don't worry

Luke 12 

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life;

whether you have enough food to eat 

or enough clothes to wear. 

23 For life is more than food, 

and your body more than clothing. 

24 Look at the ravens. 

They don’t plant 

or harvest 

or store food in barns, 

for God feeds them. 

And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, 

what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. 

They don’t work or make their clothing, 

yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers 

that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. 

Don’t worry about such things. 

30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, 

but your Father already knows your needs. 

31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, 

and he will give you everything you need.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. 

For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

33 “Sell your possessions 

and give to those in need. 

This will store up treasure for you in heaven! 

And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. 

Your treasure will be safe; 

no thief can steal it 

and no moth can destroy it. 

34 Wherever your treasure is, 

there the desires of your heart will also be.

keep on...

Luke 11 

9 “And so I tell you, 

keep on asking, 

and you will receive what you ask for. 

Keep on seeking, 

and you will find. 

Keep on knocking, 

and the door will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks, 

receives. 

Everyone who seeks, 

finds. 

And to everyone who knocks, 

the door will be opened.

(But do you do if you just don't have the strength to "keep on..."?)

LGLO

Luke 10

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, 

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

all your soul, 

all your strength, 

and all your mind.’ 

And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

And if we boil down what was said?

Love God, love others.

LGLO

lots of stuff here

Colossians 3 

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, 

set your sights on the realities of heaven, 

where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 

2 Think about the things of heaven, 

not the things of earth. 

3 For you died to this life, 

and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4 And when Christ, 

who is your life, 

is revealed to the whole world, 

you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. 

Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, 

impurity, 

lust, 

and evil desires. 

Don’t be greedy, 

for a greedy person is an idolater, 

worshiping the things of this world. 

6 Because of these sins, 

the anger of God is coming. 

7 You used to do these things 

when your life was still part of this world. 

8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, 

rage, 

malicious behavior, 

slander, 

and dirty language. 

9 Don’t lie to each other, 

for you have stripped off your old sinful nature 

and all its wicked deeds. 

10 Put on your new nature, 

and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator 

and become like him. 

11 In this new life, 

it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, 

circumcised or uncircumcised, 

barbaric, 

uncivilized, 

slave, 

or free. 

Christ is all that matters, 

and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, 

you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, 

kindness, 

humility, 

gentleness, 

and patience. 

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, 

and forgive anyone who offends you. 

Remember, 

the Lord forgave you, 

so you must forgive others. 

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, 

which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. 

And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. 

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. 

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 

17 And whatever you do or say, 

do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks through him to God the Father.

so...

Philippians 4 

6 Don’t worry about anything; 

instead, 

pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need, 

and thank him for all he has done. 

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, 

which exceeds anything we can understand. 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds 

as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 

Fix your thoughts on what is true, 

and honorable, 

and right, 

and pure, 

and lovely, 

and admirable. 

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

13 I can do everything with the help of Christ, 

who gives me the strength I need.

scum

Luke 5 

27 Later, as Jesus left the town, 

he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 

“Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 

28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Why do I always share this incident every time I read it in my sequential readings each day?

I do it because it begs 2 questions...

Obviously, these people who were considered "scum" wanted to be around Jesus.

And Jesus obviously wanted to be around them.

The 2 questions are simple...

Are we so filled with the spirit of Jesus that people considered "scum" in our culture want to be around us?

And have we let Jesus transform us to the point that we want to be around scum?

attitude

Philippians 2 

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? 

Any comfort from his love? 

Any fellowship together in the Spirit? 

Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, 

loving one another, 

and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; 

don’t try to impress others. 

Be humble, 

thinking of others as better than yourselves. 

4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, 

but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

52

 Hmmmm... could this be prophetic for our present?

Psalm 52

(For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite told Saul, that Ahimelech had given refuge to David.)

1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
    Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
2 All day long you plot destruction.
    Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
    you’re an expert at telling lies.
3 You love evil more than good
    and lies more than truth. Interlude

4 You love to destroy others with your words,
    you liar!
5 But God will strike you down once and for all.
    He will pull you from your home
    and uproot you from the land of the living. Interlude

6 The righteous will see it and be amazed.
    They will laugh and say,
7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors
    who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
    and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”

8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
    I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
9 I will praise you forever, O God,
    for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
    in the presence of your faithful people.

be strong

Ephesians 6 

10 A final word: 

Be strong in the Lord 

and in his mighty power. 

11 Put on all of God’s armor 

so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, 

but against evil rulers 

and authorities of the unseen world, 

against mighty powers in this dark world, 

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, 

put on every piece of God’s armor 

so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

14 Stand your ground, 

putting on the belt of truth 

and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News 

so that you will be fully prepared. 

16 In addition to all of these, 

hold up the shield of faith 

to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, 

and take the sword of the Spirit, 

which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times 

and on every occasion. 

Stay alert 

and be persistent in your prayers 

for all believers everywhere.

living in the Light

Ephesians 5 

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, 

because you are his dear children. 

2 Live a life filled with love, 

following the example of Christ. 

He loved us 

and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, 

a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, 

impurity, 

or greed 

among you. 

Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

4 Obscene stories, 

foolish talk, 

and coarse jokes;

these are not for you. 

Instead, 

let there be thankfulness to God. 

5 You can be sure that no immoral, 

impure, 

or greedy person 

will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. 

For a greedy person is an idolater, 

worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, 

for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 

8 For once you were full of darkness, 

but now you have light from the Lord. 

So live as people of light! 

9 For this light within you produces only what is good 

and right 

and true.