What do we do with what has been given to us?  Or, the better question is what do we do with what we have been given to manage?  We have all been blessed with certain resources here on earth.  But, in essence, they really all belong to God.  We are only the stewards or managers of what is in our bank accounts, IRA's, homes, etc.  Of course, our first priority should be to give back to God at least a tenth of all He has entrusted to us.  (Matthew 23:23)  However, if that becomes a duty and not an act of gratefulness and worship, we will become like the Pharisees Jesus rebuked.  We will become proud of ourselves, forgetting that it all belongs to God anyway.  While God is loving and kind and it pleasures Him to give us (His children) good gifts, they are not just for our comfort.  He is interested in all of His creation.  He is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9)  He is very interested in the poor and oppressed.  (Luke 3:11)  We have only been given much so that we might be like God and give much.  We might remember that Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required."  (Luke 12:48)

A little later on in this same passage in Luke, we read about a rich man and a poor man.  Lazarus was poor and covered with sores.  (Luke 16:20)  He laid outside the gates of the rich man's house every day and watched as finely dressed people came and went with hardly a passing glance at him.  He was hungry and smelled the finest food as it was being prepared inside the house.  How he longed for just a crumb!  We may not have beggars with sores laying on our front porch.  But, we are surrounded by those who watch us and long for just a taste of what they see us enjoying.  We are all part of God's creation.  We are all made in His image.  The rich man, the poor man and every man, woman and child in between.  If God is our Father, is He pleased with what we are doing with what He has given us?  When we don't use the resources given to us to help our brothers and sisters who do not have as much, is God happy?  I don't think so.  It becomes evident that this is so at the end of the story Jesus tells about Lazarus and the rich man.  (Luke 16:25)  The rich man went to Hell and the poor man was comforted and finally cared for in the arms of Abraham.  For a season, here on earth the rich man had everything anybody could ask for.  He didn't use it for God's glory.  He didn't have compassion on his less fortunate brother.  He spent eternity in Hell.  The poor man, for a season here on earth suffered and was overlooked by his brother.  But God was watching (and God is continually watching).  This man spent eternity in Heaven with Abraham.

Abraham was a man given massive wealth by God.  He was also an example to us of how to use what He had been given.  He was a tither.   (Genesis 14:17-20)  But Abraham did not stop there.  He was aware of what God had promised Him.  He was going to be blessed but He was also going to bless others. (Genesis 12:2)  We are all Abraham's children and we all share in Abraham's blessing if we are in Christ. (Romans 4:16)  The Pharisees remembered that they were Abraham's children and they were blessed with much.  But they forgot what their father really looked like.  He was not only blessed.  He was a "blesser".  He didn't hoard what God had given him.  It flowed freely through his hands.  He was even willing to give up what looked like the best of what he had received to another. (Genesis 13:10-11)  Abraham let Lot choose what looked the best and then he gave it to him.  We are all children of our Heavenly Father.  Do we remember what He looks like?  Do we remember His face of compassion?  Or, are we just happy to take our stuff from His loving hands and play with it?  If the rich man would have noticed the beggar at his gates and given him even some crumbs from his table, he would have had someone in heaven to speak up for him.  But in his total self-centeredness, he ignored a brother's suffering.  When the never-ending season of eternity came, Lazarus could not honestly say anything good about him.  Are we using what God has given us to glorify Him and to make friends of the poor and oppressed for our short season here on earth?  If not, maybe we might want to get before our Heavenly Father and take another look at His face.  Maybe we should watch His eyes as they turn compassionately toward those in need.  As they say, "Time flies when you're having fun."  Our earthly season is very short.  (Psalm 90:10)  When we are truly blessed by God, time does seem to fly.  (Proverbs 15:15)  But, for those who are suffering and oppressed, it's sometimes a different story.  One day can seem like a lifetime.  The wait for relief and a friend to come and give some aid can seem like forever.  What can we do with our resources today that will relieve someone else's pain and suffering?  (Proverbs 19:17)  We can't give anything that God will not repay!   

How great it is to know that we have a purpose!  That a plan was created for our lives before the world even began.  All of our days were written in God's book before we ever saw the light of this world or took our first breath.  (Psalm 139:16)  Jesus knew His purpose.  He knew what He was sent to earth to do.  He was sent to give us eternal life.  (John 6:27)  There were many things that He did along the way in order to reach that goal.  But, He never took His mind off of the final goal set before Him.  He was on His way to Jerusalem but, along the way of His charted course, He taught in one village after another.  He brought, salvation, healing, comfort and encouragement to those in His path.  He did not look back.  He was steadfast and immovable in the direction of His journey.  (1 Corinthians 15:58)  He was the perfect example of abounding in good works along His journey (even though He knew He was on the journey to the cross).  He showed us how to live as Paul said we must in 1 Corinthians 15:58.  Are you on course this morning?  Are you checking your location by looking in the Navigation Guide all the time. Instead of consulting the stars, are you consulting your Heavenly Father as to the direction you need to go to stay on course or get back on course if the winds of life have blown you in a wrong direction?

What are some of the things that drive you off course?  Distractions? Illness?  Financial problems?  Relationship difficulties?  Job related stresses?  Too young?  Too old?  It could also be things of the heart such as pride, lust, envy, unforgiveness, bitterness, and the like.  In order to get on course again and continue steadily, we need to lay every one of those things down at the foot of the cross and leave them there.  (Philippians 3:13)  One way we most definitely get off course is when we lay them down, travel down the good path and then turn around and go back and pick up the stuff we left at the foot of the cross.  Have you ever done that? I confess, I have.  God is merciful and, He will set us straight again if we have done that.  (1 John 2:1)  But, why would we want to pick up something heavy again after Jesus offered to take it and give us a light load?   (Matthew 11:28-30)  Is it fear that God is not going to do what He says?  Is it that we don't think God is able to handle our "stuff?"  Oh dear, now we've uncovered unbelief!  Have you ever been in an argument and realized that the other person was not going to back down?  Instead of continuing, you just say, "forget it."  Then you walk away.  While I realize that we should live at peace with those around us, you may have done this in the past.  I have.  Once we realize that we are not dealing with people but against principalities and powers who are out to obstruct our God-given course  (Ephesians 6:12),  we need to say to those spirits, "FORGET IT" and press on in the right direction.  The direction set before us by our Lord.

Jesus was on a mission.  He knew who He was and where He was going.  He did not discount those along His path as just stones to be stepped on or stepped over.  He knew He would eventually be crowned King of Kings.  Instead of making that His goal, His goal was to gather as many into His Kingdom as possible.  Instead of stepping on the likes of sinners like you and me, He picked us up and cleaned us off along the way.  He made a difference all along the way right up to Golgatha Hill where He completed the mission and finally said, "It is finished."  (John 19:30)  All through His ministry, along the course to His final destiny, He gave Himself for you and for me.  He was an example of how we could and should walk in steadfastness combined with love.  You are also on a mission and so am I.  We may have different appointments along the way (1 Corinthians 3:8)  but we're on that narrow road that leads to eternity in Heaven. (Matthew 7:13-14)  Why are there only a few who find that road and stay on it?  Because there are so many other inviting and broad roads which only lead to destruction.  The lure of everything in this world draws us off course unless we determine to steadfastly call on God to fulfill His purpose for us.  (Psalm 57:2)  None of our good works will guarantee that we stay on course.  Only our belief and trust in the One who has already walked the course will allow us to steadfastly walk in His footsteps.  He took the heavy load.  Aren't you thankful that most of us will not have to endure the cross?  Even if we did, it would not be like the heavy load Jesus bore when He hung there with the weight of your sin, my sin and every sin that was ever committed on His shoulders!  From that perspective, we can take heart and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  We can let the light of His Word illumine the pathway in front of us and determine to walk in that Light.  (Psalm 119:105)  Jesus showed us that every throb of our heart should keep us steadily on the course planned for us.  Like a great ocean liner that stays it's course across the ocean because of it's steady engine, so our hearts should beat steadily in the direction of Heaven.  The Captain of our soul is at the helm.  He will guide us all the way! 

Luke 12:40 (The Message)
^{40 (MSG)} So don't you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don't expect him, the Son of Man will show up."

Knock! Knock!!  Sometime soon that knock will come.  The One on the other side will be expecting to be expected.  (Luke 12:36)  He will not wait long.  He is expecting us to open the door immediately.  Have you ever had a loved one coming back home or coming to visit?  You haven't seen them in a very long time.  You wait expectantly, sometimes even going to the window or door to see if they have arrived.  Excitement fills your heart at the mere thought of the joyful reunion.  Jesus is expecting an immediate warm welcome when He returns.  Are you expecting Him?  We don't know exactly when He will come.   (Mark 13:32-33)  But, we know He is coming.  (John 14:3)  He says He is coming at an hour we do not expect.  (Luke 12:40)  He has given us fair warning.  He wants us to be ready and expectant at all times.  The King James Version says, "let your waist be girded and your lamps burning."   (Luke 12:35 )  In Jesus's time, the men tucked the skirts of their long robes into their belts.  This was how they "girded" themselves for action.  That way, they could travel without tripping over their clothes.  We must be spiritually girded up at all times too.  Of course we know that a lamp is needed to shed light if we are to see clearly.  The Bible says God's Word is a lamp to our feet.  (Psalm 119:105)  As we wait expectantly,  we should also have our lamps lit with the Light of the Word of God.

What, or Whom should I say, are we expecting today?  This may be the very day Jesus will split the Eastern skies and take all who are watching expectantly to be with Him forever in the place He has prepared for us.  (John 14:3)  As He ascended into Heaven in a cloud (Acts 1:9), His followers stood gazing up into the sky.  Two angels stood beside them telling them (and us) that , just as they saw Him taken up bodily in a cloud, He would come again bodily in a cloud. (Acts 1:9-11)  Is anybody expecting Him?  Watching for Him?  Most of the world today doesn't give a second thought to the promise of Jesus's return.  We're all busy!  Isn't that the truth?  Being active and productive isn't a bad thing.  It's what we're busy about that make the big difference.  Most of our "busy-ness" is mere distraction.  Distraction from the enemy to keep us from remembering to listen for that knock from the Master.  Will we be so busy that we don't notice when He returns?

We don't need to just stand around doing nothing and stare at the sky waiting for the sure return of the Savior.  We need to be about His business instead of just our "busy-ness." As soon as His followers heard the message from the angels, they went on their way to Jerusalem.  They did not go back to their earthly and personal agendas.  They obeyed the command that Jesus had given them last.  (Luke 24:49)  They waited.  What was the last command Jesus gave you?  Have you been to Him in His Word and prayer asking for direction?  He will give it if we will ask.  Has it been a long time since you've had a new Word or command?  Then just keep on doing what He last told you to do, listening for the next Word.  Obedience (even when the command is to wait) is much better than busying yourself with lots of good things that will amount to nothing without His power behind them. (Zechariah 4:6)  As the early followers of Jesus waited, they received the power they needed to affect their generation. (Acts 2:1-4)  To spread the good news of the gospel to all those around them.  The new believers amounted to three thousand in one day!  This was largely due to the preaching of a man who had tried to do it on His own without waiting and failed.  He even denied Jesus.  But, once He was obedient and waited, He received the Holy Spirit and was able to produce much fruit!  (Acts 2:37-41)    Peter was a changed man because he repented, obeyed, waited, was filled with the Spirit and then acted.  All the while, he was expecting Jesus to return.  Because we're expecting the return of our Master, we must be spreading the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, when that knock does come, many others will also be expecting it and will be waiting to give Jesus the welcome He is worthy of receiving the moment He appears.  How is it with you this morning?  Are you expecting?      

As we ponder the thought of this coming Easter morning, it might be good to remember that there was a beginning to the earthly walk of Jesus and then there was a process that included childhood and growth.  (Luke 2:52) Jesus had to go through infancy, being helpless and trusting in His earthly parents for care.  He had to go through being a toddler, learning to crawl and walk, falling and scraping His knees.  He may have been picked on or pushed around by other children as many of us have experienced.  He had to learn to socialize with other children.  He had to do everything you and I have had to do.  Because of that, He is our High priest who is not just concerned about all of our feelings and infirmities.  He has experienced them.  (Hebrews 4:15)  The King James Version says it this way:  "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."  This high Priest, had to experience everything that we might experience during His short time on this earth.  Because He went through the process, there is nothing He can't understand about us and there is nothing that He cannot save and deliver us from!  But, we have to go through the process too!

You may wonder where I'm going from here because it may not sound as if I'm writing on (Psalms 78:4).  I really am but perhaps from a bit different viewpoint.  Jesus had to grow in wisdom and stature and so do we.  It is vitally important that we tell our children about Him, even from the time they are in the womb.  It is vitally important that we be an example to them because what we see often has more impact than what people say  (though both are important).  What did Mary and Joseph do for Jesus as He grew and how did He grow in wisdom?  The Bible says that, even before He was born and Mary was pregnant, they obeyed God.  God is looking for those who have obedient hearts.  He wants it to be well for us and for our children.  (Deuteronomy 5:29)  When we obey, we are also benefiting our children.  It was actually Caesar Augustus who decreed that the world should be taxed.  (Luke 2:1)  They could have balked at having to travel to their own city which must have been a hardship on a woman nine months pregnant.  (Luke 2:3-5)  They knew the principle of obeying authority, even governmental authority  although they didn't yet have the New Testament which clearly tells us we are to obey civil authority.  (1 Peter 2:13-14)  To some, especially today, this may seem outrageous.  Aren't we all looking for the easy way.  The fast way?  We don't want to be uncomfortable.  Many resist authority.  Think about Mary.  She could have been bitter and resistant to authority.  How comfortable would it be for her to walk or ride a donkey right up to the time of the delivery of her baby?  Also, think about the fact that, had they not been obedient to what seemed like a hardship put on them by unbelievers, Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem.  Even as He was being carried in His mother's womb, God was working out the plan for His life.  He was experiencing the obedient hearts of his earthly parents.  He had to be born in Bethlehem if He was the Messiah.  (Micah 5:2)  They went to the temple at the appropriate times and took Him with them.  It began when they took Him as a baby.  (Luke 2:27)  They presented Him to the Lord.  What a picture for us.  Have we done that with and for our children?  Presented them to the Lord in a public place of worship?  As He grew and most likely was in the temple as often as His parents were, He began to know His place there.  At one point, they realized He was missing when they were traveling back home from the Passover Festival in Jerusalem.  (Luke 2:41-49)  He was only twelve years old.  For three long days they searched (is this reminiscent of His being in the tomb for three days?).  Finally, they found Him.  Where?  In the temple.  Because they were faithful parents, they had spoken to Him of God at home, on the road and everywhere they went.  (Deuteronomy 6:7)  They had seen to it that He was in fellowship with others, so much so that He wanted to be there instead of going home with them.  It was there that He was flowing in His purpose and He knew who He was.  No one could believe how much wisdom this child of twelve years old had.  (Luke 2:47)  Are our children seeing obedience in us as we fellowship in a local assembly of believers?  Do we talk to them all the time about Jesus and our loving Heavenly Father who sent Him to be our Savior?  Are we bringing them to Jesus as we should in all these ways.  Jesus once said, "Let the children come to me and don't stop them."  (Luke 18:16)  They can't get there by themselves.  We have to take them.  If the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (and Jesus said it does), what does that make us if we neglect to take them to where the presence of Jesus is.  And, if the presence of Jesus is not in our own hearts and homes?

Hopefully as we reflect on this Easter, we will remember the process Jesus went through to be our Savior.  We will remember His childhood and how His little hands and feet would grow in stature only to be nailed to a rugged tree.  On that tree would hang all of our own childhood hurts and every hurt after that.  Every sin and every mistake would be washed away by the blood that fell for every child that is born.  To forgive every parent who has not pointed their children to the Savior.  To urge every parent to repentance because it is not too late, no matter how old your children are.  That blood that fell was for you, for me and for our children.  It is the precious blood of God's perfect Son.  His only Child!  Maybe no one ever pointed you to Jesus as a child.  Maybe your growth is stunted because you have had no fellowship with those that love and serve Him.  Oh, it's never too late!  We are all just children in His eyes.  Run to the cross today.  Open up the Word of God.  Let it speak to you and comfort you.  Find forgiveness in the sacrifice that was made just for you.  Then find a local assembly of those who love and serve Him with all their hearts.  Get connected.  You will experience a growth spurt!  If you have children get them connected. We are all part of one glorious Body.  It's Jesus body.  We all have a part.  If you're not there, the Body will suffer.  If your children are missing, the body will suffer.  Jesus is preparing His Body, even now, to be perfectly fit together so He can take us to a place where we will not suffer the hurts, sin and sorrows of this earth.  (Ephesians 4:16)  He is doing it now.  He is looking for us to be obedient.  Its our choice.  Will you let Jesus help you find your place now if you haven't already?  Will you make sure He is guiding you so you can guide your children to their proper place?  Oh, Lord speak to us all this morning in Jesus mighty Name! 

Jesus once said to the multitudes, "You are the light of the world."  (Matthew 5:14)  All those who were receiving His words that day were receiving Him.  He is the Light of the world.  (John 12:46)  He said that whoever would believe in Him would not live in darkness.  When He said, "You are the light of the world," He was speaking to the multitudes who had come to hear Him.  They had no hidden agenda.  They just wanted to hear what He had to say and they received it.  As they did, they were filled with the Light that the Word gives.  Jesus was and still is (and always will be) the Word (John 1:14).  But, when Jesus cried out that any who believed in Him would not walk in darkness, He was doing so because the Pharisees were not believing Him and causing others to fear confessing Him.  (John 12:42, 46)  They thought they had lots of light but they were full of darkness!  They had become very wise in their own eyes because they knew everything about God and His Word.  At least that's what they thought.

How are we this morning.  Are we full of Light or full of knowledge?  Knowledge is necessary and we are supposed to have it.  But, unless we have knowledge that has been illuminated by the Light of the world, we will become puffed up and proud  (1 Corinthians 8:1 - also see KJV)  When that happens, we cease to walk in love but become rigid and judgmental.  The one with the good eye, or healthy eye, has purpose and meaning in his or her life.  They are free to walk in love.  The one with the evil, or bad eye, is filled with selfishness and is unable to give to others freely.  He or she is always having to prove something to others rather than just love them.  (Matthew 6:22-23)  The Pharisees of Jesus day were filled with the knowledge of all the rules and traditions that came from God but were totally unaware of the Light of His love that stood right in front of them.  Who is standing in front of you when you read and study the Word?

How wonderful it is that we study God's Word.  It's an absolute necessity.  (Psalm 119:11, 119:105)  That is, as long as we study it in order to get more Light rather than more knowledge for the sake of knowledge.  The Word in us should cause us to be so grateful for what God has done for us that we are moved to do good things to bring Him glory!  (Matthew 5:16)  The purpose of our study is to bring us purpose in our lives.  God's purpose.  Jesus wanted us to not just know, but assimilate the truth of His Word. Yes, read, listen, study.  But don't stop there.  Assimilate and mediate on what you read hear and study.  Jesus said that, if we really hear, more will be given to us. (Mark 4:24)    Faith in what we hear and see will cause good works to flow from our lives.  He also said that if we don't assimilate what we hear, even what we have will be taken from us.  (Mark 4:25)  The Pharasees  thought they were filled with light but they were mistaken.  Today, our focus should be on the Light, not on what we know or our ability to adhere to past traditions of men.  May it be that we go about this day and every day shedding the true light of Jesus in this dark world.  May His light shine brightly through us.  Let your Light shine!!

Whether we read this verse as the request being met because of our shameless persistence or whether we read it as God having his reputation damaged if He doesn't grant the request, we can know that we need to continually be in prayer for the things that concern us.  Yes, we have already seen that we must always ask and never give up.  But we also need to realize that God will never let His reputation be tarnished.  If He says a thing, He performs it.  That is not to say that He will give us what we ask for if we are not meeting the conditions He has set forth for us.  But, it is to say that, if we are abiding in Him and His Word abides in us, He will answer our prayers.  He will do it in His own time and in His own way.  Our job is just to walk by faith and the knowledge that His Name and His Word is too important to Him to let it be drug in the mud by not meeting even one of His promises.  (2 Corinthians 1:20)  What is it that you need this morning?  Just ask and keep on asking.  Be shamelessly persistent knowing that your faith is being built and God is not about to stop loving you enough to give you the desires of your heart or let His reputation be damaged!

 Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem.  He knows what awaits Him when He gets there.  He has just sent out seventy-two disciples to do the same works He has been doing.  He was equipping them to continue the Kingdom work after He stepped out of the earth and back into Heaven.  They return exclaiming with delight that the demons were subject to them.  They had realized the fullness of the power Jesus had transferred to them.  (Luke 10:21)  Have you ever prayed for and then witnessed a miracle?  It is truly awesome and so easy to keep your eyes on the miraculous thing that happened instead of on the God that was in and with you to allow you to take part in His plans.  There may even be the temptation to think that you had something to do with it.  We might forget that it's not about what we do but Who we are in Christ - citizens of Heaven!  Jesus was not as impressed as the disciples were that the demons were subject to them.  He knew Satan had fallen from Heaven and had limited power.  (Luke 10:18)  He also knew who He was and that God had given Him the power to crush the head of the serpent even though He was about to experience the gruesome pain of His own heel being bruised as He did it.   (Genesis 3:15) 

What Jesus wanted those disciples (and us too) to realize is that the real miracle is that God has chosen to be present with us.  The Message reads this way:  "All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you.  Not what you do for God but what God does for you - that's the agenda for rejoicing."  (Luke 10:20)  Well, at that same moment, even though He knew that He was on the road to His crucifixion, Jesus greatly rejoiced!  One version says, "At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit...." (Luke 10:21)  How could He be full of joy when He knew pain and suffering was just around the bend?  For the most part, we are not given the knowledge of what is just around the bend in our lives.  It could be pain and suffering.  It could be something very unpleasant in the natural.  But, we have the opportunity to choose what we are going to focus on.  Jesus did.  Instead of focusing on Himself, He chose to focus on the fact that God had revealed great truths to those who are childlike and open.  (Luke 10:21)  He was Kingdom-minded.  He was the King and He knew it but this King had come to serve those in the Kingdom, not for self-aggrandizement. What love that is!  To give up Kingly rights, even the right to life, in order for your subjects to experience and enjoy everything the Kingdom provides.  Not much like the leaders of kingdoms of today, is it?  (Mark 10:45)

Jesus was joyful on the road to Jerusalem where He knew He would be betrayed and crucified!  His great love for His Father and for those around Him caused His joy in the Holy Spirit to rise up in Him!  On our life's journey in being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29, are we experiencing great joy in the Holy Ghost?  Or, are our minds on things that we need to accomplish in order to maintain here on earth?  We need to live balanced lives and take care of what God has given us here but we can't do it without His joy.  That joy is our strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)  Jesus knew that principle.  He lived it.  He would need great strength to go through what was about to happen to Him in Jerusalem.  In seeking God's Kingdom first, He found joy.  (Matthew 6:33)  Joy would be His strength.  I don't think He was "happy" about the fact that He was about to be crucified.  He prayed earnestly in the garden that He might be spared.  (Matthew 26:39)  Yet, as He ended His prayer, He said, "Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done."  Joy, not happiness or the lack of it, took over.  He went on to endure and be victorious.  (Hebrews 12:2)  Is there something in your life that is not making you particularly happy?  Happiness depends on what happens.  That makes it a very fleeting thing.  Joy in the Holy Ghost will take over if you will let it and that joy will become your strength to get you through unpleasant happenings.  No one can take the joy that the Holy Ghost gives us. (John 16:22)   It is permanent.  Jesus died, rose again, and is coming back.  He did all of that so you and I could have permanent joy.  That's what Jesus did.  He did it through the same Holy Spirit He has given us.  The world calls to us every day to get things and do things to make ourselves happy, "because we deserve it."  That's a lie!  We don't deserve anything but Hell and we would all go there, except for the love of Jesus.  Jesus lived a pattern of joy and then died so we could have what we don't deserve.  Heaven later and joy now!  Receive it this morning!