Luke 16

Scripture

Luke 16:10-15

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus had just told a parable about a shrewd manager and gave a lesson on the importance of being trustworthy in handling wealth and also trustworthy with managing someone else’s property, not stingy or wasteful with it. 

Understanding-What does it mean?

It ALL belongs to God.

All of our gifts, talents, time, abilities and resources belong to the Lord. His resources, such as money, which is specifically highlighted in this passage, must be steward wisely. Although only 10% is required to be returned, the rest of the 90% belongs to God as well. 

The more trustworthy we are in handling His money, His gifts, His talents, His time, His resources, etc., the more He will entrust to us to manage.

Life Application

Be a trustworthy servant of the Lord and steward what He owns (our lives) wisely. 

Our whole lives belong to the Lord. We would not be alive today or have what we have today without His faithfulness and grace. 

We must love the Owner more than the gift. We serve the Giver, not the gift. 

It’s interesting in this passage how it talks about the Pharisees’ love of money. I would think that men who followed the law and did things by the book would steer away from that, but it reminds me that God does not look at the outward appearance, but the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Their outward appearance would suggest that they were giving servants, but in their heart, they only gave to be seen (Matthew 6:1-4). They only gave out of what they already had, instead of giving ALL they had (Luke 21:1-4). They only gave out of obligation, not a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Dear Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would constantly remind us that our whole lives belong to You. I pray we would be a church that gives of our lives freely and generously, especially when it comes to furthering Your Kingdom. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Luke 15

Scripture

Luke 15:4 NLT

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”

Observation-What does it say?

In this chapter, Jesus spoke to all the tax collectors and notorious sinners. The Pharisees and teachers of the law found that quite odd and began complaining amongst one another. Why would Jesus associate Himself with such people? So Jesus responded to them by speaking to them in parables. Each parable would drive across a single point...Jesus’ heart for the lost.

Understanding-What does it mean?

God loves the lost.

Your average person probably thinks God is out to get them. That God is just waiting for that moment that we slip up and...BAM! He got ya! God caught us in the act and now He’s waiting to drop the hammer on us. We couldn’t be more wrong. God loves us...all of us. Now don’t get it twisted. He despises sin, but still loves the sinner. And there are consequences for our sinful actions. But for those who repent from their sinfulness and return to Jesus, there is grace, mercy, and love. These parables that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees here reminds me of that. That God’s desire is for ALL to come to know Him and repent from their sinful ways. For there is great rejoicing in Heaven when just one person turns to Christ! Imagine the celebration that occurs when we all do our part as Christians and multiply Christ Followers everywhere.

“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?” -Ezekiel 33:11 NLT

“This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” -1 Timothy 2:3-4 NLT

“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”-2 Peter 3:8-9 NLT

Life Application

When it comes to the Gospel of Christ, don’t discriminate!

Father God, may You give me Your heart for the lost. A heart that breaks over sinfulness. Give me Your eyes Lord to see and ears to hear. May You guide me to whom You would want me to be bold with and share with today. Help me remember how You shared with anyone and everyone. You didn’t discriminate. Instead, You loved all. Help me to be part of that celebration in Heaven when one chooses You and repents from their sinful ways. In Your name Jesus, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi

Isaiah_52

Scripture:

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains    are the feet of those who bring good news,who proclaim peace,    who bring good tidings,    who proclaim salvation,who say to Zion,    “Your God reigns!” Observation:This chapter starts with a call to wake up to the Lord’s redemption of Zion, then a vindication of His name for those who had blasphemed his name. Understanding:We are a called people, a redeemed people. Called to “proclaim peace,” even in the chaos.Called to “bring good tidings,” even in a time where there is a lot of doomsday talk.Called to “proclaim salvation” to those who may be lost.Called to praise and worship, our God who reigns!Life Application: Our calling comes with some action steps.  May we be conscious of that today and be on mission!So what does that look like?  I think it is sharing God’s love through bringing peace through prayer, through kindness, through the tones of our voices, through being a listening ear. Bringing good tidings through encouragement and positive news.  Proclaim salvation by sharing the good news of God’s love and desired redemption of hearts towards him.…and all of that sounds an awful lot like love.  So, put simply, go love on somebody today! <3Rei