Scripture: Luke 23: 37-41

And  said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews.   One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Scripture Commentary: You save yourself when you accept Jesus as your Saviour

Two criminals hung on crosses on either side of Jesus, to be crucified with him. One challenged Christ to prove himself.  “Save yourself and us!” he cries.   The other asked Jesus for forgiveness for he knew he had done wrong.

Which one are you? Are your thoughts and actions self-serving? Or, are you like the criminal who sought forgiveness from Christ?

Accepting Christ into your life reflects who you are as a person

You receive and give love. You receive forgiveness and forgive. Our deeds alone will not save us. Our faith in Christ will.

Earthly life is finite. The potential for our time to be fulfilling and wholesome exists in our walk with God. The sooner we choose this walk, the more time we have to do God’s will. However, even those who are latecomers – who repent in their last moments – can still be with God in paradise.

Repent now. Every day is a blessing, and there is always the chance you may not wake in the morning. Live as though each day is the last chance you have to accept Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 23

Scripture: Luke 4: 18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recoverance, of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Scripture Commentary: Your deliverance is come

Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61:1-2 where Isaiah pictures the deliverance of Israel from exile in Babylon. Isaiah views this deliverance as a Year of Jubilee with debts cancelled, slaves freed, and property returned to original owners.

The release from Babylonian exile did not bring the fulfillment expected by the people. Their oppression continued. Isaiah was probably referring to a future Messianic age.

Commit your future to Jesus; He is the firm foundation

Jesus boldly announced, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He proclaims himself the catalyst of Isaiah’s good news. However, Jesus’ hometown rejected him as a prophet and grappled with the meanings of his words.

People around you will struggle to understand and accept your Christian lifestyle. Don’t be fazed by this. Leave your past behind and commit your future to Jesus Christ. Your life will grow from a solid foundation.

Read the entire chapter:
Luke Chapter 4

Read other posts on the Book of Luke:
I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found
How Do Your Use Your Worldly Goods?
Lord, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom

Scripture: Luke 15: 6-7

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Scripture Commentary: I have found my way back to the Lord

The parables recorded in The Book of Luke continuously stress that our God is forgiving. Stories like that of the woman who lost a piece of silver, and of the son who spent all of his inheritance also contain this theme. In the parables, each found what was lost and there was great joy.

We have all drifted from the path of righteousness. Think back on a time when you lost your way in your walk with God.  Ask yourself, “how did I feel when I returned?”   How did it feel to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

God’s love is above all

We do our best to forgive and forget, but God’s love is above all. God loves us so much that he gave his only son to save us.  He gave his son on the chance that we might use our free will to turn to him. Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. He gave us all direct access to God.

The shepherd found his sheep. The woman found her lost silver.  The father rejoiced in recovering his lost son.

Find yourself in Jesus Christ. The angels and all of heaven rejoice over each of us repentant sinners who have found our way back to Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 15

Other posts on the Book of Luke:
How Do You Use Your Worldly Goods?
Lord, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom

 

 

Scripture: Luke 12: 19, 46

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.(19)  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.(46)

Scripture Commentary: We should work to make sure our worldly goods benefit more than ourselves

I have worked all my life to acquire worldly goods for myself and for my family. This is true for most of us. God gives us the ability to do many things, and we use his gifts to survive. But we cannot use the gifts he gives us solely for our own progression. We must use them for the glory of God.

When you accept Jesus Christ in your life, you become a servant to God. God tells us not to worry because he has provided for us and for our foul, cattle, and fields. We do not have to be anxious about tomorrow.

Our faith in Christ sets us free from the anxiety of our worldly life. Do not be the rich man, and die before you use your gifts for the work of God. Jesus challenges us to use our gifts, not for earthbound goals, but for God’s kingdom.

Read the entire chapter:
Luke Chapter 12

Scripture: Luke 15: 6-7

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Scripture Commentary: I Have Found What Was Lost

The parables in Luke illustrate that God is forgiving.  Luke 15 takes us through the parables where there is a lost son, sheep and coin.  Each parable illustrates the joy we  feel when we have found what was lost.

We have all gone astray.  We feel much joy when we return and accept Jesus as Our Lord and Savior.  God loves us and feels much joy when we return to Him. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to earth to save us and to give us direct access to Him.

Just as the shepherd, the woman, and the father in the parables rejoiced on finding what was lost, all of heaven rejoices over the return of a repentant sinner.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 15

Scripture: Luke 5: 18-20

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.  And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Scripture Commentary:  When Jesus saw their faith, He made the man whole

How far would you go to help someone?  What would you do to lead a friend, enemy, or anyone to Jesus?  If someone hurt you, would you, being a Christian, help him/her come to know Jesus?

If God will forget your sins and forgive you, can you do the same?

The man in Luke 5  was not able to do anything for himself.  He had people who cared enough for him to go the extra step to get him to Jesus.  They had faith that Jesus could heal, and the man had faith also.  After all, if they did not have faith, why put forth so much effort to get their friend to Jesus?

If we say we have faith in God then we are to do God’s work.  That means we are to forgive, forget, help, lead, spread the Word of God, teach and love one another.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 5