Category: Good Life Journal

Journal PS 104-106 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Bless the LORD, O my soul!  O LORD my God, you are very great!  You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! … Remember the wondrous works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered…”  (excerpts from Ps 104:1-2 and Ps 105:1-5)

 

Observation: Coming off the lamentations of Ps 102, David sounds like what?  Cheerful or purposeful?

 

Analysis:  There are times where I have to be finished with griping and just hitch up my pants and go to work.  That’s the image I think of reading these Psalms—David adamant preaching to his soul, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth!”

 

I say to myself: “Bless the Lord, O my soul!!”  I am telling myself not to get caught up with the issues of the recent past and get my head on straight.  How best to do that but to preach to myself.

 

It is evident that David is talking out loud.  Clue!!  If Dave is doing it, I should too.

It is evident that David is reviewing step by step, issue by issue.  I should be doing that as well.

It is evident that David is not only reviewing the “good” stuff, but also the “not so good.”  I shouldn’t shy away from reviewing that, either.

 

Here is an example: David praises God, saying, “Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love…Then (remembering or being reminded again) they believed his words; they sang his praise.” Ps 106:7 and 12

 

But here is something that happens to all: “They soon forgot his works; they did not await his council.” Ps 106:13

 

His Word, precepts, principles, doctrine (all parts of the Jewel that is the Gospel) should be reviewed every day, maybe for no other reason than we are so prone to FORGET his goodness and his majestic sovereignty in all of creation.  Reality of life creeps in silently, insidiously, and pushes out the presence of His Voice, His Word.

 

Maybe the bane of our lives is: “I forget.”

 

Prayer: Lord, please keep me in remembrance mode.  Help me to remember to lean in upon You in every respect—the little as well as the middle to big things.  Keep me from the pride that wants me to solve things without you.  That is so very hard because I am not skilled in hearing your still, small voice; I am not skilled in remembering your Law and Word.

 

Build your Doctrines of Grace more and more inside me.  Make them the Lens from which I view life.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal PS 100-103 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!  Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!

Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!

For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.

My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.

Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh….

I lie awake…I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink…

 

My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass…” excerpts from Ps 102:1-11

 

Observation:  Think following God is all peaches and cream; easy roads ahead?  David testifies sometimes not…

 

Analysis:  There is a reason to diligently pursue the Spiritual Disciplines—that is to survive the dumps.

 

I consider David and the Psalms God’s gift as an example of the Christian Life; not the mission stuff, but the day to day, self-examinations, look in the mirror to see if I am the Faith walking worthy of the Gospel stuff.  More than likely, generally what David goes through, I go through—the Ups and the Downs.

 

I have encountered folks in the current generations in the Church that would be totally dismissive of anyone being anything but “Victorious”.  Facts are that the Scriptures don’t demonstrate the daily Christian life as always representing “Victory”; such as, always happy, always positive, always cheerful—those outward pictures of the Christian Life which can be so very false in daily reality.

 

Look at David: totally transparent.  He has ups; he has downs.  Dancing in the streets, hiding in caves.  Lamenting the current position of his soul; celebrating the Goodness of God despite his soul.  This is where we should be.

 

David: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God…” (Ps 42:11) It is so easy to plummet emotionally, sometimes you don’t even have to have a reason.

 

What do I do?

1. I don’t get into the Word when I am down; I get into the Word when I am NOT down and pack my mind and soul.  Prepare for the inevitable future.
2. Study and read good, impactful things.  I highly recommend John Piper (“A Peculiar Glory” is next up for me) but also guys like RC Sproul to understand the theology about this treasured Salvation.  Find and copy Jonathan Edwards “Resolutions” (reflect on them often); Obtain “Valley of Vision” for a personal reflective time.  Get a Systematic Theology (recommendation: Wayne Grudem’s “Bible Doctrine”).  Piper’s Swan series will give some historical background on Church Fathers.
3. Watch the music intake.  Music is given by God and has the ability to worm its way into the soul—especially accompanied by lyrics.  Even Christian musicians may not measure up well.  Read the lyrics without the music; see if the lyrics pass critical muster of being good theology.  There are a number of good, solid, theologians singing their hearts out with music and lyric that will feed a soul and be entertaining—but maybe not Christian Top 40.
4. Find personal relevance in the Scriptures.  “How does this relate to me?  Can I identify with it?”
5. Confess sin to one another.  Confession is not just “good for the soul” like it is cathartic, liberating; it is imperative to kick out pride and welcome humility.

 

By paying attention to your own soul, not trying to shortcut growth opportunities, brings maturity and peace and prepares for living in Him.

 

Prayer: Father, please make it so.  Increase my desperation for You.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Scripture

 

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!

 

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,

who make their boast in worthless idols;

worship him, all you gods!

 

8 Zion hears and is glad,

and the daughters of Judah rejoice,

because of your judgments, O Lord.

9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

 

10 He preserves the lives of his saints

12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous

 

Observation

 

God is sovereign over all of creation including all people and their idols.

And his sovereignty is righteous and glorious.

And it is because of this that we should be glad and rejoicing in who God is.

Only He is exalted and over all.

 

Application

 

I can logically and reasonably see God as above all things and sovereign over all creation and judgement and decisions and actions and every speck of the entire universe.

 

I can make sense of this by realizing God, and only God, is truly God.

 

The questions this morning for me is …

Do I rejoice in this?!

Does it make me glad?!

 

Does it please me that God can do as he pleases?

 

This is what it means to truly worship the sovereign God.

 

I can trust him and sing to him and know he has the whole world in his hand ….

 

Does this make me glad?! … Do I rejoice in this?

 

I better … because anything else ultimately brings as the psalmist says … “shame”.

If I don’t realize it today .. I will, like all others on earth … eventually realize it.

 

I must rejoice not just because of the righteousness and justice and holiness of God,

But because it is only He that “preserves my very life”!

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for your sovereignty

That you are king, and you reign

Help me rejoice in this

Help me see that it is this that actually brings peace

I do not have to find joy in only creation but the creator Himself

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture–

Luke 96:3-4 – Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

Observation –

We are to tell of his salvation daily and declare His glory amongst all the nations for all peoples.  We are to have a reverent fear of God above all other gods/idols.  God is great and deserving of all of our praise!

 

Application –

The Goof News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for every nation tongue and tribe.  Jesus last words to his disciples before his ascension to be at the right hand of the Father was the Great Commission.  Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth and as a follower I am commissioned to be an Ambassador for Christ here and around the word to disciple others and teach them to obey the commands He has given us.  I have to be following Jesus and be prayerful and prepared to know why, who and what I  was say to people in my sphere of influence through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I must fear God as that is the beginning of wisdom, give him praise for salvation and saving me from death to life and another day to be his witness and glorify His name.

 

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the powerful truth in the words of Psalm 96 that the gospel is for all peoples!  Let me remember and live on mission to apply that in my walk.  Have the Spirit guide me to follow you, praise you and give me the right things to say and do to make you known and glorify you.

Journal Luke 24 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture:  “They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within in us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”  Luke 24:32

 

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…” Luke 24:45

 

Observation:  Understanding the Scriptures is a supernatural event.  It is also just a regular process of reading—a simple application of God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility.

 

Analysis: Reading the Scriptures is a simple thing; after all they are just words on a page.  There are translations that are faithful to the original documents but are also written for a junior high reading level.  There are nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other English class stuff that I can’t remember.

 

[Beware the following, I am slicing the theology thin and in steps…]

 

However, these same Scriptures indicate that understanding them is supernatural.  Does that mean that the Scriptures are gibberish unless anointed to “understand?”  No, gibberish they aren’t.

 

God’s Sovereignty is self-defining.  He does what He wants to do; nothing can oppose Him.  A dropping of revelation here or there?  Bless His Name.  A hardening of a heart, blinding an eye or two, deafening a set of ears here or there?  Still bless His Name.  That is what being Sovereign is all about—He is God, after all.

 

Human Responsibility is a description that is a little less clear for most of us.  Man is not sovereign in anything.  Under the Sovereignty of God, Man is responsible to make choices—but that is not the same as “free will.”  For instance, if man is a slave to sin, bound by chains to sin, has the imprint of Adam’s rebelliousness in our DNA, how then can Man successfully repent?  Remember, “none is righteous; no not one.”  “All my efforts are like filthy rags…” —even my attempts to repent.

 

However, my Human Responsibility is to try.  Whether repenting, or just reading, wanting to be successful, might be the first recognizable effort of Faith.  To be clear, the desire to be successful in repenting from evil ways or just plain wanting to understand what I am reading is absolutely the act of God’s Sovereignty—whether big things (repentance) or seemingly little things (understanding the scriptures) are all from His Hand.

 

Re: the Scripture references today.  I confess that reading the scriptures, hearing some sermons or 1:28 moments sometimes don’t burn within my heart.  Shucks, most people reading this posting will not need a fire extinguisher to save their t-shirt.

Why did the Emmaus walkers get so enthralled with the telling of the Gospel that their “hearts burned within them?”  Because it was Jesus?  Ok, could be—but they didn’t know that then.  How about this: The speaker was intoxicated with God’s Word?

 

Why did Jesus open the disciples mind to understand the Word?  Maybe that the Word would stop being words on a page, a story to tell, and become the Living Sword of the Spirit within them?

 

Ah…could be.

 

What about me?  What about my desire?  What about being responsible to PURSUE God (as the Spirit permits)?

 

Prayer:  Lord, being intoxicated with Your Word is a daily effort.  It isn’t just reading (yep, got my Bible Plan completed today, and in record time…”), but it is making the effort to understand what You are saying.  You were absorbed in Isaiah in the 3 years of your ministry on earth.  Other stuff, yeah, but Isaiah—gripped and amazed.

 

Help me actively focus, not only packing my heart with your Word, but to fiercely understand the Scriptures.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

 

Journal Luke 22:39-71 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “…Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me.  Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

 

Observation: Sometimes it is right to look at the circumstance.  Other times it is the people and their conduct that is to be seen.  In this case and single verse, perhaps it is the principle of how to relate to God…

 

Analysis:  What is the difference in submitting to the Will of God and not?

 

The first thing that comes to mind is being rebellious or submissive.  Ok, that’s clever.  Pretty simple analysis.  So, Jesus, at the Garden, is saying, “I know what is coming.  I know that it will be painful and hurtful on so many levels.  Dad, I would really like to not go through this…

 

Be it as it may, I will do what you want me to do…Not what I want to do, but I will lay my own plans and rationale down and submit everything I am into your Hands.”

 

Confession: I struggle with this.  It feels like so much fatalism, going with the water streams and tides, leaving the results to chance, going limp.  My rationale presents, “What did God give me a brain for if not to use it?  Why shouldn’t I think and make my own decisions about this situation?  Why shouldn’t I decide for myself?”

 

I think there is a difference between that “limp” response to God’s Will and the purposeful submission.  One has zero principle behind it and the other has the Word of God to stand upon.

 

One Faith has that “blind belief” stigma upon it—no power.  The other Faith is built upon the Word of God—His commands, precepts, principles, instructions, etc.—full of power, because that power is living and active and sharp; more powerful than any weapon ever devised.  It is the Spirit of God.

 

I don’t have this all figured out.  Sometimes I get it right and am guided by the Holy Spirit into doing, not what I wanted to do, but doing what is right to do in the fear of God.  When I feel like I have taken over, I sense it; something is off and lopsided.  It is a sensation that I have to develop and cultivate and sometimes it looks like I am procrastinating.  Sometimes I am…but I am learning to go where Faith in sensing the Will of God leads me.

 

On a more applicable basis, this relates to the previous posting about being a servant.  Being a servant gets in the way of what I want to do, where I want to go, how I want to conduct myself, etc.  Being a servant is the practical application of “I don’t want to (insert task here), but I want to perform Your Will, O God.  Yours, not mine.”

 

Prayer: Father, you told Elijah that your speech is not found in earthquakes or in the thunder and lighting, but in the still, small, voice—that whisper in my ear and soul.

 

Help me quiet my soul every day, so my ear hears you and my eye sees the movement of your hands, that I may follow You, not in limp fatalism, but in courageous Faith.

AMEN

Rick Sutton

 

Journal Luke 22:1-38 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

 

And he said to them: “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are call ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you.

 

Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.  For who is the greater: One who reclines at table or one who serves?  Is it not the one who reclines at table?  But I am among you as the one who serves…” Luke 22:24-27

 

Observation: In the midst of the celebration of Passover and the preparation of the Cross, the disciples revert to the old argument of “who is better?”

 

Analysis: Not a new argument around the guys.  Remember that embarrassing story of the Zebedee brother’s mom?  “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to (Jesus) with her sons and kneeling before him she asked him for something.  And (Jesus) said to her, “What do you want?”  She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left in your kingdom.” (Matt 20:20-21)

 

I would have been soooo embarrassed—except it appears the brothers were in full agreement.  (c. Mark 10:37)

 

So, here they all are, in the upper room, having 1^st communion, and the conversation goes to: “I’m better.”  “No, I am first.”  “I should be considered leader”, and more.  So, somebody was bold enough to try to settle the issue and ask, “Jesus, whom do you consider your Number 1?”

 

Jesus settles the question by describing the Gentiles: “Gentiles appoint and exercise themselves in leadership positions and call themselves “benefactors.”  And then he says, “But look at me.  My example is servanthood, being a servant.”  I remember he made a point of washing the disciple’s feet, the epitome of visualizing the servant leader.

 

I fail in this often.  Ambition and humility collide in my heart.  It is so in every person.

 

Prayer: Lord, I continue to fall at the foot of the Cross concerning ambition and humility.  I treasure holy ambition, but don’t know when to exert myself to pursue.  I have decided to rest in you and any calling you may have for me.  Until (and if) then, I serve—shakenly, with warring conflict, but pursuing You all my days.

 

AMEN

Rick SuttonI’m

Journal Luke 21 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: (Jesus speaking of the End) “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be lift here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

 

And (the disciples) asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

 

And (Jesus) said: “See that you are not led astray.  For many will come in my name, saying, “I am he!” and, “The time is at hand!’  Do not go after them.  And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”” Luke 21:5-9

 

Observation: Underline the instructions, the commands…not so much the backup reasoning behind the commands….

 

Analysis: I was a pretty rebellious child.  Huh!  I am still a rebellious child, only in the clothes of a 65-year-old man.

 

“Hot!! Don’t touch!!”  So, what do I do?  If I don’t do it right away, eventually I will touch.  And then what?  I will burn myself.

 

The End of all Things; Wars and rumors of wars.  Earthquakes and all sorts of weather phenomena on the earth—all of these are indicative of Jesus’ return.  But not only that, it is evidence of the earth groaning, awaiting the revealing of the Children of God:

 

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”  Ro 8:19-21

 

Therefore, we have these 3 clear instructions, in line with all that is going on in the earth today, no matter if this is the End or on the way to the end…

 

1. See that you are not led astray.  Stick to the path of the Gospel and walk worthy of it.
2. Do not go after the fear-mongers, because that is what they are.  Don’t be influenced away from the Word of God.  Be wise in the way that you walk.
3. Do not be terrified.  Rest in Him, fear not, anxious for squat!!

 

Prayer: Lord, I can be influenced so easily, if only in rebelliousness.  Right back to Eden: “Are you SURE it isn’t so?  These things are pleasant to think about, and stimulate the mind.  Are you sure that God doesn’t want you to be prepared?  It is a good fear to fear the End because then “you can take matters in your own hands and be prepared…”  Sounds like something out of the devil’s mouth.

 

Help me to wrestle with this to Fear God and walk worthy of the Gospel.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Scripture

 

Vs 1 … the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to Jesus , “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”

 

Vs 19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on Jesus at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.

 

Vs 23 Jesus perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” ²⁵ He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²⁶ And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

 

Vs 45 And in the hearing of all the people Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

 

Observation

 

This is a chapter all about authority and power.

Authority granted and authority abused, power on display and power invisible

The authority and power of …

religious leaders …  and Jesus … and the people … and even of Caesar.

 

The religious leaders were constantly scheming and questioning Jesus to try to trap Him.

Jesus knew them and knew when to answer and when not to answer.

(Authority engaged and authority restrained.)

 

Jesus saw the religious leaders’ hearts and those who loved the public adulation of the people …

and their supposed honor but actually feared the people more than they feared God.

(Tragically, giving more “power” to the people than even to God!)

 

How the different authority was displayed could not be more different …

Of the religious leaders: “they were not able in the presence of the people to catch Jesus … they became silent.”

Of Jesus: “in the hearing of all the people Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes …’.”

 

Application

 

The religious leaders are described and priests, scribes, and elders.

They are people who are supposed to be saturated with the “Word of God”.

But they are actually saturated with the “fear of man” … and their own ego.

They use their position of power with a false sense of sincerity … and abuse authority.

 

Rather than share how good God is, they are trying show how bad Jesus is.

 

What is my priority? How do I use whatever “position” or “authority” I have?

Do I see it as a gift to steward? … Or as a role I’m entitled to?

Do I use whatever authority I have to show the “goodness of God” or the “badness of others”?

What is my inclination? … Lift myself or lift Jesus?

 

If it is not to lift Jesus and point to Jesus and to show the wonder of Jesus …

I will not receive “greatness” … I will “receive the greater condemnation”.

 

Prayer

 

Help me God to see your goodness every day

Help me show it to others, as well

Forgive me when I am consumed with self

Holy Spirit, show me who to “beware of” … especially myself

Holy Spirit, show me who to “marvel at” … You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Scripture –

Luke 19:5 – When Jesus came by he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Observation –

Zacchaeus is a tax collector who has become very wealthy collecting dishonestly from the people.  He is a man of small stature so he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus.  Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name.   He told him to come down quickly and Jesus must be a guest in his home.

Application –

We have to first seek to see Jesus like Zacchaeus.  Jesus knows everything about me including all of my sin yet he still wants to dine with sinner like Zacchaeus and me.  My response need to be that of Zacchaeus, to quickly recognize my sin and repent.  I must invite Jesus into my home and my heart and have faith in the name of Jesus.  Jesus came to save me because I am not righteous on my own and dead without his gift of salvation on the cross.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to call me from death to life.  Let me hear Jesus calling my name, invite him in and respond to follow Him faithfully to point others to you.

 

Journal Luke 18 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “(Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous and treated others with contempt:

 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, pray thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

 

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’

 

(Jesus said) I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

 

Observation:  Behold the difference between the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  Jesus is after the hearts of men, not the practice of men.

 

Analysis: A major precept of the Gospel is that “none are good, no one is righteous…” Ro 3.  No one can stand before God on their own.  Look at Luke 18:27; the disciples ask imploringly “Then who can be saved?” Jesus replies with a key, an important constant in the Salvation equation: “What is impossible with man…”

 

That is blunt.  Said another way: “Salvation is impossible concerning Man’s efforts and abilities.”  No one can save themselves, no one can do enough work, there is no amount of sweat, tears, and accomplishment—even depravations and sacrifices that, compounded together will impress God to allow for Man to come into His presence.   God does not grade on a curve.

 

This is from the book of Job, Bildad conversing with Job: “How then can man be in the right before God?  How can he who is born of woman be pure?” (Job 25:4)  [note: this may be taken out of context with the entire discourse but is a truth, nevertheless]

 

To return to the premise, it is the attitude of the Tax Collector that should be carried in one hand while rejoicing in the undeserved Salvation in the other.

 

Prayer:  Father, thank you for the Sacrifice that allows me, undeserving, to approach you humbly, well aware that I do not deserve your Grace.

 

AMEN

Luke 17

Scripture:

[22] And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.

[37] And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

Observation:

Jesus tells the disciples that they will soon desire to see Him come back for judgement day and to call believers to His side.

He goes on to give examples of always being ready, not looking back and worldly things, and preparing for eternity in heaven,

As the disciples ask, “Where, Lord?” To me, this is really a When question. Jesus tells them that the “where” will be where the world is prepared for the judgement.
Similar to corpses being ready for vultures to consume, earth will be at a state where Jesus will return to judge.

Application:

Given the state of this world and our country, I would say we are already similar to the corpse.

This country is divided worse than we’ve ever seen in our lives and on a trajectory to be worse than any division  in history. The Church is being infiltrated with social justice ideals and thinking that Jesus and the God breathed Word of the bible is not enough, but rather that we need to have sociologists tell us how to treat our fellow man. Some churches are modifying their teaching to include LCBTQ+ ideals that are totally against any biblical teaching, and especially fly in the face of God creating us in his own image, individually in the form of a man and a woman.

This is all happening at an alarming rate. So, yeah, I’d say we are a corpse totally ready for judgement. All the more reason to be ready when Jesus returns.

Prayer:

Lord I love you. Give me strength to standup against unbiblical teaching. You and your Word are sufficient. I pray I glorify you in standing against teaching that goes against that. Lord I pray I keep my focus on you and stay ready for your return or for you calling me home. In Jesus Christ’s holy name I pray, amen.

Journal Luke 16 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”  Luke 17:10

 

“The Pharisees (who were lovers of money), heard all these things and they ridiculed (Jesus).

 

And (Jesus) said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men—but God knows your hearts.  For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

 

The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.  But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.”” Luke 16:14-17

 

Observation:  Sometimes I have to read and re-read, and ditto for years to peel back and unpack what the Holy Spirit wants me to understand on a number of levels about the Scriptures—in this case, it may be embracing the faithfulness found in the Gospel.

 

Analysis:  You gotta read slowly through Luke 17.

 

Jesus starts off sounding like he is speaking exclusively about money.  But, while he is using money as a focal point, perhaps the faithfulness he alludes to isn’t only about money…

 

The way I spend money I can justify.  Of course, I have an answer.  I buy this, or that…it is because I need it or want it.  I justify my use of a credit card in the same way; “It is the way life is lived in this day and time…”  However, like I am not addressing the management of money here, I am thinking that the deeper message Jesus is addressing is “faithfulness” and especially “faithfulness in the transparency of my heart.”

 

The Pharisee action of self-justifying isn’t only how they live their life and spend their money; it extends specifically to how they justify themselves before God.

 

“Look at my outsides; look at my actions.  I tithe against everything I have.  I am moral, I am religious, I do what the Law says to do.” But a Pharisee does not come before God and rend his heart.

 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning, and rend your hearts and not your garments…” Joel 2:12-13a

 

I have always had a tough time with “…the good news of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.”  Matthew puts it this way: “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”  (Matt11:12).  Could this be an allusion to people twisting redemption violently by preaching conformity to doing things by the Law, rending, tearing the Law up, and not tearing, rending my heart before the Most High God?  This has the sensation of having legs, of being scripturally reasonable.

 

Nevertheless, for me it is clear: If I am not faithfully looking at myself through the lens of the Gospel, “rending” my heart and resting in His Justification and not my own, then I am putting on the garments of a Pharisee.

 

Prayer:  Father, I want to be faithful in coming to you in secret, fully in front of you, rending my heart in worship. No flowery words: I want to avoid flaunting in public as to say, “look at me, aren’t I religiously impressive to look at?”, but I do want to be an example of what the obedience to the scriptures looks like in a humble way—especially to my wife.

 

Please make these scripture references clearer and clearer as the years go by…

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Luke 15 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him (Jesus).

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.

 

So (Jesus) told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and goes (sp) after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  AND when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing?  AND when he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

 

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine “righteous persons” who need no repentance.” Luke 15:1-7

 

Observation:  Heaven has a certain temperament towards repentant sinners; a different exhibition of temperament about the self-righteous.

 

Analysis:  This parable is not about the ninety-nine so much as it is about the one, lost and wandering.  In fact, from my perspective, it isn’t even about that (the one): It is about the Shepherd who exercises sovereign, elective choice to find the one who was lost.

 

That’s me.  Blackhearted, undeserving me.  He came after me—and if I am being honest with myself, he shouldn’t have—I don’t deserve to be redeemed.

 

That is why it is Grace.  Irresistible in power.

 

Isaiah says: “You shall be a crown of beauty in the Hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the Hand of your God.  You shall no more be termed ‘Forsaken’ and your land shall no more be termed ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight I in Her, and your land ‘Married;” for the Lord delights in you and your land shall be married.  For as a young man marries a young woman so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Is 62:3-5

 

The Shephard found the sheep—so shall the Lord your God rejoice over you.  It is (and should be) humbling to consider that.  If I am not, something is out of kilter…

 

Prayer: Father, it is difficult to stir up myself, by way of reminder, of the mighty Grace you have employed over me, to bring me on your shoulders to your household.  I fail to remind myself; I fail to remind my friends, I fail to declare your Kingdom to strangers.

 

Help me get the sequence right, according to the circumstance, according to your Word and direction.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Luke 14 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Salt is good …. but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile.  It is thrown away.

 

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Luke 14:34-35

 

Observation:  I have noticed that there are a number of sayings from Scriptures that make me scratch my head even though I think I “get it…”

 

Analysis:  Tasteless salt.  I can’t think of any worth I can assign to tasteless salt.  Another reference, probably about the same time, identified believers this way: “YOU are the salt of the Earth (Matt 5:13 Sermon on the mount).

 

Digging into the Sermon on the Mount, there is a sub-text concerning Godliness and Ungodliness; Righteousness and Unrighteousness—about being an Authentic Believer or not…

 

Examining myself, asking for illumination from the Holy Spirit, looking into my faults, sounds like a joyless exercise.  Could very well be, but from experience I can say when it is joyless, it is because I have forgotten the Gospel and the Doctrines of Grace.

 

This morning in devotions with my wife, God brought to mind TULIP and what each letter means.  At the end of reviewing TULIP and especially the Perseverance of the Saints, I realize I need to stir my heart with Joy.  However, realizing this and actually stirring takes effort, effort that I am still trying to find.

 

It could be that many are like what I feel.  Maybe some aren’t even trying because they don’t know how to either Examine themselves or Stir themselves up with Joy in the Gospel.

 

Prayer:  Lord God, please wake up my soul!!  Wake up my soul….

 

Please reveal my sin, give me the Joy of your salvation, magnify your Name through me.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton