LUKE

Today is Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to preaching two chapels and then Walking Thru The Bible tonight at Church.  It is going to be a good day.  A full one, but a good one!  I'm in Luke today.  Here are a few items to share.  Keep in mind that every chapter has many, many thoughts I could share, and I'm going through ten of them each day.  Out of the scores of thoughts to share, I can only have time for a few.  I hope these speak to you as they do to me:

1) BE GOD'S FRIEND- In Luke 11:5, we see the man who prays with importunity.  He has a friend come to his house at midnight and has nothing to feed him which would be a huge insult and embarrassment.  So, he goes to his neighbor and says:  "Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?"  Now this is teaching about prayer.  And the idea is that we go to God and ask because we too are in great need.  This man went to his friend to have his need met, and we too should go to our friend, and that Friend should be God!!  God should be our friend!  Be a friend to God, so that when you need a friend, you are on a close basis with Him.  Talk to Him, walk with Him, sing to Him, serve Him, etc.  Act like a friend to God and be a friend to God.

2) IT GROWS!  Luke 12:1 says:  ".... Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."  Leaven grows!  It rises when it comes into contact with grain.  So hypocrisy grows when given into.  Let us not be hypocritical for a moment, but sincere, humble, truthful, honest, and transparent in all of our dealings.  Let what the world sees be the real us!  Let us walk the good walk as well as talk the good talk.  Let us not esteem ourselves more highly than we ought.  Once started down the slippery slope of hypocrisy, or stretching the truth, or dishonesty, .... it grows!!  Beware!

3) ACCOUNTABILITY- Luke 16:2 says:  "give an account of thy stewardship:  for thou mayest be no longer steward."  There will be a day that we give an account of our stewardship.  All that we have belongs to God.  He owns it all!  We are just stewards of what He has given to us.  When we give an account of our stewardship, and we have been poor stewards, then that which we have been entrusted with could be taken away.  "we may no longer be a steward".  Now this is not referring to Salvation, but to all else that God has placed in our care.  Poor Christians live poor lives, often because they are poor stewards of what God has given to them.  So,.... He takes it away!  Don't let that happen to you dear friend!

Hope you have a happy and blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler