Posts Tagged ‘Luke’

The Apostle Paul acknowledges the existence of anger in followers of Jesus, and warns them in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

How would allowing anger to linger into the night hours provide a foothold for the devil? Well, our hearts’ desire becomes our tutor as we sleep.

“I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:7-8 New King James Version)

“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:7-8 English Standard Version)

These verses shed some light on a truth, a premise, which the devil may be attempting to latch onto. Apparently, David was aware of a principle that we could all take advantage of in our walk with God. Our hearts instruct us in the night seasons. If we go to bed angry, our heart will reinforce that anger. If we go to bed full of the Peace that surpasses all understanding, our hearts will instruct us in the way of peace.

Luke 6:45 tells us that “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks..”  Just like gravity causes objects to come together, the substance of our hearts affect anyone within earshot of our mouths (including ourselves). How might we insure that our hearts be filled with the abundance of God’s Word? How careful are we being to feed the heart with pure and upright thoughts? What steps are we taking to resolve that we only consume a “healthy heart” diet?

When I am not careful, I have a tendency to compare myself with other sinners and think that somehow, my sins aren’t as bad as theirs. But God does not compare me to others and grade on a curve; God sees our ‘righteous acts’ as filthy rags, and loves us anyway. I hope the following collection of verses will provide a little meat for meditation.

 “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding”.  2 Corinthians 10:12

 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him”. Proverbs 26:12

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

 “Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

 Scriptures selected by Tony from the English Standard Version (ESV)

Luke 6:45 reminds us that what is in our hearts will overflow in our speech. If Scripture is true (and it is) then the conversations that continue to crop up regarding sports, politics, business, family, and even church seem to indicate that we place greater importance on a myriad of other subjects and systems than we do on seeking the Kingdom of God. As I listen to the passion demonstrated regarding all of these man-centered systems, please forgive me if I am misreading words and not seeing the heart of the matter. I am reminded of Psalm 115:8 and Psalm 135:18 and Isaiah 44:9; the context of these verses discusses the futility of human effort in the making of alternatives to God (making idols). “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”  And finally, “All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.” What are we treasuring in our hearts? What does the evidence of our words indicate about our heart’s overflow? Can we identify and cast down the idols in our own lives? God forgive us and continue to change us into Your likeness.

 Merry Christmas, from Tony

 A quick search of Scripture for the words “mind, meaning, believe, truth, understanding, know,” and “knowledge,” yields over 3,000 separate references. God’s Word has much to say about our minds. At times, I look in the Bible and wonder how the disciples could miss obvious meaning in words spoken by Jesus Christ. In Luke 18:31-33 the Twelve are specifically told of the approaching death of Jesus, but we are informed that they didn’t understand any of what was said. “Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (How often is the meaning of God’s Word hidden from us?)

After the resurrection and all the rumors of Christ being alive again, the disciples received another opportunity to hear the teaching of the Messiah. Luke 24:44-45 says, “He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”  Christ then reminded them of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father, and told them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they were clothed with power.

The beauty of worshiping God in spirit and in truth is that God is the originator of both. Pray that he will open our minds to the understanding of the Scripture, and that he will clothe us with power to do his will and bring him glory.

“The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” Genesis 6:14 (NIV)

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Genesis 6:9 (NIV)

Luke’s account of this time period indicates that the people were blinded to their own problems. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People 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.” Luke 17:26-27 (NIV)

Are we “walking with God” or just going about our daily lives as if everything is okay?

In Exodus 33:15 Moses said to God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” In Psalm 127:1 Solomon writes, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” In Luke 1:37 the angel told Mary, “Nothing is impossible with God.” Again, Paul tells us in Romans 8:37, “In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Clearly, the Presence of the LORD is necessary and desirable. Are we seeking Him with our whole heart? If we come near to God, He promises (James 4:8) to come near to us.