Tag: Luke

Scripture Focus: Luke 13.23-24; 31-34
23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” 
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ 
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Reflection: Enter While You Can
By John Tillman

The Pharisees’ warning about Herod was a lie. They wanted to kill Jesus. Herod didn’t.

Herod was trying to see Jesus, not kill him. (Luke 9.9) Yet, so far as we know, Herod never saw Jesus until Pilate sent him to Herod. (Luke 23.7-11) Jesus, however, knew he was on the way to see Herod.

Jesus told the Pharisees to report to Herod that miraculous things were happening and that he was coming to Jerusalem, just like other prophets. The door was open for them to see and believe. Just prior to this, Jesus warned the Pharisees and the following crowds that the opportunity to enter the kingdom was narrowing. The door, now open, would close. (Luke 13.24-25) Warning everyone, Jesus said, “make every effort” to enter while they had the opportunity.

But Jesus also knew that powerful kings and self-righteous religious leaders often killed prophets who told the truth. You can’t tell some people the truth without them wanting to destroy you. When sin is pointed out two things often prevent repentance: power and self-righteousness.

Many reject repentance which requires losing face, power, or position. This is why leaders (and pastors) caught in scandals often refuse to step down or stay out of power. But we don’t have to be in a position of great power to refuse to repent when it costs us.

We are familiar with religious self-righteousness in scripture and in our lives. We recognize those who reject or minimize their need for repentance based on scriptural knowledge or by comparing themselves to “real sinners.”

But self-righteousness isn’t exclusive to the religious. Our culture strongly believes that humans are innately good, innately “righteous.” It is self-righteousness that explains evil as an aberration or excuses it as being caused, not by choices, but by situations or systems.

We recognize these failures in others but do we recognize them in ourselves?
How often do we stand, like the Pharisees pointing at Herod, with sin in our hearts?
How often do we wait, like Herod demanding to be wooed by God with magic tricks and blessings?

Let us expect, like Jesus did, that our prophetic duty will cost us. The first thing it will cost us is repentance. Our own repentance is the first step toward calling others to repentance. The open door will close. Make every effort to enter and bring others with you.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. — Psalm 31.23

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Exodus 31(Listen 2:32)
Luke 12(Listen 5:02)

Read more about Suffering and Sin
Jesus taught his disciples that they were wrong about tragedy and wrong about sin. His words don’t at first seem comforting.

Suffering and Sin

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Please consider joining our donors. Your donations support ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world.

Supporting our Work

Scripture Focus: Luke 10.2-3
2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Reflection: A Prayer of Harvesters — Guided Prayer
By John Tillman

We are to pray for harvesters to be sent. Yet, we are also sent as harvesters.

This weekend, pray this prayer as one sent into the field. Pray over yourself the instructions Jesus gives to his followers. And remember that when Jesus sent the disciples into “the fields” he was sending them into the cities. As he sent them, so he sends us. 

A Prayer of Harvesters
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…”
There is much work to be done, Lord.
We see it in the eyes of the suffering
In the stumbling of the wandering
In the outbursts of the desperate
Send us to the field—into our cities.

“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves…”
Send us not as sharp-toothed predators, Lord…
Not preying on others but praying for them
Send us not as sword-wielding soldiers, Lord…
Not with battle-hardened nerves but prayer-softened hearts

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house…’”
Make us peace-bringers, hosts of heaven’s peace, and messengers of its goodwill.
May your Spirit arrest enmity in our presence and may amity grow from our steps.

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you…’”
Make us healers who first do no harm to the hurting.
Just as you came near to us, let us come near to the hurting and make them whole with the resources and blessing of your kingdom.
Let us heal them…
Of sickness
Of pride
Of rage
Of hate
Of loneliness
Of fragility
Of every malady, division, and fracture.

“But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’”
Not all will hear us, Lord but perhaps they will hear another.
We do not know their future. So let us warn only, and never condemn.
If they send us and our message away, Lord, let us leave no doubt that your kingdom has come to them, and let us leave no doubt that the way is open for them to follow us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Small Verse
Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your heart.

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Exodus 28(Listen 5:54)
Luke 10(Listen 5:40)

This Weekend’s Reading
Exodus 29(Listen 6:23), Luke 11(Listen 7:33)
Exodus 30(Listen 5:06), Luke 12(Listen 7:42)

Read more about One Thing Needed
We can’t say, “Well, I’m a Mary,” and ignore details. We can’t say, “Well, I’m a Martha,” and ignore relationships.

One Thing Needed

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Please consider joining our donors. Your donations support ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world.

Supporting our Work

Scripture Focus: Luke 9.51-56
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. 

Reflection: Rebuke for Hotheads
By John Tillman

Earthly justice is one thing but fire from Heaven? The Zebedee brothers weren’t joking around. James and John had cause for anger from their point of view.

Jesus had visited the Samaritans. He spoke to them, stayed with them, taught them, and included them. He would even use a Samaritan as the hero of one of his most famous stories. (Luke 10.33-35) Yet, after all Jesus did for them, this Samaritan town rejected and disrespected him.

It’s easy to point fingers at the Zebedee brothers. “Those hotheads! What are they thinking!?”

Then we get on social media and see the latest insults hurled at people we respect…the latest revelations of abuse against people we love…the latest attacks on truths we hold dear…the latest offensive comments…the latest shocking articles… 

If we are honest, in moments of pain, conflict, hurt, and anger, don’t we sometimes want to see things, institutions, or even people “burned down?” Maybe it’s not that we wouldn’t call down fire but that we don’t have the faith to believe that we could. If we did, some of us might try it.

Many in scripture, such as Eve, Abram, David, Herod, and the Zebedee brothers, sought to gain God’s blessings or use God’s power outside of his ways. We often do the same. When we center on hurt, emotion, anger, or pain, we can’t help but want to strike out with any power we have. But God’s power is for his purposes and God’s purpose is to redeem people rather than roast them.

Jesus was not concerned with the Samaritans’ slights. While the disciples worried about Jesus losing face, Jesus “set his face like a flint” to go to Jerusalem. (Isaiah 50.6-7; Luke 9.51) What did he care that one town rejected him? He was about to be rejected and insulted on a much grander scale than the disciples could imagine. He was headed resolutely toward the cross and he expected them to follow.

Like James and John, we can lose sight of the greater mission and be caught up in conflict. At least the two hotheads got one thing right that we can emulate: they took their anger to Jesus first and followed his lead. 

Make no mistake, justice will fall on every wrongdoer for every wrong, no matter how small. Yet, we must follow Jesus and resolutely set our faces toward the cross while simultaneously working for earthly justice.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
Who is like you, Lord God of hosts? O mighty Lord, your faithfulness is all around you.
Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne; love and truth go before your face. — Psalm 89.8

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Exodus 27 (Listen 2:52)
Luke 9 (Listen 8:05)

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Please consider joining our donors. Your donations support ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world.

Supporting our Work

Read more about Trust in God Rather than Revenge
We seek truth but not vengeance. There is a time and place for our hand to cease and the will of God to be done.

Trust in God Rather than Revenge

Scripture Focus: Luke 6.24-26
24 “But woe to you who are rich, 
for you have already received your comfort. 
25 Woe to you who are well fed now, 
for you will go hungry. 
Woe to you who laugh now, 
for you will mourn and weep. 
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, 
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Reflection: Blessing and Woes — A Guided Prayer
By John Tillman

Luke’s Beatitudes strike a sharper tone than Matthew’s because Luke pairs them with a mirrored set of woes. Where Matthew mentions that we are like the prophets of old when we are treated poorly, Luke adds the woeful warning that when we are treated well, we are like the false prophets of old.

Pray Luke’s Beatitudes through the rest of this week. Hear God speaking to you in both parts of the prayer.

A Prayer of Blessings and Woes
Lord help us press onward through the blessing of being poor, of being hungry, of weeping, of being hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected. There is blessing in the pain of the journey and surpassing joy on the other side.

Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

May we take heed of the woes we are subject to. May we not deny that we are rich, that we are comfortable, that we are well-fed, that we laugh, and are spoken well of. There is comfort now in acclaim and acceptance, but there is woe and destruction if we turn away from the path of Christ.

But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
“Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, I will rise up,” says the Lord, “And give them the help they long for.” — Psalm 12.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Exodus 24 (Listen 2:48)
Luke 6 (Listen 6:46)

Read more about Seeing God in the Wilderness
Christ extends his hand, inviting us to a joy-filled city, in which the God of creation waits to dine with us.

Seeing God in the Wilderness :: A Guided Prayer

Read more about Woken by Woe
Amos, Jesus, and other prophets employ the ominous tone of, “woe” to get the attention of their audiences.

Woken by Woe

Scripture Focus: Luke 3.10-14
10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” 

Reflection: A Rebellion of Repentance
By John Tillman

John the Baptizer was considered a prophet by the people, even though he did no “signs.” The only signs anyone ever got from John were the tongue-lashing of his teaching, his testimony about Jesus, and his sacramental baptism of repentance.

John was so outside the norms of his society that enemies said he “had a demon.” (Matthew 11.18) He rejected the cushy religious establishment and embraced radical asceticism, rejecting the typical comforts people associated with being blessed. He even rejected the comfortable teaching that, as children of Abraham, the Jews could smugly rely on God’s continued blessing.

If John’s person and message were so discomforting, how was he so popular? Why did the sinful, like Herod, like to listen to him? Of course, he had enemies, but even after his death, the religious leaders didn’t dare to slight him. (Mark 11.31-33)

John’s teaching had barbs of uncomfortable truth but also had hope. John acknowledged that the world was full of snakes but the snake-crusher was coming. (Genesis 3.15) The orchard was stricken with blight, but the axe was about to swing and the fruitless would be cut down.

People wanted to be on the side of the snake-crusher, not the snakes. They wanted the axe-swinger to notice their fruit and spare them. “What should we do?” they asked.

We might expect this crazed, desert preacher to recommend they quit their jobs, flee the city, and live in the desert eating bugs and honey. We expect him to tell the tax collectors, “Your job supports a corrupt empire’s financial system! Quit!” We expect the soldiers to hear, “Stop enforcing the evil laws of the empire!” We expect the downtrodden crowd to hear, “Rebel against the government! Join the uprising!” Instead, all John’s commands are financial in nature and they all involve staying IN the world.

“Don’t cheat. Keep working, even as part of the empire, but with integrity. Don’t steal. Keep bringing order to chaos through the law, but without abuse of power. Be foolishly generous. Be near the impoverished and help them.”

The repentance John describes is a rebellion more radical than violent insurrection. Rebellion out of hate only destroys. John’s rebellion of repentance is motivated by love that longs to restore what is right. The snake-crushing, axe-wielding one is coming. Allies of the snake-crusher will show fruitful repentance that brings justice, fairness, and abundance to the needy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm
Turn from evil, and do good; and dwell in the land forever.
For the Lord loves justice; he does not forsake his faithful ones.
They shall be kept safe forever, but the offspring of the wicked shall be destroyed.
The righteous shall possess the land and dwell in it forever.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and their tongue speaks what is right.
The law of their God is in their heart, and their footsteps shall not falter. — Psalm 37.28-33

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Reading
Exodus 21 (Listen 4:44)
Luke 3 (Listen 5:24)

This Weekend’s Reading
Exodus 22 (Listen 4:44) Luke 4 (Listen 5:27)
Exodus 23 (Listen 4:44) Luke 5 (Listen 5:04)

Read more about Become More by Becoming Less
Our culture is radically expansionist…we are pressured to justify our existence. “You aren’t enough the way you are now. Become more.”

Become More by Becoming Less

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Everything we do is supported by our generous donors. We could not continue without them. Consider joining them.

Supporting our Work