A LAMP ON A STAND

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

The clear theme of the parable of the soils is hearing or being fully receptive to the Word of God, and it seems that this theme stretches from 8:1 where Jesus is traveling from village to village "proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God" to 8:21 where Jesus says that his true family are those who hear God's Word and do it (8:21).

In the first paragraph here (16-18) Jesus gives the illustration of a lamp: "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” If you are going to light a lamp, then you place it at the highest point in the room in order to shine the light as wide and far as possible. Jesus' statement is almost funny—and he probably smiled when he said it. If you're going to light a lamp, you do it for illumination, not to hide or conceal it. If that were your purpose, you wouldn't light it at all.

Jesus then gives the purpose for using the lamp properly: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

In the previous paragraph Jesus tells His disciples that He is revealing to them the secrets of the kingdom. The light of revelation, the previously unknown mystery, has been lit by the coming of Jesus and His proclamation of the good news of the kingdom. Jesus then lit up the disciples by giving them the secrets of the kingdom. Now, it is time for these secrets to be made known everywhere THROUGH THEM. The "lamp" revealing the good news of the kingdom has now been lit, and must not be extinguished until the mission is complete.

Jesus continues: “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Those who have will be given more; as for those who do not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them."

NOTE, because you have been given the secrets of the kingdom to reveal these secrets to the world for them to hear, you must be careful how you listen. Again, this entire chapter is about hearing—being the good soil that is receptive to the seed of the kingdom knowledge. Then Jesus inserts a warning that those who are listening intently so that they have receptive hearts will be given more understanding of the kingdom and those who are not listening well will lose what understanding they have.

It’s all about hearing—having ears to hear. In the parable of the sower there were 6 uses of the word “hear” or “hearing”. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote “Don’t be hearers of the word only who delude themselves, but be doers of the word.” What he means by “hearing” properly is to act upon what you hear. Practice what you hear from Jesus.

Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."

Hearing God's word and putting it into practice is the message that must be indelibly tattooed upon our minds. So, here Jesus makes a clear, yet difficult comparison regarding His mother and brothers who have shown up to visit Him. He says, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Jesus is talking Kingdom talk. He isn’t anti mother and brothers, but is demonstrating that in the kingdom your real family members are those who hear God’s word and practice it.

I return to Jesus’ earlier words, “Be careful how you listen”, because Jesus will give much more to those who have ears to hear. Are you listening?

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

In chapter 8 verse 4 we come to a familiar scene where Jesus introduces the parable of the sower:
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."


His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

FIRST-UNRECEPTIVE SOIL—Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

SECOND-INSINCERE SOIL—Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

THIRD-DISTRACTED SOIL—The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

FOURTH-GOOD SOIL—PRODUCTIVE—But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

1—Jesus is the sower of the seed. In Matthew’s version of this teaching (Matt. 13:37) Jesus says that the Son of Man is the sower. When Jesus was physically on the earth, His words were pitched out to those who listened to Him. Today, Jesus is still sowing the seed as we introduce the person of Jesus to others through our lives and through our own stories.

2—The seed is the word of God. What the word of God meant to Jesus was the “Good News of the kingdom of God.” This is what His primary message was as He taught throughout the villages and synagogues. Therefore, the word of God is the active presence of God in us in the form of a seed.

3—This word of the kingdom of God has tremendous spiritual power within us to be productive—to be fruitful. It was able to produce

4—Its effect on you is determined by your response to it. It’s all a matter of responsiveness. NOTE that you are not responsible to bring forth the fruit, but the power of the seed will produce the fruit if planted in the good soil.

In the past few years I’ve come to realize that these soils are dynamic in our lives. I have been each of these soils at one time or another. So, I must concern myself with having ears to hear the word in order to be receptive as good soil. This also answers what I see with people who all of a sudden “get it”, yet they have been around this sowing for years.

Now, here is what blows my mind about this teaching. Jesus is saying that if you have ears to hear, are receptive to the Good News of the kingdom, be sincere about it with a single-minded focus, then you will be very fruitful. He uses 30, 60 and 100 fold in fruitfulness. Fruitfulness is basically the spiritual growth and maturity in your own life and the effects of your life on others around you. He begins with 30 fold. To be 30 fold is three times that of a normal crop. So, this means that the lowest level of fruitfulness will be outstanding. Then, He goes on to say you may enjoy multiples of that, even to the point of 60 and 100 fold. That’s incredible—beyond belief!

So, which soil are you right now? Since you are reading or listening to this daily instruction, I’m going to eliminate that one for you. That leaves, the insincere, the distracted and the good soil. So, where are you when you measure your receptivity to the seed Jesus is sowing in your life right now?

A FIELD TRIP WITH JESUS

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As we open up chapter 8 of Luke we come to an interesting inside look at how Jesus traveled and who went with Him. After the notable dinner party at Simon’s home the night before, Jesus set out on a field trip. Let’s look at it:

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

There are three observations I want to make here:
FIRST—Those who went with Jesus on this field trip. They went from one village to another with a fairly large group. First of all, the twelve were with Him. This is certainly what you would expect. The others who went along are interesting.

There was Mary Magdalene. She was from the little village of Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Magdala was known for its dried fish industry and rabbis of that time were quite critical of the immorality of its inhabitants. Mary was a troubled woman, demonized by seven demons that harassed her. Jesus was instrumental in freeing her from these demonic pests.

She was either a widow or a single woman and must have been from a wealthy family. She traveled with His party throughout Galilee, and was with Him in Jerusalem at His crucifixion and resurrection. She was one of those who followed Jesus because her life had been so remarkably changed by His healing power.

Then there were other interesting women, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household, Susanna and many others.

SECOND—The message Jesus and the group were proclaiming.
Specifically, Jesus was, as was His custom, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. As we will continue to see, the kingdom is one of Jesus’ primary themes He wanted to make clear to those who were interested.

THIRD—NOTE the role of these women. They were the financial underwriters for the trip. What’s interesting is that women were key to the financing of the early church of Jesus. Usually they were successful businesswomen who had a heart for investing in Jesus’ ministry.

This story speaks to me as to what I continually see Jesus doing. Where we have a tendency to put an emphasis on all of our differences, Jesus unites people from several ends of society—a woman troubled with demons, a woman married to an execute in Herod’s court and Susanna and many others, not to mention the twelve who were made up of a political zealot, several fishermen and a tax collector.

Here’s the principle you will note everywhere you go: JESUS UNITES AND EVERYONE ELSE DIVIDES. Jesus is so irresistible that He resonates with people from every culture. I’ve had more fun lately interacting with Catholics, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, non-Christians, agnostics and atheists just in the past few weeks. Our conversation has nothing to do with religion, but has everything to do with a relationship with Jesus. No one is threatened by Jesus. Why? Because Jesus unites and everyone else divides.

Jesus is still leading field trips today. I urge you to join one with Jesus and His friends.

JESUS ANOINTED BY A SINFUL WOMAN

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

Here in this last story of Luke 7 we come to a scene that simply begs to be read, because it takes little commentary to understand what is happening. Check it out:

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." 
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

I love this story. Through this openly recognized, sinful woman Jesus illustrates His message most clearly.

There in the home of one of the Pharisees Jesus is being treated to dinner. In the Pharisee’s home, you just know that he is looking for the opportunity to impress Jesus with his religious purity and righteousness. Most likely, others knew of this special dinner meeting with Jesus and there was somewhat of an anticipation, if not a tenseness about the evening they were to spend together.

But at this most holy performance, a party crasher has just appeared in the house, definitely not on the official invitation list. But this wasn’t a socialite barging into this party, this was a woman-of-the-night kind of woman—a sinner in most every respect.

NOTE the following observations:
1. The pure Pharisee is upstaged by the impure woman. The Pharisee was the host and expected to be seen as the prominent focus of attention. Yet this unrighteous, sinful woman took center stage and became the focus of attention for the evening.
2. Not only her presence at the dinner party was offensive, but her touching and washing the feet of Jesus with such extravagant perfume certainly posed a great offence. It was unlawful to be in the presence of such a woman, let alone have contact with her. Yet, Jesus allowed her to express herself.
3. The performing Pharisee was out performed by this sinful woman. The Pharisee embodied the performance mentality of keeping the Law and the traditions. But the sinful woman’s performance was in the spirit of gratefulness and servanthood.
4. Jesus affirmed what was at the core of this woman’s masterful performance. It was her faith that set her performance apart. She performed alright—even more than the Pharisee—and her performance was an overflow of her faith and devotion to Jesus.

This scene in the life of Jesus is about people who need forgiveness and know it.
 It’s about people who receive forgiveness and are grateful for it.
 It’s also about people who need forgiveness and don't know it.
 It’s about religious people who absolutely, totally miss the point!

Jesus demonstrates that God wants a personal relationship with people, no matter what they have done or haven’t done. Life isn’t a checklist for following a religious system of do’s and don’ts, even if it is a good religious system. It’s all about a relationship of faith (personal trust) and forgiveness (personal acceptance of God’s grace).

The woman is totally acceptable to Jesus and completely unacceptable to the Pharisee. Jesus more freely accepts the sinner, the broken one, and stands a distance away from the self-righteous Pharisee. So, which are you? The person who is in need of forgiveness and knows it and is grateful when it is received? Or, the person who needs forgiveness and doesn’t know it, therefore missing the point of Jesus’ message altogether?

RESOLUTION OR REVOLUTION

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

The Top 10 New Year’s resolutions as reflected in most polls in the USA are:
1) Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2) Fit in Fitness
3) Tame the Bulge
4) Quit Smoking
5) Enjoy Life More
6) Quit Drinking
7) Get Out of Debt
8) Learn Something New
9) Help Others
10) Get Organized

I’m sure most of us are able to claim one or more of these as our own personal resolutions. I know I can. I have kept only a few of my New Year’s resolves. It certainly makes me a better person just to reflect on and evaluate my life each year and for that there is no doubt a little improvement in some areas.

However, I am through with any medium to high expectations that may come through my New Year’s resolutions. Life is too short to count on resolutions to make significant changes in my life. Resolutions can only REFORM what I already have going for me or not going for me. In 2007 I am for revolution. Revolution can TRANSFORM my life.

In Diana’s favorite verse, Psalm 51:9, it is very clear what David is asking for. He says, “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord.” He isn’t making a resolution to change his heart nor is it a prayer for God to change or reform his heart, but to create in him a new heart. I don’t want Jesus to change or reform my old heart, filled with habits that just aren’t working or moving in the right direction. What I need is a TRANSFORMATION—a new heart altogether. I want my heart to be beating with the heart of God. I want to be transformed. By the way, I've seen this work in Diana's life and it's not only transforming; it's beautiful!

RESOLUTION is just another DO-OVER, reforming and refashioning my old stuff. What I want and need is a REVOLUTION—a spiritual heart transplant by the best heart surgeon in the universe. His name is Jesus.

HERE ARE 4 STEPS TO GET YOU STARTED:
1. Place your name on God’s heart transplant list. Pray continually for God to “Create a clean heart” within you and mean every word of it. You have to be totally desperate to be put on the list for a heart transplant as my friend Don was. But for God’s heart transplant you must not only be desperate (that’s a given); you must want it with everything that is within you.

2. Plan a daily transfusion. A transfusion literally is to pour something from one container to another—to spread throughout something and affect every part of it. You need to transfuse your life every day (preferably morning) with Jesus. He is the one who has created everything and holds everything together, so why not connect with Jesus every day—to what He said, what He did and what He is saying and doing today. (1) Read a paragraph or so out of the gospels (Matthew-Mark-Luke-John). Listen or read the Acts 29 Daily, read a chapter a day of the Acts of Jesus. (2) Lay out to Jesus what you are thinking and what you want. (3) Take the time to be quiet and listen to His answers back to you.

3. Make appointments with other heart transplant patients. Don’t even think about walking through life’s stresses and difficulties alone. You are not strong enough to handle all that is thrown at you AND you will tend to forget the revolution is still on here on planet earth.

4. Wait for further instructions from your doctor. Jesus is eager to set up all sorts of divine appointments for you. These divine appointments will be a variety of orders from Him and opportunities that only He could set up for you. Jesus will make the appointments. All you have to do is SHOW UP.

Don’t just make New Year’s resolutions this year. Make some direct and determined moves toward a personal revolution in your heart. Instead of being resolutionary about your life; be a revolutionary.

Jesus is and has always has been the greatest revolutionary—turning the world upside down by turning people inside out. And don’t forget, THE REVOLUTION IS STILL ON!