This week we'll finish the Gospel according to Luke, with an easy-to-remember '3 chapters per day' reading schedule:
* Weekend: Luke 7 - 9
* Monday: Luke 10 - 12
* Tuesday: Luke 13 - 15
* Wednesday: Luke 16 - 18
* Thursday: Luke 19 - 21
* Friday: Luke 22 - 24
As Chuck already mentioned last week, the gospel according to Luke is part 1 of a 2-part series, the book of Acts being part 2. Luke was a physician and, as such, his writings are very detailed. In chapter 1 verse 3 he mentions: "Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you...". Note the words 'carefully investigated' and 'orderly'. Luke had investigated for himself that the accounts concerning Jesus were true and trustworthy. This is tremendous evidence for the Christian faith. These stories are not fabricated fables or nicely constructed novels, but trustworthy eyewitness accounts.
When you read these accounts, I encourage you to take God's advice in Luke 9:35 to heart: "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." We have to listen to Jesus when speaks to us through his word. In your Bible, underline Jesus' sayings that speak to you. Here are a number of versus that speak to me:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" [9:23]
"See to it, then, that the light within in you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you." [11:35,36]
"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." [12:15]
"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." [12:31]
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." [13:24]
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." [15:7]
In the gospels, we often see Jesus as a teacher. He taught his disciples, and he still teaches us today through the accurate accounts written down by Luke and other gospel writers. Take his teachings to heart. Meditate on them and let them transform your life.
Dick
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
There are a few strange ways of saying things in this section of Luke.
ReplyDelete"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." luke 16:9
This seems to say you can buy friends and buy your way into heaven. Now, I know this is not true, but how do I explain this verse then? Especially when one of my friends who is spiritually curious asks about it?
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it." Luke 16:16
I thought the good news was about a gift. We don't have to force our way into it. Maybe, given the context, this is about pushing through the materialism of the world to the kingdom of God. Thoughts?
Those are good questions, Steve! Definitely make you think about the subject... Here's how I interpret these verses.
ReplyDeleteObviously, we can't buy our way into heaven. What we can do, however, is use our worldly wealth to help others, and gain friends by doing so. I think the 2nd part of this verse is saying that these 'good deeds' will not be forgotten by the recipients, and when all is gone, and we're all in heaven, those friends will welcome you in heaven.
I think Luke 16:16, 'everyone forcing his way into the kingdom of heaven', has to be read in context of some other parables, like that of the sower and the seeds (Luke 8, Matt. 13:1), or the fishnet that brings in all kinds of fish (Matt. 13:47), both good and bad, or the parable of the wheat and the weed (Matt. 13:24). When Jesus proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God, many people were initially drawn to it, and following it. They were 'forcing their way into it', both good and bad. As Jesus makes clear in the above-mentioned parables, the separation of 'good' and 'bad' people will happen at a later time, when the Son of man returns. In summary, forcing your way into the kingdom of heaven does not mean the same as 'being saved by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ'.
Many people these days have forced their way into the kingdom, but not all are saved. Narrow is the road and small the gate...
Hope this helps.
Dick