Devotions

You Must Be Prepared For Action

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A young man from the crowd yells out to Jesus, “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!” This young man feels wronged and he wants Jesus to intervene. Not long before this Martha had said to Jesus about her sister Mary, “tell her that she should help me!”. Instead, Jesus warned Martha about being anxious about too many things, that she should also sit. And now, he refuses this young mans request and turns to the crowd and says, “guard yourselves from all greediness”. This young man was not wronged, he was caught up in greediness. Jesus then builds on this and says, “your life is more than food”, “your Father knows that you need these things”. He is saying, trust God for provision. He goes on though, to say, “be prepared for action”. There is work for us to do in our generation and it is work for God’s kingdom. Then Jesus leaves them asking themselves, when the master returns, will you be found as a faithful servant? 

Guard Yourselves From All Greediness

Luke 12:13–21
We often want God to be the great arbitrator but that isn’t who he is. He gave us a mind and will to choose for ourselves. We need to work out our relationships with others. It was their tradition that the firstborn had the birthright, “the firstborn takes a double portion of his father’s goods, as is said, Deu_21:17 how? a man leaves five children, and one of them is the firstborn: the firstborn takes the third part of the substance, and every one of the four simple ones, takes a sixth part”1

But dividing the inheritance meant dividing the land and the property, not always easy to do and maybe even detrimental to the families ability to sustain themselves. It is the older brother that has the bigger share and the control. So in Luke 12:13 when the younger brother says “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!” Jesus throws it right back at him in Luke 12:14 “who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”. But isn’t Jesus God? Isn’t he King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Absolutely he is. But we have free will. This was a family matter. There is no reason for Jesus to exercise any authority in their domain. But Jesus goes on and exposes the root of this dispute in Luke 12:15 “watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness”. Then Jesus tells a parable to make his point, “not even when someone has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions”. 

Your Father Knows That You Need These Things

Luke 12:22–34
Jesus tells them in Luke 12:22 “do not be anxious for your* life”. Don’t be anxious about what you will eat or what you will wear or any of the things that you need to live your life. He wants us to be content with what we have, to be at peace with where we are and who we are with. He wants us to be diligent in what we are doing so we can enjoy the fruits of our labor. Then he makes another point, don’t be anxious for you life. Your days are in God’s hands. When you leave this life, those of us that have accepted Christ, go to be with him. But every day that we draw breath is a day for us to declare the goodness of God. 

You Must Be Prepared For Action

Luke 12:35–40
After Jesus tells them not to be anxious for their life, here in Like 12:35-36 he tells them “be prepared for action”. Here is how this is translated in a few Bible versions: “Let your loins be girded about” (ASV) (KJV), “Be dressed ready for service” (NIV), “Stay dressed for action” (ESV). The meaning is pretty clear, especially when we recognize their clothing was different than ours. To be able to run, they needed “to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2 Ki 4:29; Ac 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness”.2

Who Then is the Faithful

Luke 12:41–48
Peter asks in Luke 12:41, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or also for everyone?” But Jesus doesn’t answer him directly, in Luke 12:42-48 he first says “Who then is the faithful wise manager” then he says “Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing” and he ends with “But the one who did not know”. It seems clear from Jesus answer that everyone is included. The question that everyone should now be expecting the master to ask on his return is “Who has been a faithful servant?”

I Have Come to Bring Fire on the Earth

Luke 12:49–53

When You See a Cloud Coming Up

Luke 12:54–56

Make An Effort to Come to A Settlement

Luke 12:57–59

Unless You Repent You Will All Perish As Well!

Luke 13:1–5

Leave It Alone This Year Also

Luke 13:6–9

You Are Freed From Your Disability!

Luke 13:10–17

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Luke 12:13-59
  • Luke 13:1-17

The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels

This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.

Operation Exodus

is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview

References

  • 1. Dr. John Gill, D.D., (1697-1771) John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, Published in 1746-1766, 1816; public domain.
  • 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 112). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.