Luke 18

WEEK 18                                                     Luke 18  

THURSDAY  Reflections

“Why do you call me good?… no one is good, except God alone”(Luke 18:19). This isn’t Jesus saying he isn’t God as some would like to say. This is a perfect example of Jesus saying, do you really mean this?. It seems obvious this isn’t what the man is looking for. If the man was coming to Jesus as Messiah and God then he was ready for to inherit eternal life. The man was looking for the right thing to do. He thought salvation was something he could earn. It wasn’t, but Jesus did give him the first step to discovering the truth which could save him, but when he saw the cost he turned away. 

 

The key here wasn’t the selling of all his goods. Selling everything was important to prepare his heart. It was Jesus command to come and follow him which would have placed him on the path to salvation. Jesus is the way to salvation nothing else. Other things may help us get to him but they don’t save us. 

LISTEN HERE

Luk 18:1-43

(1)  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

(2)  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

(3)  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

(4)  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

(5)  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

(6)  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

(7)  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

(8)  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

(9)  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

(10)  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

(11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

(12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

(13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

(14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

(15)  And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

(16)  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

(17)  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

(18)  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

(19)  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

(20)  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

(21)  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

(22)  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

(23)  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

(24)  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

(25)  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

(26)  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

(27)  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

(28)  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

(29)  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,

(30)  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

(31)  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

(32)  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

(33)  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

(34)  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

(35)  And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

(36)  And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

(37)  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

(38)  And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

(39)  And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

(40)  And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

(41)  Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

(42)  And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

(43)  And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Carson Masterson on Unsplash

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Psalm 15

WEEK 18                                                Psalm 15  

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Guidelines to live with God:

1. Blameless

2. Does what is right

3. Truthful

4. Doesn’t slander

5. Despises evil

6. Honors those that fear God

7. Always keeps their word

8. Doesn’t charge interest(there is more to this*)

9. Won’t accept bribes

 

Thankfully we have forgiveness in Jesus. Thankfully the Holy Spirit can teach us to walk this way and thus we don’t have to fall.

 

*God didn’t allow fellow Jews to charge interest to one another when they borrowed money. The idea behind this was if a fellow Israelite was in bad straits and needed to borrow money a person wasn’t to make money on their misfortune.

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Psa 15:1-5

(1)  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

(2)  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(3)  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

(4)  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

(5)  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Clayton Robbins on Unsplash

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Genesis 39

WEEK 18                                               Genesis 39  

TUESDAY  Reflections

We see Joseph placed in two completely different places: a family of prestige and second prison. In the first place, Joseph started out like any slave but became what we might call the chief financial officer for one of the most important families in the known world. In the second, Joseph learned to deal with some less than reputable characters and was able to keep them in check.

 

Joseph did nothing wrong but due to the actions of others, he found himself getting an education. This shows God turning the disobedience and sin of others into a tool. These locations, I can’t help but believe, gave Joseph the experience he would need to become second in command in all of Egypt.

 

When these things were happening they truly didn’t look good, but as we will see God will work them together for good. It’s a great reminder that God can and will do the same things for the Christian as he promises in Romans 8:28.

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Gen 39:1-23

(1)  And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

(2)  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

(3)  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

(4)  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

(5)  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

(6)  And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

(7)  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

(8)  But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

(9)  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

(10)  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

(11)  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

(12)  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

(13)  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

(14)  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

(15)  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

(16)  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

(17)  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

(18)  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

(19)  And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

(20)  And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

(21)  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

(22)  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

(23)  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

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Genesis 38

WEEK 18                                                Genesis 38  

MONDAY  Reflections

Genesis 38 is often a hard chapter to deal with for Christians. It seems as if Tamar is playing like a harlot. However, Judah claims she is more righteous than he. How is this?

 

The problem is we do not understand the way people of that generation thought. A son carried on as it were the life of their father. The first person to carry on the line or life of the father was the oldest son. If that one died the next was to carry on for him and so on. The wife of the son was in a since bearing children to continue the line (life) of her father-in-law.

 

Judah, like many people, today didn’t want to think that his children were the problem and was instead looking at Tamar as the problem. The third son was old enough to be given to Tamar so that she could have her place in the family (and security for the future), but Judah was going to take that from her by not giving her the next son in line.

 

So, this woman who was supposed to bear children to carry on the line of Judah was left to fend for herself. Her future in this culture wasn’t very bright. The chances for another husband was nearly nothing, she had nothing to lose. Her solution to be the person to bear the line of Judah was to have children by Judah himself rather than through his son. It was after all her duty and right to bear the line (children). Judah was stealing this from her, but she found a way to be what she was supposed to be.

 

This being said it was the way it was supposed to be done and Judah acknowledges that by taking her into his house as his wife but not sleeping with her again. We don’t know what life was like after that but explaining the parentage to these children was something I’m glad I didn’t have to do.

 

In the end, what we see here is a strong woman doing what had to be done to ensure that she was taken care of and that her role in the family was fulfilled. 

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Gen 38:1-30
(1)  And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
(2)  And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
(3)  And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
(4)  And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
(5)  And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
(6)  And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
(7)  And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
(8)  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
(9)  And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
(10)  And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
(11)  Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
(12)  And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
(13)  And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
(14)  And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
(15)  When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
(16)  And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
(17)  And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
(18)  And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
(19)  And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
(20)  And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
(21)  Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
(22)  And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
(23)  And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
(24)  And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
(25)  When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
(26)  And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
(27)  And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
(28)  And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
(29)  And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

(30)  And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

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Isaiah 18

WEEK 17                                               Isaiah 18  

SATURDAY  Reflections

This prophecy is a warning against the land of Cush. Cush was the area where the Queen of Sheba most probably came from. This would be most likely modern-day Ethiopia.  

This prophecy doesn’t have the same weight as an oracle or burden(depending on your translation) as other passages which surround it. Yet this is clearly not a sign everything is good.

 

The good news is that from this area there will come those who will worship God. It is interesting to note that Christianity has been a strong force in Ethiopia since the fourth century so in some ways this prophecy has been fulfilled.

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Isa 18:1-7
(1)  Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
(2)  That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
(3)  All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
(4)  For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
(5)  For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
(6)  They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
(7)  In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

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