October 27, 2012 … Living For God Until He Returns

Chronological Bible Reading Plan - Day 301

Blogger’s Note: Perhaps a song to help a follower here today to prepare his/her heart for Jesus’ message in these two chapters of Luke’s gospel might be Steve Green’s version of Find Us Faithful, found on this You Tube link …  . Listen and be uplifted, as I was, this day in my pursuit of knowing God through His word.

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Luke, Chapters 16-17 To study these chapters, go to this link - 
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Highlight Passages: Luke 16: 9-13 : [NLT] … { Jesus relates two stories to the Pharisees and the people following Jesus around in Galilee; and the stories are summarized in verses 9-13 of Chapter 16 of Luke’s account, which show that how we handle our money reveals our heart. }  
9 “ I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven. 10 Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be trusted with money of your own? … 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” … 
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Highlight Passages: Luke 17: 20-25 : [NLT] … { In Chapter 17, especially verses 23-36Luke records Jesus teaching about His second coming when the “kingdom of God” would be ushered in forever, which had to be confusing and confounding for Jesus’ disciples and especially for the religious leaders; and this would especially have been confusing with Jesus again reporting that HE, “the Son of Man” would have to suffer first before all this kingdom prophesy took place. And think about it; … two millennia later and theologians are still arguing about when Jesus’ second coming will take place.}  
20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” … Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God isn’t ushered in with visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you.” 22 Later He talked again about this with his disciples. “The time is coming when you will long to share in the days of the Son of Man, but you won’t be able to,” He said. 23 “Reports will reach you that the Son of Man has returned and that he is in this place or that. Don’t believe such reports or go out to look for him. 24 For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky. 25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.” 

My Journal for Today: Today I’m led to study two more chapters of Luke’s carefully written account of Jesus and His teachings as He carried out His earthly ministry before heading to Calvary’s calling. And as I pointed out above, these people in His time, even though desiring desperately that Jesus be their Messiah, must’ve been confounded and confused, and even more so the Pharisees, by Jesus’ kingdom teachings and prophesies. And when He began to tell the people about His second coming, that really must’ve blown them away, because two millennia later theologians and scholars are still arguing about when Jesus will come again to usher in His forever kingdom.

But one thing is for sure. Jesus taught – in these two chapters of Luke’s gospel – that we must prepare for The Messiah coming again by living God’s way and following His will (which was originally given to God’s people in God’s Law) and by living according to the teachings of Messiah, Who was there in the midst of those people, teaching them about Himself in that day before He would walk to Calvary.

He taught them, today from Chapter 16, about very practical things like how using our money for kingdom purposes – NOW, here in our times – would be a measure of our faith in Him as The Christ. He taught that we will not know when He, The Messiah, comes again; but we – in faith – must live as His Bride until He – The Bridegroom – would come again to claim His Bride.

And yes, … it was very confusing for those people then; and maybe even a bit confusing for us now; but it is none-the-less just as true now as then; and we must do all we can to seek out God’s truth – His kingdom ways through His teachings (from His word) - so that we can live out those kingdom values now as we prepare and wait for Jesus to come again and usher in His Kingdom forever, … which could be tomorrow.

As Steve Green sings in the song I linked you to above, … “May all who come behind us FIND US FAITHFUL!” 

My Prayer Today: … Lord, help me to live as Your Bride, preparing for You to come for me tomorrow. Amen