BALANCING WORSHIP AND SERVICE
Luke 10:38-42
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42
Most people find Jesus’ reply to Martha strange because Martha’s busyness was to serve Jesus as it is proper to do. Mary knew that listening to the Master was paramount. She realized that sitting at the Master’s feet and feeding from the eternal word was better than fretting to feed the Master. The Master is always checking the priority of His servants. Serving Him is good but service borne out of worship is better and far more relevant to His kingdom. The Lord prizes our affection above our service. Occupation with Him is the one thing needful, that good part which will not be taken away. Charles R. Erdman commenting on this text said; “While the Lord does appreciate all that we undertake for Him, He knows that our first need is to sit at His feet and learn His will; then in our tasks, we shall be calm and peaceful and kindly.”
Learn to place your worship before service. Let your service stand on the foundation of your communion. When this is done, service becomes a thing of joy and a willing sacrifice that is offered to God in thanksgiving. Do you spend quality time in fellowship with God? Is your service devoid of the oil from the place of fellowship? Be inspired today to lay on the altar of worship to receive the joy and power of service.
Prayer
Lord, cause me to worship and serve You in the right way. Amen.
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Luke 12:16-20
And He said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses Luke 12:15
This parable, known as the parable of the rich fool, is an important parable by Jesus. In it, we encounter a man who, having enjoyed a bountiful harvest, decides to hoard his wealth in anticipation of future needs. While his actions may seem prudent and responsible by worldly standards, Jesus labels him a fool. The rich fool’s error lies not in storing up food and riches, but in his materialistic perspective. He prioritizes his comfort and security over spiritual wealth and relationship with God and others. This underscores a fundamental shift in perspective that Jesus urges us to adopt. Often, we become preoccupied with earthly possessions and pursuits, neglecting the eternal dimension of life.
God blesses us with both spiritual and material abundance, but our focus should remain on that which has eternal value. The rich fool’s story serves as a stark reminder to evaluate our priorities. In the end, earthly riches hold no sway over eternity. As Jesus asks, “Today your life will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Luke 12:20). Let us, therefore, reflect on our perspective towards life. Are we investing our time, energy, and resources in pursuits that hold eternal significance?
Prayer
Father, thank you for the reminder to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.
LOOK UP
2 Chronicles 4:1-6
Moreover he made a bronze altar: twenty cubits was its length, twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height. 2 Chronicles 4:1
The altar Solomon built was twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high, larger than the one originally built for the tabernacle furnishing. God had greatly blessed His people therefore it was expedient for them to enlarge the altars so no man would have an excuse for withholding large sacrifices from the temple. God’s blessings to us are not for keeps rather they are for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Our returns should bear a certain proportion to our receiving.
The height of the altar was ten cubits high, such that everyone who worshipped in the temple could have a clear view of the sacrifice and their eyes fixed upon it. This would progressively alter the state of their hearts and cause them to repent from their sins. Today, the cross is our gaze for repentance. We must keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ who died on the cross and became the great atonement for our sins. Basins for washing were placed at strategic positions in the temple to be used by the priests for cleaning themselves and others. The blood of Jesus and His word are our cleaning agents today. Are you looking up to Jesus? Do you have a regular place of communion where you are sanctified by His word daily?
Prayer
Father, help me to continually fix my gaze on Jesus Christ and to apply the cleaning benefits of Your word. Amen
DIVERSION FROM DESTRUCTION
Luke 13:1-9
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish Luke 13:3
It is so easy to think the worst of people when they are caught in evil or being punished for it. We oftentimes forget our own shortcomings when those of others are in the open. The average person wants to shine a light on the transgression of others while covering their shortcomings. Without Jesus, everyone is heading towards destruction. Repentance is a diversion from this headlong perishing lane of sin. It is a change in the way we think and act based on our beliefs. It is walking in the way we have learned Christ and reflecting His righteousness. This is the only way you make the diversion from destruction to redemption. Jesus’ reply to the people who informed him of the calamity of the Galileans pointed to two facts namely; people who suffer calamity are not necessarily the worst of sinners and those who are alive should reflect on their lives and repent where necessary.
Forsaking our sins and returning to God by faith in Christ sets us on the path of salvation. Everyone who fails to repent and follow Christ will surely perish. Pointing the fault of others while failing to repent from yours will only deceive men but not God who sees every hidden thing. Make this decision today to repent, thus, making a diversion from the destination of perishing souls to eternal life with God our Father. Are there sins you have to repent from? Appeal to the Saviour to save you from sin and its destruction.
Prayer
Father, thank you for giving me another opportunity for repentance. Help me to always reflect Your righteousness by obeying Your commands. Amen.
LESSONS FOR LIFTING
Luke 14-8-11
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11
It Is everyone’s desire to be honoured, recognised, and praised. This desire has led to striving for greatness among people. Nobody wants to be identified as the least. This strive has grown to the extent that people pull down others in a bid to get positions of honour. But contrary to the worldly approach to lifting, Jesus taught lessons for lifting using an illustration of an invitation to a wedding. We shall look at some of the salient lessons brought forth by Jesus. Sitting in the lowest room expecting a more honourable guest signifies that no matter what we have and who we are, we should esteem other guests with greater honour. The host calling you from the lowest room to the highest room signifies that lifting comes only from the One who invited us to exist in this world, and He lifts those who do not esteem themselves greater than others. Learn to consider everyone around you as deserving of greater honour and the Lord shall lift you up in His due time. Have you learned humility from the Master who is meek and lowly of heart? Do you regard others as deserving of honour?
Prayer
Lord, help me to consider everyone of greater honour with sincerity of heart. Amen.
JESUS RECEIVES SINNERS
Luke 15:1-7
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
From our text, the Pharisees and the scribes, whom we could regard as preachers and supposed righteous people, frowned at Jesus’ reception of sinners. The Bible records that tax collectors and sinners drew near to hear Him. It was strange that the Pharisees and scribes were complaining about people who came to listen to Jesus speak the words of life. If their intentions were pure, they would have rejoiced that these sinners were hearing the word of God that could save them. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were more concerned about maintaining a religious front than helping people. To them, people who are not like them are better dead than alive. Since they considered themselves better than others, they didn’t see a need to demonstrate love.
In contrast to the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus viewed sinners as lost sheep in need of saving. He lovingly reached out to people in a bid to save them. He desires that they hear His word, apply faith, and be saved. Many have misrepresented the Gospel and mission of Jesus Christ by being hostile towards sinners. Love should always be in our hearts as we share the gospel to the lost. This does not mean that we should compromise with sinners and relate with them without boundaries. Jesus received sinners so that they could hear His words and be saved. As believers, sinners who are our associates either by work or family should always hear God’s word of salvation from our mouths. Today, decide to be the one who reaches out to the lost in love and causes heaven to rejoice.
Prayer
Lord, help me to be Your mouthpiece among sinners as I demonstrate Your love. Amen.
THE FATHER IS STILL WELCOMING
Luke 15:11-18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you Luke 15:18
The story of the lost son told by Jesus illustrating the love of the Father holds many lessons. Although this story of the lost son is mostly associated with sinners, it has more significance to believers. The sons of God, just like the younger son who through his intimate relationship with his father, asked for his inheritance, so also many believers, sons of God, have enjoyed intimate relationship with God, our Father, and have, through prayers, received the things freely given to us in Christ. As the younger son in the story went separate from his father into a far country, many believers and sons of God have broken away from fellowship with God, the Father, as a result of the benefits they now enjoy from answered prayers. The lost son later was in want. He could no longer sustain the wealth given to him. Every attempt he made to help himself away from the Father only made the situation worse. This is the state of many believers and sons of God. Answered prayers soon became a frustration because they can only be sustained in fellowship with the Father, which may have broken.
The turning point of the lost son’s experience was the decision to arise and go back to the Father. Today, arise, go back to fellowship with the Father.
Prayer
Father, I return to the loving intimate fellowship with You today. Amen.
LOVE BREAKS GUILT
Luke 15:17-24
And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20
Imagine going to the supermarket to get toiletries with the last remains of your wages, and accidentally breaking an appliance worth your wages for three months. Imagine the guilt you would feel while going to the management, knowing your carelessness has cost you much more than you can afford to pay, and the thought of labouring for months only to pay for a mistake. Now, imagine the manager sees you in the office and breaks the good news that you don’t need to worry about the damage or pay for it because everything is insured. Instantly, the guilt and worry of debt is lifted from you. This is nothing compared to the love of God for us. He gave us His only Son, an overpayment for our sins. We do not need to make up for the damage. He has a brand new life in Christ. No need to save and pay for our sins. Jesus Christ is an overpayment.
Do you feel so guilty for past mistakes and feel the need to walk away from a Holy God since you are undeserving of His love? Do you try to do something for God to make up for your wrongs? Know this truth today. Jesus is an overpayment. You are forgiven. You are so loved. Walk and live free from guilt by accepting His forgiveness and embracing His power to live righteously.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for Your great love and abundant mercy that saved me from sin’s guilt and power.
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