Day 19 Wednesday March 10, 2010

Day 19 Wednesday March 10, 2010

TODAY’S INTRO
Jesus appears a bit worked up today. His words are not soft and gentle but rather are sharp and very challenging. We often focus on the soft and compassionate side of Jesus but lets not forget that he didn’t shrink away from challenging others.

TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 11:29-54
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! 32The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
The Light of the Body
33 ‘No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar,* but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. 35Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.’
Jesus Denounces Pharisees and Lawyers
37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. 38The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.
42 ‘But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practised, without neglecting the others. 43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honour in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the market-places. 44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.’
45 One of the lawyers answered him, ‘Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.’ 46And he said, ‘Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. 47Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 48So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute”, 50so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. 52Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’
53 When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile towards him and to cross-examine him about many things, 54lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.



TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Concerned with outward appearances? Focused on how things look to others? Always desiring to be held in high esteem?------These charges could be issued in every generation as a challenge.

Jesus reminds us once more that the heart- the center of our being- is what we need to give to God first and foremost and the exterior will follow.
Jesus yearns to see us be people of integrity where our faith and actions are in complete alignment. The story today seems to refer to leaders who were out of alignment. It speaks to us because our beliefs and behavior can just as easily get out of alignment. Come up with your own examples but how often do we speak about how our faith is incredibly important yet fall so short in living by that faith or conforming our lives to Jesus’ ways.
When our calls fall out of alignment, we quickly need to get them to a mechanic to fix, so the journey ahead can a little more streamlined. So it is in the spiritual life. I think we need to turn to Jesus as often as possible to get aligned and re-aligned. We do that in devotion, in prayer, in Bible Study, in journaling, in worship. The more we turn to God, the more we ask for a tune up, the better off we will be for dramatic service in the world.
How would you describe your spiritual life right now- in alignment or in need of alignment?
Jesus, we ask for you to touch our hearts and our lives. Align us to your mission and purpose. Help steer us in your directions and enable us to turn around when we go astray. Bless us for the journey that lies ahead. Amen



FRIENDS ADDED
Let’s be honest. The crowds journeying with Jesus appear to be still on board but Jesus’ sharp criticisms today offend the religious leaders. He didn’t win any friendships today. In fact, I suspect that even some of the followers were made very uncomfortable by Jesus bold accusations.