Take Up My Cross

Luke 21:1-4 [1] Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, [2] and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. [3] And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. [4] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (ESV) Simple Living - Keith & Kristyn Getty LYRICS: Verse 1 A rich young man came to ask of Christ "Good teacher, will you tell me What must I do for eternal life I've kept your laws completely." "Sell all you have, give to the poor Then heaven's treasure shall be yours." How hard for those who are rich on earth To gain the wealth of heaven Verse 2 Now Jesus sat by the off'ring gate As people brought their money The rich they filled the collection plate The widow gave a penny "Now she's outgiven all the rest Her gift was all that she possessed." Not what you give but what you keep Is w...

Luke 20:45-47 [45] And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, [46] “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [47] who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (ESV) This marks the end of Jesus' reprimand of the scribes and Pharisees and Sadducees and other law-keepers. Here he puts them as the deceptive ones, who act like holy people but have judgement reserved for them in heaven. Friends, we are the scribes today.  We are not the "people", or the "disciples". The warnings of the Bible are there as a warning to us - if we see ourselves as the disciples, we truly have become the scribes. Look at this. Who like to walk around in long robes Parallel to us walking around in our Christian attire, superior to the world. I'm not talking abo...

Luke 20:41-44 Whose Son Is the Christ? [41] But he [Jesus] said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David's son? [42] For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, [43] until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ [44] David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” (ESV) Background: Jesus goes on from the issues of tax and resurrection to ask a contradictory question - over how the Christ is both David's descendant yet Lord. But I think that's the beauty of it all, isn't it? That God looks not at heritage, or age, or language, or race, or culture, nationality... God values, appoints, and saves each person individually. There are 2 wondrous conclusions to this. 1. Our eternity is not determined by the failures of our parents Just because our parents weren't good parents, just because they could never hold a job, or could never stay out of prison, or never escaped a particular sin...

Luke 20:27-40 [27] There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, [28] and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [29] Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. [30] And the second [31] and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” [34] And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, [35] but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36] for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that the dead are...

Luke 20:19-26 [19] The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable (of the wicked tenants) against them, but they feared the people. [20] So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. [21] So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. [22] Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” [23] But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, [24] “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” [25] He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” [26] And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer...