"Still another said, 'I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.' Jesus replied, 'No noe who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" -- Luke 9:61-62

The one who was telling Jesus he'd follow him didn't understand that the moment to follow was now.  To go back to pack, say goodbye to family, manage all of one's affairs... it didn't align with the urgency of the call.  One who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is unsure.   To be a Christian is an intensely personal decision.  If you're thinking about it and want to talk it over with your family or friends, then you're not ready.  It's one of those things that when you know, you know, and sometimes your family and friends don't understand.  Conversely, just because your family has always been Christian does not mean that by default, you are too.  At some point in your life, you make the faith your own.  No one is there to "represent" your Christianity to God or to the world.  It is your faith, and yours alone.  And it's not a wishy-washy faith.  Set your sights ahead, and don't look back.

Readings:  Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalms 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11

"Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all-- he is the greatest.'" -- Luke 9:48

Why do we make things so complicated?  It seems that sometimes we tend to think that thoughts and ideas about God can only be comprehended by fully developed adult brains.  The disciples were gathered with their rabbi (teacher) who was healing and teaching, and they began arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom.  Jesus must have just rolled his eyes as he picked up a child and said the one like this child is the greatest... it is the weak, the marginalized, and the ones without power, yet who believe, worship, and celebrate the life they've come to know in Jesus who are the greatest.  A simple faith, a simple trust, and a non-judgmental, honest spirit of love is, I believe, God's desire.

Readings: Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalms 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10

"Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, 'Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.' He replied, "You give them something to eat." -- Luke 9:12-13

In this scene, the disciples have returned from being sent out on a mission to teach, preach, and heal.  They are excited, re-energized and are beginning to tell Jesus all about their adventures.  Jesus suggest they go to Bethsaida, where they might have a better opportunity to share and decompress.  But the crowds heard about it, and followed them out there.  It seemed that no matter where they went, there was no getting away from the people.  And the text says Jesus "welcomed" them as he spoke to them about the Kingdom and healed them.  Late in the afternoon, the disciples decide enough is enough, and wondering how they might get some time with Jesus all to themselves, they tell Jesus to send them away because they'll be hungry soon and there's nothing for them here.  Jesus' response?  "You give them something to eat."  That was a shocker.

What were they to do?  They wanted the crowds gone, but now Jesus doesn't just say, "oh it's okay... let them stay..." he not only says that, but now "feed them"?  "Umm... Jesus..." they say, "we only have five loaves of bread and two fish... that will barely feed us..."  Jesus instructs them to have them sit in groups of 50 (there were about 5000 men there).  And then they witness the miracle they will never forget.  After Jesus blesses it, they serve it and it feeds everyone and there are leftovers!

So often, we make excuses for why we can't do something.  How often is our excuse tied to the fact that we don't think we have enough of what we need to do it?  It's time to move from viewing our lives in a context of scarcity and see what we do have, thanking God for the abundance he's provided.   Employ the resources of time, energy, and money that are in your care, and you'll be amazed at what God can do with them!

Readings:  Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet." -- Luke 8:45-47a

The woman in this story is one who has been bleeding for 12 years.  She's tried everything and has gone to every specialist, every healer, and has tried every over-the-counter herbal remedy she could find.  No one could heal her.  But she knew Jesus could, so knowing that he's about to pass through the crowd, she positions herself in a way that she will be able to get to him.  Her heart beats wildly as she sees him approach.  Finally, as he's passing she moves into the crowd and gets to where she's within reach of him.  She doesn't want to trouble him, so she just reaches out to touch his cloak.  When she does, she's instantly healed!  She's filled with joy and can't wait to go tell her loved ones.  They won't believe it... and then dread and fear fill her... Jesus has stopped.  He turns and demands to know who touched him.  Now she's really scared.  This one with such power does not seem pleased, and if she can be healed by touching his cloak, what damage could he do to her if he wanted?  But that's not who Jesus is.  Terrified, she fesses up, and a wave of grace overwhelms her as he says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace."

It was not just that Jesus had the power to heal that made this woman well, but that she had the faith required to know the healing power of Jesus.  He doesn't say, "go, I've healed you now," but instead, "go,  your faith has made you well."  She was not passive.  She actively exercised her faith, and became new.

What are you passively waiting for God to do for you?  How do you need to be exercising your faith?

Readings:  Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7

"As they sailed, he (Jesus) fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 'Where is your faith?' he asked his disciples. -- Luke 8:23-25

It's not uncommon to feel as though God sometimes cannot hear us, see us, or know what's happening with us.  Sometimes we feel distant from God to the point that when we pray, it's like talking to the ceiling.  Is this what it's like when Jesus is asleep in the boat?  Our lives are being tossed and turned by the storms around us, and where is God when we need him most?  Why won't he wake up and do something about our situation?  While it was true that Jesus was asleep, he had not left his disciples.  It's like he was asking them, "do you really think we were in peril, even with me right here in the boat with you?"  And then it's almost as if he calms the storm because he's irritated and wants to go back to sleep.  I'm not sure if it was like someone having to get up and change the channel on the tv because they can't find the remote and the others are too lazy to do it themselves, or if it's more like a parent comforting a scared child in the night.  Or maybe the way he rebukes the wind is like when you have to tell a barking dog to be quiet.  Either way, Jesus can see beyond the immediate situation.  When we find ourselves fretting over the storms in our life, we can trust that God is with us.  We may get tossed around and banged up a bit, but that doesn't mean we can't get through it.  Pray to God, and know he's there, even if you think he's sleeping.

Readings:  Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-39; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4

"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 of the air 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." -- Luke 8:5-8

Today, we get the pleasure of Jesus himself providing the commentary.  Verses 11-15 contain Jesus' explanation to the parable above.

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

Wouldn't it have been great for Jesus to provide commentary on the entirety of Scripture?!

Readings: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3

"Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise... your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery..." -- Deuteronomy 8:11-12; 14

Have you ever gotten out of the habit of turning to God in prayer until something happens that you become desperate and then out of that desperation turn to him?  This chapter goes on to say in verse 17: "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today."

When things are going well for us, it's easy to wonder what we need God for.  Even Jesus says he didn't come for those not in need of a doctor... so we sometimes pride ourselves on being "self-sufficient"... which we are not.  We don't exist alone in a vacuum.  We need God, and we need each other.  When we remember that, hubris is kept in check and we remain a humble people.  When we forget, we fill ourselves with pride and swagger, and then we fall.  Remember who you are in the eyes of God today.  Give thanks for the life he gives you.  

Readings:  Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 12:1