Luke 11:1-13

Dear RTB’ers,

Prayer, specifically the Lord’s Prayer, persistence, and asking. The Lord’s Prayer also appears in a somewhat different, more familiar form in Matthew 6:9-13, during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The persistence portion of today’s reading (Luke 11:5-8) is similar to the widow’s testing of the judge in Luke 18:1-8. Finally, the asking portion in today’s reading (Luke 11:9-13) is also found in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-11.

Prayer. It’s never enough in my life; it’s the toughest discipline that I need to incorporate more fully. The big take from today is “ask”. Yes, repentance is important – crucial, even! And yes, intercession is important. But God wants us to ask. It’s easy enough, if we just do it. Our kids ask. Our grandkids ask. They don’t wait to do it (or try it) on their own. Yet so often we are relying on our own abilities, our own work, when God wants us to ask. So often in Freedom Road our conversation moves to “control”. How much are we trying to control outcomes instead of first seeking God’s will? ASK! It’s not that hard…!

Blessings!

Luke 10:25-42

Dear RTB’ers,

Two familiar stories today, the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus with Martha and Mary. I daresay that the parable of the Good Samaritan is the most well-known of all of Jesus’ parables. Yes, surprisingly, this parable appears only in Luke’s gospel. Both Matthew and Mark have a lawyer asking Jesus which commandment was the most important of all (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12: 28-31) and Jesus has this interchange in today’s reading where the first of these two great commandments is quoted (Luke 10:27). However, only Luke has Jesus following up with this parable. Rather than commenting further on this very familiar parable, I’d love to hear your comments on it.

As to Martha and Mary… I’ve always sided with Martha in this incident, and Jesus shuts me down every time with His response, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) He makes me think about my own priorities in life. Am I really seeking Him, as He asks in Matthew 6:32-33, “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” It’s an ongoing struggle!

Blessings!

Luke 10:13-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Woe to you, Chorazin! … Bethsaida! (v. 13) … Capernaum! (v. 15) … USA! … Western Europe! Yes, us and our closest allies! I can remember growing up that Italy, Spain, France, and Ireland were all strong Catholic countries, that Germany was Lutheran, and that the United Kingdom was Anglican. Now that faith in those “pillars of democracy” seems to have evaporated. Giant cathedrals stand only partially filled for religious services, where tourists far outnumber the faithful attendees. I fear for judgment on us and our friends. We mourn the fire that took down Notre Dame. Or was that a sign of things to come? But France is building it back up. Another Tower of Babel story…? Yes, I fear the future.

Yesterday I mentioned Jesus giving the 70 …power and authority over all the demons… (Luke 9:1). In today’s reading we see a similar promise from Jesus to the 70: “Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” (v.19) How much untapped Holy Spirit power is available to me/us today?! We on this side of the Cross and Resurrection and Pentecost – something is missing in our lives. A year ago we were watching and celebrating an “awakening” at Asbury University, an event covered by news media around the world. Have I, have we retreated back to our normal lives, whatever that is?? Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent 2024. Let’s make this Lent a Holy Spirit “awakening” in our lives! Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Blessings!

Luke 9:57-10:12

Dear RTB’ers,

We return to the New Testament, back to Luke’s gospel. When we left Luke almost three weeks ago, we saw that Jesus was leaving Galilee and headed toward Judea: When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:51) Today we see Him sending 70 (72?) disciples out to cities in Samaria and Judea where He planned to go. Their task was simple, to heal the sick and to preach His message, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (Luke 10:9) You may recall earlier in Galilee that Jesus had sent the twelve: Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. (Luke 9:1-2) So the charge and the message are the same. Although it is not mentioned in chapter 12, we presume that Jesus sent these 70 out with the same tools that He had given the twelve, power and authority over all the demons, since He had charged them specifically to heal the sick.

As Jesus sends out these 70 He tells them to travel lightly, “Carry no money belt, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way.” (Luke 10:4), even as He had earlier charged the twelve (Luke 9:3) I think it’s common for us to see these words as applied to missionaries that we send out, with the reality that their financial support will come from people to whom they have reached out – their friends, their home churches, and other connections that they have made. But others ask if this message is for all of us, to be missionaries in our own lives and to live simply. I think there’s some truth in that supposition. Fundamentally, I like John Wesley’s words on this matter, offered here together with commentary from a writer from the United Methodists of New Jersey:

Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can are the three basic points of John Wesley’s famous sermon entitled, “The Use of Money.” Wesley made note in 1789 that the Methodists of his day were ignoring the third part of his sermon. In fact, Wesley argued that the primary reason for the ineffectiveness of the Methodist movement was due to their failure to give all they could. Wesley came to the profound conclusion that “If Methodists would give all they can, then all would have enough.” Wesley’s admonition for Methodists to give all they can was no pious rhetoric designed to increase contributions to the church budget. It was a plea for generosity and a plea for compassion for the poor and needy.

https://www.gnjumc.org/earn-all-you-can-save-all-you-can-and-give-all-you-can/

Imagine the change in our world if we all followed Wesley’s advice.

Blessings!

Genesis 26

Dear RTB’ers,

Today is our last day in Genesis for a while. Tomorrow we return to Luke to cover another third of his gospel; then after about three weeks we’ll come back to Genesis.

Today’s reading covers a series of events in Isaac’s life. It’s the only occasion where the focus is on him, where his father and his sons are not the main characters. However, even in this chapter we see Abraham mentioned eight times, including such important verses as (God speaking): “I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father … because Abraham obeyed My voice…” (Gen. 26:3b-5a) and “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” (Gen. 26:24b). So Isaac inherits the oath that God gave his father. Still, let us not diminish the fact that Isaac is a person to whom the Lord has appeared (Gen. 26:2,24), whom the Lord is directing, protecting and blessing. And I have met many more men and boys named Isaac than are named Abraham! 😊

We again meet Abimelech, previously known as “the king of [the city of] Gerar” (Gen. 20:2) when Abraham sojourned there, but now known as “the king of the Philistines” (Gen. 26:8). Isaac’s deception follows the same pattern as his father’s, but the Lord delivers him and makes him so prosperous that Abimelech sends him away. Even though this chapter ends with a peace treaty between Isaac and Abimelech (Gen. 26:26-31), with this event we see the beginnings of hostilities between the Israelites and the Philistines. These hostilities will continue throughout our Old Testament readings.

Blessings!

Genesis 24:61-25:34

Dear RTB’ers,

I mentioned yesterday that Isaac’s “story” quickly shifts to his sons instead. Jacob and Esau are at odds with each other from their time in the womb (Gen. 25:27), then in their actual birth, with Jacob holding on to Esau9’s heel (Gen. 25:26). Their difficulties continue with Esau selling his birthright for a bowl of stew (Gen. 25:30-34). But I wonder how much of their difficulty begins with their parents: Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (Gen. 25:28) Their split love moves from personal preferences to strategic maneuvering by Rebekah two chapters down the road (Genesis 27) and continues with animosity between the brothers for years to come. Spoiler alert – it’s very interesting how it all works out! Stay tuned!

Blessings!

Genesis 24:1-60

Dear RTB’ers,

A wife for Isaac. Of the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Isaac gets the least mention. We met Abraham back in Genesis 11 and will bury him in Genesis 25. Jacob is born in Genesis 26 and we will follow him into Egypt until he is buried in Genesis 50. With Isaac, however, we have his birth in Genesis 21, Abraham’s “sacrifice” of Isaac in Genesis 22, and the birth of his sons in Genesis 25 – wherein Isaac becomes more a secondary figure. So, less on Isaac and more on those around him.

Today’s reading is about one of those “around” Isaac, his future wife, Rebekah. The questions in STS cover what I think are the most important items in this reading. So this morning I was pondering my own “wife search”. I was a month short of 35 years old when Carol and I got married, so I had many years of “wife-searching”. Reflecting on those years between age 13 (when I first knew that I’d want to be married and have a family) and age 35 is a good opportunity for me to look back on the Lord’s work in my life as to this very important decision some 22 years later. I’ll leave it at that, suggesting that the rest of you reflect back on your own “spouse search” and see the Lord’s work in your life. [NOTE: Unmarrieds can still reflect on what has already gone on or on what may be down the road. 😊!]

Blessings!

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See also: January 8 (2023) / Genesis 24

Genesis 23

Dear RTB’ers,

On our second day of reading this year I asked about Genesis 3 being a stand-alone chapter, while on both sides of Genesis 3 we had chapters doubled up (1-2 and 4-5). I argued that Genesis 3 deserved its solitary status, with sin entering the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience and all of us living through the results of that Fall. Today we see another stand-alone chapter, Genesis 23, but I cannot argue for the same justification of its standing alone. Frankly, it doesn’t fit well into its neighbor chapters, except as an add-on, much like yesterday’s inclusion of Abimelech (Genesis 21:22-34) to Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. So, Sarah’s death becomes, for us, a solitary event.

So what are we to learn from Genesis 23? Other than ancient Mideast bargaining strategies, we see two items of importance to me. First, in buying the land burying his wife near the city of Hebron, Abraham fully establishes himself as a resident of Canaan, the land that God had given to him as the Promised Land. Second, that burial plot for Sarah also becomes the burial plot for Abraham (Genesis 25:8-10), Isaac and Rebekah and Leah (Genesis 49:30-31) and Jacob (Genesis 50:13). Jacob’s wife, Rachel was not buried in the family tomb, but instead by the side of the road near Bethlehem, with a pillar marking her spot. (Genesis 35:18-20)

[NOTE: As to Abraham’s bargaining for the land, my Study Bible notes that Abraham paid an exorbitant price for that burial plot, including the entire field where it stood, and that he was now responsible for all dues accruing to that field in the future.]

Blessings!

Genesis 21:22-22:24

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, in my mind, the most powerful story in the Old Testament, Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. As we read through the Old Testament, we will see how Joseph and Moses prefigured Jesus by delivering their people – Joseph bringing his brothers and their families to Egypt to escape the famine in Canaan and Moses bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Today we see the most prominent picture of Jesus in the Old Testament. Consider:

1. Abraham, Isaac, and the two servants went a three-day journey from Beersheba to Mount Moriah (Jerusalem). Jesus was three days in the tomb between His cross and resurrection.
2. Abraham told the servants, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will … come again to you.” (v. 22:5) Abraham knew that he and Isaac would return. Jesus predicted His resurrection: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. And when He is killed, after three days He will rise.” (Mark 9:31, Matthew 17:21, Luke 9:22)
3. Isaac carried the wood on his shoulder up the mountain. (v. 22:6a) Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha.
4. God provided a lamb instead of Isaac. Jesus is the Lamb of God; He died in our place.
5. Abraham perfectly obeyed God. Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42, Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36)

It’s a powerful story. If you want to see Jesus in the Old Testament, remember “chapter 22”: Genesis 22 and Psalm 22.

Blessings!

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See also: January 7 (2023) / Genesis 21-23

Genesis 20:1-21:21

Dear RTB’ers,

Two stories today, Abram-Abimelech and Isaac-Ishmael. The Abimelech incident is similar to the one we encountered a few days ago when Abram took a little trip down to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20). In both cases Abraham told Sarah to say that she was his sister, not his wife. I certainly don’t understand that strategy. Did Abraham just assume that these “savage” people would automatically kill him and take his wife as one of their own? A strange expectation! But as I’ve said so many times, that was then, this is now! And what was “normal” back then…, go figure!!

The story of Isaac and Ishmael is more familiar. In this case it seems that Ishmael brought on his own demise by mocking Isaac at Isaac’s weaning celebration (Gen 21:9). Sarah (as any mother might) took offense and demanded that Abraham drive Ishmael and Hagar away. We can see that Abraham loved Ishmael, his son, The matter distressed Abraham greatly… (Gen 21:21a). After all, Ishmael was in his mid-teens; he and Abraham had had all these years together, so it’s certainly troubling to Abraham to send his son away. Although God saw to Hagar and Ishmael’s welfare, we don’t know if Abraham would ever know how Ishmael turned out. Turns out, this incident is super important to the apostle, Paul, as he distinguishes between those born of the flesh and those born of the Spirit. I encourage you to read Galatians 4:21-31 as you reflect further on today’s reading. We see again how the Old Testament is tied to Jesus and the New Testament. It’s all one big, interconnected story!

Blessings!