A Work in Progress….

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.

Luke 10:30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  

We tend to judge those who are not within our circle, and we tend to defend those who are. The priest and the Levite in today’s scripture illustrate that principle: “You are not one of mine. I will not get involved.” But the Samaritan chooses to show compassion on a human who is suffering.

Luke 10:31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

That is what Jesus wants of us–to treat everyone as our neighbor, to treat everyone with compassion, regardless of any other factor–who they are, where they worship, who they love, how they vote, etc etc. The principle is so incredibly easy to grasp, but the reality can often prove quite challenging.

Luke 10:32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

Precious Savior, Help me to live as You live, to love as You love, beyond the borders of my circle, beyond the boundaries of my understanding. Help me to show compassion to all others, regardless of anything that separates us. Help me to be more like You. Amen.

Luke 10:33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

The important pieces of today’s verses, the ones that show the expert’s motivation, are verses 28-29. The expert asks and answers his own question. Jesus says, basically, “Yep. You are right! Do that.” But the expert isn’t looking for answers, he wants to justify himself.

Luke 10:26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

When you seek to justify yourself, you are, essentially, seeking to make excuses for your own behavior. You are seeking to explain why your actions were correct. That’s what the expert is doing–NOT trying to draw closer to Jesus, NOT trying to inherit eternal life, NOT trying to correct errant behavior. He is trying to justify his behavior, explain it away.

Luke 10:27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Precious Savior, As much as I want to rail against the expert’s actions, I know I am guilty of justification as well. Help me to earnestly seek You in Your word. Help me to see my actions in light of Your commands and make changes where necessary. Amen.

Luke 10:28-29 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:23a Then he turned to his disciples and said privately… 

Today’s scripture brings to mind the Magic Eye pictures of the 90s. In order to see the picture emerge, you had to intentionally unfocus your eyes while still looking at the picture. It’s hard to describe but, for me, even harder to do. I eventually became semi-adept, but there was a lot of practice, a lot of frustration, especially as it seemed so easy for everyone else.

Luke 10:23b …“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 

I think what Jesus describes in verse 24 is similar. The prophets and kings want to see so badly, they strain to hear, but they come up frustratingly empty. Makes me wonder if the Pharisees and Sadducees should be lumped in here, too. Did they want to see but were unable to do so? Did they focus on following rules and laws to make up for their inability to actually see Jesus?

Luke 10:24a For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it…. 

Precious Savior, Thank you for teaching me to ask questions. Thank you for helping me look and listen. Thank you for giving me lots of practice with the frustration of not seeing, not hearing, so that I will not give up in my quest for You. Help me to keep searching, everywhere I go. You are with me. Thank You. Amen.

Luke 10:24b …and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:21a At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children…. 

Have you ever met an expert in something? Sometimes they become their own echo chamber. What could you know about their subject that they haven’t already known for years? Jesus is praising His Father in verse 21 for upending that type of behavior. It isn’t the experts who can best see and understand God’s truths, it’s those who are still seeking, still learning.

Luke 10:21b …Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

That gels with my own experience that it is often those fresh insights from someone who hasn’t been looking at something for years that helps everyone to think about it, to see it in a new way. That’s where growth and insight come. That type of attitude takes you from “Here’s what I know” to “What else can I learn?,” and I truly think that’s how God wants us to approach His word.

Luke 10:22a “All things have been committed to me by my Father…. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that seeing Your truths with new eyes, from new perspectives is important. Thank You for the reminder that the attitude of “Jesus Expert Who Knows Everything” is about as far from the attitude You want for Your children as one can get. Help me to keep searching Your word, keep looking with new eyes, keep learning Your truths and shining Your light. Amen.

Luke 10:22b ..No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.  

Take a look at Luke 10:16. Commentary says that whether accepted or rejected, it is best for servants of God not to take their reception too personally. According to Enduring Word, “If they truly represent their Master, the success or rejection of their work is more due to Him than to them. Their greatest concern should not be with success or rejection, but with properly representing Jesus their Master.”

Luke 10:14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Am I properly representing Jesus? Some days, absolutely. I’m really proud of the godly way I handle myself. Some days, absolutely not. I am mortified at my personal failings as I try to shine His light. Focusing on my representation of my Savior instead of my reception from others truly changes the conversation in the best way for me.

Luke 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

Precious Savior, You know my heart, my worries, my struggles. Thank You for this morning’s perspective. Thank You for the reminder that I am representing You in this world and I need to pay attention that I represent You properly. Thank You for Your grace, love, and peace. Amen.

Luke 10:16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.  

This idea of being welcomed put me in mind of my guys who are hiking the Appalachian Trail. Hikers are a pretty welcoming bunch. If there is a need that another hiker can help fill–shoe insoles to ease foot pain, decongestant to knock out a cough, Leukotape to help prevent blisters–they are there to help, at least that’s been the experience of my guys–both in giving and receiving.

Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

That’s the spirit that the Spirit wants us to approach each other with–this idea of What can I do to make your life a little easier, a little better? How can I use what I have to help you live easier, better? That’s how we show hospitality. That’s how we show Jesus.

Luke 10:10-11 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 

Precious Savior, Sometimes we try to make it so difficult to live a good, welcoming, life. Thank You for the example that my guys have seen and been on the trail. Help all of us to show welcome, to show You, to all we encounter. Help us to use what we have to make life easier and better for all. Amen.

Luke 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Have a blessed day.

Luke 10:5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’   

The idea of going out, two by two before the Lord, as this scripture suggests is really quite disconcerting for me. It is so far outside of my comfort zone. I wonder how the seventy two felt about the task. Did they love it? Were they all extroverts who jumped at the chance to talk to others about Jesus?

Luke 10:6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.

Were they introverts like me, cringing at the thought of. All. Those. People. that they would have to talk to? Did the fact that they were talking about Jesus make it any easier? (I would think so.) Did anybody balk? (“Sorry, Lord, I love You but I cannot do this?”) Did any of them have to get over themselves to do what Jesus asked?

Luke 10:7a Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages….

Precious Savior, Sometimes You ask us to do difficult things. My initial response is, “Nope. That’s outside of my comfort zone.” But I’ve seen beauty come from such difficulty, so help me be attuned to You, help me say Yes to You, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s outside my comfort zone. Amen.

Luke 10:7b …Do not move around from house to house.

Have a blessed day.