Out In the Open

Scripture – Luke 19:45-48: 45Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Reflection: For most of His ministry on earth Jesus kept a pretty low profile. Often He told people not to talk about who He was. But now, all that’s changed. He’s ridden into Jerusalem in a very public way. Now he goes into the temple area – a place that would have been crowded with people – and He makes a big scene.

People would bring animals to offer as sacrifices to God in the temple. You could bring your own animals, but they probably would not pass inspection. So as a “convenience” there were lots of tables or booths set up where people could buy “appropriate” animals. The cost, of course, would be whatever the seller wanted. (Sort of like concession prices at Comerica Park in Detroit.)

These were the people Jesus confronted and began driving out. These were the ones He accused of perverting the whole point of the temple. The fact is, in His day the temple was a huge commercial industry. So Jesus was confronting not just a few people, but a commercial system that had been in place for many years. That’s one of the reasons the Jewish leaders decided to do away with Him.

It’s also a reason for us to be careful about fund raising in the church. At Bethel we’re very careful about that. We don’t allow any buying and selling in the sanctuary. When our children have fund raisers from their schools or organizations (wrapping paper, candles, candy, etc.) we teach them to ask for orders outside the sanctuary and ideally outside the church buildings. Perhaps someday we’ll teach them not to bring such order forms to the church at all. For people should be free to come and worship without that extra pressure. However, that’s a lesson that needs to be learned by adults before we can teach it to our children.

Cloak Sunday

Scripture – Luke 19:35-38: 35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Reflection: This describes what we usually call Palm Sunday – although in Luke’s account perhaps we should call it Cloak Sunday. Whatever we call it, it’s the day Jesus returned to Jerusalem knowing his appointment with the cross was just a few days away.

I’m struck by the resoluteness He displays. He would not be dissuaded, even by His friends. He knew this was why He came. This was the final act of redemption and hope for humankind. As terrible as it would be for Him, He kept moving forward.

It’s also clear that He quite intentionally drew attention to Himself on this day. In fact, the very way He rode in on the colt, with the crowds praising Him, was a Messianic image. Tomorrow’s reading shows that the Pharisees picked up on that right away. He was being very clear about who He was and what His role was, no matter what the cost. I’m aware He did that for all of us – including me.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Reading for Sunday, June 28

Luke 19:39-40: 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Reading for Monday, June 29

Luke 19:41-44: 41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

A Beautiful Simplicity

Scripture – Luke 19:28-34: 28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

Reflection: This is one of the very few times when Jesus seems to have planned ahead. This certainly comes across as though He had made arrangements with the owner of the colt – even to the point of leaving a password.

I notice the two disciples went and did what Jesus told them to do without any questions. I’m sure they wondered what He planned to do with this colt. A lot of times I don’t know how my immediate actions will fit into a larger picture. I’ll just have a clear sense that God wants me to do something specific right now – to call on someone or send an e-mail or written note, etc. I’ve learned to simply do that.

There is a beautiful simplicity illustrated here. “Why are you untying the colt?” The simple, honest answer is, “The Lord needs it.” I don’t need to know any more than that. There are a lot of things I do simply because I believe the Lord wants me to. I’ll pay extra attention to that today. I’ll make sure my own agenda of “important” things to do doesn’t get in the way of His.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting this coming Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Adjustments

Scripture – Luke 19:22-27: 22“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Reflection: This certainly took a bit of a nasty turn. The servant is berated for doing nothing with the master’s money – not even putting it in the bank to earn a little interest. This lesson’s almost too obvious to address. Yet that’s a very easy way to avoid putting it into practice.

What has the Lord entrusted to me? What gifts and abilities has He given me? How am I using them on His behalf? Those are questions to be asked at least once a week. More than that, they are questions to be answered. There are adjustments in my life that may need to be made. Discipleship is not a static experience, but a dynamic one.

Now, as to the last line in today’s passage, I’m not sure what to make of that. The ones who lobbied for the man not to be made king are known to the man. So he instructs his servants to bring them and kill them before him. Is this Jesus in the story? Or is this someone else? I’ll let you answer that. I have some other questions to ask myself today.

Faithful in Little Things

Scripture – Luke 19:16-21: 16“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

Reflection: Well, it’s pretty clear where this is headed. The first two did what the master told them to do – they put the money to work. And each had a very good return on their investments. As a result, their rewards were quite substantial.

Here’s a lesson that’s always before me: practice being trustworthy and faithful in all things. It doesn’t matter how small or big the responsibility is. The key is to let that attitude of faithfulness become part of who I am. I’ll look for ways to practice today.

As for the third servant – he clearly did not do what the master commanded. What do you think will happen to him?

An Odd Story

Scripture – Luke 19:11-15: 11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

Reflection: This is an intriguing story. Jesus told it because the people thought His kingdom was somehow going to appear at once – probably when He arrived in Jerusalem. So he describes a man who went away “to have himself appointed king.” That strikes me as an odd phrase. I know in those days a king was often more like we might think of as a governor or mayor. Still, he went off to have himself appointed. Then he planned to return.

The man chose ten of his servants and entrusted each of them with one mina (a mina was about three month’s wages). They were specifically charged with using that money on the man’s behalf. Then there’s that interesting line about the delegation sent to lobby against his appointment as king. This, of course, failed, and the man returned. He then calls for an accounting from the ten.

Is Jesus the man who went away? Are we to take what He’s entrusted to us and put it to work until He comes back? And are there people who don’t want to see Him king? The rest of the story comes tomorrow. What do you make of it today?

What Do I Want?

Scripture – Luke 18:40-43: 40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Reflection: On the surface it’s a pretty simple question: “What do you want me to do for you?” But consider who’s asking. This is Jesus Christ – the Lord of all there is. And consider this: He’s asking the same question to us every day.

This isn’t some genie in a bottle granting three wishes. This is God Almighty, who has no limit to His power. And it’s not a limited offer. He comes always with the same question.

So how will I answer today? What’s the deepest need in my life? The blind man knew what he wanted. What do I want Jesus to do for me?

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Reading for Sunday, June 21
Scripture – Luke 19:1-6: 1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Being Unsophisticated

Scripture – Luke 18:35-39: 35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Reflection: I wonder how the stories of Jesus were passed around in His day. A lot of people seem to know something about Him. This man, for example, knew something about Jesus, and he believed Jesus could help him. Did he have friends who told him about Jesus or did he just overhear people talking?

Obviously we don’t know how he heard. The point is, he heard! People were talking. I think of how little I talk about Jesus outside of church settings – even though He is the reason for my life. I’ll mention the Lord or talk about God or speak of faith. But seldom do I bring up the name of Jesus.

I guess that seems a little personal and simplistic. It seems like the kind of thing a child might say. Hmmm…..what was it Jesus said about that?

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting this coming Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

An Amazing Story

Scripture – Luke 18:31-34: 31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33On the third day he will rise again.” 34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Reflection: It’s so easy to look back and wonder how these Twelve could not understand what Jesus was telling them. I mean, I know the story. I’ve heard it all my life. What I often overlook is this is a story of real people. The gospel of Luke is not a work of fiction.

These were real people looking at Jesus Christ in the flesh. In that kind of setting, I’m pretty sure I would not have understood either. What He was describing fit with no idea they’d ever heard concerning God’s Christ. And it certainly didn’t jive with their (or our) understanding of life and death.

A lot of times I think it would have been really neat to have lived with Jesus on earth – to have spent time with Him. And I do think that’s true. It’s just that I would like to live with Him knowing what I know now. The Twelve didn’t have that. They were living the story. All that He said would one day begin making sense. But at this point Easter was an unknown experience.

I’ll keep that I mind as I talk with people in this day and age. I tend to overlook how amazing – how awesome – the story is. Jesus did willingly go to Jerusalem. He was mocked and insulted and beaten and killed. And He was raised from the dead. This really happened. And everything in my life and yours is changed because of that.

Having a Good Day

Scripture – Luke 18:28-30: 28Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

Reflection: Sometimes I’m tempted to let the vision of my heart drop. I’ll start looking around instead of up. I’ll start comparing what I have with what other people have – particularly those who seem to have more. Then I begin feeling depressed or proud. I’ll think about what I’ve given up, what I’ve left, to follow Christ.

Earlier this morning I was reading the simple reminder in Colossians 3 to set my heart “on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” On my good days, it doesn’t seem like I’ve left anything or given anything up for Christ. I just live, listening for His voice and call and direction. I always have more than enough for my needs. I just don’t think in terms of what I have or don’t have.

Jesus says here we’re not going to come up short. As kingdom people we’ll be rich in this life, and richer still in the life to come. So today I choose to have a good day.

A Deeper Life

Scripture – Luke 18:22-27: 22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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.” 26Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” 27Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Reflection: Jesus often answers questions I haven’t even realized I asked. He looks right inside me and through me. He knows what I need, even if I don’t. He works in me at a deeper level than I expect.

This man asked a surface question: “What must I do?” Jesus took him to a new level and showed him what kind of person he needed to be. He pointed out to the man that the things this world calls treasure are just temporary. What the world recognizes as valuable doesn’t really matter.

The new life Christ brings includes a new perspective on life – an eternal perspective. He tells this man to let go of all the stuff that seems so important. Use it to invest in the kingdom of heaven. Then the man will have real treasure.

I wonder what happened to this man. Jesus gave him so much more than what he asked for. He gave him the opportunity to experience a brand new life – one guided by kingdom priorities. Actually, it’s the same opportunity each of us is given today. What do you think this man did? What will you do this day?

Asking the Right Question

Scripture – Luke 18:18-21: 18A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

Reflection: One thing I’ve discovered in life is the importance of asking good questions – what some have called powerful questions. It takes a fair amount of courage and patience to find those questions. But once I find the question I need to ask, ask it and listen for an answer, I open myself to life-changing truth.

This ruler came to Jesus with a question that wasn’t really about his primary concern. “What must I do?” is a question that looks for an easy answer. He’s obviously missing something in his life, and he’s hoping there’s just something he can tweak a little to find it.

What do you think he’s really asking? What would be a powerful question for him? If you could ask Jesus one question about yourself, what would be the best and most helpful question? Now take the “if” out of that. Because you can ask Him right now.

Tomorrow we’ll see the answer He had for this ruler. Today you can find out the answer He has for you. Will you ask?

Two Men - Part 2

Scripture – Luke 18:13-14: 13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection: I stand with this tax collector many times. Ashamed or afraid to even look up. Asking for God’s mercy while knowing I don’t deserve it. Even wondering sometimes, “Will this be the time He gives up on me.”

One of the things God looks for from us and values in us is honesty – with ourselves, with Him and with other people. Jesus often denounces hypocrites – people who act out a role that’s not really who they are.

Now I don’t walk around with my head down all the time. Many times I stand with the Pharisee and thank God that I’m not like other people who don’t know Him. I’m just aware that I’m different because of what He’s done, not because of anything I’ve done. That gives me great freedom as I live knowing I don’t have to compare myself with anyone else. There’s no competition for God’s love. He’s got plenty for us all.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Reading for Sunday, June 14
Scripture – Luke 18:15-17: 15People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Two Men - Part 1

Scripture – Luke 18:9-12: 9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Reflection: Once again, Jesus sets up this parable by telling us who it’s for. If I put confidence in my own righteousness it means I trust myself to be good enough to deserve eternal life. And if my salvation is based on what I do, I’m naturally led to look down on others who don’t do as much. (Although I conveniently overlook those who do more.)

So as Jesus tells this story about two men, the first is a man full of himself and quite confident in his own works. In fact, in his prayer it’s like he’s telling God how lucky God is to have a man like him in His service.

A big lesson I’ve learned – and sometimes re-learn – is that I’m totally dependent on the grace of God. I cannot be good enough to make God owe me anything. In fact, the good news is God doesn’t give me what I deserve. For that I will be eternally thankful.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting this coming Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

With Open Eyes and Heart

Scripture – Luke 18:6-8: 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?”

Reflection: And so the story that began yesterday finds its completion today. It’s not so much about praying as it is about faithful perseverance. Those who cry out for justice are being heard. And they will receive it. I must remember, though, that “quickly” is a relative term. God’s timing is not the same as mine. The Hebrews cried out for four hundred years in Egypt before God acted, even though He heard them all that time.

What are the justice concerns around me? As I look in my immediate community and then to our wider community, what are the needs? I can’t pray or act effectively for things I don’t see. And I won’t see if I don’t look.

I’ll open my eyes today. Lord, please open my heart. Give me a discerning spirit as I move through life this day. Show me the needs for justice around me. Show me what to do. Move me past the sense that we’ll never overcome to your vision of peace and perfection. When you come, may you find faith in our actions.

An Interesting Take on Prayer

Scripture – Luke 18:1-5: 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!’”

Reflection: It’s always helpful when we have clues about any of the parables Jesus told. Here Luke lets us know what the basic purpose of this story is. So I read it with that in mind.

This seems to involve a self-centered judge of some kind and a widow. The woman had been wronged and needed someone to stand up for her. Even though the judge blew her off time after time, she kept coming back with the same plea. Finally, to give himself some relief, he granted her request.

This is an interesting take on prayer and bringing requests to God. I look forward to tomorrow’s reading. Perhaps Jesus will clarify things a bit more.

The Coming Day

Scripture – Luke 17:30-35: 30“It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot’s wife! 33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

Reflection: There are two things about the return of Christ about which I am very sure. First, it will happen. Second, no one knows what it will look like. In spite of all the movies and books and prophetic preaching, it will come as a surprise – both in its timing and in its form.

One thing Jesus is clear about is there will be a suddenness to it. Another thing is we can be ready. As I move through life I keep living, working, etc. I live with the assurance that this day, when it comes, will be a day of great joy for me. I also live with the concern that it will be a day of great trouble for many other people.

How can I help someone move closer to Christ today? I’ll keep myself open to that, and I’ll be ready to engage someone in conversation when they open the door.

A Sobering Thought

Scripture – Luke 17:26-29: 26“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

Reflection: This is a sobering reminder that life on earth can end at any time. As I face this day I have a few plans. It’s what I think of as normal life. That’s what Jesus describes here. People were going about their regular routines in life, and then came the flood or the fire.

Am I ready for that? On one level, no – I don’t want to die today. After all, I have plans and hopes for the future. On the deeper level, yes, I am ready. I know Christ, and in Him life will go on forever. So I will live today on the bright side of the cross. I trust you’re there, too. If you’re not, or you’re not sure, let me know. I’ll be glad to talk with you about that. For now, though, whatever happens, I plan to have a nice day.

A Cool Word

Scripture – Luke 17:20-21: 20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Reflection: Many years ago I learned a very cool word: proleptic. Proplesis is defined as “the representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished.” That’s a pretty good example of living by faith. It definitely lends itself to living as kingdom people today.

So Jesus says here the kingdom of God is in us who believe. Our very lives are a proleptic experience of that kingdom. That’s why we live differently. That’s why we have different values. That’s why we sometimes find ourselves standing alone. That’s why sometimes people look at us and want what we have. For we live assuming the kingdom already is in place.

So I invite you to take this word and use it – live it! Amaze your friends with it. Enjoy the reality of God’s kingdom today.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Reading for Sunday, June 7
Luke 17:22-25: 22Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23Men will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Random Thoughts

Scripture – Luke 17:11-19: 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Reflection: There are several intriguing, though somewhat random, things I see here. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. There His life would end on a cross. He knew that. He always moved with that as His final destination on earth. He also moved toward that cross with the assurance that death is not the end of life. That’s a truth that informs my view of life today and every day.

The ten men with the skin disease knew something about Jesus – enough to call out to Him for help. A lot of people today need help. They look for it in all kinds of places and people even as they ignore the ultimate Helper.

The ten people were healed when they acted on what Jesus told them to do. Sometimes He gives me very clear direction and I don’t act on it. It’s like I’m waiting to be healed or strengthened or encouraged before I’ll move. Yet how many times do I miss His miraculous work because I refuse to do what He says?

One out of the ten came back to thank Him. That’s actually a pretty good percentage. A lesson I keep re-learning is that I’m called to serve people because they need help. If I’m doing it for a personal reward, I’ve missed the point of service.

An Invitation: A small group will be meeting this coming Sunday morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.

Looking Beyond the Role

Scripture – Luke 17:7-10: 7“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Reflection: As near as I can tell, Jesus is still talking to His disciples (Luke 17:1). Remember, the disciples of Jesus included far more than the twelve apostles. This larger group included all kinds of people who listened to and followed Him around. For the most part, they were quite ordinary people. That is, very few of them would have had much experience with servants. Some were probably servants themselves.

So when Jesus asks them to imagine having a servant their thoughts most likely would have gone to how they had been treated by people they had worked for. Would they thank their servant for doing what they were supposed to do? The implication is they would not. The application seems to be that when I do my job as I’m hired to do, I shouldn’t expect any special commendation for that.

Given all that, I find myself thinking about the people who serve me. There are waiters and waitresses, store clerks, service people, etc. How do I treat them? How do I see them? Or do I see them? No, I do not have to commend them for doing their job. That doesn’t mean I can’t.

For the past couple years I’ve been doing something with regularity. Lately I’ve gotten a little sloppy with it, so I’ll be more disciplined. When someone’s serving me I try to catch their eye and thank them. Sometimes they won’t look at me. (They don’t really see me, just a customer.) But quite often they do.

Try it yourself and see what happens. Practice looking beyond the role and see the person in front of you. If you look carefully, you might see Jesus Himself.

An Exercise in Faith

Scripture – Luke 17:3-6: 3So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” 5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Reflection: The most effective way to increase faith is to exercise it. It’s like many things in life – the more I practice the better I get. If I walk a mile every day I’ll soon be able to walk two miles.

This passage begins with a straightforward way to practice faith. Jesus calls me to forgive whenever someone comes to me and repents for something they’ve done against me. True forgiveness is more than just accepting an apology. It’s letting go of the offense. It means I’m not going to hold this against you. It means I’m open to being hurt again.

That takes great faith. My human nature wants to put limits on forgiveness. But Jesus tells me there are no limits. In many ways it’s easier to send a tree into the sea than to obey this clear command. Who will I follow? How will I practice faithful living today? Will my faith be stronger when this day is done?