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# 2021-04-11
> If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him. They will say, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one coming against him with 20,000? If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace. In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.
(Luke 14)
count the cost! To be Christ's disciple, you must renounce all possessions!
What are your possessions? You know what they are, you cling to them. Do you possess them, or do they possess you? The early church shared everything they have in common. Does this descriptive fact shows how seriously they took Christ's words?
How should we steward that which God has given us charge?
# 2021-04-12
> . I will not be with you any more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.”
(Joshua 7)
> a wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer has never listened to rebuke.
(prov 13:1)
learn from God! he wants you to kill the sin in your life.
don't live with it! don't say "this is fine." It leads to destruction!
# 2021-04-13
Read Luke 16:1-17
> The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes. “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches?
Luke 16:8-11
> The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.
Prov 13:3
Usually in Jesus' parables, the master is analogous with God, but in this story, he commends a liar! “God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows” (Gal 6:7). The big difference between the shrewd manager's master and ours is that one *could* be fooled, and the other cannot (just ask Ananias and Saphira).
> But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.
Luke 16:17
His word is timeless. Since John the baptist, we *have* the gospel. Don't be faithless.
# 2021-04-14
> ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
> So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’”
Luke 16,17
Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it! This passage explains straight from his mouth some core beliefs of Christ: repentance has always been necessary for salvation from Hell; obeying God's commands is our duty.
God brings shame to his enemies so they'll know He is king.
Don't be an enemy of Yahweh! Repent and put your faith in Christ!
# 2021-04-15
> Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Prov 13:6
# 2021-04-16
> The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18
Kyrie elieson. Lord, have mercy.
```poetry
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may be glad in you?
Show us your kindness, O Lᴏʀᴅ,
grant us your salvation.
```
Psalm 85
Make us alive, Oh God!
# 2021-04-17
```poetry
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
with assurance that you will answer me.
```
Psalm 86
# 2021-04-19
>Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life.
Proverbs 12:14
Heartsickness is a common experience among humans. Why do we desire things we can't have? Why do we seek fulfillment where it can't be gained?
We put our hope in people: people are fickle. We put our hope it stuff: stuff wears. We put our hope in wealth, but even money cannot fulfil all our desires.
> Faith is being sure of what we hope for, being certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11
Have faith in God! He will be faithful to complete your sanctification, you saint.
Orthopathy: right affections. God, help me to love you with my whole heart.
# 2021-04-20
Read Luke 20
> [the people] are convinced that John was a prophet.
> Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
They knew he was claiming to be the son of God, and claiming to be this rejected stone, which would crush them.
Everyone knew John was a prophet.
The people recognized John as a prophet. He looked like a prophet, and spoke like a prophet.
> Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,
Matthew 3:8
The *Samaritan* woman in John 4 knew *Jesus* was a prophet, because he told her "everything [she] ever did". Even a Samaritan could recognize a prophet with her own eyes.
Jesus said to them "This vineyard is not yours!" You will be destroyed, and it given to others. How much do we put our faith in ourselves? How often do your hear prophecy and think "that message isn't for me, it's for someone else."
Hear God's voice of warning, and be God's voice of warning! Even the offspring of vipers needs to be warned about the coming wrath.
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