April 11 2019

Persistence

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. “Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ “And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ‘yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

I find the introduction to this parable the most valuable piece of the story.  
“Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” 
The widow was persistent.  
She continued to go to the judge with her request until her need was met. 
But it took her persistence and some time. 
Jesus spoke this parable with the intention of encouraging us to be persistent in prayer and not to become discouraged. 
How many times do we give up after one hastily said prayer, offered up in passing?  
There is value in being persistent and in allowing time.  
When we pray we need to commit to it. 
We need to stop, take the time and then follow up.  
Jesus says we are not to become discouraged.  
We need to go into this process understanding that it will take persistence and time, therefore our experience will line up with our expectations.
Question for Discussion
How persistent are you in prayer?

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April 10 2019

God, Be Merciful to Me a Sinner

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:10-14

Humility is a wonderful thing.  
One who gives and brags about it has lost the true meaning of the giving. 
The bragging speaks to the real intention; to be recognized, rather than to be a blessing. 
We must be careful to give from a pure heart, not grudgingly or for our own purposes, but out of love and compassion for the one we are giving to.
Question for Discussion
What is the real intention behind your giving?  Be honest with yourself.

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April 9 2019

But Where are the Nine?

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.
And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:12-19

Sometimes we take our encounters with Jesus for granted.  
These ten men encountered Jesus.  
They found themselves healed as they followed Jesus’ direction and went to show themselves to the priests. 
But only one returned to thank Jesus.  
How many times do we encounter Jesus in our day to day life and keep on our merry way, without pausing to say thank you.  
Many times I believe we experience God’s hand in our lives and we don’t even notice; but worse than that is when we absolutely see God’s hand in our lives and don’t take the time to glorify Him and the work He is doing in us.  
The one man returned and thanked Jesus.  
Jesus was astounded that only one returned – and this one was a foreigner.  
I believe that we in the Church have become complacent with an air of entitlement; the thought abounds that Jesus will do it because we are His, without any understanding that this is a relationship we are working with not a piggy bank of blessings to be emptied without acknowledgement. 
It is time to pray for our eyes to be opened to the hand of God in our daily lives – and a time to pray for our hearts to be softened and our gratitude heightened, that we would take the time to stop, thank and worship the Lord as He works in our lives.
Question for Discussion
What do you need to stop and thank the Lord for today? Make a list.

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