The Gospel of Luke tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
December 12
Day 12
Luke chapter 12
There are 24 chapters in this book
They bring us through the story of Jesus - the reason for this season.
I also include in the bottom or comments some “extras” like short videos and songs that you may have never heard (or artists you may not know) that resonate with me during this holiday time.
Each post will start with who is who so that you can get a solid understanding of what this chapter is about. I encourage you to read the chapter in your own Bible after you read this. If you don’t have a Bible there are lots of free apps. I use several versions in my studying to ensure I have a full understanding of what I’ve read.
This is my commentary.
Who was Luke?
A physician, a researcher, a traveling friend of Paul (mentioned in Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), perhaps someone researching facts to help the legal case for Paul while in prison in Rome, a non-Jew, the only Gentile author of a book in the New Testament. He penned not only Luke, but also Acts.
New characters continue to be introduced - new in this chapter:
thousands of unnamed people
Jesus tells many stories not in this chapter. May they touch you and bless you as they have me.
Shhh
There were so many people gathered that they were stepping on each other. Imagine how quiet they had to be to hear what He was saying. I almost wonder if God supernaturally was able to help the people hear the words of His Son. There were no microphones, podiums, drive-in concert acoustics.
SECRETS
Before He began speaking to the crowds He addressed His disciples and told them to be careful of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He told them that everything hidden and secret would soon be shown.
What you say in the dark will come to light and what you say in private will become public.
Good lesson for us all. Words out of our mouths are no longer inside us. Wow is this super important with what we are seeing unfolding in our deeply divided world today. This may even be the environment at your job right now. This chapter has impacted me in a profound way this morning.
Hear what Jesus said:
Jesus addresses the crowd saying:
Don’t be afraid of people. They may be able to kill your body but then they can’t hurt you any more. The one to fear is God because He has the power to kill you AND throw you into hell.
When five birds are sold they only cost 2 pennies but God doesn’t forget any of them. God even knows how many hairs you have on your head - don’t be afraid. You are much more valuable to Him than the birds. He loves you and wants to be loved.
If you’re willing to stand in front of people and say you believe in Me, then I will say in front of the angels of God that you belong to Me. The reverse also holds true.
Whoever says something against the Son of Man can be forgiven but whoever says something against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven.
If you’re ever brought before high-ups and asked to speak, don’t worry what you’re going to say and get so worked up about speaking in public. The Holy Spirit will give you teaching and the words to say at the right time.
TOO MUCH
Someone in the crowd shouted out “teacher my father just died and my brother won’t share his belongings with me - tell him to share with me!”
Jesus said “who said I should be the judge to tell you how to divide your father’s things. You should be careful and guard against all kinds of greed.
People don’t get life from the many things they own.”
Friends - things consume us. When I lost my home to a terrible flood in 09 we had to literally throw everything we owned into 6 filled dumpsters. It took us weeks to throw everything away. Hoarding things take us away from the uncluttered life of being best able to hear Jesus. I have found myself this week stepping over things to wrap gifts and I got frustrated that there’s just “too much stuff” and yet there I was wrapping more. We must (I must) not keep trying to fill our lives with stuff trying to fill empty voids. This leaves less space for Jesus and our time we need to spend with him.
Jesus told about this in a story :
There was a rich farmer who grew a large crop of food and wasn’t sure where he would store it all since there was more food than his barn could hold. He said to himself “I’ll just tear down my barns and build bigger barns to hold it all. Then I will just rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life. But God spoke to him and said you’re foolish. Tonight you’ll die and then what will you do with your things? Who will get those things now? God doesn’t consider those people rich - they saved things only for themselves and didn’t give to others.
GIVE YOURSELF AWAY
This Christmas season - what can you give away? Thousands of people are potentially losing their homes. Many are jobless. People around the world don’t have a place to sleep, shoes to wear, food to eat.
What might you be holding on to physically that can be released?
What are you holding on to mentally that needs to be released?
It’s easy to hold on to things. Even when they no longer serve us. The question is are you willing to have someone give you something you don’t want, take things away you do want, challenge you to give up things you are comfortable with? These are all questions at the very top of my mind.
Back to the chapter.
Jesus then plainly said:
don’t worry about the things you need to live or the things you need to eat or what you will wear
Life is more important than food
The body is more important than what you put on the outside of it
Look at the birds - they don’t plant, harvest, or store up their foods in barns
But God still feeds them
You are worth much more to Him than crows
None of you can add any time to your life worrying about things. (Research actually shows that worry and stress kill you and shorten your life)
Jesus said if you can’t do little things then why worry about big things anyway
think about how wildflowers grow
They don’t work or make clothes for themselves
Solomon the great and rich king wasn’t even dressed as well as these flowers
If God makes the flowers of the field so beautiful and clothes them, how much more can He do for you who He loves
Flowers are just grass - one day alive and the next day someone throws it into a fire
God still cares enough to make it beautiful
Surely He will do much more for you - so don’t have such small faith
This really puts perspective friends into “stopping to smell the roses”
Jesus went on to say:
don’t always think about what you eat or drink
Don’t worry about it
People who don’t know God live in worry
Your father knows you need these things
What you should be thinking about is His kingdom
Then he will give you all these things and other things you need
He wants to share His kingdom with you
Sell things you have and give money to those who need it
This is how you keep your riches from being lost
Store treasures in Heaven that can last forever because thieves cannot steal that and moths can’t destroy it
Your heart will be where your treasure is
Jesus told the people to:
be ready, dressed, and have their lights shining.
Be on guard for your master to come home.
Be watching for him to return. When he does,
open the door for Him so that He can see you’ve been waiting
It will be a great day because then He will ask you to sit down for a meal with Him and He will serve you (the servant)
Not worry about what time He will arrive it might even be after midnight
Just be glad He came home and found you still waiting for Him
WHAT DO YOU DO
Stop writing negative things online about the world coming to an end or worrying about what you see happening with elections or the infighting and either no action or destructive actions of people who do not need to fill our attention.
You have finite time each day - what if you filled your mind and thoughts on the things that bring you to eternity rather than just this place that is slowly self destructing.
We do NOT know when Jesus is coming back. He just says be ready. And that He is coming. Love God. Love one another.
Stop hoarding power and hoarding things and mistreating one another. Just have faith and trust that just because these politicians do not know what they’re doing and they’re blaming courts for not knowing what they’re doing - my God our God knows what HE is doing. This is all part of His plan. Stay awake to THAT not the distractions.
Perhaps He is coming sooner than we can predict. I hope so. Just be ready and prepared.
Back to the chapter.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
What would you do if you knew a thief was coming to your house. Would you unlock the door and just let him break in? No. Be ready because the Son of Man has not made it clear about the time He will arrive and will come when you least expect Him
Peter said “lord did you tell this story for us or for all people?”
Jesus answers like this
“who is the trusted and wise lead servant? The master trusts one to be the leader for the other servants to make sure food is served at the right time. Who does the master trust most to do that leadership work? When the master sees him doing the work he gave him it will be a day of blessing for him. He will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns. (Jesus and the holy spirit living in each of us)
BUT what will happen if that servant is evil and doesn’t take care of things while the master is away, and not coming back soon? What if he beats the other servants or treats them badly. Maybe he will eat and drink too much and not be prepared for the master to return. He won’t be expecting him so he won’t be ready for his arrival. The master would then punish him and send him a way to be with other servants who didn’t obey. (False messengers and evil people, ones who want people to love them more than God or who do not live out Jesus teachings)
But what about the servant who doesn’t know what the master wants him to do? He will still get punished but less.
RESPONSE-ABILITY
When you’re given much responsibility you’re expected to do a lot and especially if you want to be given more. (True lesson about work and life)
It’s not an easy road to follow Jesus.
He told the people He came to bring fire to the world and wished it was already burning. He was going to suffer badly and was becoming troubled. He asked the people “do you think I came to give peace? No - I came to divide. You will see these divisions across the families and communities. People will turn against each other but this is part of understanding the times.” READ THAT AGAIN
He also said to the people:
when you see clouds growing in the west you know rain is coming
When wind blows from the south you know it will be a hot day
Don’t be hypocrites
You can understand the weather but why can’t you understand what is happening now?
Decide for yourself what is right
If someone is suing you try to settle it before you get to court (READ THAT AGAIN NEWS FANS)
Otherwise you have to go before a judge and may be handed over to an officer and be thrown in jail
You won’t get out of there until you paid every cent you owe
#ababychangeseverything #ocomeallyefaithful #olittletownofbethlehem #ocomeletusadorehim #ocomeemmanuel #oholynight #whatafriendwehaveinjesus #joytotheworld #jesuslovesmethisiknow #jesusfriendofsinners #loveandjoyuntoyou #thegreatestloveofall
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More tomorrow with chapter 13
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PRAYER
Lord thank you for your word. Thank you for speaking to us through stories that we may apply to our lives. Help me to think about and speak words that are lovely to you. Help me to not worry so much about where you want me to go or how I will get there and how I will afford to do what you want me to do. It feels so Unclear and yet you also said don’t worry. Help me to not worry and to fix my eyes more on you and what you want me to do for you. Please come soon but also help me to prepare and make sure that I’m vigilant and ready for your return. Thank you for all I’ve been given. May I be a good steward over it all for your glory. Amen
Amen.
MUSIC - the universal language
Here’s a song to welcome us to this day:
The song that came to my mind. It’s from the Disney animated film Enchanted https://youtu.be/-R4ozhKDwgA #thatshowyouknow
And one more from Toby Mac
EXTRAS:
This isn’t quite a clip from a film but it’s a 10 min compilation of great words about how to rid yourself from the destruction of worry https://youtu.be/FZimOSrRJN0