Category: Luke

“I believe; help me in my unbelief.”

Luke 1 and John 1:1-14

If you have been reading with us from the beginning of the year – welcome to the New Testament!

Devotion by Telva Elwell (SC)

Malachi had last spoken 400 years ago and had promised that the Messenger would come.  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.”  Surely Zechariah, as a priest, knew this well. But to put it mildly, God caught him off guard one day.

Zechariah was busy in the Holy Place offering incense, a duty Zechariah was permitted to do only once in his lifetime, when suddenly out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel stood by the altar. Of course, Gabriel had to calm Zechariah, because he was focused upon his task and not expecting Gabriel’s visit.  “Fear not,” he said. Not only did Gabriel’s presence startle Zechariah, but the news he brought was also startling.

Gabriel told him that Zechariah and Elizabeth, his wife, were going to have a son!  One would expect this to be good news for Zechariah because Elizabeth and Zechariah had been praying for a child for many years. Zechariah did not believe such a thing possible because he was an old man, and his wife was advanced in years as well. (Luke 1:18) This story was reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, for God had also said that He would give them a son in their old age.  “Abraham fell on his face and laughed.” (Gen 17:17) 

Before he could even grasp the idea of having a son in his old age, Gabriel told him to name his son John, and that John would grow up to be God’s prophet to show Israel God’s son.  “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (vs16-17) (Mal 4:5) I understand that this was a lot to take in. But none of it was new to him. He was well acquainted with the promises of God as told by Malachi and other Old Testament prophets. This was the day, the time, that Zechariah, the priest, was looking forward to.   What a blessing and privilege to be the father of the much-anticipated Messenger who would turn the children of Israel to God. But something got in the way of that for Zechariah.

Instead of rejoicing, Zechariah demanded proof that this was even possible.  Even though an angel, who stands in the presence of God, came to deliver this good news, Zechariah believed this was all nonsense.  He wanted proof—not just a proclamation of an angel of the Lord.  “How can I be SURE of this?” he asked. (vs18) Gabriel gave him proof in the form of punishment. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words…” (vs19,20) Zechariah was struck dumb, (v20) and quite possibly deaf. (v62)    

When Zechariah finished his priestly duties, he walked home to his faithful wife, and in time, she conceived. For nine months his words did not come, and his world was silent.  Every waking moment of every day, Zechariah was reminded of his unbelief.

I would be remiss in not mentioning Mary. Gabriel also brought her unexpected news. Although young, a virgin, and unmarried, she was also going to have a son—God’s Son, the Messiah. Her response was unlike Zechariah’s.  Instead of demanding proof that this could happen, she humbly submitted to God’s plan as His servant. “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (v38) While Zechariah sat silently with his thoughts running rampant in his head, Mary rejoiced in prayer and song. (vs.46-55)

 In time, Elizabeth gave birth to a son.  Relatives and neighbors and friends heard the good news and rejoiced with her. Then something truly miraculous happened.

By custom Jewish boys were circumcised eight days after birth, at which time a name was given to the child. The expectation was that this child would be named Zechariah, after his father, but Elizabeth said his name would be called John, just as Gabriel had told Zechariah. It was unusual not to name the son after his father or another family member, so Zechariah was asked what he wanted the child to be called.  Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote the words, “His name is John.” (v63) That name, John, means God is gracious. When Zechariah penned the baby’s name, “John” on his tablet, he was declaring his belief in God’s faithfulness and grace, and affirming Gabriel’s message to him concerning his son, John. A simple thing, yet profound. Because God is gracious, Zechariah’s tongue was immediately loosed. (v64) Because God is gracious, He did not forget or abandon Zechariah, even when he did not believe.  That does not mean that it is okay to not believe.  We need to believe God. But when we struggle, God is there.   

Belief and unbelief are often at war with one another in our lives.  Sometimes we struggle to believe, much like Zechariah, and then other times we simply believe without doubt or question, much like Mary.  When we struggle, sometimes it is the small things that awaken our faith and cause us to believe—like a new baby named John

That same small baby, named John, awakened the faith of the children of Israel years later when as a man he “came as a witness, to bear witness about the light that all might believe through Him.”  (John 1:7)

Reflection Questions

Question One:  Why do you think God chose to make Zechariah a mute as punishment for his unbelief?

Question Two:  Why do you believe Zechariah struggled to believe God?  Are there times when you struggle to believe God?  Why? When?

Question Three: Right now, where are you in your belief?  More like Zechariah, the high priest, or more like Mary, the young virgin? 

Question Four:  In Mark 9:24, a man came to Jesus and said: “I believe; help me in my unbelief.” How can someone say, I believe, and at the same time ask for help in overcoming unbelief? Do you believe this was the situation with Zechariah?  Is this your situation on occasion?

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Remember How He Told You…

Old Testament: 2 Kings 22

Poetry: Psalm 87

New Testament: Luke 24

The Resurrection Story is one of the most beautiful stories ever written, and the best part is, it’s even true! It is a part of a plan written by God and fulfilled through Jesus by his obedience to death on the cross all those years ago. There was purpose in this suffering: so that the sins of the world could be forgiven. There is purpose in every season. Likewise there was purpose in his life of ministry and ultimately purpose in his resurrection. All the seasons of his life brought about God´s perfect and pleasing will. God can use anything and everything for His good. Even pain and suffering. Even a blood-stained cross. Even the death of His precious son.

Jesus knew what he was called to do and he followed through, he died on the cross for our sins. For three days the world was without hope. At the time they all believed that a Savior would come with sword and shield to bring victory over the Romans. It would then make sense that they would reject Jesus as their Messiah because his entire life and tragic death was the exact opposite as how they expected their Savior to come. Thankfully though, God gives us what we need not what we think we want. 

Although Jesus´ disciples were plainly told all the things that were to take place including the hope of Jesus´ resurrection, there was no anticipation of his return because they had forgotten that God´s plans are larger than life- even larger than death, Jesus´ death. They hoped that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. Not only did he redeem Israel, but the world, just not in the way they believed it would happen. 

Someone asked me recently what my passions were. But it got me thinking, how do my passions and talents fit together into God´s grand plan? How do I fit into His story? The women who first found the tomb empty were staying focused on doing their ministry. Likewise the disciples all took part in the Great Commission, being witnesses of all that had happened. After Jesus´ ascension they set out to spread the gospel even to the point of becoming martyrs. How can I use where I am in life and who I am in Christ to further God’s plan?

Jesus entrusted his entire life- even life itself- into God´s hands. And it wasn´t without God´s response to Jesus´ obedience. The process is like the call and response section in the back of the hymn books. Back and forth between God and His people. It started in the beginning with God when he created the world and everything in it and brought forth the plan of salvation. Jesus already did his part by dying on the cross, and is now continually interceding for us to God. It’s our turn to call on God and turn our life into a living sacrifice in order for Him to respond in immeasurable ways. Jesus submitted to God´s will and God answered by raising him from the grave. In the same way I believe we as Christians are expected to follow the example Jesus set before us of obeying God’s calling for our life. Use the God-given talents and the passions he has placed on your heart to live for Him, serving Him wholeheartedly. And in God´s timing, His will and His ways will prevail.

-Makayla Railton

(originally posted for SeekGrowLove on April 4, 2021)

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you agree that the resurrection of Jesus is one of the best true stories ever?  What should your response be?
  2. Most of Jesus’ closest followers soaked up every word he spoke and were convinced he was the Messiah, but their faith faded fast when something seemed to go very wrong, and they forgot what he taught about his resurrection.  Is your faith strong enough to make it through the tough times? How can you work at remembering what he taught?
  3. Jesus’ resurrection can give people great hope about the future, but only if they believe.  The story is absolutely meaningless to those who haven’t made the decision to follow God.  Have you? Is there a loved one in your life that needs to hear about the good news?
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Waiting & Acting

Old Testament: Micah 7

Poetry: Psalm 85 (day 2)

New Testament: Luke 19


“But as for me, I will look to Yahweh; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” — Micah 7:7 (LEB)


“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10 (LEB)


In a world often overwhelmed by corruption and despair, both Micah 7 and Luke 19 offer us powerful messages of hope and redemption. These passages remind us that no matter how bleak our circumstances may seem, God’s love and salvation are always within reach.


Micah 7 depicts a society engulfed in sin and injustice. The prophet agonizes over the overwhelming corruption, yet he chooses to watch in hope for God. Micah’s confidence is not rooted in the present circumstances but in the unchanging nature of God. He waits patiently for the God of his salvation, assured that God will hear him.


In Luke 19, we see the fulfillment of the hope that Micah clung to. Jesus encounters Zacchaeus, a tax collector despised for his dishonest, corrupt ways. Despite Zacchaeus’ reputation, Jesus seeks him out, calling him by name and choosing to stay at his house. This act of grace leads to Zacchaeus’ repentance and transformation. Zacchaeus’ story vividly illustrates Jesus’ mission: to seek and save the lost.


Both Micah and Zacchaeus found their hope in God. Micah trusted in God despite his society’s moral decline, while Zacchaeus found redemption through an encounter with Jesus. We, too, are called to place our hope in God, trusting in His promise of salvation. Zacchaeus’ transformation shows the power of God’s grace. No one is beyond redemption; Jesus seeks us out, offering a chance for a new beginning. Our lives can be profoundly changed when we come to God through Jesus. Micah’s patient waiting for God’s salvation and Zacchaeus’ immediate response to Jesus’ call both demonstrate the importance of faith in action. We must wait with hope, but also be ready to act in response to God’s call.

-Jeff Ransom


Reflection Questions:

  1. How can you place your hope in God amid the challenges and uncertainties in your life?
  2. In what areas of your life do you need to experience the transformative power of God’s grace?
  3. How can you be a faithful steward of the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to you, making Him known, while actively waiting for His guidance?


This week, consider these questions and take steps to deepen your relationship with God, embodying the hope and transformation He offers to all who seek Him through Jesus.

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Socks and Shoes

Old Testament: Hosea 12-14

Poetry: Psalm 80

New Testament: Luke 16:1-15


If ever there was a dynasty in collegiate sports, it was the UCLA Bruins in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the course of a dozen years, they won 10 NCAA basketball championships.  At one point during this spell, they didn’t even lose a single game for three years.  There hasn’t been a run like it, or may never be again, and much credit goes to Coach John Wooden and his staff. Wooden didn’t seek out cutting edge strategies or even the most talented players. He cared about self-management and stewardship.  Before stepping on the court each player was taught how to put on their socks and tie their shoes. While this may seem demeaning or elementary, it had a dual purpose. The first, to minimize blisters and injury that could prevent a loss of practice time.  The second, to see if his players were faithful in the small things. If there was fidelity and discipline to this aspect, it is more likely this same commitment would be found to honing all the fundamentals of the game.

The connection of John Wooden doesn’t initially seem apparent when we examine the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. Initially it seems like a sneaky story about self-preservation instead of faithfulness.  An accusation from the owners comes against a middle level management, misusing company resources. When the news reaches the manager’s ear that he will be receiving a pink slip, he makes a game plan that will move him from one company ladder to another.  He quickly calls in those who have business dealings with the owner to settle their debts quickly and at a far lesser rate than what they owe in hopes of getting his back scratched in return upon his dismissal.  These executive decisions do not get ire, but instead the praise of his employer.  Our takeaway is likewise to be shrewd with our resources, taking responsibility for what is directly in front of us.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? – Luke 16:10-11

In every aspect of our dealings with others, whether with little or much, there is a responsibility to take disciplined, calculated action. Instead of acting in fear of losing our livelihood, we work on becoming the best version of ourselves because this shrewdness makes us trustworthy and impactful for the sake of the Gospel.  Jesus emphasizes that even the smallest actions are important, and really the basis for the amount of work that will be assigned to us. If we don’t take the time to tie our shoes right, and ultimately miss out on practice or games, we need to sit on a bench.  Furthermore, we cannot be expected to lead a revival, or even a Sunday School class, if we cannot be trusted with being disciplined enough to do our own Bible study.  We can’t be expected to receive God’s blessing on our business if we keep a tight grip on our purse when it is time to tithe.  Going back to the beginning of our week, staying true to a system or fundamentals, will not only develop a single resource, but ultimately encompasses every aspect of our lives, including our relationships, time, and talents.

Finally, one more theme to quickly revisit appears in today’s reading. Despite Israel’s mismanagement, let us again be reminded God’s desire is not to let them go, but to bring them back into the fold when he says: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them” (Hosea 14:4, NIV). This restoration is contingent upon living a life of integrity and faithfulness to God.  If we’re going to set foot on the court, let’s not even think about winning first.  Let’s make sure first that our socks and shoes are put on properly, looking at our calendar, our bank accounts, and our relationship, and demonstrating to God that we will be faithful with those things that are already set before us, so we may be shrewd managers, benefitting the greatest dynasty yet to come, the Kingdom of God.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What small actions have you (now or in the past) tried to skip over? What is the importance of doing these small steps consistently and well before trying to jump ahead to bigger things?
  2. What resources has God currently put you in charge of? What can you do to care for these well?
  3. How do you think God would rate your faithfulness?
  4. What is the biggest take-away you learned from Hosea this week?
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The Realities of Repentance

Old Testament: Hosea 9-11

Poetry: Psalm 79

New Testament: Luke 15:11-32

One of the toughest things to do as a parent is to let your child take a great risk, manage their own protection, or walk into a mistake.  There is a realization that your sway and shielding over another willed being is truly limited, even in the smallest stages of life.  You turn them loose, simply hoping they heed your instructions.  You let them crawl and explore your home, you put them on a bus for the school day, you let them sleepover at a friend’s house, and slowly but surely they become independent humans who make their own way from their own place.  While many who read this blog have walked their children through some or all of these stages in life, today, we will all take the perspective of a child, not the parent.

Through our study of Hosea paired alongside our slow walk through Luke 15, we have focused on the restoration of those who are lost and our responsibility to be ever-searching for those who have stayed or strayed away from the care of the Good Shepherd.  Today, we look more inwardly as we walk with the Prodigal Son, specifically looking at how each of us have wandered in our own right and making sure that we have come to the realities of repentance.

“Do not hold against us the sins of past generations, may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name;” – Psalm 79:8-9

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? … My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused” – Hosea 11:8

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” – Luke 15:20

The first reality is that we have all squandered the blessing of God. Today’s Psalm is estimated to be written some 150 years after Hosea, as captivity and destruction set in. We see the lament of a nation whose possessions are long carried off, whose temple is destroyed, and their freedom now limited by their lack of resources.  God’s blessing can only extend to those who walk in His ways.  If we are seeking repentance or even identifying our need to repent, we need only reflect on the way we describe the blessings in our life. Do we see our wealth as our own or God’s?  Our time as our own or God’s? Is it our relationship, our ministry, our accolades, or God’s? If we are fortunate enough to be blessed even in a single area, we should not take it for granted, turning our back and hitting the road to make our own way.

The second reality is that all this world has to offer us is pig slop. While there is an overwhelming abundance of beauty on this earth, it is not found through any pursuit other than God. We often picture an endless rave alongside the Prodigal Son in his “wild living”, but not everyone of us is a party animal. Sometimes our pursuits for pleasure and meaning come in more temperant forms. In isolation from God, pursuing education, taking a leadership role, traveling the world, and many more noble activities are vanity and unfulfilling if they are not done with God at the forefront.  If we are filling our plates with these things, we will be left with food that is fit for swine, an important image when we think to Jewish dietary laws, an animal that is unclean because of its diet.

Finally, the third reality is that we must be mindful that God’s favor makes us belong, but it does not make us supreme.  The lie we have been sold for the whole of mankind is that we can be like God, knowing what is best for our own life.  We look to the older brother, who has a grievance that his younger sibling could be invited back so easily.  God forgives us all when we act as a maître d’ to His table, deciding who eats, and who sits where. Repentance is reconciliation to God and no other. While it is important to seek forgiveness from our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is not dependent upon it.  Thankfully, it is God alone who restores us to our place at the table, and we can only hope to scoot down to make room for one more who has accepted His invitation.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you realize how YOU were (or are) dead and lost? When/where has God seen you stay or stray away from His table?
  2. In what ways are you guilty of not giving God the credit He deserves for the blessings He has given? How could you take steps to repent and remedy this problem?
  3. What pig slop have you tried living on? How does it differ from what is available at your Father’s table?
  4. Where/when do you see yourself in the big brother’s resentment and wish for exclusion? How can you adjust your heart to reflect God’s instead – and scoot down to make more room? How can you extend the invitation to His table?
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Lost

Old Testament: Hosea 6-8

Poetry: Psalm 78

New Testament: Luke 15:8-10

It is fairly maddening how quickly I can lose an object. I will set down car keys to load a child into the car and they are gone.  I can be in the middle of a text conversation, get up for a drink, and my phone disappears. Parking passes, debit cards, proof of insurance, checks, grade verifications, etc – there is no limit to what I can lose. My students will even tell you that I don’t collect work directly into my hands because if I touch it, I’ll subconsciously place it near my next conversation. It is infuriating to lose items so important, but each time, I rise to the occasion to search with determination that matches the importance of what is missing.

When we consider those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, what responsibility do we have to recover the lost?  If it is gauged upon the importance of the object, and we are searching for those who were paid for with the blood of Christ, then it requires all the strength we can muster.  We do not sit patiently in our homes and churches, waiting for our doors to be darkened by their presence. If we do this, then the searching is being done by the wrong party. We are to turn on the light, get our butts moving, and carefully search each room where our feet land.

Fallen out and forgotten, lost in the shuffle, moved out of place, and never properly cared for are the people of God we are looking for. They are every bit as equal in value, but they need to be found with the Gospel in hand. It is possible that they choose to remain wherever they are.  Unlike lost coins and keys, there very well may be a struggle. Like a teenager who slips back under the covers on a school morning, they too may crawl back into the couch cushion or make a home with the dust bunnies.  No matter, our role is the same in the search, to find them and expose them to the Light.

God remains steadfast in his desire to continue the search despite Israel’s determination to commit to being unfaithful. While Israel acknowledges guilt and recognizes revival is needed, their actions do not yet match their lips,“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.” They continue to reject what is good and are forced to deal with the consequences of a rebelling nation.

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done” – Psalm 78:4

Whether it is with a coworker, an acquaintance, a straying brother or sister in Christ, or our own children, we do not simply wait patiently, but continue to pursue the lost coin.  We share our own experiences of feeling lost.  We share the consequences of our own rebellion against God.  We share our testimony and the promises of God, not hiding our faith for the sake of relationship.  We cannot simply pick them up and place them in our pocket, but we can surround them in love and prayer.  We extend the love of God to them determinedly and unconditionally. No one is less valuable in the eyes of God. Ultimately, we hope to rejoice and reap a return, giving praise to our gracious God who has searched for all of us with salvation’s plan.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Hosea, the woman searching for her lost coin, the writer of Psalm 78, and the heart of God have in common?
  2. Do you most often sit and wait for the lost to come find you and the gospel message – or do you spend time and effort seeking out the lost?
  3. “No one is less valuable in the eyes of God.” Do you believe this? Can you find Scriptural evidence to support it? Do you live like this is true?
  4. What lost coin can you pursue this week? Why? When, where and how? Pray for God’s heart, guidance, wisdom, words, and love.
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Seeking Shepherd

Old Testament: Hosea 3-5

Poetry: Psalm 77

New Testament: Luke 15:1-7

I have a free pizza awaiting me today. I couldn’t be more excited. Every year around my birthday, as a reward for not dying, I redeem a voucher for an entire pie of my choosing at my favorite pizzeria. There is something more satisfying about good food when you haven’t paid for it, although I’m not advocating for dining and dashing, simply making friends with chefs, restaurant owners, or in this case, signing up for an email newsletter.  As I read for today, and I think about greasy-cupped pepperonis, I can’t help but think deeper about redemption. 

Befriend a realist, and it won’t be long before you hear the wisdom, “nothing is free.” Redemption rings true to this adage because by definition it means that the price or obligation has already been fulfilled. Therefore, you receive the reward without the typical settling of debt.  The dough, the cheese, the sauce, and the toppings have already been purchased, but I wasn’t the buyer. In a more significant example, enslaved men and women could be released of bondage, receive paperwork, and be transported to the North due to the fundraising efforts of American abolitionists.  In the Old Testament, God’s laws command redemption of property, or giving back land, houses, animals, and freedom, to the impoverished when they sell as a last resort to make ends meet, with the buyer gaining nothing in their return (Lev. 25:25-55). But in a much greater way than any of these examples, we have redemption through Christ.

There is absolutely nothing we can do to deserve the Love of God, yet it is poured out upon us as an abundant gift. God demonstrates His love and redemption in Hosea’s actions in redeeming Gomer in the midst of adultery, “The LORD said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods’” These words tell us that God does not simply pine for relationship with us while we are in sin, but that He actively pursues in the midst of our fall. God hates sin, but He is unrelenting.  His grace goes farther than the guilt, and hopefully, guides us back to Him.


In the same manner, Jesus demonstrates this as the Good Shepherd watching over His flock. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.” Again, Jesus illustrates the commitment of the Father and His love for all within the body. It says heaven rejoices, but aren’t we too supposed to rejoice in the redemption?  As those who already know Christ, we should not be lining up for apologies, but instead extending the hands of grace.  If we were robbed by the redeemed of our possessions, our time, or our emotions, they have all become forfeit for the sake of redemption.

Despite our own unfaithfulness and wandering, God’s love has found us and refuses to let go.  He has already executed the campaign to offer you an eternal reward far greater than we could ever imagine (and I can imagine quite a bit of pizza).  Therefore it is our job to continue the work of Jesus, tending to His sheep.  We search the fields for the lost one, giving constant and enduring love to those failing to be victorious over temptation. It is simply put, but the practice is daunting. It is having an awkward conversation at the gas station with someone who hasn’t been to church in a few years.  It is  offering a listening ear to someone in distress, possibly never knowing if you have heard the truth.  It is showing kindness and compassion at business close when all you wanted was to get home to relax. Every act of love is a step toward spiritual restoration, not only for others, but ourselves, because we too have hope in life eternal at the expense of the Creator through His Seeking Shepherd.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What similarities do you find between the lives of Hosea and Gomer and the parable of the lost sheep?
  2. What lost sheep have you seen restored?
  3. What sheep do you know who are still lost? What acts of love can you be a part of to demonstrate the Father’s love to them?
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A Radical Relationship

Old Testament: Hosea 1-2

Poetry: Psalm 76

New Testament: Luke 14:25-35

Since the pandemic, mental health has become an important topic that has not only been destigmatized, but has rapidly appeared in popular culture.  Looking at the vocabulary passed along in social media, I’m sure you’ve seen a quote or two referencing toxic behaviors, triggers, gaslighting, or keeping some type of balance.  The vast majority of those offering this advice are not certified to give it, but many have the ability to identify, and for the most part avoid, unhealthy relationships and behaviors that would emotionally exhaust us. So I, as one not certified to give advice, offer some advice, albeit unpopular and radical wisdom for the day and age we live in: God asks us to form addictive, dependent relationships in abandonment of self.

When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, ‘Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD’” (Hosea 1:2, NIV)

In a very specific instance, God instructs Hosea to marry Gomer, taking on an unhealthy relationship, knowingly to a woman who would be unfaithful to him. Not only a symbolic representation, but a real life metaphor, Hosea’s heart mimicked that of the Most High who was heartbroken by Israel’s infidelity. Yet in the same way, Hosea’s persistent love and commitment would mirror God’s unwavering love for His people. In spite of our own betrayal, God beckons us to return to Him and be restored.  This is a promise for Israel but truly, for each one of us.

Jesus also speaks directly to the demands of this type of abandonment in relationships.  Conversely, His focus is the reciprocation of God’s reckless love to us.  In the same manner, we prioritize Him above all else, even above family and possessions. In maybe the toughest pill to swallow in the ministry of Jesus, he states in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”  Jesus double-downs on this statement, saying that we each must carry our own cross to follow Him. The demands of following Christ are toxic to self and most indeed will destroy us.

But this is the very cost of knowing Christ. If we were not aware of it before, be reminded of it as you read and re-read these words today. There must be a willingness to give up everything that hinders our relationship with God, and not only accept this, but embrace the sacrifices of discipleship.  No doubt there could be a growing dissonance in our minds. If this is the case, it could be that we are trying to preserve the self that remains instead of running to our relationship with the abandonment of Hosea, and ultimately, our Heavenly Father.  True discipleship demands more than superficial commitment. It requires a deep and wide devotion to Jesus, the same dedication He showed to His Father and to us.

Although we have lived in a manner that made us unworthy, God’s love for us is restorative and sufficient for any loss. The Church of God is His bride in the coming kingdom, and it matters not our history before coming to Him. We must no longer accept Jesus, for this implies He is tolerated. We must make a covenant with Him, becoming one. He has fully demonstrated His love for us, so we must embrace the cost of this radical relationship that continues to transform every aspect of our life.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. “True discipleship demands more than superficial commitment.” Where else can you see this principle taught and illustrated in the Bible?
  2. How deep does your commitment to God go? What do you find gets in the way of diving deeper into commitment?
  3. How would you describe God’s love? What is your response to His love for you? OR – asked another way – What is God asking of you in your relationship to Him and to His Son? And what does He offer in return?
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Invitation

Old Testament: 2 Kings 15-17

Poetry: Psalm 75

New Testament: Luke 14:15-24

And so it begins. The words of Amos fell on deaf ears.  Time and again, the northern kingdom of Israel fails to commit to repentance, leaving the high places standing against the Most High God’s repeated warning. Through the course of 2 Kings 15-17, Israel unravels, becoming a nation of idolatry and insolence.  The very things that the previous generations had fought to keep out became the way. The Creator’s voice was ignored.

This is the exact picture painted in the “Parable of the Great Banquet.”  In the same manner, a certain man extends an invitation to friends for a great feast.  Every RSVP is returned with an excuse. Work, family, and other obligations trump taking the time to attend. In a move that represents both social and fiscal wisdom, the host extends the invitation to those who will actually show up – no questions and no excuses.  When the party is well under way, those initially invited become indignant when they realize they no longer can attend.

While these words are meant specifically for the audience in front of Jesus with allusion to the historical context of Kings and Amos, we can most definitely apply them to the invitation that has been extended to each one of us.  We are invited into conversations through reading and prayer.  We are invited to be with our church body to commune in worship and fellowship. We are invited to take on baptism, fasting, and other spiritual disciplines.  Life gets understandably busy, and so we ignore the greatest invitation we could receive: to sit down at the table with God – far more incomprehensible. And so, our place within God’s plan awaits our seating.  We tend to our field, try out our purchases, and busy ourselves with another accolade, leaving our food growing cold and the high places standing.

The words are a sobering reminder to prioritize God and His kingdom above everything else.  Our bodies, beings, and calendars should be given to Him first. Accepting His invitation to Sunday morning worship doesn’t make you a follower, but constantly rejecting it does mean you follow someone or something else. Volunteering to give your time to a mission or ministry doesn’t make your efforts an act of service, but never doing this most certainly makes you self-serving.  Likewise, neglecting baptism, Bible study, and evangelism means we have placed our efforts and urgency somewhere else, making an offering of excuses instead of accepting the gracious offer in return for our small sacrifice.

Finally, we should reflect that this invitation is not exclusive to us.  There are no country club, buyer’s membership vibes, or secret handshakes. It is now open to the general public.  The overlooked and marginalized have every right to participate, and frankly, might have a more open social calendar if they just received the word. God invites all to sit at His table.  We are to embody the generosity of our host as conduits of His call.  There will always be excuses, but if we continue to ignore our invitation or fail to invite others, we could find ourselves on the wrong side of the door after the celebration has begun.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What excuses have you used when God has invited you to come sit at His table? What do you think God thinks of your excuses?
  2. Aaron wrote, “We are to embody the generosity of our host as conduits of His call.” How can you put God’s generous call into practice in your life? Who is waiting to hear about their invitation? How can you deliver the invitation to them?
  3. What is the difference between being invited to the party and actually attending the party? Where are you? Where will you be? Can you be a church attender who is ignoring God’s invitation? What might that look like?
  4. What is your greatest priority? What should be your greatest priority?
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Posts and Planes

Old Testament: Amos 7-9

Poetry: Psalm 74

New Testament: Luke 14:1-14

“This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD asked me, “What do you see, Amos?” “A plumb line,” I replied. Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.” Amos 7:7-8

 Three summers ago, I took on the task of building 300 or so feet of fence in my backyard to enclose the wandering space of two quickening toddlers.  I am far from a carpenter by trade, so in every way, it took me significantly more time to get the job done; however, I was committed to doing it right, building something that had some staying value. It was my Great Wall.  After doing some YouTube research, I knew even the smallest deviation, a single degree to the left or right on a plane, could have pretty severe consequences.   If you can’t imagine the measurements of fence posts, an example more relevant might be one drawn from James Clear in Atomic Habits.  He asks his reader to imagine an airplane taking off from California destined for New York. Just after takeoff, the heading is adjusted by the smallest degree shift.  This unnoticeable change, if never corrected, will have you arriving in Florida, not New York, roughly 1000 miles away from your destination.

Whether it is posts or planes, we can see that God is using a measure for Israel and us, that is making sure that we are vertically aligned with Him.  Amos alludes to the scattering of Israel and a final judgment at the return of Jesus. Unchecked cultural allowances passed from generation to generation compound their effect and become paradigm shifts.  While Israel was at the height of its economic and political power, seemingly built on a great foundation of previous generations, small allowances and leanings away from God, moves Israel away from God’s chosen, eventually leading to their conquered and scattered status in the 1st century.

Additionally, at the beginning of Luke 14, Jesus reminds us of the measure we should use. The Pharisees took great pride in regularly measuring themselves to a standard.  Unfortunately, the rules they followed were often legalistic, self-imposed, and focused solely on their status with one another. Taking seats of honor, refusing to help on the Sabbath, and blessing only those who can repay you are incorrect measures that can skew the outcome of your vertical alignment more quickly than one or two poles being out of line.  Jesus gave them the measure, “but when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Alignment with God means blessing those who cannot return the favor.  Simply put, this is the Father’s love shown through Jesus Christ paying a debt we could never repay.


So how do we combat these leanings that will make our defenses weak? First, we are encouraged to regularly check our progress or face being cut out of the plan of God.  Here’s a quick check-in: the average American takes in 100,000 words a day through conversation and content. Reading a Bible study like this is 2,000 of those, solely if you stick to the plan and stay away from devotional.  Over the course of a year, not reading a daily Bible plan misaligns you by 800,000 words, roughly 8 full days within a year without God’s presence.  This is only a single, simple action, which does meet the requirements of the plumb line alone in isolation. Giving up a hundred words here and there may seem harmless, but they add up, and could place us far from our destination in a matter of months. 

Start today with something small to plumb. Pray for patience over your first cup of coffee.  Offer a line or two of a worship chorus when you hear the rain. Thank God aloud whenever you arrive home safely. If we check in with this single task daily, how much more aligned would our life be to Christ’s in a few months?  We cannot spare any more time without God’s presence beckoning the standard in Christ and shoring up our shortcomings. Daily measure against God’s standard and build your life with eternal value.

Reflection Questions

  1. What steps do you want to take to be well aligned with God? What practices and habits do you need to remove and replace because they are pulling you away from proper alignment?
  2. How does being just a few degrees off over time take you where you do not want to go?
  3. What does God’s standard look like? How can we follow it more closely?
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