Uncommon Prayer (Luke 18:1-14)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1 NIV)

Jesus' parables always make a point.  Sometimes that point was unclear to his hearers.  Other times they were straightforward.  Here, it is clear.  We should pray without ceasing.

He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:2-8 NIV)

Prayer is about more than believing in God.  Prayer happens when we trust God.  We turn to Him for advice.  We ask Him for wisdom.  We lean on His strength.  Sometimes, prayer is just about getting to know Him better - building a closer relationship with The One.  His final statement is, again, challenging.  When Jesus returns, will he find us praying?  Will He find faith on earth?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14 NIV)

Faith is not about what we bring to God.  It's about how we rely on God.  A good relationship with God does not focus on everything we have to bring Him.  Instead, it is thankful for Him.  God does not lift us up so we can look down on others.  He lifts us up so we can see Him.  Our prayers will reflect our understanding of this.  When we pray it should be about Him more than ourselves.  When we pray, we should draw near to Him.

How about you?  Do you pray?  Do you trust God?  When you pray, is it always about you and what you want?  Do you talk to Him about what He wants?  Are you thankful that he allows you to approach Him in prayer?

Sinners Welcome! (Luke 15:1-32)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:1-2 NIV)

It shouldn't have been too surprising to the Pharisees when Jesus had meals with "sinners."  As we saw yesterday, Jesus wasn't impressed with the typical political banquets the pharisees would hold.  He encouraged them then to eat with people who had nothing to offer - people who couldn't pay them back.  Sinners and tax-collectors fit that description perfectly.

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:4-7 NIV)

Even though they really shouldn't have been surprised by this point, they were.  So, Jesus begins teaching they why teachers of the law should not be hanging out with ungodly people:  they are important to God.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:8-10 NIV)

Not only are ungodly people important to God.  They are so important to God that He searches for them.  When He finds them, He celebrates.  He wants everyone to repent and return to Him.

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" (Luke 15:11-32 NIV)

I just read a great book about this parable: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, by Henri J.M. Nouwen.  In it, Nouwen encourages us to think about who we relate to best in this story.  Perhaps you identify with the younger son - rebelling against the father and needing to repent of your rebellious ways.  Maybe you identify with the older son - staying home and always doing what is right, only to be separated from the father because of your own pride.  Perhaps the best part of his book, though, was the challenge to see ourselves in the role of the father.  While the father in this story is clearly a metaphor for God, aren't we all called to be Holy as He is Holy?  Aren't we supposed to strive to be Christ-like?  Being like the father means that people are as important to us as they are to him.  Being like the father means we desperately, earnestly want rebellious children to return home.  Being like the father means we celebrate every time someone comes home.

So what about you?  Are you like the younger son?  How about the older son?  What needs to change in you to become more like the father?

Happy Meal (Luke 14:1-24)

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Then he asked them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?" And they had nothing to say. (Luke 14:1-6 NIV)

Jesus' teachings often challenged the teachers of the day.  Healing people on the Sabbath was a grey area for the teachers of the law.  They knew they were not supposed to work on the Sabbath, because God had set aside that day to focus on Him.  Defining "work," though, was often left to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other teachers of the law.  Jesus starts off challenging his host, a prominent Pharisee, on his teachings in this area.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this person your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 14:7-11 NIV)

He didn't stop with his host.  Jesus challenged the guests at the dinner as well.  I can easily imagine Jesus walking to the "least important place" at the moment he gave voice to the words.  I imagine him sitting in that least important place while he was teaching the rest of the guests.  I also imagine him turning to the host from that place as he continued.

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14 NIV)

Leadership, you prominent pharisee, is not about politics.  It's about walking with God and helping others get there.  Don't invite the "movers and shakers" to your dinners and tell them to feed the poor and hungry.  Invite the poor and hungry and feed them.  Let the movers and shakers see your example rather than hearing your words.  Jesus' teachings challenge us all.

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'" (Luke 14:15-24 NIV)

When Jesus finally teaches in parable, he tells a story that matches their situation.  They are all sitting down at a banquet, so he tells a story about God's banquet.  Everyone ends up invited.  Only those who come to the banquet enjoy the blessings.  

Jesus' teachings aren't intended to be challenging teachings to just consider.  They are supposed to be real principles that we live out in practice.  We can be offended by his candor, give excuses not to follow, or join him at the banquet.  The choice is completely ours.

What about you?  Do you take offense when Jesus teaches?  Do you find excuses not to follow?  Have you joined him at the banquet?

Rich Toward God (Luke 12:13-21)

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." (Luke 12:13-15 NIV)

Jesus often taught in parables.  It makes sense.  Not only was the Savior/Messiah supposed to teach in parables, but parables give us stories that help us relate.  When he teaches in parables, though, there is often a clear teaching that brings up the story.  In this case, the teaching is about greed.  Don't be greedy.  Life is not about gathering more stuff.  He who dies with the most stuff still dies.  His story, though, makes the point better.

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:16-21 NIV)

Notice the punchline of the story? "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."  We need to be careful, then.  The story is not just a story.  It's a warning.  Pursue money without God and you will get what you wish for.  You will leave this life, and your money, without God.

How about you?  Does greed get in the way of your walk with God?  Do you pursue money without God?  Do you try to pursue money and God, serving two masters?  Are you rich toward God with everything you have?

Have Mercy (Luke 10:25-37)

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)

Walking together with God, at its core at least, is not that difficult to understand.  When Jesus was asked God's greatest command, he tells them to love God and love People. "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:40 NIV)  When Jesus asks one of his disciples what they must do to inherit eternal life, they respond the same.  Clearly this teaching was a the heart of Jesus' message.  The devil, as they say, is in the details, though.  The man couldn't leave well enough alone.  He wanted to make sure he was justified in picking who he loved.

...he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an in and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:29-37 NIV)

Loving your neighbor is easy when we already love our neighbor.  When it's inconvenient, though, is it really our neighbor?  When we don't like them, maybe we can love them from a distance.  When they don't like us, though, then they are definitely not our neighbor.  Right?

Perhaps the most eye-opening revelation I ever learned was this: everyone is my neighbor.  Whether a brother or sister in Christ, a non-believing friend, or a nemesis - every person is made in the image of God.  I'm called to love every person, then, and even pray for those who persecute me.  I cannot remove someone from the list of "neighbors" for any reason.  I'm called to love them all.

How about you?  Do you love your neighbor as yourself?  Do you try to remove people from the category of "neighbor?"  What do you need to do to make them a neighbor that you love?