Chronological Gospels: Luke 12-13
As we read Luke 12 and 13 this week, there are many important lessons for us to meditate on and apply to our lives. Jesus is teaching in many different cities, and tensions are rising all around Him. His disciples are with Him, and the Pharisees continue to push back against Jesus. At the start of Luke 12, Jesus gives a blunt warning not only to the disciples who traveled with Him but also to us today – beware of hypocrisy. Guard yourselves, and be aware that everything hidden will one day be fully revealed. God is not fooled by us.
He goes on to say that we should not fear people who can kill the body. The only fear we should have is of God. Fear is mentioned quite a few times in this chapter, but not every time does it mean the same thing. What Jesus is saying is to not be afraid of people lest they be displeased and do harm to you, but to fear God in this way. He then continues on with the exhortation to not be struck with fear and seized with alarm because God counts us as more valuable than even the sparrows.
We are to fear God in a way that is in awe and respect, but also in a way that we do not want to displease Him. We do not, however, need to be in fear and alarm toward God. When we feel anxious or afraid, Jesus invites us to look at His creation and see how God provides for all, then recognize that He provides and cares for us, too.
In the same conversation, Jesus then proceeds to explain that not only should we not be afraid of people, and that we should desire to please God and trust Him to provide for us, but that we also should not be afraid or neglect to acknowledge Jesus before others, nor should we blaspheme the Holy Spirit. We should likewise be careful against greed and set our desires on the Kingdom of God and Heavenly things.
What does this passage teach you about who God is?
God continuously provides for all of His creation and wants us to trust Him to lead, guide, and provide for us. He wants us to use what He blessed us with to be rich toward Him and generous toward others. We must be careful not to store up treasures for ourselves and neglect our duty to hospitality and generosity. Becoming too focused on earthly wealth is a sure way to lose focus of the true treasure we have in Heaven.
In fact, Jesus explains to us that the cure for anxiety is to have faith and trust God to provide and to be generous with what He does provide. Seek His Kingdom, and do what is pleasing to Him.
How can you focus more on the Kingdom and less on earthly things this week?
How can you be rich toward God and generous with the blessings He has given you?
In all of this, we can learn how to better prepare for Christ’s return, the time of which we do not know. He calls on us to be prepared, to have faith, to trust God’s provisions, and seek His Kingdom. We must do the job He has given us to do and be found doing it when He returns.
What steps can you take to prepare for Christ’s return so that you may walk through the narrow door before it shuts?
