The Parables of Jesus: Luke 10: 30-37
30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to be a “good neighbor”. How many times have you not included someone in your group or helped someone in need because of a preconceived notion about them. Remember that Christ loves us all equally from the President to the beggar on the street. So if you want to show others that you are a true follower of Christ sometimes you have to take the low road, but come out on a eternally higher road.
Michelle McCollum
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 7:41-47
Luke 7:41-47
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." (NIV)
I have struggled with Verse 47, because I put words into it that aren’t there. I would summarize it to say that those who sin more, are forgiven more, and thus love God more. When I look closer, it doesn’t say that. Her love was not as a result of being forgiven. It is the other way around. For she loved much, her many sins have been forgiven.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But only those who love the Lord and seek forgiveness will receive it. Had the man who owed 500 denarii not sought to have the debt cancelled, he would not have received release from his debt. Who then do you think would love the man more, the one who still owed 500 denarii, or the one who had his 50 denarii debt forgiven? If we fool ourselves into believing we haven’t sinned or believe our debt is too large to deserve forgiveness, we will not received the gift of forgiveness. When we come to God and truly repent, we truly realize how much Jesus did for us.
Forgiveness is a free gift, but it came with a price. Don’t take it for granted. Take time today to reflect on how big of a debt has been forgiven. Like the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, find a way to show God how much we love him.
John Gesick
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 6:43-45
Luke 6:43-45
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
This is a verse that many of us are familiar with. We read it and think “Ok, so if I am filled with the Holy Spirit then I should bear good fruit”. But what does that mean? Often we think that 'bearing good fruit' simply means being nice, going to church, maybe even being involved in a ministry. And we feel that if we are doing these things most of the time then we are doing pretty good. But the truth of the fruit we bear really comes out when no one is watching; when we just respond without thinking.
Verse 45 says “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” I am often convicted of this while driving. Someone cuts me off and I find myself yelling “You jerk! What is wrong with you!?” What does that response say about my heart? Or when someone hurts me or does something that makes me angry and I respond by being hurtful right back instead of speaking in love?
Doing good things does not necessarily equal bearing good fruit. God is not interested in our actions as much as He is in the state of our hearts. Once our hearts are right the overflow, the fruit we bear, will lead to right actions.
What kind of fruit are you bearing – truly?
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 18: 1-8
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And 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 about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I 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?"
Have you ever been to the grocery store and seen a toddler with their parents? Having two kids myself (Soon to be three!) I can tell you that there may be nothing more annoying than when you're kids won't stop asking for things at the store. Usually after the second or third time asking, my jaw starts to clench, and my blood pressure goes up, and I set myself up against them getting anything at all! So when I read this I can feel what the judge is going through (if you don't have kids, try to imagine when your little brother or sister won't stop harassing you). Imagine that you are that judge, and that this person won't stop bothering you. Ever. Until they get what they want. No matter how strong you are, you will finally end up giving in to them, just to make them go away.
In the same way, Jesus says, we need to go after God like that in prayer. And then He calls that faith. If you want mercy, or anything else, go to God with persistence and passion. Drag your heels and stomp your feet if you have to, like a toddler who wants a new toy. And in the end, God says that He will bring about justice for you.
-Jeff-
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 16: 1-8
1Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So 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— 4I 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" 'Eight hundred gallonsa]">[a] of olive oil,' he replied.
"The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'
7"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?'
" 'A thousand bushelsb]">[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.
I'm totally gonna rip this off from a sermon that I heard Andy Stanley preach one time, but it's so good that I just have to.
One of the things I love about reading the parables of Jesus is his ability to take something common (like someone about to be fired from their job) and find a spiritual application to it.
This money manager one day gets a wake up call from his boss, he's told to wrap up any orders he may have, 'cause he's out of here. Many of us would have just walked away from the job, left things a mess and made the owner pick up the pieces. He may have wanted to do just that, but as he was thinking, he realized that he didn't want to work with his hands, and he was too proud to beg, so what was he going to do?
At this point, this man had a little bit of time, and a little bit of resources. So he put these things to use in the best way he could. He used his little time and little resources and was able to gain favors from different people, so that when he was fired, he had a few people who owed him. His boss was obviously the same way, because he just laughed at the guy.
It's the same thing with us, we have a little time here on Earth, and a few resources (money, friends, the Bible) to work with. Are we using them for the best possible purpose? Or are we wasting them away? Do something with your time and resources today.
-Jeff-
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 12:16-21
Luke 12:16-21
16. And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man
produced a good crop. 17. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I
have no place to store my crops.'
18. "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and
build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19.
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many
years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be
demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself?'
21. "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God."
Not that I would know, but there is nothing wrong with being rich. Jesus
is not saying "Don't be rich" but is saying "Don't be greedy but be
rich toward God". You see this guy only wanted more stuff for himself
when he already Rich.
What does "Rich toward God" mean? It means looking at the needs of
others, supporting your local church, supporting missionaries, maybe
seeing your neighbor in need and helping them, taking on a God like
attitude and heart.
after all we have belongs to God anyway.
My suggestion to you is, no matter what you have... much or little, be
rich toward God and God will bless you.
Later,
DJ Jackson
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 12:21-25
Luke 12:21-25 Also Matthew 6:26
Do Not Worry
21. Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not
worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you
will wear. 23. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom
or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than
birds! 25. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
A University in Texas one time wanted to know how much it would cost to
feed the birds in the whole State of Texas....They found out it was to
big to measure! So they decided just doing the city of Dallas.....again
they found out the city of Dallas was still to big to measure! So they
decided again to see what the cost would be to feed the all bird at a
local City park in Dallas for a day.....you know what still to
big...they couldn't measure it.
One of names used for God in the Bible is "Jehovah-jireh" means
"God my Provider." I can't tell you how many times God has provided for
me! Jobs, food, clothing, etc. We serve an Awesome God who takes care
of us. So don't worry just trust in God!
Later,
DJ Jackson
The Parables of Jesus: Luke 11:5-9
Luke 11:5-9
5. Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes
to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6.
because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing
to set before him.'
7. "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already
locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you
anything.' 8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the
bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness, he
will get up and give him as much as he needs.
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.
Some people think if they ask God for anything they are bugging
God, imposing on him, thinking God will be to busy, get mad, think God
won't think it's important enough, or he simply won't answer.
How many of you would go to your friend house...in the middle of
the night....lights are out....you know their in bed, sleeping and ask
them for some sandwiches, chips and some Mountain Dew? Not me! (well
maybe for a Mountain Dew!)
But Jesus is telling us in this parable to do just that. Go to
him with Boldness! I'm sure the guy in this parable didn't just knock
once. He rang the doorbell several times, Knocked loudly, after all they
were sleeping. then the guy in the house said "don't bother me" Most of
us would of walked away but the guy wanting the bread started shouting
to the guy inside the house. " I Want Bread Dude!" The outcome is....
he got what he wanted.
Sometimes in my life I've prayed for a few seconds walked away
and no answer, other times I've gone to the altar or gotten on my knees
and cried out to God until I heard him speak to me or felt the prayer
had been answered or the Holy Spirit gave me a peace. It was not a fast
food type of prayer but I really persisted and God came through for me.
Ask, Seek, Knock and God will answer!
Later,
DJ Jackson
Malachi 3:10 & Luke 6:38
Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not
throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that
you will not have room enough for it.
Luke 6:38(New International Version)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken
together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Here in these two passages one from the Old Testament and one
from the New Testament they are basically saying the same thing. "GIVE"
How do we give to God...through tithe or 10% of everything we make.
This is a true story that happened to me when I first became a
Christian.
I was about 20 yrs old a new Christian and knew about
tithing...but...I was working construction and for two weeks only worked
a few days...it was a slow time of year for construction....anyway I had
just enough money to cover rent a little groceries and only had $20.00
to last untill next payday... 2 weeks away...but the $20.00 was my tithe
money.... and I still needed gas money, etc. I was sitting in the back
of church and as the offering plates were being passed around up in
front. I told God "I can't give this money, it's all I have for two
weeks, and I need Gas!".....the offering plate was getting closer. As it
finally got to me, I let it pass me by and did not give my tithe.
After church that day a lady named Margret Wiggins came up to me
and said. " God wants me to give you this" and she handed me a twenty
dollar bill! I ask god to forgive me for not trusting in him and said
never again God, and to this day have always tithed.
You see God knows our needs before we even ask him!
I learned a couple of valuable lessons that day:
1. Tithe & trust God no matter what the circumstances look like!
2. Listening to God and obeying his voice, like Margret Wiggins did that
Sunday morning!
Later,
DJ Jackson
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