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Luke 11:33-36: ‘…full of light…wholly bright…’

MAKE USE OF THE LIGHT (33)
In our home we light a lot of candles, especially when we have visitors coming over. If we want a room to be full of warm light, we don’t ignite the candles then cover them over – or put them in another part of the house where they can’t be seen or enjoyed. We want our guests to ‘see the light’ (33). The words in this verse can refer to Christian witness (see Matthew 5:14-26), but in the context it seems to about having the light of spiritual understanding. On the whole, these verses seem to be a warning against spiritual blindness and hardness of heart. As we saw in the previous verses, ‘something greater’ had come in Jesus (26-32). The people were looking for a sign, while they had the only sign they could ever need right in front of them. The people in general were spiritually blind and hardened in heart towards Jesus, and they did not repent of their sins. They had eyes that did not see.

MAINTAIN HEALTHY SIGHT (34, 35)
Around the age of 40, I was having a routine eye examination. Although I could see well at the time, I think the optician was noticing some slight changes at the back of my eye. He said to me, ‘In a year or two you will probably find that you need glasses.’ He was right. It all happened quickly. At first I began to notice that I couldn’t see to read in electric light. I now can’t read at all without the aid of spectacles. The eye is the organ of sight, and you can see clearly when your eyes are healthy. The light comes flooding in. It is the same with spiritual sight (34). The heart is the organ of spiritual perception (see Ephesians 1:18). Keep your heart eyes healthy. There is a warning in (35) to make sure we are taking in light and not darkness. As we look for truth in the world around us we will discover that not everything that purports to be light ( and enlightening) really is. In search for meaning a person can open  himself/herself up to darkness. Warren Wiersbe warns that ‘There is no “twilight living” for Christians…’ We must not be double-minded. Your body will be ‘full of’ whatever your eye is open to.

SHINE VERY BRIGHT (36)
There is a lot at stake, and (36) may mean that a person who is full of light will illuminate others. As I learned in a song in Sunday School, ‘Jesus bids us shine, with a pure, clear light, like a little candle, burning in the night…’ He wants us to be ‘…full of light…wholly bright…’

Prayer: Lord, as I live in this dark world, help me to keep my heart eyes wide open to your light, and may I radiate it to everyone I meet (Philippians 2:14-16).

Luke 11:29:32: ‘…something greater…’

Here is another indicator that Jesus was not impressed by crowds as such (29). He knew what was in people (John 2:24, 25), and He was quite prepared to preach uncompromising, hard-hitting messages that would whittle down the numbers (John 6:22-71). In any crowd the parable of the sower will be worked out. We should not be impressed by numbers for numbers’ sake. Statistics may tell you something, but they don’t give you the whole story.Our Lord knew that in the crowds there would be people who were seeking a sign and not a Saviour. The lack of repentance showed that (32). There were many others around at that time who were just like Herod (Luke 23:8). They wanted a performance, a circus act. They thought it was ‘showtime’. It is true today that there are many who would like Jesus to do a miracle for them. They would love to have some gospel ‘magic dust’ sprinkled on their heads. But they do not want to live differently, and so they miss out.

Why did Jesus say what He did about the ‘Queen of the South’? (31). I believe it is because she was serious. She humbled herself, and put herself out to benefit from Solomon’s wisdom. She didn’t simply want to ‘see’ something spectacular. More than anything she wanted to ‘hear’ truth. Solomon was a great man, but in Jesus ‘something greater’ has come. He is, as we have seen, ‘one stronger’ (22) and ‘something greater’ (31,32). He is greater than Solomon; greater than Jonah ; greater than the greatest figures in Biblical history.

Will you listen to this greater than Solomon and learn from His instruction?

Will you heed the message of this greater than Jonah and turn to Him from all that you know to be wrong?

Or do you just want to see a spiritual fireworks show?

 Luke 11:27-28: A potential blessing.(please click here for todays passage)

Jesus did not deny that Mary was a blessed woman. Elizabeth had earlier, under the influence of the Holy Spirit’s fullness, pronounced Mary to be ‘Blessed…among women…’ (Luke 1:41,42). Presumably, then, what she spoke was accurate, and Jesus did not contradict Scripture. But He inferred that there is an even greater blessing for those ‘who hear the word of God and keep it!’ So here is a potential blessing for you and me today. Let’s put ourselves in a position to hear God’s Word and put it into practice.

By the way, isn’t that what Mary did? She heard and surrendered (Luke 1:38), and what blessing there was for her and for the whole world .

Prayer: Lord God, keep my ears ever open to your voice, and may my feet be always willing to walk in your paths.

Luke 11:14-26:Someone stronger.           (please click here for todays passage)

There is nothing new about people labelling a work of God as something else entirely (15). I understand that a great evangelical preacher – a much-admired and respected man – referred to the Pentecostal movement as ‘the last vomit of Hell.’ It was a terrible thing to say, and he was mistaken. There is no doubt that we all have to be on our guard against false teaching, but some people in their zeal for truth are in danger of slandering Jesus Himself. How carefully we need to tread. I confess that the task of discerning scares me at times. I know I must do it, but I don’t want to get it wrong. It horrifies me that some Christians are so quick to go into print and denounce fellow believers who see things slightly differently. Whilst there are doctrines of demons abroad in the world, I tend to think that not everything is that gets tarred with that brush. Jesus knows our thoughts (17) and He cares that we think rightly about Him and about truth, but also about our fellow-believers. Let’s try to not shoot our own troops!

Jesus’ argument was magnificently brilliant (17,18). As He was working to overthrow Satan’s Kingdom (14) how could it be said that He was acting by Satan’s power? That was a logically absurd position to take. It would mean civil war in the devil’s domain, and that didn’t make sense. The casting out of evil spirits was one major sign that ‘the Kingdom of God’ had come (20). It pointed to the triumphant power of the Messiah and His victory to be achieved on the cross. The ‘one stronger’ has come and tied up the ‘strong man’. Therefore He is able to plunder His goods. This binding work was achieved at Calvary, and so we see the Kingdom of God advance in this world, and significant battles are won against evil, foreshadowing the end of the war altogether and the final victory.

Then Jesus turned the question round and asked them how their ‘sons’ cast out demons (20), which was a master stroke. It was a question which penetrated to the depths of their motives. Were they with Him or not? (23). Clearly other exorcists were around at the time of Christ, and I wonder whether (24-26) point to the ineffectiveness of any ‘deliverance ministry’ that is not truly in Jesus’Name.

Whatever these verses actually mean, and whatever scurrilous activities demons get up to, let’s never forget that ‘one stronger’ has come, and in the Name of Jesus we have the victory. We’re in a fierce fight, but it’s a fight from victory and not for it.

‘Jesus is stronger than Satan and sin,
Saran to Jesus must bow.’

Prayer: I am so grateful,Lord Jesus, to know that whatever I face that is too strong for me, you are stronger. Hallelujah!

Luke 11:1-13:’…I tell you…'(please click here for todays passage)

I heard about a girl who attended a certain Sunday school. In their group they were praying for a missionary. She wrote to him on behalf of everyone else:’Dear Reverend Smith, we are praying for you. We are not expecting an answer!!!’

If verses 38-42 of chapter 10 balance out verses 25-37 in terms of its teaching about service (showing that although we are to serve, we can become ‘distracted’ by it) then I suggest to you that these verses in chapter 11 bring a balance to 10:38-42 in terms of prayer. Some people see prayer as all mystical. It’s about silence and solitude. Well that is an important and, let it be said, often neglected dimension. But there is more to it than that. It is also about speaking and asking/requesting…and getting answers.

The power of example (1). What you do for good (or ill,sadly) can have an impact on others that is greater than you expect. Seeing Jesus at prayer was the trigger for what happened here. How does the prayer life of Jesus affect you? Does it motivate you to want to pray?

This man was in fact praying when he brought his request to Jesus (2-4), as the passage subsequently shows. It was a prayer immediately answered. Jesus gave a pattern for prayer. It is generally agreed by Bible commentators that although we can say what we have come to call ‘the Lord’s prayer’ verbatim ( and it is surely potent to speak, from the heart, the very words spoken by Jesus) what Jesus has done here is to give us an outline around which to construct our own prayers. It’s a ‘pattern’ which puts God’s concerns first, and only then moves to our own (‘your’ before ‘us’).

But Jesus not only gave them an outline; He also supplied an encouragement in the illustration He went on to use (5-13). Someone said that you could take all the teaching of Jesus about prayer and boil it down to one word: ‘persistence’ (8). This word has also been translated as ‘impudence’ and ‘importunity.’ It points to a ‘never say die’ attitude in prayer. ‘There’s a hungry world out there. Naturally speaking I don’t have the bread it needs for its hunger. But I am not leaving this doorstep until I get what I need to play my part in feeding the starving.’ That’s the feel of it – not disrespectful but desperate. Unless God shows you that you are praying for the wrong thing, you will keep going because you need Him so much.

It is important to understand what the God we pray to is like. Consider the character of the One we pray to. A contrast is drawn here. God is not like the grumpy, unwilling friend in the night time. He is not reluctant to help and give and share. He is our generous Father who loves to give; indeed longs to give, the very best to His children. ”Just look at yourselves’, Jesus says in effect. ”You earthly fathers are ‘evil’. (That is, you each have a sinful nature.) But although you are sadly defective, you are big-hearted towards your own offspring. You ‘know how’ to give them ‘good gifts’. You didn’t need any training. It is instinctive. You just do it. Now ‘how much more’ is that the case with your Heavenly Father?”

Listen to what Jesus tells you about prayer (9). He means every word. ‘And I tell you…’ (9). Let what He says sink in, and knock on Heaven’s door until it happens. Remember Who lives behind it and what He is like.

Luke 10:38-42: The choice morsel.(please click here)

Martha tends to get a bad press in the church, but the first thing to notice about her is that she ‘welcomed’ Jesus into her house (38). That’s a lovely thing to do. She was hospitable. Some people leave Jesus ‘at church’. They don’t welcome Him into their houses and every day lives; into their domestic circumstances. But Martha wanted Jesus at her table with the rest of the family. Like the Samaritan (25-37) she had a heart to give and to serve. She was kind.

BUT a good thing can become a bad thing; or, at least, it can be done in a wrong way. Your strength, ironically, can become a weakness.We discover that ‘Martha was distracted by much serving’ (40). You might say that serving was an ‘over- strength’. Many leaders in the church ( but this is by no means limited to pastors, preachers and the like) will admit, if they are honest, that they are so busy, time for prayer gets pushed out and is at a bare minimum. Their serving (a good thing) distracts them from sitting at Jesus’ feet (the better part). I once read in a leadership book that because of over-busyness some Christians experience what some deodorants offer – an all day dryness! ‘Beware of the barrenness of a busy life’, the author counselled. But a busy life doesn’t have to be barren. Jesus came as the Servant of the LORD. He gave His life, but He would not allow fellowship with the Father to be given the crumbs of His schedule. Read the gospels and you will see that prayer had priority in His life; even if that meant early mornings and all night sessions. He served much, but without distraction. I was thinking earlier today that if the story of the generous Samaritan teaches the virtue of servanthood, this next section balances things up, showing how serving , though good and right, can get out of balance. Martha served with distraction, but Jesus served with devotion, and He is our pattern.

Jesus said about Mary that she had ‘chosen the good portion’ (42). I seem to remember reading that this referred to the choice morsel, the best part of the dish. There is no substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus, and what you receive directly from Him will ‘not be taken away’ from you. Some may ridicule you, or doubt you; they may think you deluded and say that you are mad. But if Jesus really has spoken to you, no-one will argue you out of it, and His word will surely come to pass.

Somebody observed that really Martha and Mary ‘belong together in the service of our Lord.’ That’s a good point. Let’s not drive a wedge between them. The best and most effective service flows from being at Jesus’ feet. He is Lord. Let Him hand you your work roster.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make it my joy and desire to sit at your feet and be teachable.

 Luke 10:26-37: The abiding challenge of a familiar story.(please click here for todays passage)

Many things could be said about this well – known story, but I just want to highlight certain phrases that grabbed me by the lapels and clamoured for attention as I read them:

‘Now by chance…’ (21). As you go through your days, you will find people in your path who need help and you are given the opportunity to come alongside them. It may seem that they are there by chance. In the ordinary course of every day life you stumble across them. The larger truth is, though, that they are placed there by a higher providence. How you respond is a test of your faith. Genuine belief will roll up its sleeves and help. It shows itself in ‘compassion’ (33).

‘…passed by on the other side’ 31,32). Coming across need supplies a test and provides an opportunity. Not everyone takes the chance to serve. Whatever the reasons the priest and the Levite had for ignoring the casualty ( and maybe there was a legitimate fear of being mugged themselves), it is never right, surely, to put distance between yourself and a real need you can do something about.

‘…came to where he was…He went to him…and brought him…’ (33,34). This was the Christ-like thing that the Samaritan did. Even more so when you think that Jews and Samaritans were at odds. It would be natural for the Samaritan to see the Jew as an enemy. But the Samaritan’s approach was truly incarnational. He went to where the need was; he gave his time, his money and his energy. He gave himself! He put himself on the line. He served both at risk and cost to himself. That is something to admire here. But it’s got to be more than that. It needs to be something that we emulate.

‘…desiring to justify himself’ (29). There is something inside the fallen human heart that wants to get right with God in its own way, on its own terms and by its own resources. But the New Testament teaches that we can only be ‘justified’ ( declared right with God) through faith in Jesus. If we truly believe in Him we will show this in our good deeds. When we see wounded Samaritans in our pathway we will do what we can ( see Janes 2:14-26).

A few weeks ago, Jilly and I were walking to church in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. We saw that someone had collapsed near to the roadside, but as a number of people were surrounding her we didn’t go across. We had no sense that we were failing to be ‘good Samaritans’ because as far as we could see the need was being met, and we didn’t want to add to the crowd around that poor lady, and unwittingly cause further problems. But in the ‘Elim’ church that morning, a young man called Tim gave a sermon on this very passage – and an excellent piece of teaching it was too. Leaving church, just a block or so away, we passed a foreign young lady begging outside a local supermarket. This was different and Jilly knew we must do something. Bending down she asked, ‘Would you like anything to eat?’ Immediately our new friend said.’A meat and potato pie!!’ Methinks she may have been asked this question before! We were easily able to buy one, and as Jilly put it into her hands she told her of One who loved her more than anyone else could.

Look out for people in your path today who may need a ride on your donkey, their wounds tending and possibly a bit of cash spending on them. It might be little more than the price of a pie and a word about the love of God.

Prayer: Make me more and more like you Lord Jesus. Help me to move towards human need and not distance and insulate myself from it. Help me to make a difference in someone’s life today.

Luke 10:21-24: The wonder of election.(please click here)

There is something here about praise (21). Jesus practised what He preached. In the ‘same hour’ in which He spoke to His disciples about rejoicing, he Himself did it. Don’t just tell others what to do, show them. Show and tell. Don’t be a hypocrite. Jesus was rejoicing ‘in the Holy Spirit’ ( and The Spirit is essential to a life of consciously experienced joy) about spiritual realities. That was what He had told His disciples to do. Be like Jesus: give people an example to follow and not just words to hear.

There is something here about perception (21b, 22). Spiritual perception; sight and insight and understanding come as a gift. There is a mystery to this. ‘ I know not how the Spirit moves convincing men of sin…’ But we know that He does. He is as uncontrollable, unpredictable and untameable as the wind. No human can fully explain the doctrine of election, but when Jesus opens your eyes, and reveals the Father to you, you can say, ‘Once I was blind, but now I see.’ You are often surprised by the people who get converted. They are not necessarily the most likely candidates in your book (21). Remember, though, God does not have to explain Himself to anyone. And whenever He acts He does so in grace (21b). No one can know Jesus; can know God without a miracle of divine illumination in their hearts.

There is something here about privilege (23, 24). Similar words are written in 1 Peter 1:10-12, and, of course, Peter heard Jesus say these words. So keep sowing good seeds into people. You never know what good might emerge in later years. Peter was listening and maybe he never forgot. But even if He did, at the right time the Holy Spirit reached into the depths of Peter’s memory and pulled these things to the surface.

Prayer: Lord, it is an undeserved privilege to know you. Thank you for opening my eyes. Now I see so clearly, and it’s all because of you.

 Luke 10:13-20: A sense of proportion.(please click for passage)

‘Knowing what we know, what will we do?’ Stephen Garber.

Knowledge brings responsibility.

As we saw yesterday it is a serious matter to reject Jesus. The greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility; with the entrance of light there goes the requirement to do something about it. In the Old Testament you can read about judgment falling on the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus, being God, emphatically knew that those cities would have turned from their sin to the Lord if they had seen the things witnessed in Chorazin and Bethsaida; (see also verse 12).

So, this passage says,’the greater the light the greater the responsibility.’

But it also says, I believe, the more powerful and spectacular the ministry, the more important it is to maintain a proper perspective. On this mission, the ‘seventy-two’ exercised great authority. Mighty victories were won over the evil one. But Jesus said, ‘Remember what is truly important.’ So following all your excursions in Christian ministry, whatever form these may take, return (17) to the feet of Jesus – the One who sent you out- and regain a sense of proportion. What matters most is that you belong to God, and you will see His Face, and will move in ( or rather be moved in) to His house for all eternity. Preachers especially, but not exclusively, need to keep their feet on the ground.

Prayer: Father let me never lose the true joy of my salvation.