Week 5 - Luke 21 - 24

Wow...these chapters overwhelm me with their richness and their lessons. As you read this week, remember to pray first. Ask God to reveal his very personal insights. This morning as I write, I am deeply moved by the events of Jesus' last week. No matter how many times I read the scriptures about this period of Jesus' life, I still cry. I cry because of his suffering, I cry because he forgives, I cry because he is alone. I cry because it is personal to me. How great is God's love. Wow.

Reflections....

1. Luke 21:1-4 The Widow's Offering. The obvious question is this: do we give sacrificially? The less obvious question is what is the attitude of our heart in our giving? Do we give freely? Generously? Often? Responsibly?

2. Luke 21:33 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." The Message reads: "Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out."

Jesus' words feed my soul. If I don't read scripture consistently, I hunger for its spiritual nutrition. This verse implies to me all of life is temporal. He (Jesus) is not. All life ends whether it's with the second coming of Christ or my death. Jesus and the power of his words does not end. The question I ask myself - are His words living in my life? Does my life reveal Jesus to the world? Am I giving the world something that lives forever?

3. Luke 22:24-27 Consider this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "The church is the church only when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell people of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others. It must not under-estimate the importance of human example (which has its origins in the humanity of Jesus and is so important in Paul's teaching); it is not abstract argument, but example, that gives its word emphasis and power." (Taken from Letters and Paper from Prison by Dietrich Bonhoeffer as quoted in The Spiritual Formation Bible, page 1397).

I suspect most of us struggle with this line of thinking....do you?

Comments appreciated. More posting on these chapters in Luke. Have to go to basketball game! Peace.