Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Luke 12. 47  “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48  But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Dear Jesus, There are some things that I’m glad are not going to be in my life forever.   When I get to heaven because of your grace and mercy these things will be gone by then and hopefully before then, but at least by then. -My conflations, expansions, deceptions even out and out lies.   Not appropriate for a preacher or any Christian. -My overreactions to criticism of my thoughts and opinions. -The wickedness of this world that makes my love for my family cool or cold rather than hot. -My attention to my smart phone instead of my smart wife.   My Facebook instead of my wife’s face. -My prayers for people’s physical healing while ignoring the need for their spiritual healing. -My foolish attachment to temporary things like my house, car or gadgets especially my recliner. -My energy for feeding myself while saying I’m too tired to help feed the poor and hungry in my town. Thank you Jesus for reminding me and forgiving me and giving me a fresh s...

Luke 12. 35  “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36  like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 41  Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42  The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise ...

Luke 12. 22  Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life [ b ] ? 26  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27  “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30  For the paga...

Luke 12. 22-24  He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

Luke 12. 13  Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” 14  He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?” 15  Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” 16-19  Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’ 20  “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’ 21  “That’s what...

Luke 12. 11-12  “When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don’t worry about defending yourselves—what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.”

Luke 12. 8  “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.   9  But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned  before the angels of God.   10  And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man  will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.