diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md deleted file mode 100644 index dff208e..0000000 --- a/content/bible_journal/luke_9:37-43.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,40 +0,0 @@ -+++ -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 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07ef544 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/luke_9:57-62.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ ++++ +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.