“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:31-32)

“Then He [Jesus] opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

Luke paints a beautiful picture of the power of God opening people’s eyes. In this chapter the disciples realize Jesus rose from the dead and grasp the truth He was indeed the Messiah. The two disciples who walked the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus. Though the disciples studied the Scriptures they didn’t understand the Messiah had to suffer and die.

Though Jesus said they were slow of heart to believe, He didn’t leave them in their ignorance. Instead He opened their eyes, opened their minds, and opened the Scriptures so they could understand. Because our sinful nature blinds us from the truth, we need God to open our eyes too. We can’t understand Scripture without God’s Holy Spirit opening our minds and showing us what it means.

Luke tells another story of opening in the book of Acts. “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16:14)

Even the initial act of believing, cannot be accomplished without God. We need Him to open our hearts to the good news.

Thank you God that You still open hearts. Open the hearts of those around me who don’t know You. Please open my eyes to see You at work in and around my life. Open my mind so that I can understand the Scriptures. Make the Living Word come alive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Questions: How has God opened your eyes? How has He opened your mind?

Some call it a mob mentality. People stop thinking clearly and allow emotion to rule. They say things they later regret. These verses describe the scene in Jerusalem when Pilate wanted to release Jesus. The crowd asked for the release of Barabbas the murderer and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus.

That kind of mentality doesn’t always require a mob. This passage makes me think about my own loud shouts and insistent demands on God. Too often, I want what I want – not what He wants – and I want it now!

Obviously God is not like Pilate who knowingly and willfully did wrong in order to save his own skin. God is holy and righteous and just. Yet I wonder if sometimes God gives me what I ask for, even when I ask for second best.

God longs to give me things for my ultimate good – things that will draw me into closer relationship with Him, glorify His name and develop the qualities of Christ in me. Those things don’t always look good from my short-term, earthly perspective. I occasionally see them as uncomfortable, difficult or painful.

My arrogance shows when I insistently make demands of God. Do I know better than He does? Do I want my own way, regardless of what is best?

Gracious God and Father, please don’t give me what I ask for when I ask for the wrong things. Help me to stop demanding and instead be still and know that You are God. You are all wise and all powerful. Help me to want what You want. Amen

Questions: What is the difference between persistent prayers and insistent demands? How do we know how to pray for what God wants?

 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

This is a very familiar passage of scripture, but take a minute to consider the faith of the second criminal. He feared God. The other criminal mocked Jesus, but this man knew he deserved the death sentence. He believed Jesus lived a sinless life. The criminal knew Jesus had done nothing wrong.

He believed Jesus was God’s Anointed One. He understood that one day God would send the Messiah to save His people. While others doubted, this man recognized the truth in his dying moments. He believed Jesus had the power to save him. Even though Jesus hung dying on the cross next to him, this criminal asked Jesus to remember him. Death could not prevent Jesus from receiving the kingdom God established for Him.

What about us?

Each of us deserves death because of our deeds. We cannot show contempt for God and escape His justice. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, has the power to save us. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) No situation, no sin, no shame is too great for His power.

Gracious Heavenly Father, give me faith like the criminal who died next to Jesus. I believe You have the power to save me. Amen

Questions: What do you learn about faith from the criminal? Where in your life do you need to experience the power of God?

Have you ever contemplated the homelessness of Jesus?

“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’” (Matthew 8:20)

This is more than just a metaphorical picture. Jesus didn’t have a home. The Bible doesn’t mention Him owning anything. In the midst of recording Jesus’ teaching, Luke casually mentions that Jesus spent each night on the Mount of Olives, the hill outside Jerusalem.

Though the gospel writers give little attention to this fact, we dare not romanticize it. Surely Jesus did experience beautiful evenings in the olive grove, away from the crowds, with the stars shining overhead. But other nights it rained or even snowed. Sometimes cold winds blew. Jesus endured hard ground, darkness and loneliness.

How does Jesus’ homelessness impact us? Though not a command that we must follow, it does require us to pause and think. Too often the desire for comfort drives me. Luxury and convenience become needs rather than wants. Material possessions clutter my focus and prevent me from seeking God. I stress about many things. Jesus owned nothing, yet He didn’t worry about His next meal. He trusted God for everything He needed.

I also need to consider my attitudes toward others. Though Jesus likely trained as a carpenter, during the three years of His ministry He didn’t work to provide for Himself or for His mother. Did people look at Him and say, “Get a job”? Jesus can help me see differently, because He knows what it’s like to be homeless.

Holy God, open my eyes to what you want to teach me through these verses. I want to trust You and not worry, to seek You instead of my own comfort, to see every person through Your eyes. Amen

Questions: Does knowing Jesus was homeless change your perspective toward the homeless in your city? What is God nudging you to change as you consider Jesus’ homelessness?

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.” (Luke 12:37)

Masters don’t serve slaves their dinner. Who ever heard of such a thing? CEOs don’t pour coffee for their secretaries. But as radical as it sounds, Jesus demonstrated that very thing.

“After that, [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.” (John 13:5)

Nothing humbles me more than realizing that God is humble. The God of the universe humbled Himself to become a man – Jesus. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as an act of service and as an example to us all. His death on the cross – the ultimate act of service –provides the way for us to experience eternal life.

As servants of the serving God we need to heed His instruction: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” (Luke 12:35)

The story in Luke includes a stern warning. “But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and women servants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:46)

Jesus tells us to continue to serve Him and be ready for His return, no matter how long it takes.

Holy God, it boggles my mind to know that you are both Almighty and humble. Show me how to live for You, always ready for service. Amen.

Questions: How does knowing that God is humble impact you? Why do we forget the need to always be ready of Jesus’ return?

“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32)

One line stood out to me as I read the story of the lost son. When the angry older brother confronts his father about the party he’s thrown for his younger brother, he uses an interesting phrase. “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” (Luke 15:30)

He calls his younger brother, “this son of yours”.  Does that sound familiar? We use similar words when we don’t want to be connected to, or take responsibility for, a particular person. If I tell my sister, “Your Dad needs help,” I expect her to do the helping not me. If I say to my husband, “Your son cheated,” I’m suggesting he should take responsibility for the child’s behavior and address the problem.

The older brother in Luke 15 didn’t want to have anything to do with the rebel who returned home. The parable makes his attitude crystal clear. But look at the father’s response. He turns the phrase back on the older brother by calling the lost son “this brother of yours”. In essence he’s saying this lost boy isn’t just my son, he’s also your brother.

Just like the father in the story, God draws us in. He shows us we need to care about the lost, the troubled and the rebellious. God rejoices when a sinner repents of her ways and returns to Him. But that’s not enough. The rebellious one isn’t just God’s child he’s also our brother. We need to join in the celebration.

God, I confess that sometimes I’m not happy about a rebellious person coming back to You. In a twisted way, I think Your mercy lessens the value of the effort I make serving You. Forgive me and help me to rejoice over “this brother of mine”. Amen.

Questions: Why do we need to join in the celebration of a sinner coming back to God? What keeps you from joining the celebration?

The Christian faith isn’t a casual undertaking. It’s not something we do on a once-a-week basis or in our spare time. It demands our every effort. Jesus tells his listeners that they will try to enter eternal life but will be turned away.

“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from Me, all you evildoers!’” (Luke 13:26-27)

As Jews – God’s chosen people – they assumed that their heritage assured them a place in God’s kingdom. Jesus’ words must have startled them. What about us?

Jesus’ instructions to us include:

·    Believe in the One He sent (John 6:29)
·    Store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20 & Luke 12:33)
·    Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
·    Love each other to show the world you follow Me (John 13:35)
·    Feed the hungry, welcome strangers, clothe those in need, care for the sick and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:35-40)

God calls us to the work of believing and seeking and loving and serving. He urges us to make every effort.

Holy and merciful God, thank you for giving me the incredible gift of salvation. I want to make every effort to live for You because of what You have done for me. Amen.

Questions: Have you ever had a time when you found yourself drifting in your faith? What did you do to get back to your first love?

The phrase ‘the kingdom of God’ appears over and over again in the Bible. The good news of Jesus and His message of salvation lead us into God’s kingdom. We pray for His kingdom to come and though not visible, we see its effects. Using many different stories, Jesus explains how God’s kingdom functions and who will enter it.

God’s kingdom – unshakable and eternal – unfolds day by day within believers and builds toward Christ’s return when it will reach complete fulfillment. Nothing can stand against His kingdom.  No one can thwart its purposes. Permanent, immovable, unassailable, and undeniable – God’s kingdom will never end.

John’s revelation takes us one step further:

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)

“You [Lamb of God] have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)

Incredible as it may sound, not only does the unshakable kingdom of God belong to believers, believers are His kingdom. God purifies and refines us. He makes us holy and calls us priests.

Only one purpose fulfills believers: to serve our God and Father.
Only one response remains: to worship God with reverence and awe.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Lord, we praise You. You are all-powerful and Your kingdom will never end. Thank you for calling me into Your kingdom and making me a priest. May I serve You with all my heart, every day of my life. Amen.

Questions: How does knowing God’s kingdom is unshakable affect you? How will knowing that you are a priest of God change how you live?

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matthew 23:13)

Hypocrites, past and present, look to rules or formulas – perform this rite, avoid that action, speak these words – to gain access into God’s kingdom. Jesus clearly states that words or an outward appearance of godliness is not enough. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Repentance, rather than obedience to rules, qualifies us for God’s kingdom. Yet God’s holiness and righteousness mean that nothing impure can stand in His presence. Only God’s children will inherit His kingdom. Because God is holy, His children must also be holy.

Paul provides straightforward instruction:

·    “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9)
·    “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
·    “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5)

Our behavior can’t get us into God’s kingdom but it can certainly keep us out! What a gift that God offers us salvation through the death of His Son Jesus.  What we could not do for ourselves Jesus did for us.  Hallelujah!

Holy God, transform me to be like You. Change my heart and my mind and my actions, that I may enter into the incredible inheritance You have for me.  Amen.

Questions: How does hypocrisy prevent not only yourself but also others from entering the kingdom of heaven? Why does Paul group immorality, impurity and greed together? (Ephesians 5:5)

“Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.’” (John 3:5)

Hopefully, you have discovered the spiritual nature of God’s kingdom. It’s intangible, you cannot hold it in your hand. You can’t buy or barter your way into it. Your physical birth doesn’t ensure you a place in it.

John’s gospel introduces us to the term ‘born again.’  Every human being consists of both the physical and the spiritual. We understand the joy of physical birth – an infant brought forth from his mother’s womb. We also know the sorrow of physical death – the quiet passing of an elderly parent or the untimely wrenching of a spouse or child from this life.

Because of Adam’s sin, we enter this world spiritually dead. Although every physical aspect – beating heart, breathing lungs, moving muscles – proclaims life, our spirits sit lifeless and inert within us. Only God and His forgiveness can bring life to your spirit. “When you were dead in your sins…God made you alive with Christ.” (Colossians 2:13)

Essentially, Jesus’ message proclaims: a spiritual kingdom requires spiritual birth. “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Paul explained, “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

The words may vary – be born again, ask Jesus to be your Saviour, repent and ask God to forgive your sins – but the message remains the same: God’s Spirit must give life to our spirit for us to enter His kingdom.

Father, thank you that You give life to my spirit when I confess my sins to You. Thank you that Your kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, so that I know it will continue when this life ends. Amen.

Questions: How do you understand the phrase ‘born again’? Why do we forget that we are both physical and spiritual beings?