24 Days and Chapters of Luke – 16

Day 16 and Luke Chapter 16

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Today, I want to focus on servant and hate.  Let’s dig into what scriptures says about the two. I think one of the many problems today is too many Christians are trying to serve two masters and failing miserable. Why, because if we use the bible as our standard to live by, which is our truth then we read in Luke 16:13 – no servant can serve two masters. What does this mean?

Websters dictionary 1828 – servant – One who yields obedience to another. The saints are called servants of God, or of righteousness; and the wicked are called the servants of sin.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

As Christians, we are to yield obedience to God and serve God only.

1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Many ask why do you answer questions with scripture, that’s an easy answer as well: scripture answers scriptures and it’s when “man” tries to come up with ones own interpretations is when one can fall from God’s truths and set of standards.

From my study today, I understand by serving God, I will have to live by his commandments alone.  Many times this is where Christians stumble and make their own choices on how to live their life.  We read in Exodus 20 God’s commandments:

Exodus 20

20 And God spake all these words, saying,

² I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

³ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

⁷ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

⁸ Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

¹² Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

¹³ Thou shalt not kill.

¹⁴ Thou shalt not commit adultery.

¹⁵ Thou shalt not steal.

¹⁶ Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

¹⁷ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

And we read in Proverbs 6:16-19 what God hates:

Proverbs 6:16-19

¹⁶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

Dear reader it’s not easy being a child of God and following him with a world full of “choices” and being “politically correct” but if you remain steadfast in knowing God is merciful and loves you beyond what you can comprehend, it’s then you will experience a joy and peace no one can ever take from you.

May you continue to prepare your hearts to knowing the truth about Jesus and lean not unto your own understanding but search the living word of God.

Thank you for reading day sixteen of my journey through the book of Luke.

24 Days and Chapters of Luke – 14

Day 14 and Chapter 14 of Luke

Have you been bidden to answer Jesus? Have you rejected his call?

Parable of the great supper and marriage feast

Websters Dictionary 1828 – Parable -A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction;

If you have studied God’s word then you know Jesus often shared parables which we can gain great truths and wisdom from. Both the parable of the great supper and the marriage feast will give us a clear picture of being bidden.

Matthew 22: 2-3

vs 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

vs 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Luke 14: 17, 24

vs 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

vs 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Websters Dictionary 1828 – BID, verb transitive preterit tense bid or bade; participle passive bid bidden. [Latin peto, to drive at, to attack, to ask, to desire, to beseech, anciently beto; impetus. Applied to the voice, it denotes utterance, a driving of sounds, which is applied to asking, prayer, and command. Class Bd.]

Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Are you listening to Jesus? Are you hearing what he has to say? Are you abiding in God’s will?

Psalm 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

Psalm 91: 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Are you waiting for an answer, knowing it may take a long while?

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

B – be prepared to hear the truth

I – incline yourself to find the truth

D – don’t rely on man to do the work for you

D – do search God’s word for answers and pray about it

E – enjoy your time and fellowship with our Lord

N – nothing will give you more joy and an everlasting love than to be one of God’s children

May you continue to prepare your hearts to knowing the truth about Jesus and lean not unto your own understanding but search the living word of God.

Thank you for reading day fourteen of my journey through the book of Luke.

Come let us adore him.

24 Days and Chapters of Luke – 13

Day 13 of Luke 13

Lord, Are there a few that be saved?

Luke 13: 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

1828 Websters Dictionary – strive:  To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard; applicable to exertions of body or mind.

Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

 

Psalm 35:1 (A Psalm of David.) Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

 

Proverbs 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

From my studies, I believe the Lord’s answer is not a number but a mere fact to explain oneself.  What are you doing to be sure you are striving to enter the narrow gate in order to follow Christ?  The narrow gate is not worldly pleasures, the narrow gate does not allow for many things to pass through it and the narrow gate is not easy and can be to much for some to abide and strive to enter.  Remember the narrow gate is not good works, since the bible is clear only Christ opens the door to let us come in, we just need to ask and strive to to be Christ like and follow him.

Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

May you continue to prepare your hearts to knowing the truth about Jesus and lean not unto your own understanding but search the living word of God.

Thank you for reading day thirteen of my journey through the book of Luke.

Come let us adore him.

 

24 Days and Chapters in Luke – 12

Day 12 and Chapter 12 of Luke

Dear readers:

Life is a balancing act and at times I do so wish I had more hours in the day.  I do have all my notes from my December reading of Luke and just need to find that balance of getting it out to you my readers.

As I continue on day 12 of December 2019 from Luke 12, I am reminded how Jesus warns us about hypocrisy and leaven. Jesus is teaching about the law and for those who don’t follow the law they will be held accountable. We read about the Pharisees who know the law but are not abiding to it.  Do you know Pharisees in your life?

From Websters Dictionary of 1828 – hypocrisy: the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion. The word leaven: Any thing which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed. This would mean the word unleavened is made without.

Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

We know God’s word is our truth and our set of standard to live by, so why do so many not follow his truths nor live by his standards. One very simple reason, you are not in his word every day to understand his truths and standards.  How will you come to know those who are full of hypocrisy or full of leaven if you don’t know God’s word.  From my studies, I understand the devil is like a lion coming to seek who he can devour.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

From my studies, I understand God takes care of all our needs just as he does the sparrow.

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

From my studies, I understand our treasures are to be those which will be stored in heaven not here on earth. We come into the world with nothing physical and leave this world with nothing physical. However, we can build our treasures for heaven.

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

And if you do not know what treasures I am referring to, then start reading God’s word and find out his truths, set of standards and what blessings he wants to pour out on us as long as we abide in him.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

From my studies we are to pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

May you continue to prepare your hearts to knowing the truth about Jesus and lean not unto your own understanding but search the living word of God.

Thank you for reading day twelve of my journey through the book of Luke.

Come let us adore him.

 

24 Days and Chapters in Luke – 11

Day 11 of Luke Chapter 11

Jesus teaches how to pray and not what to pray.

• Our Father and thy will be done (Webster’s Dictionary 1828 defines will as: Divine determination; moral purpose or counsel) be done – this doesn’t mean my wants or foolish ways but our heavenly Father’s.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

• Give us day by day our daily bread – this doesn’t say more than or less than but simple daily. For me this means to trust, obey and be committed by faith God will provide daily.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

• Forgive us of our sins and we are to forgive others of their sins against us.

Matthew 6: 14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

• Deliver us from evil

If you have studied your bible you know the children of Israel ask God over and over again to deliver them from evil.

Judges 10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.”

Then God sends his only begotten son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and the sins of the world, so we have eternal life with him, as long as you believe and repent of your sinful ways.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

• Lead us not into temptation – we have a choice to do right or wrong. Just as we have a choice to take the free gift of salvation. Just as Jesus had a choice to die on the cross for our sins.  He did this because of his love for us and so that none should perish or go to hell or live apart from God.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Praying will –

• keep us from temptation
• keep us in God’s will
• keep us feed
• keep us humble to give God all the honor and glory.

Protection from evil

Reprove our hearts

Admonish our faults and wrong practices

Yearn for others to know Jesus

May you continue to prepare your hearts to knowing the truth about Jesus and lean not unto your own understanding but search the living word of God.

Thank you for reading day eleven of my journey through the book of Luke.

Come let us adore him.