Woe 5: Held Responsible, Luke 11:47 - 51

Held Responsible

Luke 11:51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

Abel was killed by his brother Cain. Out of jealously, he made plans to get rid of his brother despite being warned by God to master the sin that was tempting him. Bitterness and jealously caused him to kill his righteous brother for Abel showed the proper way to please God.

Zechariah was a prophet to the people of Israel around the time of the restoration, the return to their land from the Babylonian captivity. He encouraged the people to return to the Lord by carrying out his decrees. Who do preform all your righteous acts for, for your selves or for God? he asked. He instructed them according to the word of the Lord on the ways to live and please God.

From Abel to Zechariah, from A to Z, from beginning to end the people killed those whom God sent to teach and train them on how to live and please him. Jesus told the Pharisees and experts of the law that they were as responsible as those who actually did the killing. In fact, it wouldn't be long until they met together in their courts to condemn Jesus to die. They would send the ultimate prophet, God's son, to his death.

A and K, will you listen to the prophets and follow their guide on how to live and please God? Will you follow the way of God's perfect prophet, Jesus, and do as he commands. To love Jesus is to obey his commands (1 John 5:2 & 3). When you do not follow his ways, it is you that crucifies him and woe to you if you don't for you will be held responsible! Yet, if you do follow God's word from Abel, who did what was right and acceptable in God's sight (Gen 4:7), if you follow the decrees he gave for him and not for yourselves, like Zechariah warned (Zech 7:5 & 6), and if you love Christ by obeying his commands, as Jesus said, you will be accepted by God and he will make his home with you! (John 14:23) Not only will you please him, but you will honor me as well.

~Dad

Woe 4: Cruel Overlords, Luke 11:46

Cruel Overlords

Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens that they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."

Not A Selfie

Jesus had insulted the Pharisees and the experts of the law by what he said. But, Jesus kept going... Why are you such cruel leaders? he basically told them. The Pharisees and experts in the law were leaders in God's religious system. They were responsible for the interpretation of the Law, which they also enforced. But, they were cruel in their dealings with people. The rules they set to help in following the law were rigid and gave no thought to an individual's progress.

It is easy for the people who are experts in something to think others should know and be able to do the job as well as they can. Many are short sighted and forget how long it took for them to get to where they are. They also cannot fathom when someone lacks the ability to excel in areas where they do; if they can do it, everyone can.

Daughters, it is easy for me to see where others lack. Some of that comes from my desire for perfection; I want to be holy and perfect like God and having had the privilege of growing up in a home that worked to live it out, I have that same desire. I know I am not perfect and do not expect others to be so, but I do expect them to try. I suppose I err in some sense in the same way the experts in the law had troubles, at least in this area.

A and K, I have been hard on each of you.

K, you extremely so. You told me you had a desire for holiness and wanted my help to become more Godly in everyday life. Knowing I had a limited time, I expected much from you. I tried to condense 22 years of training into 4 years. You know how that went... :(   Although I was always willing to lift my finger to help you, I expected you to not only change immediately, I expected you to accept everything I said immediately. It is my hope that you will fan into flame the desire you once embraced to flee the ways of the world (2 Tim 1:16) and live a holy life.

A, I have expected much from you as well, but you have had that push your entire life. I do not regret being firm and tight in my expectations. You have responded well and seem to desire a Godly, world-less life. Continue in your pursuit of holiness. Yet I see this one area where you seem to lack: open your heart to loving people, and like me, learn patience in dealing with them. They might not have the same ability as you. Teach and see others with this thought in mind.

Finally daughters, you are both talented in various area. Each of you lead others now, and I can't wait to see how God uses each of you in the future. But, always remember to not be an ogre who devours the ones you are trying to help. Instead lift your loving finger to help them.

~Dad

Woe 3: No-one Cares, Luke 11:44

No-one Cares

Luke 11:44 Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.

When a person dies, it is customary to bury them in a grave and place a headstone at the site for all who passed by to see. We can know the day they were born and the day they died. Sometimes pictures or words are put on the gravestone giving us a glimpse into who they were and what they believed. You know they are missed.

The Pharisees thought a lot of themselves. The prayed loudly in front of the people, so everyone could see how "holy" they were. But, others saw through their false pretense and knew the Pharisees were just a lot of hot air. No-one cared for them and ignored who they were. In the people's minds, they were of no importance and did not miss them being around.

K and A, it is not my desire for you to be so popular that others worship your every move. To have accolades given you for doing great things brings honor and can be very humbling. Mother Theresa was a very influential person, yet she had a quite spirit seeking to lift others and not herself. Daughters, live in such a way that people will not notice you, rather live in a way that they would see your love for God and others. When you are not around, they will honor your quiet greatness, and will miss you being there.

~Dad

Woe 2: Status Lovers Beware, Luke 11:43

Status Lovers Beware

Luke 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greeting in the marketplace.

Do you know someone that always seeks attention? They want to get noticed. They want to be lifted up for all to see and praised for their greatness.

But this is not who Jesus calls us to be. We are to put others first. Yes, honor is to be given to those to whom honor is due (Ro. 13:7), but no where does it say we are to seek our own honor. Quite the opposite. We are to be humble. James says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (4:6). Pride is the is the downfall of man. Eve sought to be like God and Adam followed her into sin, now we all suffer for it. Pride is an attribute of Satan, and, as Christians, we must not walk in his ways. In fact we need to avoid the appearance of evil in our lives, so that our entire spirit, soul, and body may be kept blameless before the Lord (1 Thes. 5:23).

A and K, leave the limelight to others. Solomon said that when you dine with the king, do not take the prominent seat, for it is better for him to say come up here and sit by me than for him to switch you with someone else which would be so humiliating (Pr 25:7).  It is not what others think of you that is important, it is what God thinks of you. He will give you grace and honor if you recognize whose you are and give him credit for all that you are. If you do this, then, at judgement day, you will hear him say, "well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of your Lord." (Matt 25:23)

~Dad

Woe 1: Obeying Rules Not Enough, Luke 11:42

Obeying Rules Not Enough

Luke 11:42 Woe to you Pharisees, because you give a tenth of your mint, rue, and other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

Woe - a calamity. Jesus told the Pharisees that hard times are coming for them. In this section of scripture there a six woes that he warns them about. They will come about because of the way the Pharisees live, the things they do.

The first reason calamity is coming... Not living out their faith in God. They looked good. They did things that religious people do; tithed, didn't work on the Sabbath, went to the synagogue every Sabbath... they looked good but they weren't. They treated people unfairly and didn't love God by loving others.

Jesus said it is right to look good, to do the religious acts fitting for believers, but if you do not love others and treat them fairly, taking advantage of them... then you are in the wrong and hard times are ahead.

K and A, You can't just look good. It is right to tithe and follow the ten commandments, all ten, but you are a shallow Christian at best if you do not love others and treat them with respect. Don't cheat others. Do not put them down. Value others above yourself (Phlp. 2:3). Work for their benefit and God will bring the good you seek for others back to you! Live out your faith.

~Dad

Quick Note, Clean In and Out, Luke 11:38-41

Clean In and Out

Like 11:39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

God made all of us, both inside and out. Often we try to change the things we do and work to improve and cannot. We seek to clean up the outside but have never have been clean inside. If we have the blood of Christ cleanse our hearts then our outsides can be cleansed. It never works the other way around.

Daughters, if you ever cannot seem to stop yielding to temptation, you need a good wash'n. Jesus can do that. By getting closer to him and through the work of Holy Spirit in your heart, you can become clean inside and out.

~Dad

Genesis 15:2 & 3, How Will This Be

How Will This Be?

Genesis 15:2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"

Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph and since they were not married, they had no sexual relations. Mary was told by the angel that she would become pregnant and bear a son and name him Jesus. Mary asked, How will this be... since I am still a virgin? (Lk 1:34). What seemed impossible, became possible with God!

Abram had been told by God that he would have great reward and Abram was saddened because he had no son, no family heir. What worth was a reward if you have no one to share it with. If no son, there is no purpose to gaining wealth and riches. But what Abram was unable to do was possible with God.

A and K, What in your life looks impossible? Maybe you at a little like Abram and knew something would come to pass... but it never has. But, maybe you are like Mary and God has told you something and there is no way on your mind that anything like that could happen to anyone long enough you. I ask you to step back and look up to the God who is bigger than all. Abram calls him Sovereign Lord. That is because even though Abram couldn't imagine how things would happen, he knew God did.

Daughters, speak out like Mary. She brought her questions to God and he spoke truth to her, and she, like Abram, accepted it by faith. Know that, with God, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). You can do all the things he has asked you to do. He will strengthen you to do them (Phil 4:13). Trust in the Lord and he will guide you through. (Pr 3:5 & 6)