In our day, we see how the story played out.  We know that Jesus is the Messiah.  We know he was not simply a prophet, a good teacher,  or a Rockstar.  We know that Jesus was God and is God.  He made himself nothing and took on the form of man. He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2). 

With the historical perspective that we have, we can be as confident as Peter when we announce that Jesus is the Messiah.  We must live our lives in a way that honors the love and sacrifice Jesus made.  If we will, He will lead, provide, and protect us until we are with Him, in eternity.  Help me, Lord to honor You as my Messiah!!!

God Bless You

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 9 Part 1–Now It Is Your Turn

Posted on by Michael Smith

It is difficult to grasp the enormity of what Jesus accomplished when He sent out the apostles to minister.  Remember, Jesus came to do several things.  He came to give folks a clearer picture of God– His heart, and His desire to have a personal relationship with people.  He also came to demonstrate the difference between being religious and being in relationship with God. Finally, He came to redeem our souls through His sacrifice and resurrection.

Today’s passage was His first real demonstration of God’s desire to make the relationship personal.  Jesus sent out the 12 to do what he had been doing.  The message to His guys was simple, “Go do what I am doing and do not take anything with you.  Let the people provide; and, if the reject you, shake the dust from your sandals.   Jesus wanted His disciples to know they were being prepared for something great. 

As they traveled through the countryside, they were healing and changing the world.  It was a miracle; it was a confirmation that Jesus was and is who He said He was.  Not only was He saving and changing lives, those that He appointed were also doing the same.  

As His chosen, we are called to do the same. We are told to go and make disciples of all nations.  We are told to be Christ’s ambassadors.  We are told to be content with our lives and know that we can do all things through Christ–who is faithful to supply all our needs. Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20, Philippians 4:11-13. 19.  In short, we are to walk and live by faith as Christ and His disciples also lived.  We are to walk without fear.  We are to pray, seek and trust God to use us as He sees fit.  We are also to live in a way that is confident in His plan and His desire to prepare, protect, and provide for our needs.

He has been teaching His chosen that for millennia!

God Bless You

_____________________________________________


When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 8 Part 3–Help for a Hopeless Man

Posted on by Michael Smith

Jesus met a hopeless man. This demoniac, hated by all, greeted Jesus and His guys as they disembarked from their boat.  He was uncontrollable and had beaten every restraint designed to help. His life and behaviors caused him to be driven from polite society.  He now lived among the tombs completely controlled by the demons that plagued him.  When he approached Jesus, the man fell on his face and begged for the lives of the demons that possessed him.  Jesus had no sympathy for the demons, but he did have compassion for the man the demons had possessed. 

Jesus exercised the demons. They ended up in a herd of pigs and the once hopeless man was now free and sane.  The event startled all in the area.  The hopeless man was now a man saved from the chains of sin and death. The people wanted Jesus out–He scared them.  So, Jesus and His followers prepared to leave.  As they did the once hopeless man begged to join Jesus.  Jesus had a better plan.  Jesus asked the man to go back and tell his estranged family and community.  The now free and sane gentleman did as Jesus asked.

In our lives, we all have our demons that we battle.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He deals with our demons.  We are free to live a life out of the tombs of the world and into the community and family that have seen us at our worst.  With God’s influence, we can draw those that know us to the Lord that freed us.  That needs to be our mission, as that is what Jesus calls us to do.  He desires that we enjoy freedom here and eternity with Him.  If a few pigs drown in the process, SO BE IT!

God Bless You 

They sailed to the region of the Gerasene,[b] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time, this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times, it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So, he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So, the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him

Posted in A Father's Love, Creation, Devotions, Holiness, spiritual warfare, The Gospels, wisdom, worship

Luke 7 Part 1–The Tale of a Bible Superhero

Posted on by Michael Smith

One of the great features of the Bible is its ability to tell real life stories that are often more exciting and heartwarming than Hallmark could ever hope to write.  In my years of studying the Bible, the Centurion in this story has become one of my favorite Bible superheroes.  His mention is brief, and his story is limited, but what we learn and see is truly life changing.  Jesus is simply carrying out His day.  He just finished His sermon and pep talk for His followers and was headed out to minister. 

Meanwhile, there was a certain Centurion in the community who loved his servant.  The servant fell ill, and things were looking bleak,  The Centurion reaches out to the elders of His community and humbly asks them to find Jesus and have God heal the servant.  The elders loved the Centurion.  He treated them with care and dignity.  He built their synagogue.  Unlike most of the imperial order, He thought of the folks in his community as special and allowed them to live their lives.

So, when the Centurion sought out Jesus, the elders were glad to accommodate his request.  They did not act like other religious leaders and defame Jesus.  Instead, they came to Jesus and asked for His help.  Jesus joined them and as they approached, the Centurion stopped Jesus and expressed his gratefulness but also his understanding of his personal standing as a gentile in the Jewish community.  Jesus was so moved by the Centurion’s faith and his humble heart.

Of course,  Jesus healed the servant, and what’s more, Jesus pointed to the Centurion as one of the greatest men of faith in all Israel.  That is a very bold claim by the Son of God.  Jesus could see the man’s heart, his impact on the community, and his personal faith in God.  It moved Jesus, and it should guide us.  We need to carry on with the same faith, the same humility, and the same focus as the Centurion.  He was selfless, others focused and in love with God..  It made him a superhero– if we would follow the centurion’s lead, we could be superheroes too.

God Bless You

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.