Luke 19:35-40

Luke 19:35-40 

English Standard Version 

  One of the things that's interesting here is that the Pharisees are trying to have Jesus hush the disciples, but Jesus acknowledges the reality -- God will be praised.  

  Sometimes, it's easy to praise God.  The sun is shining and life is grand.  

  Other times, it's harder.  Things are going against us.  But this doesn't mean that God has abandoned us, or that God doesn't care.  It simply means that God is at work in ways we cannot understand, but God is still mighty and good, even when we cannot comprehend it.  God will be praised, and creation itself will praise the God who has made it.  When we are silent at times, the song of praise continues, unabated, until such a time as we rediscover the words and our hearts learn to praise God once more.  

Luke 19:28–34

Luke 19:28-34 

English Standard Version 

  The Lord Jesus Christ is, without a doubt, the most powerful human being who ever lived.  He has the power to create the universe through his speech, and we'll see here in a few chapters that he can conquer death.

  And yet, he rides an ordinary colt in to Jerusalem.  He didn't come on a mighty warhorse meant to intimidate all those who were near.  He rode something that was on their level -- he didn't want to be separated from the people.

  We don't know much about the people who provided the colt.  They were likely ordinary, too.  Did they realize that their animal would be discussed for thousands of years?  I doubt it.  They were simply filling their role, doing what they were called to do, perhaps not even wondering what the long-term consequences of their actions would be.

  We are mostly ordinary people, with ordinary gifts.  But God can and does use them, all the time, and they have eternal repercussions.  That's one of the great things about being a part of the eternal church -- the ways we serve and love echo over generations.  

  So treasure your ordinary gifts, and use them wisely.  They'll linger in the halls of heaven forever.

Cookies and the Gospel

Luke 19:20–27

Luke 19:20-27 

English Standard Version 

  In summary, what do you believe is the defining characteristic of God?

  The servant here believes that his master is a severe man, and so his fear drives him to act in a certain way.  Everything is shaped by his fear of the master.  Imagine how this might have been different if he believed that his master was kind and gentle -- he would've thought differently about the money that was entrusted to him.

  In the same way, our belief about God will shape how we live and act.  If we believe that God is harsh and severe, then we'll respond in fear.  We'll be enveloped by it, and will think about obedience in terms of how we can avoid punishment. 

  If, however, our belief about God is that the same God who comes to judge is the God who comes to save, and we read the New Testament and see a God there who comes searching for us, then we'll respond differently.  We'll be motivated by love and gratitude rather than fear.  

  So what do you believe?  What does the broad witness of Scripture tell you about God?  It's important that we read widely and form that belief for ourselves, for we'll act out of that over all our days.