April 27 | Luke 3:7-16

---

DAILY READING

Luke 3:7-16

---

REFLECTION

Who's Your Daddy?

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Try to imagine yourself in today’s scene. John the Baptist had just begun his mission. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Messiah. Imagine you are part of this large crowd who was curious about what this “prophet” would have to say. Then, the first words out of his mouth are, "You all are a brood of vipers, born from a whole family line of venomous snakes!” How would you react?

Soon after God created all things, Adam and Eve turned their backs on God their Father, and followed the lies of Satan, who came in the form of a deceiving snake.

Genesis 3:1 says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other of the wild animals the Lord God had made.”

Why does John start with such harsh words, saying that they all were snakes, coming from a long line of snakes, with the father of all snakes (Satan) being their bloodline? As a forerunner of Jesus, John needed to prick the hearts of his listeners so that they understood the gravity of their condition. We all, born of a sinful nature, are ALL in Satan’s grasp. Our natural bent is to be evil children of the devil. Not a very pretty picture.  

We can try to excuse ourselves, thinking that we are exempt from this dire condition. The Jews thought that since they were Abraham’s children; they were safe, and could never fall out of favor with God. Yet the truth is we all have fallen short of the glory of God.

John says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

What is repentance anyway? We often think of it as feelings of guilt, being sorry for what we have done. Have you ever said you were sorry, even asked for forgiveness, only to go back to doing the exact same thing again and again? The word repentance in the Bible is more than just feelings of guilt and sorrow. It is a turning or a change of the mind. Turning from what once held our affections and hating it. Then setting out on a different way of living. “It embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and a hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good deeds.” (Josephus, Antiquities 13,11, 3)

But a snake cannot produce anything but other snakes, right? So our fate seems sealed and hopeless. The crowd, feeling the weight of this message, in desperation ask, “What should we do then?”

The reality is we cannot conjure up enough sorrow or repentance in our hearts to turn ourselves around. It is impossible.

Jesus tell us, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5) We must be born again!

How is fruit produced? Does a tree decide, “Today I am going to produce an apple?” No! Only through being grounded in the promise of redemption, being bought back from the grips of Satan, being filled with the Spirit, dying to our old self, and being raised again to new life, are we born anew.

Romans 9:8 says, "It is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring."

How will the fruit of this turning around, this Spirit filled changing of our hearts, show itself in our lives? How will our living be different as "children of the promise"?

Often God calls us to walk in His ways, follow Him as a Father, in integrity, honesty and compassion in the ordinary things of life. In how we live our day-to-day lives, in our occupations, in the ways we share our money and possessions, being fair and kind in how we treat those around us, and being content with what God has given us.

In what practical ways is God calling you to display His heart changing work in your heart today?

PRAYER

Jesus, you have called me Your own. You have purchased me back from death, into true life. Help me live my life as a reflection of being Your child, in real tangible ways, even in the ordinary everyday pages of my life.  

April 26 | Luke 16:19-31

---

DAILY READING

Luke 16:19-31

---

REFLECTION

You Have a Choice

by Kim Starr

This parable tells us about a rich man who wore purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. A poor beggar named Lazarus lived at the gate of his home, was covered with sores, and received “bad things” during his life. Both men die: Lazarus goes to Abraham’s side "far away" from the rich man, who goes into Hades. From his position in Hades, the rich man looks up, sees Lazarus next to Abraham, and asks for pity, which he does not receive. Why?

The rich man knew Lazarus’ name. He had seen him at his gate; yet, he did not acknowledge Lazarus’ situation. Instead, he ignored him and had no compassion for him. Nevertheless, the rich man specifically asks Abraham to send Lazarus to help cool his tongue demonstrating that the rich man still believes Lazarus is beneath him and wants him to serve him.

The rich man is in Hades, not because he didn’t believe, but because of the way he treated others around him, especially Lazarus. He had opportunities to repent, change his ways, and serve others, but he chose not to do so. The rich man remains nameless, perhaps, so we can associate ourselves with him. Are we like him? Do we treat people the way he did? Are there Lazaruses in our lives that we need to attend to and help? Like the rich man, do we have resources, but refuse to give or use them?

In life, we are told, this rich man had receive his good things. The earthly treasures this man had stored up for himself expired the day he died. Lazarus, on the other hand, was blessed by heavenly treasures. This is what became the chasm between them.

In the "Free!" series, we are learning how, through the Holy Spirit, God guides and empowers us to make good and godly decisions in all the circumstances of our lives. Are we embracing the riches God has given us and been good stewards of them? Are we following God’s example and acting and treating others as he did? Are there Lazaruses in our lives that we need to acknowledge and help?

Let’s take inventory of our lives, our behaviors, and those around us, and determine whether we are using what God has given us in a manner that makes God the Lord of our wealth. If we are not, let’s change our behavior so we do not end up in Hades with the rich man. We still have time to repent, make a different choice, and spend eternity with God in heaven.

PRAYER

Oh God, please open our eyes so that we can see the Lazaruses in our lives. Show us how you want us to use our wealth and resources to benefit others. Help us remember it is only because of you and your generosity that we have what we have. Help us make the choice to be stewards of your blessings and glorify your kingdom. Amen.

April 25 | Ezekiel 7:19-22

---

DAILY READING

Ezekiel 7:19-22

---

REFLECTION

The Greater Blessing

by Judy Webb

"They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin. They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore, I will make it a thing unclean for them." (Ezekiel 9:19-20)

The time for God’s judgment had come, captivity was upon them. Prophets have been warning of this eventuality, but the people did not pay attention. They didn’t take advantage of their opportunity to embrace God and change their sinful behavior. They treasured their sinful ways more than God's blessing.

Material things would be of no value to them. We learn the same things today. All the riches and wealth we can amass will be of no help, no consolation, when Jesus returns. We are either ready or we are not. It’s that simple. In that final day, material things will be of no help. Then, as now, we believe the more you have the better off you are, even the happier you are. The old saying, “money can’t buy happiness,” is true yet today. Money can’t buy salvation either; there is no buying our way into heaven. Material possessions will be useless on that final day.

So why do so many of us seek after such riches? Why do we sometimes give up our valuable standing in life, our reputation and good name, to chase after a beefed-up portfolio, or a top-of-the-line vehicle—all things of little salvational value? Because we have not yet learned the lesson from 1 John 2:17: "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 

PRAYER

Jesus,

Teach us to value that which you value. Show us how important love and repentance are to our very existence; in this world and the next. Come, Holy Spirit and fill us with wisdom and understanding. Amen.