Luke 18 - 09.18.25

SCRIPTURE: Luke 18:8b

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

OBSERVATION:

Jesus told his disciples a parable about praying. The parable tells the story about a poor widow who “persisted” in seeking justice from a local Judge who “neither feared God nor cared about people”. Without anything to lose, the widow makes herself an irritant to the Judge, coming to him repeatedly with her ardent and persistent request. The correct translation here is that the widow is giving the Judge a psychological ‘black eye’.  Although the Judge has no concern for her welfare—to get rid of her—he gives her the justice she is seeking.

When Jesus finishes the parable—he poses the question—

“When the Son of Man Comes—Will HE Find Faith on the earth?”

APPLICATION:

What will you be doing upon Jesus Return

Jesus begins the parable on Prayer as a continuation to the discussion on “The Coming of The Kingdom of God” (Luke 17:22-37). Jesus explains that The end times will not be times of great faith. Eight people were saved in Noah’s day, and only four out of Sodom--and one of them-(Lot’s wife) perished on the way.

Over two thousand years ago Jesus suffered on the cross—demonstrating that HE conquered death and sin through His resurrection--to bring about eternal life for all who would receive Him as their Lord and Savior. AND—HE is coming Back.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 

But he who endures to the end-- shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then --the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9-14)

As I look around and turn on the news or social media-- I am saddened to hear others rejoicing at the cold and calculated murders of someone simply because they disagreed with their politics. When you stop and think about it—really? How did we get here? As believers we KNOW our war is NOT against flesh and blood—but against the authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Truthfully, we have been in the end times ever since Jesus death and resurrection. As a believer I pray that Christ’s Love will abound in me—that His light will shine brightly by His Grace—and and I pray that JOY (which is a fruit of the Spirit) will overflow in me.

“Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16 ESV)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV) 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

YOU gave us signs so we would be aware. YOU told us to endure. More than that—YOU called us to BE Your LIGHT. No one knows the day or hour. When YOU do come—may I be found to be one who has great faith. May I be found praying for those who are lost and hurting and in desperate need of YOU. May I be Doing what YOU have called us to do. Loving YOU as YOU Fill us daily—and Loving others—as Your Holy Spirit supplies us.  Help me to not have anything left unfinished—search my heart before YOU. One day every single deed, word, and thought will be laid bear before YOU. Help me to be living in the fullness of Your Joy and the Truth of Your word. YOU –ARE—the delight of my heart.

In Jesus Name amen 

Tina L Kudleka

Luke 17 - 9.17.25

Scripture

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ (Luke 17:10)

Observation

When we accepted Jesus as our Lord, we became the children of God and also the servants of God. When we became free from sin, we became the servants of God (Rom 6:22). God requires obedience to his commandments from us. In this verse, Jesus reminds us that when we do what we are supposed to do, we shouldn’t applaud ourselves. We should have the attitude that we are unworthy servants, and we have just done our duty.

Obeying God is “reasonable service” expected from us. The Bible tells us to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1, KJV). God expects us to be “living sacrifices”. This means choosing to walk in God’s ways and obeying his commandments in thought, word and deed everyday. Jesus said that whoever wants to be His disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him (Matt 6:24). Taking up our cross means choosing to obey God everyday and every moment, instead of doing what we would naturally want to do. This is a very basic requirement that God has from his children.

Application

We need to remember that we are called to be servants of God. A servant is not above his master (Matt 10:24). As servants we have a duty to obey God and do His will. As Paul said, if we do it voluntarily, we have a reward, and if not voluntarily, we are simply discharging the trust committed to us (1 Cor 9:17).

We are enlisted in God’s army to fulfil His will. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Tim 2:4). We need to make it our goal to please Him (2 Cor 5:9).

Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for making me your child. Help me to remember that I am also your servant, called to do your will. Help me to be obedient to You everyday and every moment of my life. Help me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow You (Mark 8:34). Help me to make it my aim to please You (2 Cor 5:9). Lord, I cannot do this in my own strength. Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). After having done everything You require of me, please help me to have the attitude that you have asked me to have - to think of myself as having just done what was required of me as an unprofitable servant (Luke 17:10). Lord, you are the lifter of my head (Ps 3:3). My exaltation and my promotion comes from You (Ps 75:6,7). I want to please you. Please help me to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you everyday of my life, knowing that this is the reasonable service You expect from me (Rom 12:1). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Luke 16 - 9.16.25

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 16:9  "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."  

OBSERVATION:  I wasn't sure exactly what this Scripture meant, but according to 'Got Questions', "Jesus is not saying that believers should gain wealth dishonestly and then be generous with it.  We are to use our worldly resources to benefit others and make friends.  Just as the dishonest manager in the parable was shrewd in benefitting himself materially, so we should be shrewd in benefiting ourselves and others spiritually.  When we give to missions, support our local church, or meet the needs of others, we are using "unrighteous, worldly wealth" to build up the kingdom of God and lift up the name of Jesus.  We are being shrewd in our dealings in this world when our eyes are on the "eternal homes" we will one day inhabit with our "friends" in Christ."

While Jesus was telling the parable of the shrewd manager, He included the verse above.  The parable of the unjust steward is told for the benefit of the disciples.  In this parable the characters are both wicked - the steward as well as his manager.  

Jesus used this parable to teach a spiritual principle.  After the rich man discovered that his manager was being dishonest with his possessions, he knew it was time to remove him from his job.  Once the manager found out his job was going to be taken away, he made the shrewd decision to go around and reduce the debt of all who owed his master.  He did this so he would have friends to run to after he had no job.  Believe it or not, when the rich man heard about what his manager had done to him, he commended him!  He had just been ripped off big time, so why in the world would he commend the manager?  (Two bad minds think alike!).    

In His application of the story, Jesus says, "For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light."  Here Jesus contrasts the "sons of the world (the unbelievers) to the "sons of light" (believers).  (GotQuestions).

APPLICATION:  Jesus encourages His followers to be good, honest stewards with our money, time, resources and possessions.  We are to be generous givers with the wealth He has given us.  We are not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but we are to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.  For where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.  (Matthew 6:19). 

PRAYER:  I thank You God for everything You have provided for me to live on this earth.  I pray I will be a generous giver to be able to meet the needs of others.  I pray first and foremost that I will be faithful to give back to You what You have required of me,  (10 percent of our income).  Since everything we have belongs to You, how gracious You are to only require 10 percent of our income back to You!  I pray after we tithe that Anthony and I will be faithful to look for ways to use our resources to be a blessing to others.  There's something so amazing that happens when we tithe!  You have promised that when we do, You will open up the heavens and pour out blessings that we will not be able to contain!   Both Anthony and I have put our trust in You regarding tithing since 1980, and we have experienced countless ways throughout the years how You have provided over and over again for us!   And...we have discovered that it is impossible to out give You!  May we be faithful to give what belongs to You, and be generous to the ones who You prompt us to give to.  I pray we will continue to put You first in our lives, AND in our finances, and I thank You for the wonderful promise You gave us that says,  "If we seek You first and Your righteousness, all the things we need will be given to us".  (Matthew 6:33) Amen

- Robin Orefice