Day 139: Luke 19:1-27 & Psalm 135 - Did Zacchaeus Buy His Salvation?

Today's Reading: Luke 19:1-27 & Psalm 135

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Did Zacchaeus Buy His Salvation?

And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” - Luke 19:8, ESV

Almost everyone knows the story of Zacchaeus, who "was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he." He was a notoriously corrupt tax-collector who wanted desperately to see Jesus. Being "vertically challenged," he had to climb a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. But it was not Zacchaeus seeing Jesus but Jesus seeing Zacchaeus that was most important.

When Jesus saw the short tax-collector/extortionist in the tree, He asked him to come down and then invited Himself to his house. Immediately, the religious people began gossiping about how Jesus was going to be the guest of a notorious sinner. Zacchaeus then astounded the condemning crowd by announcing his incredible new refund program: a fourfold refund of any money he had extorted from anyone, on top of giving half of his goods to the poor.

The challenging part of this passage comes next. In response to what Zacchaeus says, Jesus proclaims, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (vv. 9-10) This prompts the question: Did Zacchaeus buy his way into heaven? Did he earn salvation by his generosity and good works? 

In a word, no. But the answer is not so simple. It was necessary for Zacchaeus to make this restitution. He needed to show the fruit of repentance by returning his ill-gotten gains, but he did not buy salvation with his generosity. Jesus selected Zacchaeus for salvation when He called him by name and asked him to come down. His salvation was entirely by grace and not of works. But his salvation did indeed work in his heart and bore the fruit of real repentance and life change.

Sometimes we can confuse the root and the fruit in salvation. Our salvation is rooted and grounded in God's free grace. We are saved by grace alone, when we trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation. But a changed heart issues forth a changed life, and a changed life bears fruit that is evidence of that change. So, has your heart been changed? How does your life reflect it?

Prayer Based on Psalm 135:

Praise the Lord!
We praise Your name, O Lord,
    giving praise to You as Your servants,
whom You are building into Your living house,
    living stones of the house of our God!
We praise You, O Lord, for You are good;
    we sing to Your name, for it is pleasant!
For You have chosen us for Yourself,
    to be Your own eternal possession.

We know that You, O Lord, are great,
    and that You are far above all gods.
Whatever You please, You do,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.
You are the One who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
    who makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings forth the wind from Your storehouses.

He it was who struck down Satan at the cross,
    cancelling his accusations against us;
You set us free from the curse of sin and death,
    and gave us an eternal inheritance with You.

Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
    Your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
For You, Lord, will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
    they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
    nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
    so do all who trust in them.

We bless You, O Lord, the one true and living God!
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 138: Luke 18:18-43 & Psalm 134 - What Must We Do to Be Saved?

Today's Reading: Luke 18:18-34 & Psalm 134

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What Must We Do to Be Saved?

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” - Luke 18:26-27, ESV

A few days ago, we saw a stark contrast between the rich man and Lazarus, as we analyzed Jesus' famous parable. We asked the question: Are you the rich man or are you Lazarus? Over and over again in the Gospels, we see Jesus confronting cultural norms and natural human expectations and aspirations. Why? Because our cultural norms and our natural human standards and desires keep us from the kingdom of God and from the gift of eternal life.

And so today, we meet two real people who are as contrasted as the rich man and Lazarus. We meet the rich young ruler (vv. 18-25) and a blind beggar (vv. 35-43). Each wanted something from Jesus. The rich young ruler wanted information, directions for how to achieve eternal life. He asked,  “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He thought eternal life was something he could be good enough to deserve. The blind beggar's request was both simpler and more urgent: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

The rich young ruler was a scrupulously religious and dutifully moral man. He had been concerned to live a life of moral purity since childhood. But he loved his money and was deceived as to the true condition of his heart. The blind beggar made no pretense of moral purity or of deserving an inheritance of eternal life from God. He simply cried out and would not be silenced: "Have mercy on me!"

It is no coincidence that we have Jesus' prediction of His own coming death and resurrection in between these two stories. Jesus' death and resurrection is necessary because religiously moral people like the rich young ruler could never be good enough to inherit eternal life. No one is good but God alone. Jesus' death and resurrection is necessary because God has determined that He will extend mercy to needy sinners like the blind beggar, even if it costs Him His only Son.  

So, what must we do to be saved? We must stop thinking that we can do anything to be saved. We must stop believing in our own goodness and start seeing how desperate our need truly is. Only then will we cry for the mercy we need, the free gift of eternal life, not earned but given, bought and paid for my the death and resurrection of the Son of God. 

Prayer Based on Psalm 134:

Oh, Lord, we bless You and worship Your holy name alone! 
You have made us Your servants and have given us a place of service within Your house. 
You are our God and we bless Your name, lifting up our hands in worship of You alone! 
May You bless Your people with grace, mercy and peace! 
May You bless Your people with Yourself! 

Day 137: Luke 18:1-17 & Psalm 133 - What Kind of Prayer Pleases God?

Today's Reading: Luke 18:1-17 & Psalm 133

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What Kind of Prayer Pleases God? 

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 

- Luke 18:1, ESV

What kind of prayer pleases God? How can we pray in a way that connects with the will of God and reaches the throne of God's grace? Should we pray prayers to unlock the windows of the blessings of heaven? Should we pray for God to expand our territory? Should we formulate positive confessions of faith, affirming what we wish to be be true about ourselves and our lives? 

Many people have written books and made millions of dollars telling people how to pray. Some have been misguided, taking Scripture out of context (The Prayer of Jabez), while others have been dangerously un-Scriptural (The Power of I Am). Thankfully, Jesus has not left us without guidance. He teaches us repeatedly how we should pray. Based on today's passage, we can know what kind of prayer pleases God in specific ways:

1. Persistent prayer (vv. 1-6). One of the biggest challenges we face in prayer is losing heart and giving up. Jesus wants us to learn to persevere in prayer. Perseverance in prayer, when guided by Scripture, often sharpens, refines and sometimes changes our desires and our prayers. Sometimes we learn to wait on the Lord, as our desires and prayers are affirmed and strengthened. Sometimes we learn to change our prayers to better align with God's will.  

2. Humble Prayer (vv. 9-14). God does not seek nor does He honor self-centered, self-righteous, self-affirming, self seeking prayer. But as Jesus said, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

3. Child-like Prayer (vv. 15-17). "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." When we see ourselves as helpless and we trust in God to save and bless us according to His gracious power, in His sovereign goodness, we are beginning to approach God as a small child. This is the approach God blesses.

Learning to pray in a way shaped by Scripture is a life-long endeavor. Some excellent booms can help us. Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer and Valley of Vision are both excellent.  Learning to pray the Psalms is an excellent daily discipline in this endeavor:

Prayer Based on Psalm 133:

Lord, it is indeed good and pleasant when we, Your people, dwell together in unity-
   when we are united in our hearts, minds and wills by Your Spirit-
it is a great blessing of Your Spirit, like oil running down the beard and onto the robes, 
   like incredible dew, heavy and refreshing, coming down on the dry and thirsty places.
Lord, You have commanded Your blessing to fall on our unity in You,
   and when we are united, we see Your power and presence with us,
     bringing us eternal life. 

Day 136: Luke 17:20-37 &; Psalm 132 - What is the Kingdom of God and Where is it?

Today's Reading - Luke 17:20-37 & Psalm 132

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What is the Kingdom of God and Where is it?

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” - Luke 17:20-21, ESV

Throughout the Gospels, we hear Jesus teaching on the kingdom of God over and over again. Many of His parables began with, "The kingdom of God is like . . . " Today we might ask, "Where is the kingdom of God?" In past centuries, some Christians thought they could identify the geographical boundaries and political structures of the kingdom of God. When "Christendom" ruled over Europe and the Americas, many Christians believed they could look at the maps and see where the kingdom of God was spread.

But Jesus never taught, envisioned or encouraged such a narrow, political, worldly perspective on the kingdom of God.Jesus did not challenge the Roman authorities and seek to over throw their political rule over Israel. Instead, when the Pharisees asked Jesus about the kingdom of God, He told them "the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

Where God rules in the hearts and lives of His people and where His power to save is working in the lives of sinners, the kingdom of God is present. The visible manifestation of the kingdom of God is found in the church, specifically in faithful churches where God is worshiped, the word of God is preached and people are being saved and growing in love for the Lord and for one another.

And so, in the ways in which the world measures power and kingdom and glory, the kingdom of God a hidden kingdom, tucked away among the kingdoms of the world. It is spread among the kingdoms and yet rises above them in the life-changing power it has in the lives of its citizens. 

While the kingdom of God is hidden now, it will not always be. One day, Jesus will come again and cause His kingdom to be fully and gloriously knows by all the nations of the world. Jesus taught, "For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day." That which is hidden will be revealed.

Until that day, we must be careful as the followers of Jesus not to confuse the nature of His kingdom. We must be careful not to measure power and glory as the world does, for that kind of perspective lowers the kingdom of God to a lesser standard. When the church forgets that the spiritual power of the gospel given to it is, in fact, far superior to the world's political and military power, our influence for good in the world declines.

Instead of compromising with the world and seeking to matter in the ways that the world says matter, we need to hold fast to the Gospel, to God-honoring worship, to missions and evangelism. We need to let Jesus define His own kingdom. And we need to wait in faith, longing for that day when Jesus will come and shine from one end of the sky to the other! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Prayer Based on Psalm 132:

From Pray All the Psalms:

Psalm 132 Prayed

Praising God for fulfilling his promise to David in us

   O Lord, in the Old Testament you remembered

              David

              and all the hardships he endured.

   He swore an oath to you, O Lord.

              and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

   “I will not enter my house

              or go to my bed—

   I will allow no sleep to my eyes,

              no slumber to my eyelids,

   till I find a place for the LORD,

              a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

   Israel heard it in Ephrathah,

              they came upon it in the fields of Jaar,

              as they went on pilgrimage to the Tabernacle:

   “Let us go to his dwelling place;

              let us worship at his footstool—

   arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place,

              you and the ark of your might.

   May your priests be clothed with righteousness;

              may your saints sing for joy.”

   For the sake of David your servant,

              do not reject your Messiah.

    O Lord, you, swore an oath to David,

              a sure oath that you did not revoke:

   “One of your own descendants

              I will place on your throne—

   if your sons keep my covenant

              and the statutes I teach them,

   then their sons will sit

              on your throne for ever and ever.”

[MORE]  

Day 135: Luke 17:1-19 & Psalm 131 - Do We Need Big Faith or a Living Faith?

Today's Reading: Luke 17:1-19 & Psalm 131

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Do We Need Big Faith or a Living Faith? 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. - Luke 17:5-6, ESV

Is it okay to ask God to increase our faith, to give us more faith? The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. He did not rebuke them or deny them outright, but He does appear to be re-directing their thinking as to the nature of faith and the nature of their request. He tells them that if they had faith like a grain of mustard seed, they would be able to do very remarkable things.

What do we know about a mustard seed?

1. It's not very big. Jesus says elsewhere that it is the smallest of all seeds. (Mark 4:31)

2. It is alive. The difference between a mustard seed and a small pebble of the same size is that a mustard seed is alive; it has life in it.

3. A mustard seed works when it falls into the ground and dies, bringing forth new life from its brokenness. In John 12:24, Jesus compares Himself to a grain of wheat, which falls to earth and dies and, in doing so, brings forth much fruit. 

So, while the disciples though they needed more faith - and don't we all always think we need more? - Jesus knew they needed a different kind of faith. They needed a living, dying faith, which, even if it was small, was powerful indeed!

In this section, we can see some remarkable things which a mustard-seed faith empowers us to do:

1. A mustard-seed faith empowers us to forgive humbly, even seven times a day, because we're ready to die to our demands for satisfaction that someone else might live and be free. (vv. 3-4)

2.  A mustard-seed faith empowers us to serve humbly and without thanks, knowing that our privilege to serve in the kingdom of God is something we don't deserve to have. (vv. 7-10)

3. A mustard-seed faith makes us thankful for the healing Jesus brings into our lives and leads us to fall at His feet and worship Him with gratitude. (vv. 11-19)

So, instead of asking God for more faith, let's make sure we understand what we really need: living, trusting faith, faith that's willing to die to self in order to bring glory to God and life to others, faith that's humble, thankful, forgiving and worshipful. That's mustard-seed faith, and we don't need much of it to make a huge impact in our lives and the lives of those around us!

Prayer Based on Psalm 131:

Psalms 130 & 131 together powerfully demonstrate what mustard-seed faith looks like in prayer and worship, moving from forgiveness and redemption to quiet gratitude and rest.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Lord, may Your people hope always and only in You,

    from this time forth and forevermore.

Day 134: Luke 16:18-31 & Psalm 130 - Are You Lazarus or the Rich Man?

Today's Reading: Luke 16:18-31 & Psalm 130

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Are You Lazarus or the Rich Man?

"But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." 

- Luke 16:25, ESV

Despite what you may see on television or in the movies, God tells us the world contains only two kinds of people. Neither the message of infinite diversity nor the message of essential sameness is accurate. God has created a variety of people, indeed, and yet we are all made in His image. So, we are diverse and yet we are all human, but this misses the most important point: God says the whole world has two kinds of people: those who belong to Him and those who in rebellion against Him.

The Bible repeats this message to us over and over again:

• Some are on the broad road that leads to destruction while others are on the narrow road that leads to life. (Matthew 7:13-14)
• Some are sheep and some are goats. (Matthew 25:31-46)
• Some follow the voice of Lady Wisdom while others follow the Woman Folly. (Proverbs 9)
• Some are righteous while others are wicked. (Psalm 1 & Psalm 112)
• Some are in the kingdom of God's Son, while others are in the kingdom of darkness. (Colossians 1:13-14)

In today's passage, the two kinds of people in the world are represented in Jesus' story by the characters of the rich man and Lazarus: 

The rich man seems abundantly blessed in this life. He has all of the world's material goods and advantages. He has not just money but a large family and lots of friends, as evidenced by the rich feasts he hosts at his home. 

Lazarus seems absolutely cursed in this life. He is unemployed, homeless and destitute. He seems to have no family and no friends, no one to care for him except the dogs (a vile, unclean animal in Israel), who lick his sores as he begs outside of Lazarus' gate. While we're told that Lazarus desired to be fed from the scraps that fell from the rich man's table, we don't know that he ever received such relief from his hunger.

For those who hold to some form of prosperity gospel, this parable is a strong rebuke. For all of us who are tempted to use our external circumstances as a measure of how pleased God is with our lives, this parable is a strong rebuke.

While the rich man and his relatives have many material blessings, Jesus presents them as having two core problems: They are hardened to the word of God and they are indifferent to the needs of others. The rich man and his family are not without religion, for Abraham indicates that "They have Moses and the Prophets." They are probably faithful synagogue-attending and Sabbath-keeping Jews. But they do not believe the word of God and they do not care for the needs of those who literally sleep right outside their gate. 

So, which are you, the rich man or Lazarus? Are you a superficially religious person who has hardened his heart to the word of God and the needs of people? Are you someone who is determined to get "your good things" in this life? Or are you humbly depending on the Lord and trusting in Him, despite whatever adversity He brings into your life? Do you trust Him that you lasting treasures and pleasures are yet to come?

Are you the rich man or are you Lazarus?

Prayer Based on Psalm 130:

I love Psalm 130. It's one of my favorites, a wonderful psalm for meditation and prayer.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord!

     O Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

    O Lord, who could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness,

    that You may be feared.

I wait for You, O Lord, my soul waits,

    and in Your word I hope;

my soul waits for You, Lord,

    more than watchmen who eagerly await the morning,

    more than watchmen for the morning.

O Lord, may Your people always and only hope in You!

    For with You alone, O Lord, there is steadfast love,

    and with You is plentiful redemption.

And You will redeem Your people

    from all our iniquities.

Day 133: Luke 16:1-17 & Psalm 129 - Why Does God Care About the Way We Handle Money?

Today'a Reading: Luke 16:1-17 & Psalm 129

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Why Does God Care About the Way We Handle Money?

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. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? -Luke 16:10-11

It's not hard to understand why Jesus cares about how we pray or how we think about the Bible. These are spiritual matters. It's also not hard to figure out why Jesus cares about how we treat others and that He emphasizes loving our neighbors. After all, people are made in God's image and God calls us all to love each other. But money? Why does it matter to Jesus how we spend our money?

In today's reading, Jesus teaches us much about money:

1. We should use the money and resources we have to bless others. (v. 9)

2. Money is a little thing compared to the true riches God offers in His kingdom, but if we're unfaithful with a little thing like money, how can we be trusted with the greater riches of the kingdom? (vv. 10-11)
3. Our money is not really our own, but is a stewardship trust from God. (v.12) 
4. It is impossible to serve money as our master and also serve God. (v. 13)

These three truths together help us understand why Jesus cares about how we spend money. Money is an important measure if what we truly value and how we think about the things God has entrusted to our care. 

We could say that it's because money is such a small, unimportant thing that how we spend it matters so much. After all, if we're willing to compromise our obedience to God for mere money, what does that say about our priorities? Or if we'd do almost anything to get money, what does that say about our hearts? 

We must serve only God and make sure that the money He gives us is used faithfully in service to Him and His kingdom alone!      

Prayer Based on Psalm 129:

From Pray All the Psalms:

Praising Jesus for his victory on the cross

   “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth.”

              you could say from the cross, Lord Jesus —

   “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

              but they have not gained the victory over me.

   Ploughmen have ploughed my back

              and made their furrows long.

   I offered my back to those who beat me,

              my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;

   I did not hide my face

              from mocking and spitting.”

   For Pilate took you and had you flogged.

              The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns

              and put it on your head.

   They clothed you in a purple robe

              and went up to you again and again, saying,

   “Hail, king of the Jews!”

              And they struck you in the face.

   But your heavenly Father is righteous; 

              he cut you free from the cords of the wicked.

   For the wages of sin is death,

              and God made you who had no sin

   to be sin for me, so that in you

              I might become the righteousness of God.

   But he raised you from the dead,

              freeing you from the agony of death,

   because it was impossible for death

              to keep its hold on you.

   For you were pierced for my transgressions,

              you were crushed for my iniquities;

 the punishment that brought me peace was upon you,

              and by your wounds I am healed.

   You forgave us all my sins,

               having cancelled the written code, with its regulations,

   that was against me and that stood opposed to me;

              you took it away, nailing it to the cross. 

   And having disarmed the powers and authorities,

              you made a public spectacle of them,

              triumphing over them by the cross.

   May all who hate the heavenly Zion,

              be turned back in shame.

   May their harvest be like grass on the roof, 


              which withers before it can grow;

   may the reapers not fill their hands with it, 


              nor those who gather fill their arms.

   May those who pass by not say to them;

              “The blessing of the Lord be upon you;


              we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

   Instead, do not be let them be deceived, O God

              for you cannot be mocked.

              Each one of us reaps what we sow. 

   Those who sow to please their sinful nature,

              from that nature will reap destruction;

   Those who sow to please the Spirit,

              from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

   So help us to gently instruct

              those who oppose you,

   in the hope that you will grant them repentance,

              leading them to a knowledge of the truth.