Day 21 Friday March 12, 2010
TODAY’S INTRO
Jesus. Wayne’s World. Mr. Rogers! I bet you didn’t expect to get them in a Lenten Devotion but that is what you get today! Read on.
TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 12:33-59
33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Watchful Slaves
35 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he* would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
41 Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ 42And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces,* and put him with the unfaithful. 47That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Jesus the Cause of Division
49 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided:father against son and son against father,mother against daughter and daughter against mother,mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Settling with Your Opponent
57 ‘And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case,* or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.’
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Saturday Night Live has had a tremendous run for 30+years. They’ve always been able to find a combination of great writers as well as great comedians. In the early 90’s Dana Carvey and Mike Myers had a running skit called “Wayne’s World” which ended up becoming a hit movie. The two character, Wayne and Garth loved hockey and you would often find them playing street hockey on a fairly busy street. The amusing thing as they played was that they would play for a minute or two and a car would start coming down the street. Wayne would shout out, “game off Garth.” Garth would reply “game off Wayne” and they would both grab the nets and drag them off the road. The car would go by and Wayne would shout out “game on Garth” and, of course, Garth would shout out “Game on wayne”. The nets would go back in place and they would play once more until. . . . .the next car came by. Those phrases, “Game on” and “Game off” were heard often and became a part of the cultural vocabulary.
Still, as I look at today’s text what I hear Jesus saying is “friends, when you follow me it’s always ‘game on!’”. Jesus reminds us that as his people on the journey, we can’t be people of good intentions- who plan to get around to following Jesus’ ways with 100% enthusiasm but put it on hold or we “hold back” full enthusiasm for a later date. Jesus is telling us not to hit the snooze button but to be ready to follow him today-
*to become more generous—staring today!
*to be more ready to listen- starting today!
*to be more acceptions—starting today!
*to be a better friend—starting today!
*to be more dedicated to our family- starting today!
*to be more ________________ - starting today!
Let’s not delay. “Game on”.
Fred Rogers (Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood) was an ordained minister but had the unique call to have a television ministry. Although he never mentioned Jesus on his show, the principles of Jesus were everywhere in the “Neighborhood”. Rogers, on the way to work everyday said the same prayer- “God, let some word of yours be heard in all I say and do today. Amen.”
In a sense, his prayer was about always being ready to serve- in each moment, every day, and at every opportunity. May that be our prayer as well. Game on!
Causes
Preparedness
That theme of Proper use of possessions/generosity- Just keeps coming up. Kind of like the “energizer bunny”. Are you seeing Jesus lift up that theme over and over and over again. . . or is it me? Jesus appears to want us to “get it right’!
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