Tag: Gospel of Luke

Morning Reading: Luke 7.11-17 ESV – compassion… arise

Reading: Luke 7:11-17 ESV

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

widow nain
“The Resurrection of the Widow’s Son at Nain”
(circa 1894) by James Tissot – closeup

As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Prayer: God of Compassion – visit us with Your healing touch. Have mercy on the sick and dying, the widow and orphan, and the least among us. Lord Jesus – You have broken our bondage to sin and death, loose us and set us free. Holy Spirit – Move with power among us that all might know “God has visited his people!” Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Kindness” – Chris Tomlin (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV – authority

Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them.

unworthyWhen he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”  And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But say the word, and let the ones I love be healed. Look into their hearts – you know their names – and speak your word of forgiveness and healing. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Come just as you are” (YouTube)

Come just as you are. Hear the spirit call. Come just as you are. Come and see; come receive; come and live forever. Life everlasting. Strength for today. Taste the living water and never thirst again.

Morning Reading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT – collapse

collapsed houseReading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.

It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive me for calling on you to fix what I’ve broken in my own life. Draw me close to you and fill me with your love… and the grace to accept responsibility for my own decisions. Give me a willing spirit to follow you… do what you tell me to do… and put my life on a solid foundation. For your greater glory, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Draw Me Close to You”

Draw me close to You; never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I’m Your friend. You are my desire, no one else will do. Nothing else can take Your place, to feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way, bring me back to You.

You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near.

Morning Reading: Luke 6:37-42 – eye exam

Reading: Luke 6:37-42 NLT

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.

rubbing eye“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Open my eyes so that I can see myself as you see me. Forgive me, heal me, and change me from inside out. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “From The Inside Out” – Hillsong

Morning Reading: Luke 6.43-45 NLT – fruit inspection

Reading: Luke 6.43-45 NLT

grape vine“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Prayer: Holy Spirit – As the day unfolds, show me what is flowing out of my heart… that I may hold onto what’s good, and let go of the bad. Lord Jesus – probe the treasury of my heart… forgive and prune away the bad stuff, and increase in me all that is good. Heavenly Father – may I honor and bless you in all that I do and say. I surrender myself to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “I Surrender All” – Judson W. Van De Venter (1896)

All to Jesus I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

(All to Jesus I surrender – Oslo Gospel Choir)

All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power; Let Thy blessing fall on me. I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.