Luke 7:11-18

vs. 13 "He had compassion"

How compassionate are we today?  We can hardly walk down the street without seeing someone without a home, without money, without decent cloths, or even a bath...What do we do?  Most of us probably pass them without even a glance, or walk on the other side, or even turn around and find a different route.  Jesus said "even when you have done it unto the least of these thy bretheren, you have done it unto me."  Jesus "had compassion" for those in need, those hurting, and those searching.  We need to have compassion for our fellow man so that reports of us can go out all over this land and we can say, "it is God working through me, praise be to God and His compassion!!  i am just His vessel!"

Luke 7:1-10

This centurion had so much faith that he knew all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed/  He knew that Jesus' power was without limits and boundaries; that Jesus did not even have to be in the same room to see the problem to heal it.

I feel that we, today, would have a similar power if we had the faith of this centurion.  That we could say "God, this person is in need of healing.  Heal him now because You have the power."  I feel we don't see healing in today's times as we do in history because people don't have that faith in God's power that produces healing.  Jesus healed with command and authority over an illness; no doubt!!!  That's the faith we need if we are to perform miracles for God's kingdom!

Luke 6:46-49

This is why it is so important to raise children in church.  Children need a godly upbringing so that their roots are planted.  All children rebel at some time in their lives yet God always brings them to a low point where they have no choice but to choose to continue or choose something better, Him.  If they already have that foundation in Christ, then they have Him to pick them up; if they don't, when those trials come, they are more likely to keep a downward journey throughout their lives.

Luke 6:43-45

What do people see when they watch me?  What kind of fruit am I producing?  If people were to watch my life, would they know that I am a Christian?  would they see my fruit?  Do I have fruit?  Am I a good tree?

As I look back on my life, I see all the people I have had the opportunity to meet, talk to, and help.  However, when I think about them, I can't say with absolute certainty that I was the person I was suppose to be in Christ.  And when I am sure that I tried to do what God would have me do, I don't know that it did any good.

The fruit on a tree is obvious...should the fruits of my labor not also be abvious?  Is our fruit always visible?

Luke 6:39-42

How quick we ar to judge other people!  Jesus himself tells us no one is good except God, yet we elivate ourselves so much and put ourselves on pedistals pointing out other people's mistakes, other people's flaws, and we are blind to our own.  Jesus has set us the perfect example and tells us we will not be greater than Him, but if we learn from Him we will be like Him.  Jesus Himself didn't judge the people He healed or ate with.  He healed them and saved them without criticizing them; He loved and forgave.  If we are to learn from Him and be like Him, we need to remove our judgemental planks and love people and see them for who they are just like Jesus did.

Luke 6:36-38

Be Merciful, Judge Not, Condemn Not, Forgive, Give

These are just a few of the "commandments" God gives us.  Look at 1 John 2:3, "Now by this we know that we KNOW HIM, if we keep His commandments."

This is how everyone around us, know that we are in Christ and that we KNOW him!  The world is watching.  What do they see?

This is also how WE know that we know him.  If we are following God's commandments that He has given, then we can know without a shadow of a doubt that we know Christ.  Because, unlike the "law", these are talk oriented, do this and you are ok tasks; these are lifestyle oriented things that can only be accomplished with a life in Christ.

Luke 6:30-35

How easy is it really to give with no thought of getting anything in return?  Not easy at ALL!!  Even sometimes when I am doing a mission project I am thinking of treasures in heaven.  Plus, doing mission projects is easy when it comes to not expecting something in return becuase you know they can't pay you.  Jesus isn't even mentioning going out to people you don't know and helping them, he is saying to help, love, and do good to those people you see and talk to every day that you don't get along with.  Those people who tear you down and hate you.  Jesus didn't give easy assignments, if he had, there would be no difference in us and everyone else, but he does tell us that he will never ask us to do anything without equiping us for the task!  Remember that, God never gives us a task that is too much because he himself provides the training!

Luke 6:20-30

Love ALL, Bless ALL, Pray for ALL!!

God wants us to do everything that is against human nature to do!  How hard is it to love someone who continuously hates, uses, or tries to harm you?  How hard is it to do good for someone who just wishes you were dead?  How hard is it to smile in the face of those who tear you down?  And, if we are honest, how often do we pray God's mercy and love on all these people?  It goes against everything our human nature tells us to do!  That is why our actions in living for God are so powerful!  People SEE that we are different and don't fit the mold!  How amazing it would be if God's people really start living against what their body tells them and start living what their soul tells them!

While praying after this reading today, God brought to mind people who I still see, see pictures of, or read updates about and wish they weren't doing so well....how selfish am I?!!!  I am a worse person that they are, yet God forgives me!  Who am I to want bad things for people when I am so blessed even though I am the sinner I am?  So, today I am going to leave these people a note telling them I am sorry for the attitude of hatred I have had.

Luke 6:13-19

I wonder....if we were living in a relationship with God as we should be, would we be filled with such power (God's power) that all the sick had to do was touch us and they would be healed?

Food for thought......

Luke 6:12

How many times do we stop and pray?  People now days are afraid of the silence.  Why?  Maybe we are afraid of what we might hear.  Maybe we are afraid we won't hear anything.  Maybe we're afraid because we know we'll never be the same once we start hearing.  Jesus was God!  Jesus was God in the flesh and he made it a point to get away from literally everything else and have fellowship with God.  And, his prayer wasn't a "cookie cutter" prayer and over in 2 minutes just to say he prayed; he "continued all night in prayer with God."  This came after a full day of healing, teaching, fellowshiping, etc.  Jesus still made the time to give himself that intimate bond with his Father!