Luke 19
John 2:13-17 – And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Jesus drove out the money-changers and those in the temple selling oxen, sheep, and doves. Even though much of their merchandise for the purchase of providing offerings for the temple unto God, it dishonored the purchase the temple was meant to accomplish as a house of prayer.
Many churches today have coffee shops, book stores, and other stores within their building. Though there may be good intentions for providing convenience services, ministry products to the congregation, or establishing other revenue streams, these intentions cannot be placed above our Father’s honor and glory.
Luke 6:35 – But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
In Luke 6:30-36, Jesus is addressing the manner we are to give and love others. Jesus says in Luke 6:35 that he [God] is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
We live in a world that ‘tells’ us to hate the unthankful and evil. We are led to believe that they are not worthy of our help, favors, or second chances; we should turn our backs on them without the slightest care or concern – because they would do the same to us; we should get revenge on those that harm us and want to take advantage of us; and we must prove that they messed with the ‘wrong’ person. However, God is kind to them.
It is God’s will that no one is lost (Luke 19:10; John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9). Yet, in their current state, the unthankful may not appreciate anything God (or anyone else) does for them and the evil will only care for themselves. But God is kind to them…and we should be as well.
Romans 12:17-21 – Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine- I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink- for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
You were once an enemy of God (Colossians 1:21-29)…and He showed you mercy. Therefore, be merciful as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36).
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/DouglasShelton
Time is a precious gift. Each person receives the same 1,440 minutes each day. Some people have made great use of their time, and others…not so much. There are no returns on time, once it’s spent, it’s spent, but we don’t give it much thought until it’s gone. Many times we regret the time we lost because we didn’t make the best use of it. We invest much of our time in things that will never give us a great return, but we continue to do them out of habit or desire. Then we feel like we let ourselves (and others) down because we knew better…only to do again…and again.
You don’t have to stay on the same path. You can make a decision today…right now to make the most of your time.
Galatians 6:9-10 – And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Take a few moments to think about the greatest investments of time you can make. There are many people and purposes that have an outstanding return when invested in:
Spiritual life. A devotion of time to pray, study, and live out Jesus’ commands is a great investment of your time. Allow your calling (and talents) before the Lord to be the greatest investment you can make (see Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-28).
Personal life. Just as you invest in your spiritual life, you must also invest in yourself. As adults, we sometimes forget that we laughed and played as children. Remember to rest as well! Above all, don’t allow your personal life (and desires) to get in the way of your Father’s business.
Relationships. People sometimes forget to invest their time into the people that are closest to them. Ensure you spend time with your family (as a whole) and each member of your family individually. Each of your family members will need a different type of investment. This may be based on THEIR likes, dislikes, and hobbies. You must also invest your time in your friends, co-workers, and those you meet to and fro.
Lastly, some of the greatest investment opportunities will come when you least expect it. Each investment will require flexibility and diligence, so don’t be become upset if you missed your favorite TV show to invest in someone. You can always tape a show, but not a relationship.
Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/junnn. Image covered under Creative Commons License.
Impatient, lazy, foul-mouthed, angry, evil, lustful, dangerous, and spiteful people fill our homes, workplaces, and yes…churches. Through God’s infinite grace and mercy, you may have been among those delivered from the destructive traits and behaviors listed above. God has been so good to us, but often we fail to show that same goodness to others.
Jesus’ second commandment is for us to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:35-39). If we are not careful, we can find ourselves hating, gossiping, and harboring anger toward those we once resembled. We wanted mercy, we desired grace, we longed to be understood, we desired peace from our pain, and to be forgiven, but yet, we fail to do the same for others.
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