Read Luke 6-7
Praise the Lord for He is good!! As we are now in the heart of the Lent season, let's take a step back, take a deep breath and reflect on what we've accomplished during these past few weeks.
For those who "gave up" stuff, how have you been doing? Have you guys gotten further in your walk with Christ?
For those who have opted to use this time to take on a newer perspective on their lives (regardless of what they gave up), what have you learned? How far have you come in terms of your walk with the Lord?
I believe it is safe to say that the ultimate purpose for all of us partaking in the spirit of Lent would be to develop a closer, more intimate relationship with God. Even without Lent, in an ideal world, our goal as Christians should be to strive achieve this on a regular basis.
However, in a realistic world, there are a lot of things happening in our daily lives that keep us from reaching that goal and even making us lose sight of that goal especially when things start to get tough. It may even get to the point where we may end up questioning everything and being disappointed with what we have going on around us.
In the readings found from Luke 6-7, it talks about the turning points in Jesus' ministry and what has been accomplished and how Jesus responds in situations where spiritual stagnation and spiritual uprising finally cross paths with each other.
In our walk with God, most of us find a place where we feel very comfortable and our faith is neither bolstered or shot down. That would be like the Pharisees from Jesus's time, who would incubate in their beliefs and call out anyone who differed from the normal practices of other people. One prime target being Jesus.
Regardless of the social conventions of that time, Jesus put the needs and feelings of other people before his own interests. Luke chapter 6 verses 1-10 describes a situation when ON THE SABBATH DAY, Jesus put the hunger and discomfort of his people (his disciples, man with a deformity) before the social traditions that were in place, which he could have used to boost his own influence.
With Jesus making spiritual waves in Biblical News for ignoring the Sabbath, this display of love helped start to stir the hearts that have once been stagnant. And with this project getting more exposure, Jesus recruited 12 capable men to be at his side, learn from him and carry out his mission (#squadgoals).
Praise the Lord for He is good!! As we are now in the heart of the Lent season, let's take a step back, take a deep breath and reflect on what we've accomplished during these past few weeks.
For those who "gave up" stuff, how have you been doing? Have you guys gotten further in your walk with Christ?
For those who have opted to use this time to take on a newer perspective on their lives (regardless of what they gave up), what have you learned? How far have you come in terms of your walk with the Lord?
I believe it is safe to say that the ultimate purpose for all of us partaking in the spirit of Lent would be to develop a closer, more intimate relationship with God. Even without Lent, in an ideal world, our goal as Christians should be to strive achieve this on a regular basis.
However, in a realistic world, there are a lot of things happening in our daily lives that keep us from reaching that goal and even making us lose sight of that goal especially when things start to get tough. It may even get to the point where we may end up questioning everything and being disappointed with what we have going on around us.
In the readings found from Luke 6-7, it talks about the turning points in Jesus' ministry and what has been accomplished and how Jesus responds in situations where spiritual stagnation and spiritual uprising finally cross paths with each other.
In our walk with God, most of us find a place where we feel very comfortable and our faith is neither bolstered or shot down. That would be like the Pharisees from Jesus's time, who would incubate in their beliefs and call out anyone who differed from the normal practices of other people. One prime target being Jesus.
Regardless of the social conventions of that time, Jesus put the needs and feelings of other people before his own interests. Luke chapter 6 verses 1-10 describes a situation when ON THE SABBATH DAY, Jesus put the hunger and discomfort of his people (his disciples, man with a deformity) before the social traditions that were in place, which he could have used to boost his own influence.
With Jesus making spiritual waves in Biblical News for ignoring the Sabbath, this display of love helped start to stir the hearts that have once been stagnant. And with this project getting more exposure, Jesus recruited 12 capable men to be at his side, learn from him and carry out his mission (#squadgoals).
Chapter 7 goes on to talk about the extent that the spiritual uprising is taking effect from the
change of events from chapter 6's spiritual stagnation. This is best explained by the behavior
and attitude displayed by the widow and her son and the Roman Centurion and his
household. The amount of faith they had in Jesus shows how much the uprising is spreading
and taking effect in people's lives without considering one's position or standing in life.
However, reality also dictates that with new changes comes lots of questions. Chapter 7:18-23, John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus asking if he really is the one behind all the new changes or if there is another who will really help the people.
HIS OWN COUSIN! John's questions were not out of blue, but Jesus responds by telling him, that where faith was once blocked and stagnant, it is beginning to break free and flow a bit more smoothly (Luke 7:22-23).
So let's ask ourselves: are we comfortable with where we stand spiritually? Do our lives touch others the same way as Jesus' did? Did we stagnate or are we still flowing?
Jesus himself says that "among those born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet even the one who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28)
Basically Jesus says that even though John is great and he has the favor from God to be blessed, those who come after John are greater than him because they will enter God's kingdom knowing and understanding the purpose of God's son and sacrifice, while John only prophesied this concept.
- Libby Abraham
However, reality also dictates that with new changes comes lots of questions. Chapter 7:18-23, John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus asking if he really is the one behind all the new changes or if there is another who will really help the people.
HIS OWN COUSIN! John's questions were not out of blue, but Jesus responds by telling him, that where faith was once blocked and stagnant, it is beginning to break free and flow a bit more smoothly (Luke 7:22-23).
So let's ask ourselves: are we comfortable with where we stand spiritually? Do our lives touch others the same way as Jesus' did? Did we stagnate or are we still flowing?
Jesus himself says that "among those born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet even the one who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28)
Basically Jesus says that even though John is great and he has the favor from God to be blessed, those who come after John are greater than him because they will enter God's kingdom knowing and understanding the purpose of God's son and sacrifice, while John only prophesied this concept.
- Libby Abraham
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