It says “give up your own way." Daily.
So what's the thing we keep not doing? Do it today.
Do not hang onto what we love by putting it ahead of God.
Keep our life by obeying God first.
No one should be surprised to hear we follow Jesus.
Share His message.
Luke 9:23-26.
How often do we check out and think someone else will handle it because we feel it’s impossible?
Direction from God: Bring what we have, even when it's obviously not enough.
Count on Him to do the rest.
Luke 9:13-14
This is the locked in mindset of walking with God.
His Word and direction filter ALL of our choices and focus.
And it’s fantastic.
Psalms 119:97-98, 104-105
We can hear the message from God. We can believe & be with it.
But we will be tempted. Life's comforts and obligations will challenge our focus on God.
Unless we patiently grow in His wisdom by reading, praying, and serving, we will lose our way.
Luke 8:13-14
Asked who He was, Jesus pointed at what His life produced.
“Blind see, lame walk, dead raised.”
As Luke 6 showed, we are known by what our life produces. Jesus passed the test.
People talked reckless anyway.
"John’s a demon."
“Jesus is a drunk."
Wisdom does not argue with foolish claims. It is proven by the lives of the people who follow it.
Luke 7:22,33-35
We are known by what our life produces.
A good man of God is obedient to Him.
We pray to Him. We call for His help and wisdom. He gives it to us, we know it, and we skip it.
Our foundation is trash if we do not follow His guidance.
No action and the first distraction will knock us from God’s path.
Luke 6:43-46 (+47-49)
Imagine worshipping the rules so much you would stop a man from helping people.
What are we doing here?
God calls us to love and serve.
No rule overrides that.
Luke 6:9-11
Jesus came for those who know they are a mess. “Too far gone” is exactly who He is ready for.
Those who think they are living right without God will miss Him.
Come as we are. Then change things. No need to clean up first.
Remember this when we come across someone on the brink: they may be just about to find Jesus.
Luke 5:30-32
Peter was the pro. He already fished all night. Caught nothing.
Jesus said try again.
Peter obeyed and had a catch so big he couldn't even handle it.
Thinking we have it all sorted and solved (we don’t) must never stop us from obeying God.
Luke 5:5-6
Jesus' defense was Scripture. Every attack, He answered with what God already said.
It is the best wisdom and tool we have. Why would we not use it?
We cannot know and lean on what we have not read.
To be wise during the most consequential choices, we must be in the Word daily.
Luke 4:3-4,8
God changes our heart, and that changes how we move.
Our background earns zero. God does not count it. He can connect or sever anyone from His roots.
Get our roots deep in Christ and produce for Him, or whatever we think we built will get cut down.
Bg. John the Baptist preaching to those coming to be baptized.
Luke 3:8-9
Jesus at 12. Going to where the Word is taught.
Listening. Asking questions.
Growing in wisdom.
We should be doing the same.
Then living it.
Like 2:46-47
Full belief and trust that HE IS. Total loyalty whether He acts or not.
Zero blinking in the face of death.
This is faith with nothing held back. This is where we want to be.
If we do not prepare before the heat comes, we will fold and abandon God.
Make our choices now. Then rely on Him and stick to them.
Daniel 3:17-18
I do not believe in this level of coincidence.
God the Creator was at work!
The name Jesus was given before He was conceived. (v21)
Everyone who saw Him knew, & word started to spread. (v17-18)
Bg. Caesar ordered a census. That got Mary to Bethlehem right when the baby (Jesus) was due. Caesar did not know he was executing God's plan. (v1-6)
Luke 2:11-12,16
John the Baptist will tell everyone God is found through forgiveness.
Because He is merciful.
The path to God is about to be made clear. Jesus is the light breaking through our darkest days.
He is our guide to peace.
Bg. Zechariah doubted an angel & lost his voice for 9mo. Until John, his son, was born. On that day, he said this about his boy.
Luke 1:77-79
All over, the Bible points to faith and believing as critical.
How we live would change if we lived like everything He said was guaranteed.
His people are not picked by the world's standards. A poor woman from the sticks had His Son.
This is the faith to aspire to. It’s the one He blesses.
Bg. Angel told Mary she'd have God's Son. She believed. Her cousin says this [v45].
Luke 1:45+48
Truth is Scripture. Not someone's feelings or their take on life.
If what God "told" someone goes against the Bible, it's their take.
Jeremiah 23:16, 36
