Luke 9 - 9.9.25

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 9:62

“Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

OBSERVATION

The last verse of this chapter stood out to me not only because of the meat to what Jesus said, but it seemed to encapsulate a lot of what was spoken in the prior verses. There were many examples of what moving forward in a life with Jesus looks like:

·       Jesus sends out the Disciples on a missions trip to do many things by the power of God

·       Jesus shows the Disciples and others about stepping out in faith with the miracle of feeding the five thousand

·       Jesus reveals his Heavenly position during the Transfiguration

·       Jesus heals the demon-possessed boy when the Disciples couldn’t

·       Jesus shows the disciples who will be greatest and the least based on their love and humility

All of these things lead up to the end verse:  you can’t move forward in a life with Jesus or be an effective servant if your heart isn’t in line with serving God, you’re distracted or pulled away from your God given purpose.

The example Jesus gave of the plow is well known to many in His time; however, some today might not know what it does or how it works. To a farmer, a plow is one of the most important tools for when you start to prepare the soil to plant seeds: The plow digs down deep in the soil to carve out an area where to plant seeds so you’ll have a successful harvest. The plow works up the soil, helps break up any hardened areas, and makes the soil just right for planting seeds. Jesus is saying you can’t put your hand to the plow – to do God’s work in the soil of life – and be looking backwards, distracted, or not focused to work the plow. It would be impossible to properly work the plow if your head is turned backwards.

APPLICATION

If you want to do God’s work, and you’re ready to do the work, your head and heart need to be in the right place. Are you really committed to God?  Is your hand on the plow with a firm view, looking forward and ready for all God has planned? Looking backwards takes your eyes off what’s before you and distracts you from what is needed. There is a mighty harvest of planting the seeds of faith by sharing the Gospel, living your life as an offering to God, and being ready for His service. Listening and following the lead of the Holy Spirit is also an important part (and something that I’m working on). God’s work requires no distractions that would take your eyes off of Jesus. These distractions can be idols in your life, your focus on family, friends, work, possessions or anything in this life. Ultimately God needs to be #1 in your life. Everything else is secondary.

Right now we’re in the midst of the 21 day Challenge to read the Word, journal, and grow closer in our relationship with God. The Challenge is a great place to start. God will speak to you. Take the step and begin in ernest with your hand firmly on the plow looking forward to serving the Lord. If you’ve not started yet on the Challenge, there’s never a better time than the present. If you’re struggling knowing where to start, what to do in your relationship with Christ, or if you’ve never made that commitment to Christ, please be sure to reach out to our prayer team for help: https://desertstreams.churchcenter.com/people/forms/3457?open-in-church-center-modal=true

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the many examples of living for you in this chapter, what that means, and how to achieve it by keeping my focus on following you only. My focus should only be on having Jesus as a top priority in everything in this life. Help me to always have you in focus, not to look for anything else or make anything else a priority in this life except you and service for you. Keep me away from any distractions! If anything becomes a distraction, Holy Spirit, please move me back to the plow and in the direction of Jesus, to do His work on this earth. Find me fit for service for you!  In Jesus mighty name! Amen and Amen.

- Mary Oberg

ps: I wasn’t able to attend church this last Sunday but I just listened to the recorded service entitled “I am the Lord’s servant.” God is so good with his direction in highlighting this scripture and bringing the focus of serving the Lord in our life. God is on the move!! Here’s where you can see and listen to the services: https://www.desertstreams.com/sermons

Luke 8 - 9.8.25

Scripture

Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.””

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Observation

Because of the crowd, Jesus’ mother and brothers couldn’t get to him. Then, Jesus said something really profound about how those who hear God’s Word AND put it into practice are actually His mother and brothers. He was basically establishing who are the true family of Christ.

Before this part of Scripture, Jesus spoke a parable about the seeds that fell into the different types of soil. The seed represented the Word of God. When Jesus interpreted the parable, He did not only say that those who fell on the good soil were the ones who read the Bible. The seed (Word of God) fell on ALL of the different types of locations (rocky, path, and thorns). Basically, all of those people he described had heard the Word of God. The difference is how each of them received it. It was the seed that fell on the good soil that put it into practice. By putting it into practice, the seed produced a large crop!

Application

Read God’s Word, but also put it into practice.

I want Jesus to refer to me as His family member. I also desire to be a servant whose seed falls on the good soil.

We are doing such an amazing challenge right now to discipline us to get into the habit of reading God’s Word daily. However, getting the information into our minds is just the first step. It must lead to transformation. We must be able to apply His Word to our daily lives and have it grow roots in our hearts and souls. People shouldn’t be surprised to find out we are part of the family of faith. It should just overflow from who we are as a son/daughter of Christ.

Is our lives producing the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we read and study God’s Word? Based on Christ’s definition of who His family members are, would He say that we are part of His family?

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” -‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”  Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭46‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I don’t just want to go through our 21-day Bible reading challenge without any transformation or repentance occurring. Please reveal to me any ways that I am falling short and ways where my fruit has become stale. Please forgive me for the times I just check off my Bible reading from my list without it producing Your fruits of the Spirit. I pray that You would always remind me Whose I am when I get distracted. I never want Your Word to fall into the wrong soil in my heart. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Luke 5 - 9.5.25

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

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.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

Observation:

Jesus was teaching God’s word to a group of people, but there was a problem they were crowding him.  He saw the solution getting in one of two boats that were at the shore.  He was able to sit down and teach the people from the boat.

The boat belonged to Simon who with his partners had been cleaning the nets after a night of fishing and not caught anything.  The fishermen were tired.  I imagine cleaning the nets was not an easy or fun task.

When Jesus was done teaching Jesus told Simon to go back out to the deep water and put down the nets they had just cleaned for a catch.  Simon told Jesus that they had worked hard and caught no fish, but then agreed because He said so.

His obedience brought more that he could have ever expected, a catch so large it practically sunk his and his partner’s boats.  Then, Simon fell at Jesus’s feet and confessed Him as “Lord” and asked him to leave because he was a “sinful man.”  He, James and John his partners were astonished.  

Jesus told them not to be afraid and called them to be fishers of people.  They left everything and followed Him. 

Interesting side note: Luke refers to him as Simon Peter in verse 8 although his new name had not been given yet.  Maybe he did so to emphasize this confession of Simon’s as he falls to his knees calling Jesus “Lord” and how this attitude of the heart would later lead to Jesus renaming him Peter or Rock.

Application:

Several things stood out to me.  First Jesus had a divine appointment.  He had a need for a better location and took advantage of the boats at the shore.  He got into Simon’s boat and asked him to pull away from shore. God always provides what we need.  For Jesus it was a space between the crowd and a place to sit.  Then, a way to get his future disciple’s attention.

I need to have my eyes looking for opportunities when challenges come and be award this could be a chance to make connections with those I might not have had a way to connect with otherwise.

Jesus met a need the fishermen had with a miraculous catch.  To receive it they had to do something uncomfortable, to go out again after working hard all night and after the nets were clean.  That obedience allowed for a huge miracle. Then, an even greater reward is being called to follow Jesus.

I want to remember that I need to keep trying even when I’ve worked hard and done all I can do.  Jesus in the boat made all the difference.  It is important I listen to His direction, surrender and follow Him not worrying about what I’m leaving behind.  It may even be a huge blessing or something that He provided that I could profit from.  It may not make sense!  I still need to go. I want to trust His leading.  That can be hard, but worth it.

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you that you have given us such an excellent example to follow.  You were incredibly resourceful and did the miraculous for those  going about their daily tasks.  Help me be obedient to go out again when I feel I’ve already exhausted my potential.  May I always have the perspective that you want me to be a fisher of people.  May I walk with you in a way that leads others to follow you.

Amen

- Cindy Howard