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“Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

Luke 6:30–31

Charles Spurgeon was the most famous preacher in the world during his lifetime. But there were many other well-known preachers with large churches in London. One of them was pastored by a man named Joseph Parker. At one point, Spurgeon ran a large orphanage to take care of children who had no parents, and Parker made a remark about the awful lives those children faced. The remark was reported publicly as a criticism of the conditions inside Spurgeon’s orphanages.

A furious Spurgeon went to the pulpit and harshly criticized Parker. The sermon was, as were all of Spurgeon’s sermons, printed in the papers, and London eagerly awaited the following Sunday to see how Parker would respond. Rather than refuting what Spurgeon had said, Parker simply announced to the packed auditorium that they were going to take up a special offering for Spurgeon’s orphanages. The ushers had to empty the offering plates three times! Later that week Spurgeon arrived at Parker’s office and said, “Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.”

Every day as we interact with others, we face the choice of how we will treat them. Will we respond in kind to attacks, criticism, and harsh words? Will we respond in kind, trying to get even and prove we cannot be taken advantage of? Or will we defer our anger, even if it is justified, and allow God to settle any scores that need to be made right? Paul wrote, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.”

Luke 6:32–34

Charles Gordon went to China as a volunteer to help lead the fight against the Taiping Rebellion and protect Western citizens from the rampages of the revolt. His great success in the field in charge of what came to be known as the “Ever Victorious Army” helped put down the rebellion and restore peace to the troubled land. Unlike many military leaders of his day, Gordon did not come from a wealthy family and had little in the way of resources. The grateful Chinese government commissioned a special gold medal for Gordon in honor of his service.

When Gordon returned to England, he found news of a great famine, and he wanted to do something to help. His medal from the Chinese government was the only thing of real value that he possessed. Gordon took the medal and hammered out the inscription carved into it so that it could no longer be identified. He then sent it anonymously to the treasurer of the fund raising effort along with this note: “This is the secret of bliss—to give away your medal!”

Though God does reward us for our giving, that can never be the primary motivation. Instead, a proper appreciation for the grace God has given to us so freely should lead us to give with the same spirit of generosity—and without consideration of return. When we invest the resources God has entrusted to us in His work to help others, we are giving the way that God commands.

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Luke 6:35–36

When the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, it divided the capital city of Germany in a way that reflected the division that had been forced on the conquered nation following World War II. West Germany remained part of the free world while East Germany was under the domination of the Soviet Union. Once the wall was in place, people could no longer escape the communist government simply by reaching Berlin. There was a great division that remained until the wall was brought down in 1989.

It is said that at one point during a particularly tense moment in East-West relations, in the 1970s, that a group from East Berlin decided to begin throwing bags of garbage over the wall in a symbolic protest against the West. After seeing the bags of garbage, some residents of the western part of the city decided on an appropriate response. They filled bags with food and medical supplies that were in short supply in the communist part of the city and flung them over the wall with a note that read, “Each gives what he has.”

If we only extend love to a select few, we are not obeying the command of God, and we are not showing His love to a world that so desperately needs to see it. If we are to live as children of the King, then we must love as He loves. James wrote, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” (James 2:8).

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Luke 6:37–38

The Scottish preacher Alexander Whyte recounted the story of a visit he paid to a prominent lawyer in Glasgow. He said that when he entered the office, the lawyer asked, “Do you have a message for an old sinner?” Whyte responded by telling the man the text for his sermon the next Sunday. “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy” (Micah 7:18). God would have every right to delight in justice. Sin is an awful, despicable, hateful thing in His eyes, and it is fully fitting for it to be punished. Yet, instead, God’s love and grace are so wonderful that He delights in extending mercy to us. And He calls for us to do the same in our dealings with others.

God has established a principle of sowing and reaping in the world, and it extends to our relationships with others. If we are harsh and critical and judgmental, we cannot expect to receive mercy when we need it—and we certainly are going to need it at some point in our lives. Just as God enjoys the opportunity to extend mercy to us, a forgiving and gracious spirit should characterize our lives. We should be merciful because it is the right thing to do, but if we need an additional incentive, there is the truth that we will receive from others what we give to them.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”

Luke 6:41–42

The story is told of an old New England preacher who found that the clock in the back of his church would not keep the correct time. Even worse, it was not consistent. Sometimes it ran too fast and other times it was too slow. After his attempts to reset the clock failed, the preacher hung a sign over the clock that read: “Don’t blame my hands—the problem is deeper than that.”

Human nature is such that it is far easier and more comfortable for us to focus on the sins and shortcomings of others rather than our own. And, in truth, our tendency is to exaggerate the faults of others while minimizing our own. Yet that does not reveal that our spiritual condition is better, but rather that we are hypocrites who are willing to condemn others for things that are even smaller than those we allow in our own lives.

A harsh and judgmental spirit is an indication of a heart problem. The pride that makes us feel better when we assess others to be worse than ourselves will not survive a careful look into the Word of God. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).

“For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

Luke 6:43–45

Among the many wild plants that beautify the Texas landscape is the agave. One of the largest varieties is the agave americanus, more commonly called the century plant. So named because it only blooms once—and while it doesn’t actually take a hundred years, it usually takes twenty-five to thirty years. When the plant reaches its full height and has completely developed, it sends a massive stalk high into the air, often reaching forty feet, before bursting out an array of yellow flowers. The key to the flowering of the century plant is what is out of sight, underground in the roots.

The same thing is true in our lives. What is in our hearts will eventually show up on the outside. We may be able to conceal it for a time, but eventually our thoughts, attitudes, desires, and priorities will bear fruit in our lives. The key to bearing good fruit is not found in the fruit, but in the heart. Long before anything shows on the outside, the nature of the fruit is set by what is on the inside. That is why Solomon wrote, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The visible fruit of our lives, whether good or bad, is determined by the inward life that others cannot see.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

If every person who talks about following Jesus and claims to be following Jesus were actually doing so, our world would be a very different place. Instead, a vast number of people pick and choose from a few isolated things that Jesus said or take their own interpretation of what Jesus said and do that. God’s pattern is different. He commands obedience in all things. In His last conversation with the disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).

It is said that on one occasion, a French army officer asked George Washington’s mother what she had done to rear her son into such a fine man. Mrs. Washington replied, “I taught him to obey.” There are many different aspects and duties of the Christian life, but all of them boil down to obedience. Only when we do what God says can we legitimately claim to be following Him. All of our declarations of love and submission can never substitute for the actual obedience Christ commands.

In Roman times, a ruler had absolute authority over his subjects and their lives. At a whim he could order people to be moved from one place to another. He even had the power of life and death, by executing anyone who displeased him. While God is not a capricious tyrant, He does have supreme authority. It is a contradiction to claim that He is Lord while at the same time disobeying what He says for us to do. If He is Lord (and He is) then He must be obeyed. We do not get to decide how we should live and what we should do because our lives do not belong to us.

“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

Luke 6:47–49

Because of the frequent earthquakes we have here in California, the design and material of a foundation is critically important. Each time we have built a new building for the church or the college, we have had architects and engineers do careful planning to ensure that the foundation is laid in such a way as to withstand the shaking of the ground that comes with an earthquake. It would be faster and cheaper to just start building on the surface rather than dig into the ground, pour concrete, and reinforce it with steel. But taking the shortcut is a recipe for disaster.

The same is true in our lives. It requires effort, sacrifice and commitment to obey the commands of Christ. It means giving up the temporary pleasures sin offers and rejecting short-term expediency for the sake of eternal reward. It means that we value the things of God over the things of the world. It means that we stand for and do what is right even if no one else is willing to do so. This kind of commitment is the foundation for a life that withstands the storms. The storms come to everyone—the difference in response and outcome is found in the foundation.

“Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.”

Luke 7:1–3

When President James Garfield was a teenager, he had little interest in the things of God. He was working on a towboat on a canal near his home, when a freak accident threw him off the boat and pulled him underwater. He caught hold of a rope that had caught on the lock of the canal, and dragged himself out of the water. In later telling the story, Garfield said, “I was convinced that God had saved my life; therefore, my life was worth saving. I resolved to go home, get an education, and be something else than a hand on a towboat.” When Garfield reached his home, he found his mother by the fireplace with her Bible on her knees. She was praying over and over, “O turn unto me, and have mercy unto me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid” (Psalm 86:16).

Life is more than we can manage in our own power and strength. God does not intend for us to live without His help. He is our source to face the trials and burdens of life. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–2). It is wonderful when friends stand with us and encourage and support us in times of trouble, but that doesn’t always happen as it should. Yet even if we have no one else, God will never abandon us, and we need no one else.

“And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”

Luke 7:4–5

An overwhelming majority of the Jews in Jesus’ day hated the Romans. They had enjoyed a brief respite of freedom following the revolt led by the Maccabees only to be conquered a few years later by the mighty Roman Empire. There were constant conflicts between the Jewish people and the occupying forces. While the Romans allowed certain freedoms to the lands that they captured, they made it clear who was in charge and enforced the edicts of the empire at the point of the sword. Thousands of Roman soldiers were stationed in Israel as a daily reminder of Roman power.

Yet even among the despised occupying force, there were some men who distinguished themselves by their compassion for the Jewish people. One of them was a high-ranking officer, a centurion who had one hundred soldiers under his command. Rather than treating the Jewish people harshly as some of his peers no doubt did, he went so far as to construct a synagogue for Jewish worship. And when he found himself in need of Jesus’ help, the Jewish people urged Jesus to work on his behalf. That is a powerful testimony and a challenge to all of us.

The primary image that the world sees of Jesus is that which is reflected in our lives. In large measure they form their opinion of God based on their opinion of us. And sadly there are too many times when our lives do not demonstrate God’s love and holiness to the watching world. Mahatma Gandhi of India is quoted as saying, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians.” May it never be said that we have done something to make people turn away from God.

“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”

Luke 7:6–7

The great English missionary statesman Andrew Fuller was well known for preaching on faith. In one of his sermons he described a trip he made in response to an invitation to preach. He was traveling on horseback following a time of heavy rains. He came to a river that was flooded, and was uncertain whether he could cross without being swept away. A farmer who lived nearby saw him hesitating and said, “Go on sir, you are quite safe.” Fuller rode out into the water, and though it rose nearly to his saddle, there was solid footing, and he made it safely across. He believed what the farmer told him and acted on it—and that is exactly what faith is.

When we say we believe God but do not do what He says to do, we are demonstrating not just disobedience but a lack of faith. Why do Christians not give generously, witness faithfully, work diligently, and love deeply? In large measure, it is because we do not truly believe that what God says about the rewards for obedience and the punishment for disobedience is true. We do not trust the Word of God as we should.

The commands of God come with all the power we need to obey them. God never tells us to do something without equipping us to do so. A single word from Jesus, “Come” was enough to allow Peter to walk on the water until he took his eyes off the Lord. Our lives should be focused on living in obedience to what God has said.

“For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

Luke 7:8–9

When Dr. Curtis Hutson was pastor of the Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Georgia, the church held a campaign to promote attendance. The teacher of the third grade boys Sunday school class challenged his students, and told the class which normally averaged about ten boys that they should try to have twenty-five come for a big day. When that Sunday came, the classroom overflowed with pupils—there were too many to fit. Instead of twenty-five, there were more than fifty third-grade boys.

As Dr. Hutson told the story, the teachers were scrambling trying to find places for the unexpected crowd. Just then one of the regular attenders began to cry. When the teacher asked him what was wrong, he replied, “This is all my fault.” “What’s your fault?” the teacher asked. “I prayed for fifty instead of twenty-five,” the boy said through his tears.

So many times we do not have the things we want or need simply because we lack the faith to ask God for them. While God is not a genie who makes our wishes come true, He has promised on His good name to hear our prayers and answer when we cry out for help. Jesus was amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion who believed that one word from Him would heal his servant because most of the Jewish people who had received God’s promises did not live as though they believed them.

“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.”

Luke 7:12–15

The British statesman Edmund Burke received great acclaim during his life for his powerful speeches and writings. But he also knew the deep sorrow of great loss. His son Richard, for whom Burke had great hopes, fell sick and died just weeks after being elected to Parliament. He was just thirty-six years old. Burke wrote, “The storms have gone over me, and I die like one of those old oaks which the late hurricane has scattered about me. I am stripped of all my honors; I am torn up by the roots and lie prostrate on the earth. I am alone. I have none to meet my enemies in the gate. I live in an inverted order. They who ought to have succeeded me have gone before me. They who should have been to me as posterity are in the place of ancestors.”

Because we live in a world that has been corrupted by sin, all of us must at times face the pain of death. The loss of a family member or dear friend leaves a hole in our hearts, but though it brings pain, it does not bring a loss of hope for the Christian. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

“And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.”

Luke 7:16–17

John Edwin Watts-Ditchfield, who pastored for many years in England, told the story of a visit he paid to an elderly relative when he was a small boy. On the wall of her house was a framed work of embroidery that read: “Thou God seest me.” Watts-Ditchfield recalled that she told him, “When you are older, people will tell you that God is always watching you to see when you do wrong, in order to punish you. I do not want you to think of it in that way, but I want you to take the text home, and to remember all your life that God loves you so much He cannot take his eyes off you.”

Though God had worked in mighty ways throughout the history of Israel, in the time of Christ the people had not seen or heard much of God for centuries. He had been silent until the arrival of John the Baptist. Once Jesus began His ministry and people were hearing about the miracles He was performing, there was a real sense of excitement. News quickly spread that God was present and at work, and people flocked to find out what was going on.

While in a human body, Jesus could only physically be in one place at a time. Now every believer has the Holy Spirit living within them, and God’s presence is a continual reality in our lives. Yet, many Christians do not live in a way that reflects His presence. Rather than rejoicing in His love and nearness, we try to go it alone. Instead we should fully rely on Him.

“And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?”

Luke 7:18–20

While God sometimes answers our prayers immediately, there are other times when we must keep our faith strong enough to keep praying until the answer comes. Evangelist D. L. Moody told the story of one of the most notorious infidels in Scotland who came to one of his meetings. Moody asked if he could pray for the man, and the infidel just laughed, saying that prayer did not work because God was not real. He heard Moody preach a few times, but did not respond to the gospel.

A few weeks later he came to hear Moody again. After the meeting Moody asked him if anything had changed. The man laughed and said, “I told you your praying is false. God hasn’t answered.” Moody said later, “I relied on faith.” The team kept praying, and a few more weeks passed. The infidel went to a service in his hometown and told the man preaching, “I am troubled. I don’t have any peace and I want you to pray for me.” God had worked through the prayers of Moody and his group, and the man found Jesus Christ.

Even the strongest faith may waver from time to time during difficult days, but we must not give up on God. He has never yet failed to keep His promises. Our faith is not based on what we see around us but on what He has declared He will do. We do not need anything for confirmation of His reliability beyond what we find in the Scriptures.

“And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

Luke 7:21–23

Dr. J. Vernon McGee told the story of going out to eat with a group of pastors. He said, “As we entered one of the drive-in places in that area, a carhop approached us. She was wearing about her neck the largest cross that I have ever seen. The cross was jet black against her white uniform. I asked her why she was wearing such a large cross. Her reply was, ‘Don’t you think it’s pretty?’ I countered, ‘Do you know what that cross means?’ She said, ‘No, I do not.’ Then I asked her, ‘Did you know that 1900 years ago Jesus Christ died on a cross for you and for me?’ ‘Huh?’ she asked. Then I gave her the story of salvation. Her only answer was, ‘Well, I saw it downtown and liked it, so I bought it for an ornament.’ She said that it meant nothing more to her.”

The world downplaying the message of the gospel and the cross is sad but not surprising. The great tragedy in our day is that some who profess to be Christians are downplaying the message we are commanded to proclaim to the world in order to be more acceptable to society. God calls us to something different. “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach” (Hebrews 13:12-13).

“And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.”

Luke 7:24–26

John Wesley and his brother Charles were part of the Great Awakening that shook both England and America in a mighty move of God. In part because of their effectiveness, they faced a great deal of opposition to their preaching. Hecklers disrupted their sermons, and on at least one occasion a bull was released into the field to break up an open air meeting. Yet they continued on undaunted, despite the obstacles they faced. John Wesley wrote, “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.”

One of the greatest needs of our day is men and women who are not afraid to take a clear, firm, unapologetic and open stand for Jesus Christ. The praise and approval of men is only fleeting at best, but the eternal reward of hearing, “Well done,” from the Lord is worth whatever the cost in this world may be. The courage of Christians has been little tested in recent decades in America, but the time is coming when we will be forced to choose between paying the price to take a bold stand for God or avoiding trouble by watering down our message. Only those who stand firm will receive the reward of faithful servants.

“This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Luke 7:27–28

The Scottish pastor Ian MacLaren recounted visiting an elderly lady in his church, and finding her weeping. When he asked her what was wrong, she told him that she felt she had not done enough for God with her life. She said, “I have washed dishes, cooked three meals a day, taken care of the children, mopped the floor, and mended the clothes. That is all I have done all my life, and I wanted to do something for Jesus.”

MacLaren then asked her to tell him about her sons. Her three oldest boys were all on the mission field, two in China and one in Africa. The youngest was preparing to leave and join one of his brothers in the work. She had reared her sons to desire to serve God more than anything else. MacLaren told her, “And you say your life has been wasted in mopping floors, darning socks, washing dishes, and doing the trivial tasks. I’d like to have your mansion when we are called home! It will be very near the throne!”

The world is focused on major events, large companies, vast sums of money, and notable accomplishments. God is focused on faithfulness. The standard by which He measures our lives is what we have done in relation to what we have been given and the attitude with which we do it. Jesus said, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11–12).

“And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”

Luke 7:29–30

The powerful preaching of John the Baptist as he prepared the people for the coming Messiah drew large crowds of people. Yet even though the message they heard was the same, there were very different responses. Some gladly repented and were baptized, while others refused the message because they were unwilling to change from their self-righteous ways and acknowledge that they needed God’s forgiveness for their sins.

If you take a bag of carrots and a half dozen eggs and put them together into a pot of boiling water, they have opposite reactions. The carrots will become soft and tender, while the eggs will harden. The same is true of the response to fire with wax and clay. The wax will melt, but the clay will harden. The difference is not found in the medium of these testing, but in the nature of the material. So it is with our hearts.

Some people endure great hardship and suffering in their lives, but their faith is made stronger and their spirit sweeter. Others endure very similar circumstances but become angry and bitter at God for allowing bad things to happen to them. The difference is determined by the condition of our hearts. That is why it is so vital for us to make sure that we remain tender to the things of God. If we do not, spiritual tragedy and divine judgment will certainly follow. “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 7:12).

“And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.”

Luke 7:31–32

We understand the process of growing up physically pretty well. Every parent knows what it is like to teach their children to walk, talk, and feed themselves. As they grow older, the natural process should be that they learn and develop to the point where they can live on their own. If parents are still cutting food into little bites and “flying” them on a fork into the mouth of a healthy twenty-five year old child, something is wrong. When a physical or mental disability hinders the process of development, we rightly regard it as a tragedy.

Just as it is normal for us to develop physically, we are called to grow up spiritually. The work that God has for us to do for His Kingdom requires that we develop and mature. Paul highlighted the tragedy of Christians who do not grow up when he wrote to the church at Corinth, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1).

If we are to grow, we are going to have to put in the effort to develop our spiritual “muscles.” I read that the great cellist Pablo Casals was still practicing six hours per day even when he was ninety-five years old. When asked why he did that he replied, “I think I’m making progress.” Rather than settling down and thinking that we have arrived, we should be continuing to work and grow throughout our Christian lives. The lazy approach does not build either physical, mental or spiritual strength.

“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.”

Luke 7:33–35

It is common for people to talk about the society of our day with its refusal to believe the truth, and its insistence that anything except genuine Christian faith must be met with not just acceptance, but approval as if this is something new. But in truth, there has never been a time since the Garden of Eden when the truth has been accepted. Rebellion against God’s laws may take different forms and use different languages as time passes, but it is a consistent part of human history. This knowledge should shape the ways in which we interact with the world.

There are many in our day urging the church to adopt radical new approaches to reach the world. They insist that only by changing to keep up with the times can we be relevant to society and gain an audience for our message. Yet, the response to the preaching of Jesus and John the Baptist reveals that it is the sinful nature of man that hinders repentance and redemption. It is hard to imagine a greater contrast in styles of living and ministry than that between Jesus and John, yet a large number of the people refused to listen to either of them.

Their problem was not with the way in which the message was presented. Their problem was the message itself. The exclusive offer of salvation by grace through faith alone is deeply offensive to the lost world. While we should not be harsh or unloving, we should be clear in presenting the truth, and trust God for the results.

“And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

Luke 7:37–38

Jesus was holy and perfect and sinless. He never lowered His standards or excused bad behavior. He preached a message of repentance, telling people that God would only accept them if they trusted Him. Yet despite the clarity of His message and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, sinners were drawn to His presence. Meeting Jesus does highlight the awfulness of our sin, but it also offers hope—the only hope that is available to a lost and dying world.

I read the story of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Saviour and applied for membership in a local church many years ago. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your life?” inquired an old deacon. “Yes, sir,” she replied. “Well, are you still a sinner?” “To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever.” “Then what real change have you experienced?” “I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved, I’m a sinner running from sin!”

If we take even a single moment to reflect on our salvation, both on the enormous cost with which it was purchased, and the amazing grace that offered it to us freely, even though we did nothing to deserve it, we find ourselves kneeling along with this woman at the feet of Jesus. No service or worship can ever repay the indescribable gift we have received from His nail-scarred hands.

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”

Luke 7:40–43

Marghanita Laski was a prominent author and critic in England during the last century. In addition to her artistic skills, she was noted for her opposition to religion. A leading voice for atheism, Laski promoted the lack of man’s need for religion. Yet not long before her death, she is reported to have told a guest, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.”

The great gift of God’s forgiveness by grace through faith covers all of our sins. Some of us were saved at a very young age before we had experienced the worst that the world had to offer. Others spent years in bondage, suffering deep consequences for their sin before finding freedom in Christ. But, in truth, both a child saved early and an adult saved late were both hopelessly lost, without any way to save themselves. They were equally destined to an eternity apart from God in Hell until Jesus intervened.

The concept of forgiveness is one we sometimes want to avoid giving too much attention to precisely because it strikes at the very heart of our pride. It makes us feel better to think that God did not have to forgive us of as much as He forgives others. But if we allow that pride, it undermines our gratitude for God’s forgiveness and keeps us from loving Him as we should.

“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

Luke 7:47–50

When the woman the Bible describes as “a sinner” came and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and poured an expensive ointment on Him, she was expressing something remarkable—her belief that even though she was rejected by the religious leaders of her day who wanted nothing to do with her, Jesus offered her hope for a different life than the one she had known. There is only one source of salvation and deliverance from sin, and she was placing her faith completely in Jesus. In response, He told her that she had received the salvation she desired.

W. H. Griffith Thomas wrote, “Faith is the acknowledgment of our own inability and His ability. Faith includes intellectual perception as well as spiritual reception. The assent of the mind and the assent of the heart.” Everyone trusts in something. Even atheists rely on their faith that God does not exist. Far more important than the quality or nature of our faith is the object of our faith. It is only when we trust in Jesus that we find salvation.

It is natural for our faith to not be completely certain. We see this in the response of the father of a demon-possessed boy to Jesus. “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24). When we believe in Jesus with all that we have, God helps whatever unbelief remains so that we can receive what we most need from Him.

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

Luke 8:1–3

One of my favorite stories of answered prayer comes from the early days of Dallas Theological Seminary. The school was in great financial difficulty and needed $10,000 to continue operating. Dr. H. A. Ironside convened a group of leaders and prayed, “Lord, You own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please help us in this time of need.” That very day a check arrived in the mail for the $10,000 they needed. The note enclosed informed them that a rancher had sold some cattle and wanted to give part of the money to the Lord’s work.

Though the Lord certainly does not need our help or resources—everything already belongs to Him—His plan is for His work to be funded by His people. Every Christian needs to be involved in supporting and helping God’s work in the world. These gifts are not giving God something that He lacks, but rather investments that provide for the work to continue, and that produce fruit in our lives.

Paul pointed out this truth in the letter that he wrote to the church at Philippi to thank them for their financial support of his ministry. “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:16–17). When we fail to give as we should, not only do we rob God, but we also rob ourselves of an opportunity to be part of something great and eternal.

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:5–8

One of the men credited with starting the “fitness craze” in America in the 1970s was best-selling author Jim Fixx. His book The Complete Book of Running spent eleven weeks as the number one book in America, and Fixx became a frequent media presence. He was noted as an authority on the health benefits of exercise. In 1984, Jim Fixx died of a massive heart attack after finishing a workout run. He was just fifty-two years old.

The condition of our physical heart is central to our health, but the condition of our spiritual heart is even more important. The parable that Jesus told of the sower who cast the same seed out onto four different kinds of soil and received dramatically different results, reveals that the difference in our lives is found in the condition of our hearts.

If the heart is not right, it will eventually become evident. We may be able to conceal what is on the inside for a time, but when the harvest comes, the nature of the heart will be revealed. God said to Moses, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

Luke 8:9–10

One of the most important archaeological discoveries in history was made in 1799 by a soldier in Napoleon’s army fighting in Egypt. The French troops were tasked with building a fort when the man found a stone with written inscriptions in three different languages. Dating to some two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Rosetta Stone unlocked secrets of the past. The discovery proved crucial to understanding ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics because it contained the same decree written in Greek. By first translating the known language, historians were able to then develop an understanding of the Egyptian language that had not been possible before.

The Bible is not a normal book. While it was penned by men, it is not their thoughts and impressions. Second Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” God has given us what we need to know in His Word. And He has given us the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of Scripture to help us understand what it says. Jesus said that one of the purposes of the Holy Spirit coming to live within us was so that he would guide us “into all truth” (John 16:13).

Not everything in the Bible is simple and easy to understand, but if we are diligent students of the Word, we can know what God expects from us. Paul highlighted the vital importance of the Bible in his final letter to Timothy. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Luke 8:14–15

The ministry of Robert William Dale who pastored in England in the 1800s was characterized by a deep concern for the lives of others. While on a trip through Europe, he wrote to his wife back in Birmingham, England. “Lake Lucerene is before me—the noblest scenery in all Europe. But I declare that there is nothing in this magnificent view which makes me feel half the thrill I have when I look down on the smoky streets of Birmingham. That thought that you and I together may, with God’s help, save multitudes sends the blood through my veins with an exultation which the most magnificent views of earth cannot create.”

God did not save us for our own sakes alone, but for a purpose—to be fruitful in His work. Jesus told the disciples, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you” (John 15:16).

The Lord could have chosen angels to carry the gospel to the lost, or written messages in clouds or any number of other means, but His plan is for those who have received His salvation to share that hope of eternal life with others. The key to being fruitful is found in the heart. If your heart is to be fruitful, it must be “good ground” which is soft and tender to the things of God and yielded to His purpose.

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.”

Luke 8:16

The great missionary David Livingstone spent much of his life on the mission field in Africa. He heard a challenge from missionary Robert Moffat and dedicated his life to taking the gospel to those who had never heard it before. Livingstone wrote, “I am a missionary heart and soul. God had only one Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. In His service I hope to live. In it I wish to die.” Livingstone did die in Africa. Before his body was returned to England to be buried with honors, the African people who had been reached by his ministry cut his heart out of his body and buried it there—because they said that is where it belonged.

The calling of God on our lives is to be lights in the darkness of the world around us. This requires a commitment on our part to be willing to be mocked, ridiculed, and perhaps even persecuted as we stand for the light of the truth in the growing darkness. Paul wrote, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4).

When we think of ourselves as lights to the world, we realize the responsibility of not doing anything that will keep the light from shining brightly or hide it from those who most need to see it. There may be consequences for sharing the gospel, but the reality of eternity should motivate us to be bright lights in the world.

“For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

Luke 8:17–18

Though D. L. Moody was a greatly used evangelist, he had little formal education, and it frequently showed in his preaching. It is said that after he finished a sermon in London, a critic came and said, “You made several grammatical errors in your sermon today.” Moody admitted with regret that his language was often faulty. Then looking the man in the eye he said, “I am using all the grammar I know for God. What are you doing with the grammar you know?”

The Lord has given every one of us differing talents and spiritual gifts for use in His work. His plan is that as each of us use those gifts together, the church will be built and strengthened. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:18–20). Without each one doing what he can for the work, it will suffer and be hindered.

If we refuse to put what we have been given to work, God is under no obligation to give us gifts in the first place, and if we refuse to use what He has entrusted to us, we run the risk of it being taken away. The knowledge that we only have our gifts and talents as a result of His grace should make us even more willing to use them in any way that we can for His glory.

“Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”

Luke 8:19–21

A number of years ago a preacher went to the Champness Hall in Yorkshire, England, to hear the noted cellist and conductor Sir John Barbirolli lead the symphony. A friend sitting nearby looked out at the vast crowd in the great hall and asked the preacher, “When will we see the Champness Hall filled to capacity for a Christian service?” The pastor pointed to the members of the orchestra playing on the stage and said, “When we see eighty men willing to give absolute obedience to the will of Christ as these give to Barbirolli.”

One of the most effective temptations Satan uses against Christians who want to do what is right is to try to get them to go their own way rather than obeying God. It is not necessary for him to get us to commit sinful acts. If he can convince us to rely on our own judgment, it will not be long before we are completely off track, for our judgment cannot be trusted. The Lord is not looking for people to go their own way, but to go His way.

The commitment required to be a victorious Christian and true disciple of Jesus is that we obey what God has commanded, just as Jesus did. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Only when we are living in obedience can we experience close fellowship with the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.”

Luke 8:22–24

The story is told that as the evangelist D. L. Moody was crossing Lake Michigan to return home after a preaching trip, a great storm came up. The winds and waves were so strong that the passengers began fearing for their lives. While some gathered in an urgent prayer meeting, Moody remained sitting calmly. When someone asked him why he wasn’t joining in their prayers, Moody replied, “I have one sister in Chicago and one in Heaven and I don’t care which I see tonight.”

Christians are not promised a life without troubles or hardships. We are going to face storms as we journey through life. Companies go under, jobs vanish, children get sick, friends betray us. All of these things are part of living in a fallen world, and Christians are not exempt from these trials. The difference is that we have a resource. We have a loving Saviour to whom we can turn for help when we are in distress just as the disciples did when they feared their boat would sink. We have been given that right as part of our standing as children of God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”

Luke 8:25

In Rome, one can visit the Scala Sancta, the twenty-eight marble steps that supposedly once led into Pilate’s judgment hall in Jerusalem which Jesus used as He was taken to His trial before the Roman governor. According to tradition, they were moved to Rome in the early 300s and since that time, millions of people have climbed those steps on their knees as an act of penance. In 1511, it is said that Martin Luther was performing that ritual hoping to gain God’s favor when the words of Romans 1:17 sprung into his mind: “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Everyone believes in something. Even atheists who claim there is no God are placing their faith in His absence. The question is not whether we believe, but what we believe. The question Jesus asked of His disciples, “Where is your faith?” did not ask whether their faith existed, but what its foundation was. What are we believing? What are we basing our faith on? The only solid and unchanging foundation for true faith is found in the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

When the storm was stilled, the disciples marveled at the power of Jesus because His words commanded the storm and it obeyed. The power of God is greater than any challenge or difficulty that we may face, and that power is made available to us through prayer. The Christian life cannot be lived successfully by those who misplace their faith.

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.”

Luke 8:27–28

At the end of Animal Farm, George Orwell’s classic parable about Communism, there is a scene in which the pigs, who have taken over running the farm after the humans were chased away, have a meeting with surrounding farmers. The other animals, watching from outside the farmhouse, make a shocking discovery. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” Orwell’s point was that the distinctions between the leaders of the revolution and those they had replaced had been blurred away.

We are not supposed to be like the world. The expression of the demons, “What have I to do with thee” literally means “We have nothing in common.” The are no similarities between God and Satan, and the differences between their children should be plainly visible. James tells us what the fruit of a real walk with God is: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

In our day when so many are trying to break down the distinctions between the church and the world in the name of being more effective in reaching people, we need a return to the realization that we should have nothing in common with the world. While we are to reach out to them in love, we are not to be like them.

“And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.”

Luke 8:30–32

A Roman legion was comprised of more than six thousand soldiers. The maniac of Gadera was possessed by so many demons they referred to themselves as, “Legion,” yet they had no power against the Lord. Instead they came as beggars, asking not to be immediately sent to their final judgment but instead sent into the herd of pigs feeding nearby.

Dr. A. J. Gordon told of a visitor from England who traveled to see Niagara Falls with a pastor friend from America. When they arrived to view the mighty waterfall, the visitor said, “This must be the greatest unused power in the world.” The pastor replied, “No. The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the Living God.” God has all power and all authority, and He has given His Holy Spirit to all who trust Him.

We have within us all the power we need to overcome temptation, to witness effectively, and to fulfill the commands of God. He has not left us without the resources we need to accomplish the tasks He has given us. Jesus grounded the Great Commission on His divine power and authority. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:18–19).

“Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.”

Luke 8:35–37

Sometimes we read of the great revivals of history and wish we could have been part of them. Imagine being in church and listening to Jonathan Edwards preach “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Picture standing in a crowd of more than twenty thousand people listening to George Whitfield preach with passion at the start of the Great Awakening. Yet while we remember these great moves of God with nostalgia, if we were honest we would have to acknowledge that we don’t know how we would have responded. For there are many times in Scripture, in history, and in our own lives when we regard God’s working as an interruption to our plans.

Before Jesus came, the demon-possessed man terrorized the people of Gadera. The demons gave him so much power that no one could control him. Others lived in fear of him attacking and perhaps injuring or even killing someone. You would think that they would have been delighted when they rushed out of town seeing him wearing clothes and in control of himself for the first time in years. Instead these people told Jesus to go away. His work had become an interruption to their lives.

God is Sovereign, and He has the right to arrange our lives and work in our hearts in any way that He sees fit and we should yield to His plans.

“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”

Luke 8:38–39

Dr. John R. Rice told of going to hear the great evangelist Gypsy Smith. As Smith preached on the importance of winning souls to Jesus, Dr. Rice determined in his heart that he would find someone that very day with whom he could share the gospel. The speaker left the building after the message, and when the announcements and other business was concluded, Dr. Rice went outside and saw a man standing by his taxi. He walked over, intent on witnessing to the man. But when he asked about his salvation, the taxi driver replied, “I just became a Christian. A short little man came out the speaker’s door and told me about Jesus.” Gypsy Smith had practiced what he had been preaching.

We have many opportunities to give people the gospel that we miss because we are not always alert to those around us. Going through the day, many priorities compete for our attention. But everywhere we go, we are to be telling people about what Jesus has done for us. The man Jesus freed from demon possession wanted to follow Him, but instead Jesus told him to return home and tell others what had happened. When Jesus later returned to the region, huge crowds came to hear Him—in no small measure because this one man obeyed the command of the Lord to share his testimony with those around him. It is good to have regular times to go out and share the gospel, but we should always be alert to those who need to hear how Jesus offers salvation.

“And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.”

Luke 8:40-42

Dr. W. A. Criswell told of a visit he paid to a missionary who worked with the lepers of Africa. For days they drove from settlement to settlement, and in each one the missionary would provide medical care and then Dr. Criswell would preach. Criswell said, “They had built a little church out of mud. The building was made out of mud, the pulpit was made out of mud and the pews were made out of mud. I did my best through an interpreter to preach to them about our blessed Jesus. After the preaching was done, the lepers stood up in the congregation and sang this song:

“The great physician now is near, the sympathizing Jesus
He speaks the drooping heart to cheer, O list’ to the voice of Jesus
Sweetest note on seraph’s song, sweetest carol ever sung
Sweetest note on mortal tongue, Jesus, blessed Jesus.”

The primary purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry was to be the Saviour of the world. But His great love and compassion for the needs of people led Him to often meet their physical needs as well. While these are not as important as our eternal needs, they do matter to our loving Heavenly Father. We have every right to cry out to Jesus for help with any problem that we have, trusting both His love and His power to meet our needs. Ultimately He is the source for everything good that happens in our lives.

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”

Luke 8:43–44

Though medical science was far less advanced in Jesus’ day than it is in ours, there were doctors then who did their best to treat patients. But often the problems were beyond their ability to cure. This was the case with an anonymous woman who had tried everything without being helped. Yet when she heard of the miracles Jesus was performing, a faith grew in her heart. She believed that if she could reach Jesus and touch His clothing, she would be healed.

When difficulty comes into our lives, how often do we murmur and complain, rather than trusting that God knows what He is doing. Our lives are not filled with accidents and coincidences, but with divine appointments. Even trouble and sickness can be used to draw us closer to God. Robert Murray McCheyne said, “Sometimes in health the Word does not touch the heart. The world is all. Its gaieties, its pleasures, its admiration, captivate your mind. God sometimes draws you aside into a sickbed, and shows you the sin of your heart, the vanity of worldly pleasures and drives the soul to seek a sure resting-place for eternity in Christ. O happy sickness that draws the soul to Jesus.”

Our response to trouble reveals where our faith rests. When we turn to the best that man can offer first, we show a world focus. When we turn to our own efforts and try to work things out on our own, we show a self focus. But when we turn to God first, pouring out our hearts to Him and seeking His help, we show a faith focus, and that is the life that God blesses.

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”

Luke 8:45–46

If you have ever walked through a dense crowd of people at an airport, a ballgame, or even at church, you know it is common to be jostled and bumped as others in close proximity gather together. Yet when Jesus was making His way to the home of Jairus who had asked for help for his daughter who was sick, He stopped when a woman who needed healing reached out to touch him intentionally. He noticed it because He felt the power go out of Him to meet her need. There are many lessons about faith and God’s power in this story, but one of the most important is the love and compassion of Jesus for one individual woman among the great crowd.

To God, you and I are not part of a huge mass of humanity, but unique parts of His creation, and He cares about what happens to us. David marveled that the great God of creation would care about individuals: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

Because of our human limitations—in time, in memory, in resources—we cannot process the needs of billions of other people, nor could we do anything to meet more than a tiny fraction of those needs. Yet God in His infinite strength and wisdom knows each one of us by name, and He cares about what happens to us. We are never alone and never forsaken by our loving Heavenly Father.

“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Luke 8:47–48

One of the most famous images from all the years of the White House is a photo that shows President Kennedy seated at his desk while his young son John plays underneath it. The famed “Resolute desk” made from the timbers of a British ship was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. Now if you or I went to the White House, we would not be allowed to just walk into the Oval Office and crawl under the desk to play while the president worked. But the family relationship made all the difference for John F. Kennedy, Jr.

God has given us the immense privilege of being adopted into His family with the full rights and privileges that come with having Him as our Father. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Although we have not received everything that will be ours as children of God, we already have the authority to enter His presence and confidently present our requests to Him.

This access is not because of our merit, but because of His amazing grace applied to our lives in response to faith in Him. From the moment of salvation we are in God’s family, and we should not be content to live like orphans. Instead we should climb under His “desk” with complete confidence that we belong.

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”

Luke 8:49–50

Charles Spurgeon told of an elderly lady in his church who was confronted by a skeptic over the story of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. When he attempted to scientifically prove to her that it was impossible for such a thing to happen, her faith remained unshaken. Finally she replied, “Not only do I believe that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish just as the Bible says, but if the Bible said Jonah swallowed the fish, I would believe that too!”

There are too many times when we only believe what we can see and understand and explain rather than taking God at His word that He is not limited by the things that are within our grasp. Instead He is able to do everything that He has promised, no matter how far beyond our ability and understanding it may be. “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

The Christian who lives as if God is not able to meet his needs is insulting his Heavenly Father. Through God’s grace we have been given the right and privilege to enter His presence and present our needs to Him. Yet too often we do not believe that God will actually do for us what He has promised to do. As a result, we fail to please Him with our lives. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

“And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.”

Luke 8:51–53

Someone said there are two foundational facts of life: 1) there is a God, and 2) you are not Him. There is a lot of truth in those statements. Though we would not publicly declare that we know better than God and could arrange to make things work better than He is doing, in our hearts we sometimes think that is the case. When we do not understand how He is working, and then decide to go our own way instead, we are really falling prey to the temptation Satan first used in the Garden of Eden—that we would be happier if we chose for ourselves rather than following God. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

The reason that the devil keeps using this same temptation is that it works so well. We do not like to acknowledge our failings and limitations. We like to think that we have the knowledge and wisdom to make good decisions apart from the guidance of the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Yet each time we go our own way in defiance of God, we place ourselves on the road to ruin. Jeremiah observed, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). In humility and faith we need to yield our lives to the direction and control of the God who always knows best.

“And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.”

Luke 8:54–56

One of the best statements on eternal life I have ever read came from evangelist D. L. Moody. He said, “Some day you will read in the papers, ‘D. L. Moody of East Northfield is dead.’ Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal—a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”

Death is a great fear in our world—for many people, the greatest fear that they have. Yet while there is sorrow in the death of a friend or loved one, for a believer, death no longer has the power to harm us. Jesus has all power, even the power over death. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Death did everything in its power to hold Jesus in the grave, but it failed. The power of the tomb has been defeated once and for all, and can live in the authority and power given to us by the One who died and rose again to live forever.

“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.”

Luke 9:1–3

God calls and commands His children to do His work in the world. The plan for reaching the lost and building the church requires God’s people to do the work—but it is a work that can only be done effectively through His power. The final command of Christ that we commonly call the Great Commission is grounded and based on the authority that belongs to Jesus. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:18–19).

The authority of Jesus means that we do not face our battles and our work on our own. We can and must rely on the power and work of the Holy Spirit who lives within us for the ministry we are meant to do. We have no other hope of success. A. W. Tozer said, “I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me—he’s got judo I never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.”

When we operate based on our own strength and resources, we can only accomplish what lies in our ability. But no matter how great those abilities may be, they are not equal to God’s calling. Only in His strength can we fulfill His mission.

“And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”

Luke 9:4–6

John Quincy Adams lost his bid for a second term in the White House and then did something no other former President has ever done. He ran for and won a seat in the House of Representatives, where he spent most of the rest of his life working to bring about the abolition of slavery. This position was not widely popular when Adams began his efforts, and often he labored nearly alone. Yet he refused to be discouraged or dissuaded from doing what he believed was right. Once Adams was asked how he kept going in the face of repeated disappointments and setbacks. Adams replied, “Duties are ours. Results are God’s.” Though he did not live to see slavery ended, his faithful work helped bring about the result he worked so long to see.

Many times we take on the responsibility for how people respond to the truth. But the only thing for which God holds us accountable is faithfulness in declaring the message. When Jesus sent the disciples out for their first preaching mission apart from Him, He told them up front that some people would not receive the message. When it seems that work for the Lord is in vain, we simply need to continue to be faithful in doing what He has commanded. Not everyone to whom we witness will get saved. Witness anyway. Not everyone we seek to disciple will continue to walk in the truth. Disciple anyway. Not everyone we love will respond with love in return. Love anyway. This is all that God holds us responsible to accomplish with our lives.

“Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.”

Luke 9:7–9

There is an old joke about a man who ignored an evacuation order given because of a coming flood. As the water began to rise, a rescue officer in a boat came by his house and told him to get in or he might drown. The man replied, “I’m fine. God will take care of me.” When the water continued to rise, he was eventually forced to the roof of his house. A helicopter flew over and lowered a ladder, but he again refused. “God will take care of me.” After he drowned, he asked God why He hadn’t rescued him. “I sent you a boat and a helicopter,” God responded. “What else did you want?”

Herod is a prime example of what happens when we choose to ignore the truth. Because John the Baptist preached against his sin, the evil king had the fearless prophet beheaded. But then he was very interested in meeting Jesus. Yet when Jesus was brought before Herod just before the crucifixion, their encounter did not turn out the way Herod had planned. “Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing” (Luke 23:9). There are times when we do not listen to what God has said because it convicts us or would require us to do something we do not want to do. Until we obey what we already know, we should not expect further guidance from God.

“And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.”

Luke 9:10–11

I heard about a church that had a sign out front which read: “We care about you.” Underneath in smaller letters it said: “Sundays 10:00 AM only.” The reality is that caring about people and ministering to them and meeting their needs requires effort and sacrifice on our part. There are no shortcuts to touching lives. If we are not willing to make the investment, even if it means sacrifices on our part, we will never make an impact on others.

At this point in the life and ministry of Jesus, He and the disciples were physically exhausted. The parallel account in Mark’s Gospel gives us a pointed insight into the toll His ministry was taking on Jesus and His disciples. “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” (Mark 6:31). When you don’t even have time to eat, your ministry schedule is pretty full!

Yet in what was supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation, the needs of the people prompted Jesus to respond by giving up His free time so that He could teach and heal the people. For Jesus it was a question of priorities. He wanted to rest and needed to rest, but what the people needed mattered more to Him than His own needs. There certainly are times when we need to rest, but if we only minister when it is convenient, we will never accomplish much of value.

“And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.”

Luke 9:12–14

A Christian businessman named Wallace Speers told of a strange encounter he had on the street one day. A young man who was unshaved and disheveled stopped him and said, “You look like a friendly man. Will you do something for me? There is no one in the world who cares if I live or die. Will you just think about me for a while? If I could believe someone was thinking about me as a human being it would mean more to me than money or anything.” In a moment he melted back into the crowd and was gone. Speers said later, “I’ve been haunted by that man’s loneliness ever since.”

All around us there are people in urgent need of help and hope. Yet sometimes, like the disciples who saw the massive crowd, we view people as a source of annoyance and frustration. We want them to just go away rather than having to deal with helping them. But the heart of Jesus was filled with compassion for the needs of the people, and He was willing to do whatever He could to meet those needs. The difference between Jesus and the disciples was not the need, but the way they viewed the people with the need.

“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.”

Luke 9:16–17

Dr. John R. Rice told the story of his oldest daughter, Grace, getting very sick. The doctor came to the house and discovered that she had diphtheria. He gave her medicine and put the house under quarantine. Dr. Rice and his wife decided to pray. They prayed together for just a few minutes, and were confident that God had heard them. That very day Grace began feeling better and by the next morning she was feeling completely better. She could not go out because of the quarantine, but she played happily with her dolls until the doctor came and certified that she was completely free of the disease and lifted the quarantine.

God is not limited in any way. He has all power, all authority, and all resources. When we ask for His help, we should not be surprised when He not only answers our prayers but also gives us even more than we ask. God revealed Himself to Abraham by the name El Shaddai—the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). He has never yet failed one of His children, and He will not fail us now.

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is one of the most important demonstrations of the power of Jesus. Unlike any of the other miracles, except for the resurrection, it is recorded in all four Gospels. Turning the lunch of one little boy into enough food for thousands of people is miraculous, but Jesus went even beyond that. He created so much extra that they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. God is more than able to meet every need you have—and then some.