24 Days and Chapters of Luke – 17

Day 17 and Chapter 17 of Luke – from the heart.

Forgiveness – as defined in the 1828 Websters Dictionary-

1. The act of forgiving; the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty. The forgiveness of enemies is a christian duty.

2. The pardon or remission of an offense or crime; as the forgiveness of sin or of injuries.

3. Disposition to pardon; willingness to forgive.

And mild forgiveness intercede to stop the coming blow.

4. Remission of a debt, fine or penalty.

 

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Wow, what a picture of sin and God’s grace and mercy to continue to love us even though we fail and need forgiveness.  Luke 17 is our standard on forgiveness and how we are to forgive over and over again, just as Jesus over and over again allows us to repent and forgives.  How many times have you repented only to find yourself repeating the same offense.  I don’t know about you but as for me, it’s daily.  Today, I struggled with my tongue.  Why you ask:

Psalm 37:3 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Psalm 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psalm 120:20 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

My standard to tame my tongue is to repent and ask for forgiveness and mediate on God’s word.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Lord, as I struggle with my tongue and not abiding by your set of standards, I thank you and praise you for forgiving me and for giving me your words to guide me to correction.  I pray you will help me remember, in times of frustration, to use these verses to tame my tongue. I want to be a shining light for others in darkness and not to hinder this by not leaning on you as my strength to help me control my tongue.  Use me for your will, Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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 seventeen of my journey through the book of Luke.

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 – 15

Day 15 and Chapter 15 of Luke

The importance of parables:

Luke 15: 3-7 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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. 7 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.

Many times I hear others comment, the King James Bible is too archaic or hard to understand and read . However, this parable is very clear to understand: If one is lost don’t you find that one.  Praise God, Jesus is willing to find even one.  All you need to do is receive his gift of eternal love and rejoice in knowing you have the hope in eternal life in heaven.  How does this happen: believe in the gospel: Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, was crucified, was buried, and rose after three days and nights. Then call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you.

 

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

And lastly repent.

Websters 1828 Dictionary – Repentence:

REPENT’ANCE, noun

1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct.

2. In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life.

3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God.

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Corinthians 7:9. Matthew 3:8.

Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.

 

Act 8: 20-22 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

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 fifteen of my journey through the book of Luke.

Come let us adore him.

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.