Author: Pastor Howie

07 12 Luke 17.11-19  What is that everyone needs but no one deserves?  It’s what 10 lepers ask for.  It’s mercy.  Only the Lord can give it.  Otherwise we all deserve to die.  In time, if nothing could be done, these 10 lepers would die.  As Jesus was passing through town one day on His way to Jerusalem they stop Him and ask for mercy.  They wanted to be cleansed of their accursed disease and the inevitability of death.  Jesus saw them and moved with compassion for them, healed them as they went to see the priest.  But only one came back, and Scripture tells us he was grateful and worshipful.  That day he received more than physical healing for his body.  He also received spiritual healing for his soul.  Jesus said it was his faith.  Have you been cleansed of sin? 

07 05 15 Luke 17.7-10 Jesus concludes this series of instructions to the disciples with a lesson on service.  Scripture reminds us of our need to serve the Lord and each other.  There are many, many ways to do so.  We need to be observant and obedient stepping out in faith to assist others in need.

06 21 Luke 17.1-4 Forgiveness is something we so easily say we have done when someone has offended us, but have we really?  Jesus offers some great and timeless principles to help us with the issue of forgiveness. 

06 14 Luke 16.19-31 In a familiar story about an extremely rich man and an extremely poor man Jesus contrasts their two destinies to reveal to us that in this life we make the choice of where we will spend eternity.  The story is given not to bring condemnation but to bring conviction, not to foster rejection, but repentance.  Just as heaven is a real place, so hell is a real place.  Where will you spend eternity?

What happens when we don’t pray?  Scripture identifies some concerns related to our prayerlessness.

05 31 Luke 16.16-18 Jesus bridges a discussion with the disciples about being a good steward of resources entrusted by God and a story about a rich man and Lazarus with a discussion about the Law and divorce.  Jesus illustrates the hypocrisy of the religious leaders with these few verses.  While there is much debate surround the issue of divorce, Jesus’ teachings are clear.  While divorce was permitted under the Law, it is not desired.  In Matthew, Jesus states that it was not so from the beginning.  The truth of the matter is that where divorce has occurred, even remarriage there is forgiveness based on His grace.  His grace though is not a loophole to permit divorce.  Strict regulations were set up around it to ensure that Israel didn’t become like the other nations around them where divorce was rampant for any and all reasons. 

05 24 Luke 16.1-15 Jesus shares a wonderful story with a powerful message about the proper use of money.  Rather than pursue the love of money as the Pharisees did, Jesus illustrates that we should use our resources for kingdom purposes.  If we are faithful in a little, we can be faithful in much.  We cannot serve two masters.  What God has entrusted to us should be used to help further his eternal kingdom.  The question remains: are we a faithful steward?

05 17 Luke 15.1-32 From some of Jesus’ greatest parables comes a fresh reminder of hope, hope that something lost can be found.  Hope that when there is repentance there is also forgiveness, hope because Jesus still receives sinners.

05 10 Luke 14.25-35 It is clear from Scripture that we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.  What does that look like?  While books abound on what a disciple should look like and practices of the follower of Christ, Jesus gives two very distinct characteristics of a disciple.  Someone asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was and He essentially boiled it down to two – love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself.  When it comes to discipleship, we can boil it down to two essential characteristics as well.  Jesus lays it out in this passage.  He says that we should hate our family and take up our cross.  What Jesus meant is that our loyalty our preference should always be to Christ so that in our devotion to Him it would appear as if we hated our family.  Jesus is saying that to be a disciple there must be complete commitment to Him, a surrender of our will, ways, and wants for His will, ways, and wants.  There should be no hesitation or doubt on our part as to what we would choose.  Christ wins every time.  Jesus instructs us to consider the cost before we make such an endeavor and illustrates it through two examples.  The question remains for us to answer – will we be a disciple of Jesus?  Being a convert is not the same as being committed.  Which are you?

05 03 Luke 14.15-24 In Jesus’ day it was insulting to accept an initial invitation to a banquet and then reject the invitation when the time came to be in attendance.  Yet, that is what the Pharisees and many Israelites had done.  An invitation had been sent out regarding the coming of the Messiah through the Law and the Old Testament prophets, but when Jesus actually came to proclaim that the Kingdom of God was near and He was the One they had been waiting for, they rejected Him and the invitation to eternal life.  Consequently the invitation was extended to many others, the ones considered outcasts.  It is a reference to Gentiles and we see in Acts that many began to accept the invitation for salvation through Christ.  That invitation is still open today, but one day the doors will be shut.  People use many excuses to justify their rejection of the Gospel invitation.  In the end, there will be no legitimate excuse.  Is it time to put aside your excuses and trust Christ for salvation?  The call to the banquet is about to be made.  Have you made your reservation?