Scripture: Luke 12: 16-19

¹⁶ Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

Scripture Commentary:

Take it easy! Eat, drink and be merry! Because here today, gone tomorrow. We’ve all heard this saying but do we understand its meaning?

Did you hear that Jim or Betty died last night or that John was hit by a car today? These are some of the things that happen in everyday life. We have no control.

In Luke 12, Jesus spoke a parable about a rich man. He could easily have been a poor man, or a young man or old man. The point is that we are in God’s hands and on God’s time.

What’s important is what we are doing with the time God has given us.

Our earthly goods will stay here after we are gone. We can’t take things with us where we are going. Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals and use what we have been given for the Kingdom of God.

Have faith in Christ and follow Him. That is the only reward to seek. Do the work of Jesus Christ and the fruit of your labor is what will be stored up in heaven. Faith, service and obedience to God, the Father, is how we become rich in God’s eyes.

What will your harvest be: God’s or self? It’s your choice.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Jesus Is More Than Enough

Scripture: Acts 7: 54-56

 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage.^[m] 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ⁵⁶ And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Scripture Commentary:

Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. We often read about Jesus talking and praying to God. However, we do not see them together in the same place.

Stephen is giving up his life for Jesus and His Father. They are witnessing the event unfold and are preparing to accept Stephen into God’s kingdom. Jesus gave his life for us and now he sees Stephen doing the same for him.

The Jewish leaders denied Jesus and now, in anger, they condemned Stephen to death by stoning. Saul, who was part of the Jewish leadership, persecuted Christ’s followers and stood as a witness against Stephen.

Stephen’s death impacted Saul who later went on the road to Damascus where Jesus asked him in Acts 9, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” The event between Saul and Jesus reveals how God can take anyone and use them for his mission.

Are you on the road to Damascus? Let Jesus into your life and see how he works in you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 7

Acts 9

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

Money Can’t Buy What Is Eternal

Saul, why do you persecute me?

Scripture: Acts 5: 1-4

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. ² He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. ³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. ⁴ The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

Scripture Commentary:

Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to God and the apostles. Do you or have you lied to God? No one wants to admit it, but be honest we all have at times in our lives.

There are many ways we hold back from God.

When we say we will never do something again or when we hold back some of the offerings we intended to put in the church plate, we are being dishonest. And like Ananias and Sapphira, we put on a show to appear that we are giving more than we actually are. We want the appearance of doing something great.

God sees all and knows all.

We cannot hide from God. When it comes to giving, do what you really can. God is not asking for all even though all you have comes from Him. God gave us His most precious gift, His Son Jesus Christ. So how can you hold anything back?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Acts 5

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

You Can’t Earn Grace

You Can’t Afford the Gift of God

Scripture: Acts 10: 13-16

¹³ Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” ¹⁴ “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.^[b]” ¹⁵ But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” ¹⁶ The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Scripture Commentary:

God gave Peter a vision that three men were looking for him, and he was told to go with them when they came. Peter received the vision three times. So when they came Peter said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

The men represented Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Cornelius wanted Peter to come to his home. During that time Jews and Gentiles had nothing to do with each other. Before having the vision Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman official would not accept Jesus Christ. However, God prepared Peter for his mission to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.

The number three keeps coming up for Peter. What’s your number? How many times does it take before you do what God has for you? Do you even hear God talking to you and if yes, how do you respond?

Although Peter had problems he kept being God’s servant. Read Galatians 2: 11-15. God has an assignment for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 10

Galatians 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

Do What Is Right – Tell Others About God!

Can You Hear God’s Voice? He Talks to You.

Scripture: John 4: 48 – 50

⁴⁸ Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” ⁴⁹ The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” ⁵⁰ Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

Scripture Commentary: Why do you need to see miracles to believe?

A father asks Jesus to save his son from death. Jesus asks if you need to see miracles to believe. Are you someone who needs to see the miracles in order to believe? If so, why?

Jesus died on the cross, rose on the third day, and now is with God, the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to watch over and guide us in the way to go. We can’t see the Holy Spirit but do you believe? If you don’t believe in the Holy Spirit how can you believe in God and be a follower of Jesus Christ? They are one and the same.

The religious leaders of Jesus’s time had God’s Word but they failed to understand it. Similarly to the past we have false preachers spreading their own message, not God’s. Who are you listening to and who are you following?

Don’t get right and wrong mixed up.

There is only one God and one Satan. Don’t get them mixed up. God is love and forgiveness; Satan is self and destruction. The world’s camouflage presents a very distored picture filled with lies.

Jesus is the only way to salvation. Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 4

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

The World Will Persecute You For Jesus

Remember that Jesus Loves You

Scripture: Luke 15: 4, 8, 24

⁴ “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^[a] and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Scripture Commentary:

Three parables. Lost sheep, lost coins, lost son. Jesus tells us that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one who is missing. Why worry about one when you have so many others? Because each one is special and has something to offer.

Why is the one important?

The woman who misplaced a coin goes in search of it. What if a pair of shoes cost $11 and she only had $10 because she lost the $1. That $1 becomes important because without it, she cannot purchase the shoes she needs.

The man’s son is gone. He doesn’t know if the son is dead or alive. He has another son who is with him but he loves both sons.

God extends His hand to protect you.

God created us; we are His children. As a loving parent He looks out for and tries to protect each one of us, even when we act foolishly. Think back over your life. Do you recognize God’s hand of protection. His love is extraordinary. Don’t despair if you feel far from God. He will find you because He searches for the lost.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 15

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Do You See Yourself Clearly?

And When He Saw Their Faith

Scripture: Matthew 7: 22 – 23, 28 – 29

²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus is saying beware of false preachers and teachers who say God sent them to teach you and show you the way to the Father’s kingdom. Get away from them! Keep in mind that Satan knows God’s Word and he and his disciples will use it to mislead you.

Read the Word, live the Word.

Follow God’s message. In order to know God’s Word and His message you must have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Living life on your terms is not God’s way. Being good your friends or to those who agree with you is not God’s way. Love and sincerely pray for the people you don’t get along with is what a true follower of Jesus does.

You get to choose how you will live your life.

The day of reckoning is coming and all your good and bad will be presented before God for judgment. No one is born perfect. God knows this and He will judge you on how you live. If you are reading this then you have time to be a servant of Jesus. Don’t be the person that Jesus says ‘I never knew you. Get away from me.’ You get to choose.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Put On the Full Armor of God

Welcome Jesus Into Your Life

Scripture: John 11: 4, 14, 17, 23, 26

⁴ But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” ¹⁴ So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁷ When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. ²³ Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁶ Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

Scripture Commentary:

The story of Lazarus is one of the most popular in the New Testament. When Jesus hears about Lazarus, Jesus knows that he has to die. If Jesus had been there the day Lazarus died, the people would have said that Jesus healed him of his sickness. In itself, this miracle would have been good; however, Lazarus dying and being in his grave for four days was something entirely difference.

The villagers loved and held Mary, Martha and Lazarus in high esteem. They had been witness to the funeral and saw the body go into the tomb. Jesus waited before entering the village to perform the miracle to show the people that he is the Son of God. He has power over the grave.

Lazarus is not the only one who Jesus raised from the dead. Jesus brought back the daughter of the synogogue leader (Matthew 9: 18-26) and the widow’s only son (Luke 7: 12 -15). However, neither of these people had been in the grave. Lazarus, on the other hand, had been in the grave and had started to decay.

With this miracle some rejected Jesus and started plotting to kill him. Do you accept Jesus as your Savior … or are you rejecting him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John 11

Matthew 9

Luke 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

What Do You Say?