S – So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house

 Luke 19:4–5 CSB

O – Though loathed by the Jewish people, a tax collector is a Jewish citizen who held a place of high authority in Biblical times.  Considering Jericho was a customs station for Rome and one of the most fertile lands in the area, it became a place where wealthy people lived.  Zacchaeus would be prominent and powerful.

* Yet, he climbed a tree just to see Jesus.

A – Jesus taught that unless you become like a child, you won’t see the kingdom of heaven.  Zacchaeus exemplifies this.  He wants to see Jesus but he can’t because he is too little.  He runs ahead.  He climbs a tree. He responds to Jesus with joy.  He doesn’t just make it right…he goes above and beyond.  He is like a boy excited and wanting to please his papa.

* I want that child-like enthusiasm and faith today.

* I want to be willing to “climb a tree.”

* I want to give the Lord more than He is asking of me today.

* I want to do all of this joyfully.

R – Lord, help me to have that child-like faith and enthusiasm for being in your presence.  Help me to joyfully do what you ask, even if it means looking “silly” to others.  Help me to do all this so I continue to align my actions with your heart and will. 

S – As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. ³⁶ Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. ³⁷ “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him. 

³⁸ So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ³⁹ Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” 

“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.” 

⁴² “Receive your sight,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.”

Luke 18:35–42 CSB

O – It is obvious the man is blind.  It is obvious that he was tenacious and desperate for his healing.   It is obvious that he got Jesus’ attention.  So why did Jesus ask him what he want him to do for him?

A –

*In asking for his healing, he is stopping his way of life and income – begging.

*In asking for his healing, he is stopping his interaction with society – where he belonged.

*In asking for his healing, he is stopping his identity – that blind guy.

*In calling Jesus, Son of David – he is “seeing” that Jesus is the Messiah, while physically blind.

*Could it be that when Jesus asked him the question, he saw so much faith and readiness to lose himself, that he was ready to do more than just heal him?

R – Lord, I don’t want to become stagnate in my faith.  I want to believe beyond my own life and what is comfortable.  I want to see in areas I am “blind.”  I want to continue to shed the things I identify with and make my identity in you.

S –  ^“As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy^, met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 

Luke 17:12–13 CSB

O – “Distance” – pŏrrhō:   forwards, i.e. at a distance:— far, a great way off.

 The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

* This was customary and expected that anyone with leprosy would keep a distance from others.  Being that nine of the ten were Jewish, they would follow this custom.  They had to raise their voices to cover the span between them and Jesus.

A – This story usually gets a lot of traction on gratitude or the lack of gratitude after the healing. Today, I want to dive into the distance.  Whether a Christian or not, sin brings distance.  It brings shame, guilt and condemnation and we distance ourselves from God in this area of our lives.  What spans the chasm between us and God’s love?  Jesus.  He is our bridge.  The key is daily relationship and conversation with God, through Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

R – Lord, I am grateful for Jesus and the love He showed me on the cross.  I invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me throughout my day.  Show me areas of my life where my sin brings distance so I can interact with you to close the gap between us.  I do not want distance between us.

S – But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead

Luke 16:31 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Jesus was obviously suggesting that the rich man symbolized the Pharisees. They wanted signs—signs so clear that they would compel people to believe. But since they refused to believe the Scriptures, they would not believe any sign no matter how great. Just a short time later Jesus did raise a man from the dead, another man named Lazarus (John 11:38–44). The result was that the religious leaders began to plot more earnestly to kill both Jesus and Lazarus.

 “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – It is easy to get into the “If this, then that” game.  God isn’t a formula or Santa Claus.  Our interaction is characterized by a relationship where it is His will intersecting with my will.  Just like every other relationship.  Keep working on the relationship and I will have less times of little faith and trust.

R – Lord, you know me and all that I am facing today.  Help me to look to you first and not a sign or answer I want.  I desire to be more in unity with you.  In doing so, I will understand your will and purpose better.

S – So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him

Luke 15:20 CSB

O – Commentary: It was a breach of an elderly Jewish man’s dignity to run, though familial love could take priority over dignity after a long absence.  Given the normal garb, the father would have to pull up his skirt to run. Kissing was a conventional greeting for family members or intimate friends; normally it consisted of a light kiss on the lips (easily distinguishable from lovers’ passionate kisses).

 The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament,

A – The energy of the moment is amazing.  The disregard for dignity and the emotion of reconciliation jumps off the page. Think about the magnitude and “unlimitedness” of God.  Yet, He confined himself to the human body of Jesus, who humbled him further by crucifixion on the cross for our sins. Thank you, God!

R – Lord, I am grateful for all that you do for me.  I don’t want to take for granted the cross.  I exalt you to the highest level of Lord and Savior today.  Let me walk in a way that personifies my gratitude and desire to be in relationship with you.

S – Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 

Luke 14:34 CSB

O – Jesus uses the analogy of salt to describe our christian walk.  It should have a distinct “flavor” to it.  It shouldn’t blend in with all the other tastes.  Our relationship with Christ should cause us to stand out.

A – Commentary:  

“The only way for salt to lose its saltiness, from a chemical perspective, is for a chemical reaction to occur. NaCl is a very stable substance…for salt to lose its pungent saltiness, or change its physical composition, it would have to be diluted in water because it is non-reactive in its crystalline form. Or electricity would have to be introduced to force the sodium chloride into its ionic components thereby changing its chemical composition.”  Deneen White, January, 2007

Thoughts:

• Our relationship with Christ brings us stability and foundation for a unique relationship with God.
• It has potential to be diluted – a “watered” down Christianity.  
• It has potential to be affected by sin, temptation and life events to change our view of God, even though God has not changed.
• We have a choice in moving our relationship from stable to unstable because God remains the same, a change agent is introduced and we decide how it affects that relationship.

R – Lord, life is tough.  I am grateful that my relationship with you brings me great stability and a firm foundation to face all that life brings today.  I pray that I would remain strong in our relationship by the leading of your Holy Spirit and aligning with your Word.  I make the choice to remain strong in my relationship with you in all things I will face today.

S – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:34 CSB

O – Such a simple, famous verse.  This gets quoted a lot.  The context revolves around earthly wealth and money.  It reinforces the principle that where our focus is, our thoughts, words and actions will follow.

A – Most things start in a healthy place.  Whatever is important to you (including money and wealth) actually starts with our basic needs to live and thrive.  Then, it moves into a desire for more.  Again, this is healthy until it becomes “unhealthy.”  When that desire goes causes your focus on more of this than God and it becomes your God.  Your life revolves around satisfying this desire more than your relationship with God himself.  

R – Lord, thank you for being my provider in all things.  Thank you that you give me more than enough to take care of my needs and my wants.  Please give me the strength and courage to face things that tempt me with “more.”  Help me to keep you the focus of my life.

S – Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.”

Luke 11:52 CSB

O – Simple verse with heavy impact.  Jesus is challenging the leaders they are blocking those they lead by not accessing His teachings.  There is a tension between self-growth and growth that leads others.

A – I need to maintain a healthy growth pattern in my life.  I need to continually lean into the Word and my relationship with God to grow in my knowledge and application.   This enables me to have a healthy foundation to lead others.  I am ministering and leading from my overflow of personal growth and taking others along with me.

R – Lord, my relationship with you is important in consistent growth.  Help me to press into my relationship with you and the daily leading of the Holy Spirit.  In doing so, give me the wisdom and humility to lead others in their walks with you as well.

S – At that time he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.^, 

Luke 10:21 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Luke frequently mentioned the Holy Spirit’s ministry in Jesus’ life. The three Persons of the Godhead are clearly seen: Jesus the Son was doing the Father’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit. Each had a specific function (vv. 21–22).

“Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures\

A – We can have joy in the Holy Spirit.  I usually refer to the function of the Holy Spirit to help me in my relationship with God.  Yet, I often neglect to ask for his help to have joy or celebrate God.  That is also an important part of the relationship.

R – Lord, I celebrate You today!  You are an infinite God and you love me and everyone else you created.  I exalt you to the highest level and rejoice in You.

S – Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 CSB

O – Commentary:  The cross was an instrument of violent and painful execution. To “take the cross” was to carry the horizontal beam (the patibulum) of the cross out to the site of execution, usually past a jeering mob. In *rhetorically strong terms, Jesus describes what all true *disciples must be ready for:  if they follow him, they must be ready to face literal scorn on the road to eventual martyrdom, for they must follow to the cross

 The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

* Interesting notes on this verse: 

•   Jesus had not gone to the cross yet.  He is introducing how He is going to die.
• “Daily” is only found in the book of Luke

A – The crucifixion story is horrific and culminates in a walk of “condemnation” to the cross.  When we recognize the victory of the cross, it changes the nature of that walk.  We know the enemy is going to bring shame, condemnation and life circumstances to challenge us.  We know we are fallible humans whose nature it is to give in to our impulses and temptations.  But, we are filled with the power of God and given a Holy Spirit to lead us through the daily trip to the cross toward victory.

R – Lord, life is hard.  Yet, you promise me victory when I take on your character and calling.  Whatever I will face today, you promise to go with me through it.  You give me a helper to navigate and advocate for me.  Let me confidently face each situation with your wisdom, insights and courage.