the rich man

I don't know why I'm supposed to share this passage. I read Luke 18 today & just got an impression that I was supposed to share it.

Luke 18

 18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

28 Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

true servanthood

Whenever I hear someone say in an sanguine voice,

"All I want to be is a servant of the Lord."

I think,

"You ain't never been one & haven't a clue."

This is Jesus talking here in Luke's Gospel.

********

Luke 17 

7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, 

does his master say, 

‘Come in and eat with me’? 

8 No, 

he says, 

‘Prepare my meal, 

put on your apron, 

and serve me while I eat. 

Then you can eat later.’ 

9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? 

Of course not. 

10 In the same way, 

when you obey me 

you should say, 

‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

living & dying

Romans 14 

7 For we don’t live for ourselves 

or die for ourselves. 

8 If we live, 

it’s to honor the Lord. 

And if we die, 

it’s to honor the Lord. 

So whether we live or die, 

we belong to the Lord. 

9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose:

to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

summed up

Romans 13 

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. 

If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 

9 For the commandments say, 

“You must not commit adultery. 

You must not murder. 

You must not steal. 

You must not covet.” 

These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

10 Love does no wrong to others, 

so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; 

time is running out. 

Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

12 The night is almost gone; 

the day of salvation will soon be here. 

So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, 

and put on the shining armor of right living. 

13 Because we belong to the day, 

we must live decent lives for all to see. 

Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, 

or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, 

or in quarreling and jealousy. 

14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

terrific twelve

Romans 12 

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God

 because of all he has done for you. 

Let them be a living and holy sacrifice;

the kind he will find acceptable. 

This is truly the way to worship him. 

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, 

but let God transform you into a new person 

by changing the way you think. 

Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, 

which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, 

I give each of you this warning: 

Don’t think you are better than you really are. 

Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, 

measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 

5 so it is with Christ’s body. 

We are many parts of one body, 

and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. 

So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, 

speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 

7 If your gift is serving others, 

serve them well. 

If you are a teacher, 

teach well. 

8 If your gift is to encourage others, 

be encouraging. 

If it is giving, 

give generously. 

If God has given you leadership ability, 

take the responsibility seriously. 

And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, 

do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. 

Really love them. 

Hate what is wrong. 

Hold tightly to what is good. 

10 Love each other with genuine affection, 

and take delight in honoring each other. 

11 Never be lazy, 

but work hard 

and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 

12 Rejoice in our confident hope. 

Be patient in trouble, 

and keep on praying. 

13 When God’s people are in need, 

be ready to help them. 

Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. 

Don’t curse them; 

pray that God will bless them. 

15 Be happy with those who are happy, 

and weep with those who weep. 

16 Live in harmony with each other. 

Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. 

And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. 

Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 

18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. 

Leave that to the righteous anger of God. 

For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”
    says the Lord.

20 Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, 

but conquer evil by doing good.

who can know

Roman 11

 33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! 

How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much
    that he needs to pay it back?

36 For everything comes from him 

and exists by his power 

and is intended for his glory. 

All glory to him forever! Amen.

having stuff

Luke 10 

22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 

“That is why I tell you don't 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.