peace knowledge

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2039

Luke 19:41-44

Luk 19:41 Now when Jesus came near and saw the city, he wept over it,

Luk 19:42 saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Luk 19:43 Because the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side.

Luk 19:44 They will demolish you — you and your children within your walls — and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”

peace knowledge

For many years now, I have been fascinated by the concept of time travel, as depicted in several popular books, films, and television series. The plot of these stories usually involves a character knowing something terrible that has happened, or is going to happen, and having the means to go back in time to correct the cause of the event.

Jesus had that kind of knowledge here. He knew what Jerusalem could do that would correct its inevitable march toward war, destruction and devastation. But the inhabitants of Jerusalem did not have that peace knowledge. By their failure to recognize the presence of their God in the person of Christ, they were dooming themselves to a violent end.

We do not need a time machine to insure a peaceful and glorious future for ourselves and our children. We only need Jesus. He is the Saviour God has provided.

LORD, thank you for the gift of your Son. Because of him we can know peace today, and avoid destruction tomorrow.

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appreciation level

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2038

Luke 19:36-40

Luk 19:36 As he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

Luk 19:37 As he came near the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen:

Luk 19:38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Luk 19:39 But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

Luk 19:40 He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!”

appreciation level

The difference between the true believers in the crowd at Jerusalem that day and the critical Pharisees was the level of appreciation for who Jesus is. The Pharisees were content to have Jesus as a religious teacher, within the limits established by the Roman society. But once the excited crowds started thanking God for the king he sent, the Pharisees stopped approving of the worship.

So, today, there are many who are ok with Jesus as a teacher, and praise his principles of reciprocal love and peace. But their appreciation stops before it gets to the level of worship.

Worship is essential. If it does not happen, the stones will cry out. Jesus is more than what our polite society wants him to be. He is our king.

LORD, “Blessed is the king who comes in your name! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

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his choice of ride

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2037

Luke 19:28=35

Luk 19:28 And after he had told these stories, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Luk 19:29 Now when he came near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,

Luk 19:30 telling them, “Go to the next village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

Luk 19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.'”

Luk 19:32 So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them.

Luk 19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

Luk 19:34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

Luk 19:35 Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and had Jesus get on it.

his choice of ride

Barclay comments on this event as a demonstration of Jesus’ courage, because by this time he was “a man with a price on his head,” yet he deliberately draws attention to himself by arranging this very public entry into Jerusalem. Yet, he also points out that Jesus’ choice of ride shows that he does not want to take Jerusalem by force. He is offering himself as legitimate king in peace.

There will be a day when Christ comes back riding on a white war horse. But today he comes in the gentleness of an offer.

LORD, we accept your offer of peace. Lead us.

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the wrong option

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2036

Luke 19:20-27

Luk 19:20 Then another slave came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth.

Luk 19:21 Because I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

Luk 19:22 The king replied to him, ‘OK, I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?

Luk 19:23 Because of this, why didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I came back I could have collected it with interest?’

Luk 19:24 And he said to his attendants, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’

Luk 19:25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas!’

Luk 19:26 ‘I am telling you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Luk 19:27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!'”

the wrong option

The stories and principles delineated in this chapter seem to be focused on reaching the wealthy with the gospel. Here, the task of kingdom living is described using the analogy of monetary investment. Ten slaves were each given a mina to invest, but one of them decided not to. He let his fear drive him to do nothing, and lost what he had been given. The master took it away and gave it to one of the other slaves, who had invested his money and had gained ten minas.

Even in the story, there is indication that this was somehow unfair. We are often quick to blame society as a whole, or the government, or someone else instead of blaming the poor for their lack of progress. So, what is this story all about?

The slave chose the wrong option. He had been given a great gift, but chose to do nothing with it.

LORD, inspire us today to take inventory of all that we have been given, and invest it in your kingdom.

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fair grace

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2035

Luke 19:15-19

Luk 19:15 And when he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading.

Luk 19:16 So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’

Luk 19:17 And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’

Luk 19:18 Then the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’

Luk 19:19 So the king said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

fair grace

One of the principles highlighted by this story is the fact that Christ’s grace to his disciples is fair. The king in his story distributes his ten minas to ten slaves – one mina each. I did not catch that on the first reading because – frankly, I have problems believing it. Some servants in Christ’s kingdom seem to me to catch all the breaks. But, if we look more closely, we would probably see some glaring liabilities in those who seem to have inordinate blessings.

Christ has given us all we need for life and godliness and ministry. Our task is to accept his grace and invest it in the lives of others. It is only fair.

 

LORD, thank you for your grace.

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investing grace

Posted on June 1, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2034

Luke 19:11-14

Luk 19:11 While they were overhearing to these things, Jesus went on to give an illustration, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

Luk 19:12 For this reason, he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

Luk 19:13 So he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business transactions with these until I come back.’

Luk 19:14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign as king over us!’

investing grace

The ecclesiastical movement I came from puts a lot of emphasis on the soon coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that he is going to return, and we should all live our lives ready for that return. But, like all movements and doctrines, it is possible to get carried away. If we think that Jesus is coming so soon, we might be tempted to focus on the wrong objectives in life.

Jesus taught his disciples that there would be a long time when he would be physically absent. During that time, his followers would be responsible to preach his kingdom, but most importantly they were to be living by its principles, investing the grace that they had received into the lives of others.

 

LORD, show us how to invest your grace into the lives of those you send our way.

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reaching those up a tree

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky-devotions-pics-may-2017-31

devotional post # 2033

Luke 19:7-10

Luk 19:7 But when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to stay with a man who is a sinner.”

Luk 19:8 So Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Notice, Lord, half of my possessions I am now giving to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am going to be paying them back four times as much!”

Luk 19:9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham!

Luk 19:10       Because the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost household.”

reaching those up a tree

Jesus had already told the Pharisees and experts in the law that his purpose was to call sinners to repentance, and to do that he would eat and drink with them (Luke 5:30-32). Now, the visual demonstration. Zacchaeus stood out as a prominent example of the kind of person not-to-be. When Jesus decided to associate with him, he made a strategic choice that the religious elite could not accept.

We are not always called on to make that kind of choice, but when we are, we must be willing to suffer the ridicule of the ignorant to reach those who are up a tree, ready to repent.

 

LORD, send us to those who are ready to turn to you.

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seeking spiritual success

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2032

Luke 19:1-6

Luk 19:1 And after he entered it, he was passing through Jericho.

Luk 19:2 And notice this man called Zacchaeus; he was a prominent tax collector and he was rich.

Luk 19:3 He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but he could not see over the crowd, because of his small size.

Luk 19:4 So he ran to the front and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was about to pass that way.

Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, climb down quickly, because I need to stay at your house today.”

Luk 19:6 So he climbed down quickly and welcomed him joyfully.

seeking spiritual success

Jesus had already told his disciples that with God it is even possible to save a rich man. Now, the visual demonstration. Zacchaeus climbs a tree because he wants to see Jesus. He was a short man, but it was something in addition to his small stature that made him climb that tree. He was driven to success, but realised that he was a failure in the spiritual realm. He could not tolerate being a failure in that aspect of his life.

Perhaps you are not a rich person. Maybe you sometimes feel a bit of animosity toward such persons because they are the haves and you are one of the have nots. But, remember – a rich man without Christ has come up short. The wealthy people you know just might be searching for what you have – a relationship with God through Christ. Share Jesus with them!

LORD, show us those who are seeking spiritual success.

 

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the witness difference

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2031

Luke 18:40-43

Luk 18:40 So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him,
Luk 18:41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He responded, “Lord, give me my sight back!”
Luk 18:42 Jesus said to him, “OK, receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Luk 18:43 And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also gave praise to God.

the witness difference

You are not responsible for someone else’s relationship with God or status before him. But your experience with Jesus can be the catalyst for others to praise him. That was the case with the blind man of Jericho. Those around him were merely spectators to Jesus as he passed by. But then they saw what Jesus had done for the former blind man, and his devotion to Jesus as a follower, and these spectators became worshipers. His witness made the difference.

LORD, make us so committed to you that others are drawn to you by our testimony.

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spectacle or Saviour

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

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devotional post # 2030

Luke 18:35-39

Luk 18:35 While Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.
Luk 18:36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on.
Luk 18:37 They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.”
Luk 18:38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, show mercy to me!”
Luk 18:39 And those who were in front shushed him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, “Son of David, show mercy to me!”

spectacle or Saviour

To the crowd watching as Jesus approached Jericho, Jesus was merely a spectacle to be seen. But to the blind man, Jesus was his Saviour — his only chance to get back the sight that he lost. When you realise your desperate need for Jesus, don’t expect the sightseeing crowd to applaud your commitment. Seek him anyway.

LORD, we desperately need you. Come into our dark lives and shine.

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