Luke 19 - 9.19.25

Scripture:  Luke 19:1-10

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation:

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he received so much more.  He was already hated by the people as a chief tax collector.  They were not going to let him have a spot where he could see Jesus and he was too short to see over them.  He did a bold thing, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree.  He was rich, so he must have been wearing nice clothes.  Scripture does not say whether or not he removed any garments to make the run or climb easier.  I’m guessing because this was an impulse, he ran and climbed as is.

Jesus knows when we are seeking Him.  Jesus got to where Zacchaeus was in the tree and looked up and told him to come down.  The reason, ‘I must stay at your house today.”   Zacchaeus immediately came down and welcomed him .  I’m wondering was his house nearby or did the muttering happen before they reached his house and overheard?  It says all the people, not just the religious leaders muttered, “He has gone to be he guest of a sinner.”  It seems Zacchaeus standing up and declaring he will give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back those cheated four times the amount was a response to their muttering. It is evident that Zacchaeus was truly transformed by his encounter with Jesus.  What he did of his own accord something very similar to what Jesus had asked the rich young ruler to do in the previous chapter.

Jesus spoke directly to Zacchaeus that salvation had come to the house because he was a “son of Abraham,” not because of his deeds.  Jesus declares His mission is to seek and save the lost.

Application:

Zacchaeus did not let a huge barrier stop him from his goal of seeing Jesus.  I want to be like him and not let perceived roadblocks or limitations stop me.  His transformation caused him to give generously of what he had to the poor and those he had cheated.  When I encounter Jesus there should be a response to give of what I’ve been blessed with. It may not be money.  It could be time, a talent or something else.

I also want to join with Jesus to seek and share so He can save those who are lost.

Prayer:

Father God,

You see those who are striving to seek you and you love them.  Thank you for rewarding our efforts to come into your presence.  May I not take time spent with you lightly.  Each day I have opportunity to know you and your heart.  Help me to grow more and more like you in all I do.  Keep my eyes open for those seeking you so I can be your hands and feet.

Amen

- Cindy Howard

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