Luke 5 – 6

Verse 5:15 shows a common problem Jesus has:

Even though Jesus said not to talk about what happened, soon every conversation was consumed by these events. The crowds swelled even larger as people went to hear Jesus preach and to be healed of their many afflictions.

How often did Jesus say “don’t talk about what happened” and the word gets out anyway? I often wonder if Jesus really didn’t want the word out or if he was protecting His life from the Pharisees? Either way, the word always seemed to get out and it stirred the passions of the Pharisees.

When asked why Jesus spent so much time with sinners He responds in verse 5:31:

Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.

Over the years one of the riders, Mustache Greg,  we use to judge had a sticker on his helmet that said “Jesus is for losers”. Finally after almost ten years of judging him for being a blasphemer we finally talked. I asked him about it and he said because it’s true, Jesus did not come for the righteous, but rather for the sinners or losers. I was immediately humbled and apologized for a decade of judgment.

Now Chapter 6 from verse 20 is full of piercing commands that one could write a book on.  Verse 6:27 is one of the hardest ones to get:

If you’re listening, here’s My message: Keep loving your enemies no matter what they do. Keep doing good to those who hate you.

Love your enemy, easy to say but hard to do. How many of us would love on someone who stole our fortune? How many of us would love on someone who spat in our face? How many of us would love on someone who murdered our child? See these are easy words to say, but very hard to follow.

Verse 6:38 is another we tend to miss:

Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give.

God wants us to give! He said himself it will come back more than we can imagine. I can point you towards Robert Morris for an example. He once gave it all, two cars, his house and savings. Within hours of him saying “top that God” had arranged to give him a jet with a pilot!! I am not saying give it all away, Mr. Morris had built up a life of trust and understanding. The last thing I want is everyone giving their homes away for selfish reasons only to be homeless. The key is give and give freely without worry to the cost. And please in all this be a joyful giver!!