Devos 365

Luke 16:14-18 14  The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15  And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17  But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void. 18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.” While Jesus has been instructing His disciples, the Pharisees are eavesdropping and take a moment to “scoff” (ridicule) at Him. The Pharisees scoff at Jesus’ statement, “You cannot serve God and mammon” made in the previous section (vs. 13).   Given their assumptions, this was predictable. For them tragedy is a sign of

Luke 16:1-13 1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest man

Psalm 61 1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, 3 for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of Your wings! Selah 5 For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. 6 Prolong the life of the King; may His years endure to all generations! 7 May He be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over Him! 8 So will I ever sing praises to Your name, as I perform my vows day after day. It’s been one of those weeks; lots of details, lots of hard work, exhaustion, and now it’s over! In the midst of this week was a personal event that brought much angst and inner turmoil. As I stand outside of it all and ponder these events it looks like the waves in the ocean. For

Luke 15:25-32 25  “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” As Jesus’ parable continues, the Father n

Luke 15:11-24 11  And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17  “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19  I am no longer worthy to be called your