The Daily Dose

Cleanse your Temple

Saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Luke 19:46

I wasn’t sure what to write about this passage.  How to make it relevant to life today.  In our society, we do not have money changers in our churches selling animal sacrifices at inflated cost to cheat the people coming in to offer their blood offering for sin.  Our sin has already been eradicated by the perfect sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb.

As I thought about it and prayed about it, I was impressed that our temple is not one made out of stone and mortar, but of flesh.  According to 1 Corinthians 6:19, now we as believers are the temple of God. When we receive His gift of salvation, His Spirit comes to live in us.  Suddenly, it all made sense to me.  My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, and it is up to me to drive out what is unclean.  I am the one who keeps this temple clean.  Whether by removing sin from my life or by keeping my heart pure before my Father.  God intended for this temple to be a house of prayer for Him to dwell in.

I must daily examine my temple that has been given to me from God and guard against the darkness coming it.  It is very subtle and will try to slip in unnoticed, but as I walk closely with Him, I can quickly identify what needs to be kept out.  My house of prayer is my heart and as my earthly father taught me, I can stay in an attitude of prayer all day long.  I can walk with my Heavenly Father by allowing His Spirit to direct my steps and keep a running conversation going with Him at all times.  He will keep my feet from stumbling, and He will keep the unclean things out as I listen to His inner promptings to my heart.  He will teach me daily just as Jesus was in the temple daily teaching.  The outside world cannot get in to destroy me as long as I keep Him at the door.

So what does that look like in a natural sense?  I set a guard up by setting boundaries in my life.  I know the places and things I am tempted by, so I keep my heart with all diligence and do not let the evil in. I purposefully choose what I will look at, what I will listen too and even what I am putting into my temple for sustenance.  I am working with God’s Spirit inside me to keep this temple clean and if any corrupt thing starts to get close, I can quickly spot and purge it because I have the Holy Spirit pointing out what does not belong.

What about you?  How is your temple doing?  Are you keeping a guard against the unclean things?  Are you paying attention to what you should be driving out of your heart to keep it pure?  If not, you can start today by asking God’s Sprit to guide and instruct each step you take.  Keep in touch with Him throughout your day and ask Him to help you identify the things that need to be removed and the things that need to be added to keep your temple clean.

Today I want to encourage you to drive out the things in your life that are holding you back from completing the mission you have been assigned to in life.  Make your temple a house of prayer by talking with Him all day long.  Keep in touch often with the Spirit of God and allow Him to point out the places that need to be clean up.  Then let Him teach you daily in your temple and don’t let the destroyer keep you from completing, down to the last detail, your purpose in life.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 19:45-48

45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 

46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 

48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Point of No Return

saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:42

What is important to you?  What really matters to you in this life?  I know we each would have a different answer to this question.  Some may say family, others might answer their faith.  Some would even say their career, wealth or their pet The bottom line is that most people would probably say it was a relationship of some kind.  A family member, friend, spouse or child?  When it get right down to top priorities, few people would name a thing or place over a personal relationship.

The scripture reading today is about Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem.  In other accounts of this event, it actually says that Jesus wept over the city.  The heading of the passage says: Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem.  Why?  Why was Jesus weeping over a city?  Well, to start to understand this passage, the first thing to point out is that Jesus was not crying about buildings and city street.  He was hurting for the people of the city.  In today’s reading, He is sorrowful because they did not have peace and there is none coming in their future at that time.  He knew that because of the prophecy that the city would be leveled by their enemies, not many years from that time.  His desire was that they would receive Him as their Messiah and things would have turned out differently for the people of Jerusalem.  This passage took place the week before His crucifixion, and He knew that they were about to come to the point of no return.

Even though, there was no change in the heart of the people of Jerusalem back then, there is hope for us today.  Yet how many of us weep over the souls of the people that we love that are lost, dying and on their way to eternal separation from a loving heavenly Father?  How much time have we spent on our knees praying for the right person to come into their life that will reach their soul.  How many hours praying for the wisdom of that person, regardless of if it is us or if we can be that person for someone else that is praying for their loved one to be reached. Are we even considering the part we play in someone’s eternal destiny? 

Today I want to encourage you to make a new commitment this year to add a few more minutes each week to your prayer time and specifically pray for your lost loved ones and those around you that you can encourage that someone is praying for.  It can only make things better.  At minimum it will make you more aware and more sensitive when God’s Spirit may be tapping you on the shoulder to let someone know He is ready to receive them into a personal relationship with Him.  Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to your lost loved ones and then pray that you would be a laborer too.  Make a fresh start this year on your commitment to bringing people into God’s family and kingdom before we reach the point of no return in this age.  Then you will be working on what really matters in this life and that is rescuing perishing people of the world.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 19:41-44

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 

42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 

43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 

44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The Lord has need of you

And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”Luke 19:31

I was there.  I walked down the “Palm Sunday” road.  Oh, it was nothing like it was in Jesus’ day.  A narrow alley with walls and buildings on either side of the road.  It is paved, but so tight it is scary when oncoming vehicles come around the corners.  It’s rough terrain and down the side of Mt. Olivet.  I was excited in the morning as we stood on top of the mount, but when we began our descent, I quickly realized this walk was not going to be a stroll in the park.  We stopped at a couple of historic points on the way down and by the time we were heading up the far side into the city, it was HOT!  Even though it was still before 12 noon, the heat of the day was already on us.  It is ironic that Jesus told the pharisees that if He stopped the people from praising Him, the stones would cry out because Israel is one of the stoniest countries probably in the entire world.  So much so that it is one of the most notable features among all the historic sights. 

Jesus rode into the city on the colt of a donkey on that same road, which in my opinion would have been an even more grueling journey.  He told His disciples to go into the village across the way and find the colt tied to a tree.  He said to bring it to Him and if anyone asked what they were doing taking their animal, to respond with “The Lord has need of it.”  The passage doesn’t actually say that the colt was returned, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was taken back to it’s owner and only borrowed for that specific purpose.  Jesus only needed it to fulfill His mission. 

Jesus has need of you too.  Jesus could have made His trip into the city on foot like everyone else did, but He was fulfilling a scripture that had been written long ago about that very day.  Now He is at work fulfilling all that needs to be done before He returns and it is written that many of these things would be done through the hands of His people, most importantly “Go into all the world and tell the good news.”  Since Jesus no longer lives in this world, He has delegated this part of the plan to His people that do still live here, namely you and me.  He has given each one of us gifts, talents and abilities with which to uniquely fulfill this calling.  He didn’t use His gifts and talents for His own use, agenda and profit, and He doesn’t expect us to either.

The Lord has need of us.  Not because He cannot do it Himself, but because that is the way He set it up so that He could partner with us through His Spirit.  In that way we can cover much more territory than one person could, and we get to walk closely with Him as we live out our mission.  It is a win/win scenario and one that I am honored to be a part of.  In His godly wisdom and design, my salvation does not only include escaping eternal torment and separation from God, but it also gives me the privilege of walking out this life as part of His Family working in the Family business.  Like the Palm Sunday ride, His business may be rough sometimes and there maybe detours and things in the way at other points, but the Lord still has need of you finishing the journey and keeping Him along with you until it is complete.

Today I want to encourage you to examine how you are carrying Him with you each day.  Do you say a quick prayer each morning and then never check in again the rest of the day or are you intentionally taking Him on your life journey every step of the way?  Recognize today that the Lord has need of you and walk into that purpose of carrying His message to the world around you using the gifts and abilities He has empowered you with.  Ensure that your life journey will be comprised of all the plans and details He created you for and when you come to the end of your time here in this world, you will step into eternity knowing that you have done well!

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 19:28-40

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 

29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 

30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 

31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”

32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 

33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”

34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 

35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 

36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 

38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Your assignment

‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given more; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Luke 19:26

Have you ever been given an assignment either at school or at your place of employment?  Sure, you have, we all have at one time or another.  A task to do that was needed to complete a project or a report to write that required time and research.  I know everyone has been given the assignment at some point in life to study for a test.  So, how did that go for you?  In my case I’ve done some assignments very well, but others not so much.  I suspect that is the case with most people.  I think it is fair to say that it would be extremely difficult to find someone who has completed every assignment, in their lifetime, perfectly.

Today’s reading is again about a parable (a current relevant story that Jesus told with a heavenly principal that God established in this world). Jesus often talked to those who were with Him with these stories so that people could understand the way God set things up to work in the world we live in.  He told them about a man that was going to be traveling for a while to acquire a kingdom, so the master gave to each of his servants (employees) an assignment of minas.  They were each given an equal amount of mina to manage.  I’m not sure how much a mina represents, but in this case, I will just call that mina the servant’s assignment to be in charge of.  When the master returned, he found that two of his servants had increased their mina.  To which the master responded, “Well done good and faithful servant.” He was very pleased with their report, but when he got the report from one of the servants that had hid what was given to him so no one could take it or use it.  The master called this man a wicked and lazy servant and takes his assignment to watch over the mina and gives it to the one that has increased the most.

Here is another one of those kingdom of heaven principles that are guaranteed to be successful in this life.  Be faithful over little and you will be given more.  It is sad that there are some people and even Christian people out there in the world that do not want to increase in responsibilities and commitments.  Especially when it comes to serving others.  Many people are happy to live in their own little world with just “me and mine” and never step into the greater assignments in life because of hiding from their greater call.  Hopefully, no one reading this message falls into that category, but there is a warning in this passage if you do.  The master takes what was given to the servant that was afraid and selfish and gives it to the one who had increased the most.  He concluded this by saying whoever manages well will be given more but whoever hides, and hordes will have what he had taken away from him.  So sad that many never have a revelation of this heavenly principal and struggle their entire earthly life.

Today I want to encourage you to increase in your assignment to multiply your gifts and talents.  Wherever you can use them to serve others, take that step of faith.  Don’t worry about being compensated extra, do it because you are willing to go the extra mile to bless someone.  The Lord, who sees what you do in secret will bless you openly.  He will increase your opportunities and you will be able to continue to be a good and faithful servant of the Most High God.  If you have buried your gifts in the past, it is not too late to turn this thing around.  Surrender all that you have today over to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you use all your resources in a way that honors and blesses Him and serves others.  He will lead you to the next assignment and you will be able to begin increasing all that He has blessed you with.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 19:11-27

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 

12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 

13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 

16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 

17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 

18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 

19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 

21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 

22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 

23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 

25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 

26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 

27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”

The Choice is up to You

“Because the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Have you ever felt invisible in this life or like no one even knows you exist?  Maybe you feel like you slip in and out of crowds unnoticed most of the time.  Maybe you even live your life like you are the only one who knows what you are doing.  The truth is that most people do live that way.  Most people think whatever they are going through in private, no one else knows about it.  No one sees them hurting and no one sees them alone.

Today’s reading is about Zacchaeus.  He was a tax collector, and he was not invisible to most people.  In fact, tax collectors were despised by the Hebrew people and called out when they walked through villages because they were Jewish but working for Rome.  They were also thieves most of them over charged the people so that they could put it into their own pockets and become very rich.  Zacchaeus was not just any ordinary tax collector; he was a chief of tax collectors which meant that he made some money from all the other tax collectors in the region.  He was extremely wealthy and powerful, but not invisible.

When Jesus came to town, Zacchaeus wanted to see him but because he was short, there was no way the crowd would let him get close to Jesus.  He thought that he could climb a tree and be unnoticed by Jesus when he passed by.  Instead, Jesus called him out.  He not only saw Zacchaeus, but He knew who he was and why he was in the tree.  Jesus never addressed any issues such as Zacchaeus being a tax collector or why he was in a tree, He just told Zacchaeus that He was going to His house for dinner.

Needless to say, this changed Zacchaeus life forever.  He returned all that he had stolen from the people x 4 and gave half of what he owned to the poor.  Jesus affirmed Zacchaeus decision and told him that he got saved that day.  He concludes His conversation with Zacchaeus by saying that the reason He came to the world was to save people that are lost.

Jesus is still in the saving business today and if you think that you are invisible and no one sees you, you are wrong.  Jesus does and more than that He loves you.  He came to the world that He created to rescue His created people from His enemy, and He made that available to all by paying the penalty of sin that each one of us own.  Now the choice is yours to receive His payment or reject it.  No matter what you choose, you cannot change the reality that He sees you and He loves you.  Wherever you are in life today, He is there waiting for you to turn and look to Him. His salvation is available to you just like it was for Zacchaeus, but it is up to you to choose it.

Today I want to encourage you to turn in God’s direction.  Reach out to Him with your cares and pain.  He already rescued you 2000 years ago when He took your sin penalty.  Now it is up to you to receive that salvation He so dearly paid for.  The choice is up to you.  Receive His salvation today by praying this prayer from your heart!  Jesus will come into your heart and change your life forever.

^{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 19:1-10

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 

2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 

3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 

4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 

5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 

6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

He is calling you

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,  Luke 18:40

Have you ever cried out to God in a time of trouble and weren’t sure if He was listening or even hearing you?  Maybe you weren’t seeing any change in your circumstances, or you weren’t feeling any relief in your pain?  What about calling out to Him for a lost loved one or unbelieving friend?  Has it ever seemed to you that no matter how long you prayed or what you said, still nothing seemed to change?

In today’s reading, there was a man like this.  He was sitting beside the road and even though he was blind, he knew Jesus was nearby.  He began to call out to Him for help.  The people that were close by told him to be quiet and don’t bother Jesus, but that only encouraged the blind man to cry louder.  When Jesus heard his cries, He stopped everything that he was doing and called for the man to be brought to Him.  When the blind man knew that Jesus had heard him calling out to Him, he got up and went to Jesus. He was no longer begging for food like he had in days past.  He knew that now he had the attention of the One that could change anything and everything in His life. When Jesus asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” The man boldly asked for his sight to be restored and received it immediately.

 Jesus still hears our cried today and He is always listening.  You don’t have to yell loudly or beg and plead for Him to see you, He sees and knows you right where you are.  In fact, He is calling you to come to Him, right where you are today.  His call is always beckoning in your heart, but you have to respond by setting aside some time sitting quietly with Him to hear it.  He is always ready to answer you and He always wants to help, but the reason you don’t always hear or see results is because you are not taking the time to shut out the noise of the world for a few moment and hear His answer and direction to you.

Today I want to encourage you to keep calling out to Him!  Don’t be discouraged or disappointed when you don’t see immediate changes in your situation, just continue to sit closely with Him and listen to any direction He may give to your heart or through His Word.  When you sense that He is calling you to take that step of faith toward your answer, quickly follow the instructions you believe He is giving.  He is always calling you closer, so be ready to spend the time that it takes to press into all that He has for you.  You will get your answers and you will get results, but you will also be required to listen for your part of getting to the place where your answer is. Start today, the choice is totally up to you.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 18:35-43

35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 

36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 

38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 

41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 

43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

A Place Prepared

They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Luke 18:33

Today’s reading makes it oh so clear that Jesus was not the one calling the shots when He was here in this world.  First, He tells His disciples that He was going up to Jerusalem to be betrayed and condemned to death.  Not His idea, but He also tells them at that time that He will come back from the grave after three days to let them know there will be a happy ending.

The point is that Jesus did not make the plan for His life.  It was already established for Him before He was born.  In Matthew’s account of this discussion, it is followed by the request of James and John to be given a specific place next to Him in heaven. Jesus plainly told them at that point: “I don’t make the plans, I just execute them.”  He told them that each place and position in heaven is prepared ahead of time.  When you get there, you will already have a place waiting for you.  Nobody decides what their place will be, God the Father has a plan

It is the same for us today.  We are not the ones who even are expected to make our life decisions about the assignments we will accomplish here in the world.  The plan is already made, but it is up to each individual to seek out that mission and decide to step into that calling with the Holy Spirits empowerment.  It isn’t difficult, when you simply acknowledge Him in all your ways and each step you take, He will direct your path and make plain the road designed for you life.  However, if you determine that you are going to make your purpose to be about your own desires and dreams, you will have a harder time discerning His direction when it comes. It will make more sense to your natural thoughts to find success in the way the world defines it.

Today I want to encourage you to press in for your part of His plan.  Ask your Father in Heaven to make His plans and purposes for your life to be loud and clear.  Ask Him to lead you to scripture that confirms that direction and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit within you to be a blessing to others.  We are here in this world to serve those around us, not ourselves.  

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 18:31-34

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 

32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 

33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

Hard, not impossible

And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! Luke 18:24

Today I want to focus on God’s blessings and how they can fill our lives with great joy.  God is not against us having things and riches, He is against things and riches having us.  He knows that being consumed with the things of this world can lead to destruction.  Instead fill up with God and let Him pour His blessings on you!

In today’s verse, Jesus told His disciples that is it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but it is not impossible.  God wants our faith and trust to be in Him.  He doesn’t want us to put our security in things and money because they are not able to give us a satisfying life and they are temporary.  However, if we don’t have these things, we cannot financially support God’s kingdom, bless others, and reach others that have needs. 

The things here are very necessary for the time we spend on earth.  God wants us to enjoy our time here, and He is the one who gave us the things and the ability to acquire them.  Yet, the reason is for eternal purposes not for temporary pleasures.  God’s not after your things, He’s after your heart.

Today I encourage you to be thankful for the blessings that the Lord has given to you.  Thank Him that He adds no sorrow with them.  Reach out to others with the resources that you have been so richly blessed with and show others the love of God through the things He has given.  Don’t worry about replenishing them.  God will always take care and provide for you especially if you are using the blessings He has given you to bless others with.   Be a blessing to all those around and share His love when you do.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 18:24-30

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 

30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

What do you Lack?

^{So, when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  Luke 18:22}

Happy New year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating as we said goodbye to 2022 and welcomed in 2023! 

This is the time to reflect back on 2022 and ask the questions:  Did I accomplish everything or even anything I set out to do last year?  How did I do with the goals I set at the beginning of 2022?  What areas can I do better in this year?

This is also the time to set new goal for the coming year.  Goals such as: Spend quiet time with God each day.  Get physically fit/healthier.  Make a conscience effort to connect with family and friends more.  Get out of debt and start saving some money. Even learn a new skill or language.  The possibilities are endless.

In today’s reading, Jesus has a conversation with a young man that is wealthy and important.  The man asked Jesus what he needed to do to receive eternal life.  Even though this young man had material wealth and position, he knew there was something missing and that his life was not complete.  Jesus responded to the man with a list of commandments to keep and the young man confessed that he has already done all of them.  So Jesus takes it a step further and invites the man to become one of His disciples and the “follow Him.” However, there was one stipulation and that was to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, only then could the man understand what was really important in life and have that complete feeling that only following God’s path can give.

This was what the young man was lacking.  Not that it was wrong to have things, but this young man was deceived into thinking that financial success was the most important thing in life and he was looking to his riches to bring him joy. Jesus gave the man three step to turn his life around and point him in a new direction, lacking nothing.  He said:

1. Separate from the things that were holding him back – possessions
2. Give to others
3. Make God’s ministry his priority by following Jesus

These three steps can help us still today.  1. When we separate from the world and the things that are holding us back from the plans God has for us, we are turning around and heading back to God’s love and priorities. 2. When we give to others who are needing and hurting along the way, we are beginning a new lifestyle where we consider other’s needs above our own. 3. When we turn in that new direction of following God’s path and plan instead of making our own way, we will step into a place of contentment, satisfaction and real joy.  We will begin to understand what life is truly about and how to accomplish the mission that has been set before us, rather than trying to reach a goal that will provide no lasting joy when we get there.

Today I want to encourage you to start 2023 with the decision to make your heavenly Father your priority in all that you do. Start by scheduling a quiet time with Him each day and making it your priority to get any assignment He has for you to accomplish each day.  Praise and worship Him in your quiet time, read a passage of His Word and talk to Him about the events of the day that are about to take place.  This will put you in the position and right frame of mind so that when opportunities come to help others, you will be ready and know that this is the reason you were given breath today.  Next, make intentional space for people that you love.  Don’t busy your life up with things that are not people focused.  Make others your second priority instead of yourself.  Trust me, God will take care of you and all your hearts desires.  Because you did not lack that one thing that makes you whole, your life will be full of His joy and contentment this year like never before.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 18:18-23

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 

20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”

21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

He Blessed Them

But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Luke 18:16

This is one of the Jesus moments I have never really thought too much about.  I take this at face value that Jesus loves children too.  However, As I considered what this situation may have looked like in my imagination, there seems to be much more to it.

First of all, we read a lot about the people that came to Jesus for healing or deliverance of some kind, but in this case, people were bringing their children to receive a blessing from Jesus.  This is a good thing or so I would think.  Apparently, the disciples did not think it was good, nor were they going to let those with children get close enough to Jesus to receive that blessing.  It doesn’t say for sure what the disciples said to the people, but I imagine it was something like: “Jesus is too busy to be bothered with your children” or “Jesus does not have time for kids’ stuff.”

Jesus, on the other hand took time for everyone that came to Him, whether for a blessing, a healing or a casting out.  It didn’t matter what people came to Him for, He always had a plan to get them what they wanted to receive.

He does the same think today.  Mostly, we all need salvation from paying the penalty of our own sin and from the eternal separation from our Father after we leave this world.  Jesus is always ready to rescue us from this world’s hold on our lives.  He is also always ready to answer other requests we have too.  Just like He did for the people that followed Him in His days here in this earth, He still answers our cries now that His is at home with His Father in heaven.  I am so thankful that His is!  As a parent, I often bring my children to Him for His blessing.  I want nothing else for them.  His blessing covers it all!  Their health, their well-being, their peace and their longevity.

You can go to Him with anything you are facing today, too.  Whether you are going through a personal crisis or want to have His blessing on your children, you can receive simply by asking.  The only differences from then and now is that He is in heaven and His disciples are not here to stop you from getting to Him.  You have complete access to Him anywhere and anytime.  When you call out to Him in faith, He will always respond.

Today I want to encourage you to call out to Jesus as the answer to all your struggles. If you are not currently going through anything, call out to Him for His blessing.  Then bless others by calling on Him in their behalf.  You can bless others as Jesus did, simply by taking them before the Lord in prayer and asking Him.  It is what intercession is all about!  Blessing others by bringing them before the Lord each day.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 18:15-17

15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 

16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 

17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”