

Trinity Lutheran Lexington, NE
Church • Lexington, NE • 29 members • 10 followers
News
Sort by
newest
- Reading for July 11 is Luke 14... My thoughts on this reading... You kind of wonder if this healing was a setup by the Pharisees. Dropsy if you aren't familiar with the biblical term was usually what we know of as an edema, which causes the retention of fluids in the body and swelling, and in some cases, situations like weepy legs. If that is the case, the release of any bodily fluid would make the person unclean. Even if it wasn't a setup, there is no doubt that Jesus would want to have compassion on someone who was suffering, regardless of if it was the Sabbath or not. I think his calling out of the religious leaders by pointing out their own self preservation of a child or an animal, reveals that deep down inside they probably knew that what Jesus said was correct, but they would never want to admit it, so silence was their only answer. Jesus then observes the seating habits of those gathered and encourages them to be humble and not presume too much about themselves, and to reinforce it shares another parable point to the reality that some who think they have earned or deserved a place at the wedding feast are going to be surprised by those in attendance, and also points to the truth that the Lord wants to fill the banqueting table. In verse 25 as Jesus begins to discuss what it means to follow Him, it is clear that it is a pretty costly price, and demands a sacrifice that may even impact one's relationships. Thus He urges those who are listening to consider the cost, which of course is something we too must consider. To end the chapter, we are encouraged to be salty!
- Reading for July 10 is Luke 13... My thoughts on this reading... Sometimes there are moments in the gospels that are unique to that particular gospel. It is only Luke who gives us the story of the mixing of blood by Pilate with their sacrifices and the tower that ell in Siloam. He points out two key things... firs that you can't always connect a specific suffering up to a particular sin... sometimes tragedies and sufferings happen that have no direct cause from someone's sin, but are just the impact of living in a fallen and broken world. Secondly, is the need to repent, depending on the Lord. As we hear of the barren fig tree we see that patience is the hallmark of the gardener, who I think best represents the patience that God has toward us! Okay, as I mentioned as we opened up the Gospel of Luke, it is my favorite Gospel, but I just don't understand how I don't remember the account of the woman with a disabling spirit. In particular, as someone who had scoliosis, and has 4 titanium rods and 40 screws in my back to keep it straight, how did I forget this woman who was bent over, and after meeting Jesus is healed and straightened? That is one of the things about the Scriptures... something new can always be discovered. As we hear about the mustard seed and the leaven, we see the kingdom is bigger than anyone expects and spreads much further than one might expect. The way to eternal life is much narrower than one expects. Most of the time, I think people assume that God is being exclusive and isn't open to people being saved when they hear this verse, but we hear elsewhere that is not the case, but that He desires for all to be saved. I think the reason Jesus describes the way is narrow, is because it is only through Him, and not by one's work or efforts that we are saved, but so many choose to go their own way, or try to earn God's favor, rather than resting their faith in Jesus Christ. It's not intentionally narrow in that regard, it is open to all, it's just narrow, because so many reject it. Which leads Jesus to lament of Jerusalem and their reject of the prophets the Lord had sent them, and of course eventually the rejection of Jesus Himself.
- Reading for July 9 is Luke 11-12... My thoughts on this reading... Luke highlights Jesus praying quite a bit. We hear about Jesus praying at various places, various times, by Himself, with others and for various reasons when we can kind of guess at what prompted His time in prayer. It's a good little study to look at some time. As Chapter 11 begins we hear how Jesus was praying in a certain place, and the disciples asked Him for guidance for their prayers and He taught the Lord's prayer. It differs just a little from Matthew's but has much the same message. While we certainly pray the Lord's Prayer often, it's also to be a springboard to lead us to expand and explore the basics of what Jesus was teaching. He also shares with them the need for persistence in prayer, and the promise that the Lord does indeed hear our prayers. As Jesus is casting out a demon from a mute man, He is accused of doing so by the power of Beelzebul, but Jesus points out how foolish it would be for the devil to work against himself. Jesus does also warn that unless one replaces the void of one's life with something after a demon leaves, then it's possible the demon will return and be even more difficult to do away with. As a women in the crowd voices gratitude for the one who gave birth to Jesus, He in turn points to the blessing for one who hears God's Word and obeys it. He then repeats again the sign of Jonah, which points to His death and resurrection when others request a sign from Him. He then discusses the need to have light in oneself, rather than darkness and to fill one's life with the life of Christ. As Chapter 11 closes He offers words of warning to the Pharisees and lawyers and others who were leading astray God's people and focused on the wrong things. When they object to His warning, He left them, but they were now conspiring all the more to do away with Him and hoping to catch Him with something they could use against Him. Chapter 12 continues with Jesus speaking of the Pharisees and how they should avoid their teachings and actions. In somewhat of a prophetic pronouncement He talks about not fearing those who can destroy the body, which of course is what eventually happens to Him by the religious leaders. He says that showing allegiance to Him means He will speak on your behalf before His Heavenly Father, but if you deny Him before men, He will deny you before His Father. Jesus then tells a parable about the rich fool who builds bigger barns and doesn't get the benefit of them, and points to not basing one's life and happiness on fleeting things. Rather than being anxious about what one has or doesn't have, know that the Lord will take care of you. Invest your life in true treasure, that which last for eternity. It's important to be ready, always being prepared for the Lord's return. When Peter asks the Lord if this parable was for them, and Jesus points to the reality that if you have been given much, much will be expected from you. Then we hear the surprising message that He came not bring about peace but division, essentially because one's greater call is to Him versus other relationships or priorities, which is a challenging thing for us to consider. He mentions to the crowd how it's important to be able to understand the signs, especially of the times in which they live. That they were able to know what was going to happen with the weather more so than what was going to happen with the times in which they live. He closes by telling them that it is better not to continue to get involved with disputes but settle conflicts.
- Reading for July 8 is Luke 10... My thoughts on today's reading... Jesus expands the outreach of his followers by choosing 72 to go out. It's important to note that they went out in pairs. Both a support system for each other and an encouragement in ministry together. Many times we see people try to go it alone, but it doesn't always work out so well. the prayer for those to go into the harvest still continues. We hear warnings for those towns in which Jesus had been doing ministry because of their refusal to repent, despite all that they had seen, and how they will be held accountable for their missed opportunity. When the 72 return they are overjoyed at all that happened, but Jesus tells them that more than anything else they should rejoice that their name was written in heaven, which is something for us to also remember. That is to be our greatest blessing! He assures his disciples that they are blessed to see what they have seen. We then hear about a lawyer who wants to test Jesus and get His take on eternal life. When Jesus ask the lawyer, the man answers correctly, but then tries to qualify his response. Jesus shares with him the story of the Good Samaritan and challenges the lawyer's understanding of who his neighbor is. This is followed by the well know story of Mary and Martha and how Mary receives the good portion, by choosing to listen at the feet of Jesus. Rather than a rebuke of Martha, I always see it as more of an invitation to Martha to spend time learning from Him.
- Reading for July 7 is Luke 9... My thoughts on this reading... Chapter 9 is a pretty full chapter of Jesus' various ministry efforts. The first of those efforts is to expand the number of those being reaching by sending out the twelve apostles. They expanded Jesus' kingdom work. We get a little curious questioning by Herod as to what is happening in regards to this Jesus, who he feared might be John the Baptist, risen from the dead. As the disciples return after their mission work, a large crowd gathered to listen to Jesus preach and when the time came and they were hungry, Jesus performs the miracle of the feeding of the 5000+, and the abundance is overwhelming. Jesus then asks about what the crowds are saying about Him, to which of course we get Peter's bold confession, followed by Jesus prediction of His upcoming death. We also hear about taking up our cross and following Jesus, which of course is easier said than done. After this, Jesus takes the three (Peter, James and John) and they behold Jesus in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Again, I still find it hard to believe they were able to keep quiet about this incredible event until after the resurrection, but having seen it, and knowing who Jesus was, maybe it makes sense that they kept it to themselves. Jesus then heals a boy with an unclean spirit, whom the disciples had failed to heal, and restores the boy and the disciples are left in awe of His majesty and power. Jesus follows that up by predicting His death and resurrection yet again, and that's followed up by the disciples arguing over who would great in the new kingdom, each hoping for their position of honor, completely the opposite of the death and dying to self that Jesus was pointing to and asking for when it came to bearing their own cross. Jesus points them to a child as an example, but they are so hung up on the wrong things that they were upset when someone was dong wonderful things in Jesus' name but they weren't one of the twelve. As they traveled along, a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, and James and John are furious and offer to pray for the Lord's destruction upon that city, to which Jesus puts them in their place. Once more we hear about what it means to truly follow Jesus as the chapter ends.
- Reading for July 5-6 is Luke 7-8... My thoughts on this reading... As we move into Chapter 7, Luke shares an account of Jesus healing a Roman centurion's servant, as Matthew also includes it. It's remarkable for the faith of this Roman soldier, and also because Jesus never even goes to see the servant but he is healed. I don't know that we fully appreciate what this Roman centurion did, because we don't realize the risk he was taking, nor the level of certainty with which he came to Jesus and trusted that Jesus could provide the healing. The account of the widow's son is also remarkable, as it is the only occurrence of this account in any of the gospels. We also see Jesus touch the bier, which carried the body of the dead man and meant that He would have been ceremonially unclean in the eyes of the Jews, but again, Jesus actions reveal that He makes whole and clean again, as He raises this dead man to life. We also don't appreciate what a blessing to this widowed mother this resurrection was, because she would have been reduced to a life of begging, but not now! It's also interesting how the crowd responds, with fear as they glorified God. I think this is some of that holy reverent fear which it would be good for us all to have in regards to our Lord. Jesus then receives messengers from John the Baptist, checking on Jesus' mission, which John himself had expected to be much different than what had been revealed so far. While Jesus reassures John through the message he sends back to him through his followers, Jesus also points out to those who hear of this exchange that John played an important role in Jesus' ministry and that the religious leaders who had rejected John, were missing out on who Jesus truly was. We also hear of a woman who was clearly sinful in the eyes of all, coming and anointing Jesus' feet. As this is witnessed by the Pharisees as a shameful event, Jesus points out through a parable that one who was forgiven a great debt of sin, would be more joyful and thankful than one who feels they have done nothing wrong, which was the case with the Pharisees and this woman. In chapter 8, Luke shares about the women assisting Jesus in His ministry, one of the hallmarks of the Gospel of Luke is his acknowledgement of women in Jesus' ministry, which was certainly unusual in that day and age. This is followed up by the parable of the Sower, and the reason Jesus was using parables, along with its meaning. then we hear about His kingdom being revealed and not hidden away. We also hear that hearing and obeying His Word is what matters and determine who is true family is. As Jesus is with His disciples in a boat, they doubt their safety when a storm rises up and Jesus reassures them and encourages them to trust Him. After reading the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus heads into Gentile area, and is confronted by a demon possessed man, heals him, and then requests him to stay behind and tell others what had happened and how God had worked in his life. Good advice for us too! As Jesus is asked to heal a synagogue ruler's daughter, another woman seeks a miraculous healing, simply by touching Jesus' robe. Once again, that which is unclean, is now cleansed and Jesus remains holy and not in need of being restored. We also see that Jesus has great compassion on a woman who had suffered greatly. By this time, Jairus' daughter is dead, but Jesus encourages him to have faith, and then raises the little girl from the dead. At the heart of what leads to Jesus' miracles is to have trust and faith in Him! It doesn't not mean that there isn't pain, or even loss at times, and we know that ultimately, it is until we get to heaven that all pain, suffering and tears disappear, but it is good to know that God can and does work through it all.
- Reading for July 4 is Luke 6... My thoughts on this reading... We kind of forget that the Lord is indeed the one who created the sabbath for our benefit, and so often turn it into work rather than rest. God wanted His highest creation, mankind to rest, including resting in our relationship with Him, not depending on what we do, but on what He does and what He wants to give to us. We see the truth of that in Jesus' approach to the Sabbath in this chapter. Rather than getting hung up on minor things instead of enjoying what the Lord provided, or preventing good to be done, Jesus uses these opportunities to try and teach the religious leaders the truth about God's sabbath rest. We then hear about the selection of the Apostles, including Luke's clear identification of Judas as a traitor. Then we get a section which is similar to Jesus' teaching in Matthew, though not in as much detail as Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. We might even say that Luke's is the abridged version of compared to the 3 chapters Matthew uses. I do really like verse 38, especially within the context of forgiveness. Often it gets taken out its context and people speak of how if we give, a good measure will be poured out, running over into your lap and they want to apply it to money, but I think the preceding verses point to the need to forgive and when we do, that forgiveness is shared with us and overflows. We also hear about a tree and its fruit and how the hear reveals itself for it gives witness what is going on there. Finally the chapter closes with the encouragement to build upon the solid foundation, which of course we know is the Lord!
- Reading for July 3 is Luke 4-5... My thoughts on this reading... One truth about temptation which we see during Jesus' temptation as well, is that it often comes at our moment of greatest need, and attacks at that particular need. In Jesus case, it is in the throes of hunger that Satan attempts to get Jesus to doubt God. You will note that the order of the temptations differ a little between Matthew and Luke. Mark doesn't give us details on the temptations themselves. The difference in the order isn't a major issue, they both have the same three temptations, and its likely that Matthew had heard it from Jesus and Luke had researched it and gotten the information from one of the other disciples. In each case, it is God's Word that wins the day! We know that while the devil ends this time of tempting, it was something that would continue through His ministry. As Jesus begins His ministry, He begins in Galilee, though He isn't accepted in His own home town. Note that Jesus did not choose the scroll of Isaiah, though He knew the passage which points to the Messiah and quotes from it. Even when He applies it to Himself, they are amazed at His gracious words and aren't upset. It's not until he mentions Gentiles who God had provided for, did they become outraged and attempt to kill him. We don't know exactly how, other than the text says He passed through the crowd. Was it because of the chaotic situation? Or did they simply fear Him enough not to do anything at the moment? Jesus then goes on to heal a man with an unclean demon, once more requiring them not to reveal who He is, mainly because of the misunderstanding of who the Messiah would be and what His purpose was and what He would bring to God's people. Most were looking for a political Messiah, not a spiritual one. After healing many, Jesus moves into other areas of Galilee and the surrounding areas. In Chapter 5, Jesus begins to call His first disciples. Simon, a well seasoned fisherman knows that to go back out in the morning after a long night of fishing and catching nothing will be a futile venture, but at Jesus' request puts back out and lets down the nets. When he sees the tremendous catch, he knows that this is no ordinary event, and he humbly asks Jesus to depart as he knows that he is a sinful man. Despite Peter's request, Jesus calls him and other others to follow Him and become fishers of men. As we hear of Jesus healing a leper, we see Jesus dealing with a person who for all practical purposes in that day had a life that was over in the eyes of the the world and others. Yet while touching a leper would make one unclean, the opposite happens instead, as the leper is cleansed and Jesus is not make unclean. The next healing of a paralytic is remarkable for a couple reasons. One, you can't help but love the dedication of the friends, and what a scene that must have been as they tore through the roof to lower the man down. Second, Jesus points to the greater need first, forgiveness, not healing. But to prove that He can do both, He heals the man first to give an indication that He had taken care of the greater need of forgiveness already. I think the other major point is the faith of the friends, for it is their faith which the Lord points to as He heals the man. Jesus then calls Levi, who's name of course is changed to Matthew and He makes it clear His purpose is to come for those who are in need, and those who fell they have no need for what Jesus offers, are left looking in. Jesus came for sinners, and if you didn't feel you were a sinner, why would you need a Savior. How wrong the scribes were! The chapter closes with Jesus being asked about fasting and then sharing a parable about putting new things on old, which of course causes a major problem, in garments and wineskins. Essentially what Jesus is telling them is that new things are happening, and they are not ready to receive it because they are stuck in the old concept of works righteousness and earning God's favor by what you do, rather than by the grace that Jesus is bringing.
- Reading for July 2 is Luke 2-3... My thoughts on this reading... Chapter 2 of Luke is of course one of the most well know chapters in any of the gospels, as we hear from it every Christmas. You'll note that Luke begins by again, placing it within history by including the various rulers and authorities in the area. We hear that Jesus is born in Bethlehem, to fulfill what was promised in Micah 5:2 and that a son of David would be the Messiah. As the angels come with the good news, we hear that this is a message not just for the Jews, but all the people, everyone. It is the lowly shepherds, who were looked down on in their society and not consider reliable witnesses whom God first chooses to give witness to through the angels of His Son's birth. Mary we are told, treasures up all these things in her heart. We believe one of the reasons Luke has more details about Jesus birth and early childhood is because one of the sources he relied upon was Mary herself. We hear how Joseph and Mary are faithful to the commands of the law regarding Jesus being circumcised and Mary going through the rite of purification, which finds them in the temple and they meet two elderly people who are both looking to one day see the Messiah and had been promised that one day they would. Both Simeon and Anna rejoice as they hold the child and Simeon even breaks into a brief verse that has become known as the Nunc Dimittis and is used at times after the Lord's Supper as well as a part of the Commendation of the Dying service a pastor uses with a family at the loss of a loved one. It's a beautiful message that speaks of departing in peace, having seen the Lord's salvation! We then hear how Jesus returns home a young child and continues to grow in wisdom stature with others and with the Lord. We get the one event to take place outside of his infancy and before His ministry begins, when He goes to the temple at the age of 12, is left behind, and then found again in the temple, impressing all of the great religious teachers with His questions and understanding of the Law. We also hear of His ongoing obedience. In Chapter 3, Luke again places the next events within the context of history as we hear about the beginning of John the Baptizer's ministry. Luke points to John fulfilling the promises of Isaiah and we hear his radical of repentance that is welcomed by some, rejected by others, and a matter of curiosity for many others. Over all John points to the fact that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and there is one coming who will be even greater than he is. While we hear of Jesus baptism, we don't hear as much about the exchange between John and Jesus, but still see the presence of the Trinity in Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Before Luke launches into the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he shares Jesus genealogy Matthew of course began with it in his gospel, but Luke is much briefer in his list. On the other hand, while Matthew was more organized in his approach and makes the connections with David and Abraham, Luke takes it all the way back to Adam. I also think it's interesting how Luke describes Adam as the son of God, going from one son of God, to THE Son of God, Jesus.