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“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.'” (Luke 22:24-26, NIV)

The disciples were acting out of their corrupted nature (which, as people, we all share). This nature aspires to be the greatest of all. This nature desires to be the first of all. This nature expects to be served by all.

The correct attitude, according to Jesus, is to be as He was: The least of all. The last of all. The servant of all.

Because of what Jesus has done for all of us through His death on the cross, and through His resurrection from the dead; His summons to servitude is validated for all time and for all people. Our corrupted, natural ambitions assure nothing but strife, but our obedience to Jesus assures us life in all of its fullness. – Luther

Tagged Holy Week, humility, servitude, the book of Luke

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“These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): The five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.” (Judges 3:1-4, NIV)

In the life of a disciple of Jesus, even one’s enemies are a part of God’s plan. In today’s scripture reading from the book of Judges, enemies existed to teach the descendants of the Exodus how to defend themselves, and to test their devotion to God. (Please see Judges 2:20-22.)

Today, our biggest threat is not the sword (although physical threats do, indeed, exist); it is, instead, all of the influences and agents that oppose the Spirit of God within us. Even here we must pray for our enemies as we utilize the weapons of the Spirit, which are: Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

So, do not curse your enemies. Pray for them. Resist them with the weapons of the Spirit, which alone are adequate for spiritual warfare. – Luther

Tagged bible, enemies, God, God's provision, inspiration, the book of Judges

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“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?'” (John 5:6, NIV)

A little story (not true, but illustrative): Jesus encountered three disabled men along the roadside. The first, He touched and he was able to walk. He touched the second man, and his sight was restored. As Jesus approached the third man, the man retreated and said, “Don’t touch me! I am on permanent disability.”

It may be hard for some of us to fathom, but those who have spent time helping acutely needful people can attest to the fact that not all such people want to “get well”; especially if they have been in that “condition for a long time.” Change — even good, positive, change — can be unsettling because it means releasing the old, familiar, ways. Change means — well — change.

Our Lord addresses each of us at the point of our need, and He asks, “Do you want to get well?” – Luther

Tagged change in circumstance, the book of John