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When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Luke 22:49-51

Imagine being a part of this scene.

Specifically imagine being the soldier whose ear was cut off.

You are here to arrest this guy, who claims to be God. That’s a problem for your boss, the high priest, who either worries it’s blasphemous or (worse) simply sees it as a threat to his authority. So it’s your job to round up this man so he can be questioned.

In the struggle, your ear is cut. I’m sure the pain is immense. You start to think about the implications… Can you do your job? What will your wife say? Will you ever hear your child laugh again?

Just as you start to panic, the man reaches out. And it’s fixed. Done. Just like new.

Do you still help arrest him? What do you say to the other guards… If anything? What do you say to the high priest when you see him? What do you say to Jesus?

Imagine how he felt. Imagine the confusion.

Imagine what he felt as he saw them beating Jesus, then crucifying him.

Imagine what he felt when he heard of the resurrection…

Be God’s — every day.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Luke 12:11-12

As my youth group prepares this week to run the worship service — from ushers to music to preaching — I’m tempted to take this literally to see what happens…

Just kidding YPCers. We’ve been working in this for weeks now.

Though it does seem spirit-led already that this would be randomly chosen for a scripture this morning.

There surely is a lot of truth to this verse when it comes to Youth Sunday– I used to get really worked up about Youth Sunday, and it always looked like it would be a disaster… And then it always works out just fine. Sure, there are hiccups. And there is always a congregation member or two who like to pick out things the kids did “wrong” (my fave is when the preaching style is criticized — how many people would even be willing to teach 100 adults?). But overall, the spirit leads and it’s a great service.

God provides for us when we do his work. We can have faith that the Holy Spirit will lead the way!

Be God’s — every day.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Luke 2:34-35

Simeon projects an image of Jesus that we can forget sometimes. He is not a sanitized, everyone-is-great teacher and healer. He taught and healed… But he also shined the light on our human nature, looking into our souls and asking us to be different than what human nature pulls us to be.

Especially during the holiday times, we can create an image of Jesus that isn’t the full Jesus. It’s about more than being born miraculously. It’s about more than magi visiting. Christmas is about the coming of a man who is God, and who brought about the biggest change to humanity ever.

Rather than just reading the nativity story in Luke as a Christmas tradition, maybe it’s time to read ALL of Luke, to get a broader picture of the whole Jesus that Simeon is hinting at. Let’s celebrate the coming of Jesus — the whole Jesus.

Be God’s — every day.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15

In this verse, Jesus is addressing two brothers fighting over their inheritance. He gives them a strong warning about thinking that their possessions can give their life worth and ultimate value.

Greed grips our hearts when we place material things (or anything) in the place of God and his ultimate approval and blessings in our life. Christmas, unfortunately, can be a time when greed grips us hardest… Even as we celebrate the coming of Christ to become the most gripping story in history.

Of course, I lament the commercialization of Christmas like many others. We’ve come to a place where “stuff” dominates our culture this time of year.

Watch out for greed in your hearts or in your family. Pray that this season be a time of thankfulness for the gift we received in Christ, and let us remember the hope he brings to us all!

Be God’s — every day.

With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:3-4

The author of Luke was not one of the disciples. He was a doctor, most agree, and his writing is characterized by a focus on the facts. He researched his topic, and tried to capture things accurately.

It can still be hard, though, to believe in ancient writings without more proof. There is plenty of other evidence for the existence as resurrection of Christ. Check out Lee Strobel’s book “The Case for Christ” if you are interested in that evidence.

Even then, it can be hard to believe. We all doubt. We all struggle. But have faith that the Bible has been scoured and researched and ten apart for decades as decades… Yet the truth remains. Look to the Bible for truth, and feel the power of its word in your life.

Be God’s — every day.

But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:29-32

This is, of course, the ending to the famous “Prodigal Son” parable. One son stays close to home, working daily for his father. The other takes an advance on his inheritance, moves away, lives wildly… And comes crawling back. The father rejoices when the wild son returns, and that gets in the nerves of the hard-working son. Then the dialogue you see above.

Jesus seems to teach of a more open love than the Old Testament. OT writers were all about being chosen and staying close to God. Jesus teaches that those staying close have everything they want, but also that those on the outside who return will be met with open arms.

God loves ALL — both the hard-working and the returning son. Put into the context of our discussion the last few days, this would certainly imply that God loves his faithful followers and those who return. He is an inclusionary God, not an exclusionary God. Jesus teaches elsewhere about his focus on reaching the lost, healing the sick — not tending to the healthy. This seems like a God who wants to be near to everyone.

I won’t put it beyond our all-loving, inclusionary God to redeem everyone. How that works, I’m not sure. Yet just like the hard-working son, we should rejoice in all we have, and give thanks when our God welcomes everyone home with a feast.

Be God’s — every day.

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Luke 11:13

In this passage, we are shown how God will send the Holy Spirit into us if we just ask. The comparison is to a parent who provides good things to his or her children, despite being a flawed person. If a flawed human can provide good things, just imagine what a perfect God can do!

When at a crossroads, making a decision, or just in a time of need, pray that God will send the Holy Spirit upon you. There is no need to petition specifically with a list of desires — he knows what you want. Ask for his Spirit to descend, and trust in how good the gifts from the Father will be.

Be God’s — every day.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Luke 5:4-5

I’d like to think I’m a pretty good listener. When I’m on a team and not the leader, I also generally think I’m a pretty good follower. But when I think I know more about something, I admit I’m not so keen on taking advice. Perhaps playing the part of “expert” for a living has put a barrier in my mind. Maybe it’s a little ego, even.

Peter isn’t like me, clearly. The guy is a fisherman… Catching no fish, he’s probably frustrated. Then Jesus comes along giving advice! The nerve!

However, Peter follows. Granted, he does so with a little “this is on you when it doesn’t work” tone. But he followed nonetheless.

When Jesus calls upon you and gives instruction, are you ready to follow? Or will you assume you know best?

Pray that you are open to hearing God’s call, and have the humility and courage to follow.

Be God’s — every day.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:15

We all know that what we have on this earth is temporary. But somehow that doesn’t stop us from trying to get more of it.

Jesus doesn’t ask us (in this passage, at least) to not have any possessions. What he is asking is that we keep our desires in check. We shouldn’t be so focused on “stuff” that we get caught up in wanting more and more of it. We can appreciate what we have without letting it cloud our minds and pollute our actions.

Don’t get caught up in the stuff you have or want. Enjoy God’s blessings, but guard against needing more than God has provided.

Be God’s — every day.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37

Jesus’s comments are so simple yet so profound. Everyone in our society, it seems, likes to push ideas. On the web, in the paper, on TV, across the blogosphere… Opinions galore, and many of them involve some suggestion of how “I’m right and you are wrong.”

Let me be specific (and possibly judging) and direct: Christians are among the worst at this. Because we know the truth, our ideas become laden with superiority — “this is right, and you are an idiot for disagreeing.”

Jesus asks us to look in the mirror. Who among us is perfect? Who among us can’t himself be judged? Who doesn’t need forgiveness?

Exactly. We are all faulty. We all need forgiveness. Our sins may be different than another, but our sins are no better than anyone else’s. We are superior to no one.

Our words, teaching, and opinions should be rooted in grace and an assumption of equality. Christ asks us to be givers of grace, so that we receive it.

Be God’s — every day.