Category: Luke

Luke 6:23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

I am a big fan of the Ram Dass quote, “We are all just walking each other home,” and the Bible reminds us many times that this world is not our home, but I think that many of us, myself included, often suffer from a lack of imagination because this world is all we know. It’s easy to forget that even though this is all we know, this isn’t all that there is.

Luke 6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

For me, for many, it’s not even a conscious mindset, it is just that the ways of the world are so pervasive that I….forget? lose sight of the fact?….that this world is not my home, that the ways of this world are not the ways of my loving Savior. Help me, Jesus.

Luke 6:25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Precious Savior, Thank You that this world is not my home, that the ways of this world, the hate and division and struggle of this world, are not the ways of Your eternal glory. Thank You that You have overcome this world, that I am more than a conqueror because of You. When the noise of this world gets overwhelming, help me to root myself in Your peace. Amen.

Luke 6:26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.   

I truly believe that nothing surprises God. Today’s verses begin with Jesus and time spent praying to God and end with “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” This was not a surprise to God. This was not an accident, not an “Oops! How did that happen?!?”

Luke 6:13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

God knew what was coming (I don’t think He caused it, but that’s a devo for another day), Jesus knew He needed to stay rooted in God in order to stay in His will, stay intimately connected to Him, Judas probably had no idea what was coming, but he eventually he gave up fighting the good fight against his negative impulses, and here we are.

Luke 6:14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

Precious Savior, I can learn a lot from today’s verses: First, You are sovereign and loving. You can be trusted. No matter the chaos in my life, these things are true. Second, I must stay rooted in You by establishing time daily to read and study Your word, sitting with You, communicating in a way that allows me to feel connected to You, staying connected to Your people. Third, I can never give up fighting the good fight to conquer those traits within me that do not bring You glory. Help me, Jesus. Always. Amen.

Luke 6:15-16 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

I recently saw a post on social media that said, “Christ invited everyone to the banquet. Get people to the table. God will do the rest.” That reminds me so much of the billboard I saw once that has stuck with me for years: “Just love everyone. I’ll sort them out later. ~God.” These two ideas are light years away from where the Pharisees and the teachers of the law are in today’s scripture.

Luke 6:10a He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”  

Here’s the truth. It’s easy to be offended. It’s easy to be angry. It’s easier to handle anger, bitterness, offense than it is to handle fear and uncertainty. I think that’s what the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were battling. They had a certain idea of who the Messiah would be, what He would do. Jesus didn’t fit that idea–and they were terrified, so they needed Him gone. Unfortunately, sometimes I’m not so different in my attitudes.

Luke 6:10b He did so, and his hand was completely restored.

Precious Savior, when I am afraid, when I am uncertain, it is so much easier for me to react with anger and bitterness. Forgive me. Help me to love as You love. Help me remember that the goal is to love You, first and foremost, and to love people, all people, to get them to the banquet so that You can show them Your eternal love. Help me, Jesus, not to get in Your way. Amen.

Luke 6:11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 6:5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

I have lived long enough to know that I will find whatever I look for in each day. If I am looking for reasons to be angry, I’ll find them everywhere. If I am spoiling for a fight, opportunity for one will be around every corner. If I am looking for reasons to be grateful, reasons to praise my Savior, I’ll find them everywhere I look, too.

Luke 6:6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.

The Pharisees and the teachers didn’t like Jesus, didn’t trust Jesus, felt threatened by Jesus. They were looking for reasons to accuse Him. How many times have I been guilty of something similar? Feeling threatened in my comfort zone by someone and spoiling for a fight because of it? Looking for reasons to not like the person so that I can justify my feelings? Jesus, Help me.

Luke 6:7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

Precious Savior, Thank You that we find what we look for in life. Help me to look for reasons to be grateful, for reasons to praise You. I know when that’s what I look for, I’ll find them everywhere I turn. Thank You for Your abundant blessings. Amen.

Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 

As a rule follower, part of me really feels I understand the Pharisees. As someone who loves Jesus, part of me definitely does not understand them at all. But I am, essentially, an “armchair quarterback,” assessing the game from the replay videos after it’s over. I know how it ends. Jesus IS God. He IS sovereign. The Pharisees didn’t trust that, didn’t believe that.

Luke 6:2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Or maybe they were just so tied to their religious customs and rules and “the way things have always been,” that they can’t see clearly who Jesus is. Or maybe they got caught up in the notion that the Messiah would be a warrior, dominating battles, defeating the Roman rulers to win the ultimate battle *on earth.* That’s not who Jesus is. And the Pharisees missed knowing Him because they couldn’t let go of what they thought *should* be.

Luke 6:3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 

Precious Savior, You know that I am so bad for falling into what I think *should* be, what I think *should* happen, what I think I *should* do, You *should* do, others *should* do. The Pharisees missed You entirely because they could not get past the *shoulds*. I do not want that to be my fate. Help me lay aside all of my *shoulds* and focus solely on You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Luke 6:4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:41a “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered…   

I feel like I could benefit from tattooing “Beth, Beth, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed–or indeed only one” on my forearm or somewhere I would see it often. It is a reminder that I desperately need most days. (Who am I kidding? It’s a reminder that I desperately need every day.)

Luke 10:41b … “you are worried and upset about many things…

I can get myself worked up about any number of things and feel absolutely justified in my indignation. But verse 41 reminds me that when my righteous indignation takes precedence over my Jesus, there is a problem. The one thing that is needed is spending time with Him, staying connected to Him. Righteous indignation without Jesus in the middle of it is a recipe for disaster.

Luke 10:42a …but few things are needed—or indeed only one.

Precious Savior, Thank You for verse 41, for the reminder that You are what’s important–staying connected to You, being in Your presence, taking time to sit at Your feet and listen to You. Help me take verse 41 to heart, especially when my focus shifts away from You. Help me remember what’s truly important. Amen.

Luke 10:42b …Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  

Oh, Martha. I so understand her rationale. Jesus and His disciples are here and there is so much to do. I bet she’s nearly frantic to get everything just right. But of course her sister is just sitting there listening to Jesus and His disciples instead of actually doing anything helpful to get the house ready. Seriously, what is up with that?!?

Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

I lived a good chunk of my early married life in a Martha mentality. Folks are coming over? Everything needs to look good! I get so worked up cleaning and straightening and stowing stuff that there is zero anticipation of guests coming. Thankfully, I usually had the sense to stop when they got there so at least I could enjoy their company. But I know how Martha feels, and it hurts my heart for her.

Luke 10:40a But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made…. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the example of Mary and Martha. Thank You that I am not quite as strong a Martha as I once was. Help me to lean even more into my Mary side, especially when it comes to spending time with You. Amen.

Luke 10:40b …She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 

What really jumps out to me in this section is that the Samaritan doesn’t just help and move on. He bandages the wounds, using oil and wine (not skimping because this is some stranger), he puts him on his own donkey, he takes him to an inn and continues to take care of him.

Luke 10:35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Not only that, but when it’s time for him to go (to finish whatever he had been on his way to do when he found the guy), he gives the innkeeper money to look after him and promises to pay any extra expense that is incurred while he is gone, meaning he intends to come back and check. That is next-level compassion.

Luke 10:36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Precious Savior, Thank You for the example of the Good Samaritan. I know I don’t have that kind of heart, that level of compassion. Help me to be more like You, more like the Good Samaritan when it comes to compassion for all. Amen.

Luke 10:37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Have a blessed day.