diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dff208e --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ ++++ +title = "Luke 9:37–45" +date = "2022-12-02" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk9.37-45) + +While Jesus and His inner circle were up on the mountain, the rest of the +disciples were staying in the town at it's base. When they return, they find a +crowd waiting for them. From the crowd, a distraught father begs Jesus to help +his son because the disciples weren't able to cast out the spirit that afflicts +him. + +In response, Jesus expresses some frustration, which is a really weird thing to +think about. It's not an emotion that feels…_comfortable_…to +assign to the Sovereign Lord of all. But it is there in the text, and we have +to deal with it as it is, and not as we'd like it or expect it to be. The +question appears to be directed more at the crowd, or perhaps at the disciples, +than at the father. All of these people have heard Jesus's teachings, but do +not believe God's power is sufficient or necessary for their lives. Or +something. + +Jesus tells them to bring the man's son to Him so that he can be healed. The +boy has one last fit along the way, but Jesus casts out the spirit and all the +people are "astonished". (_v. 43_) Were they astonished because they didn't +really believe that the boy could be healed? That he was healed because all +Jesus did was rebuke the demon causing the problems? What were they expecting? +If this was their attitude, then Jesus's frustration is a bit more +understandable. + +Immediately after this, Jesus plainly tells His disciples that He is going to +be arrested, at the very least. But they don't understand what He means because +God hides it from them until the proper time. Jesus needed no interference from +well-meaning friends so that the plan of redemption would be completed as it +should. + +* * * + +Let us always take Your word for what it is and not try to twist it into +something it does not say. diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_9:57-62.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_9:57-62.md deleted file mode 100644 index 07ef544..0000000 --- a/content/bible_journal/luke_9:57-62.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,30 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = "Luke 9:57–62" -date = "2022-12-04" -+++ - -### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk9.57-62) - -While we have seen thath the disciples were imperfect people, these verses show -us that not just anyone will be willing to pay the true cost of following -Jesus. The first man sounds like he'll be loyal, but Jesus says that the road -will not be full of material comforts, or even that there will be deprivation -because of following Him. The second man asks to fulfill a familial -responsibility, but Jesus says it's not as important as proclaiming the kingdom -of God, which would be extremely shocking in that culture. The third only asks -to go say farewell to his family, but Jesus…does not actually say that -he can't. What He does say is that he can't be concerned and worried for those -he left behind when there is important work in front of him. - -The common thread in these three situations is that God wants complete devotion -from us. We can't be partially concerned with His will and His kingdom and -partially concerned with ourselves. We can't even be concerned for our own -family except as that concern is subordinate to advancing God's kingdom. (And -we should definitely be trying to build God's kingdom within our own families. -God promises to take care of our needs, both material and spiritual, temporal -and eternal. This frees us up to do the work that He has prepared for us to do. - -* * * - -Give us eternal perspectives, O Lord, so that our priorities line up with -Yours.