February 27, 2016: A Believing Roman

Luke 7:1-10

Not even in Israel have I found such faith (v. 9).

“When strangers discover that I’m a pastor,” observed a friend of mine, “they regularly set about telling me how good they are!”

In Luke 7 we are told how good this Roman army officer is. But the circumstances are rather different. First, this golden opinion of him is not his own, but that of others, and therefore much more trustworthy. Also, amazingly, it is the opinion of the citizens of an occupied country where he is a member of the occupying forces.

Then again, it is not merely about his virtues, the kind of “moral excellences” that can be seen in many an unbeliever and do not necessarily say anything about their spiritual state. No, in this case the leaders of the local Jewish community are speaking quite specifically of the Roman soldier’s practical friendship with them, God’s ancient people, and of his deep and generous interest in their life and religion. These things are much more significant, because they point to his own relationship with God. He turns out to have a grasp of spiritual principles that Jesus himself calls “faith”—indeed, faith such as is rare “even in Israel.”

It is commitment to this God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that brings an outsider into the kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, give us the faith that grasps spiritual truth and acts accordingly.

Today’s devotional was written by Michael Wilcock, a retired pastor in the Church of England. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 26, 2016: The Cure for Hostility

Luke 6:27-28

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (v. 27).

I remember a Mother Goose rhyme from my childhood:

I do not like thee, Dr. Fell. The reason why I cannot tell. But this I know, and know full well: I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.

That’s hostility. Hostility is the settled state of being enemies. Anger, appropriately expressed and properly handled, can be a sign of good mental health. But there is no health in hostility. Hostility ruins our mental health. I once heard of a psychologist whose first question to every new patient was: “Who is wrong with you?”

Can hostility be cured? Not if we cover it up and pretend it doesn’t exist. Jesus didn’t say, “Pretend you have no enemies.” He said, “Love your enemies.” And how do we do that? “Do good to those who hate you,” said Jesus. Try doing something good for your enemy, and see if you can still feel hostile toward him. “Bless those who curse you,” said Jesus. Find something in your enemy that you can honestly praise, and then see if you can still feel hostile.

“Pray for those who abuse you,” said Jesus. Pray, not once, but persistently. It is not easy to remain hostile toward someone for whom you pray on a daily basis.

Prayer: Help me to love my enemies.

Today’s devotional was written by Lou Lotz, the pastoral leader of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visitwww.woh.org.

February 24, 2016: Someone Hated

Luke 5:27-32

A tax collector named Levi (v. 27).

When Hitler’s armies invaded Norway in 1940, they recruited a Norwegian called Vidkun Quisling to run the country for them. Quisling’s name has now come to mean anyone who turns to his own advantage the chance to betray his own people by collaborating with the enemy.

Levi was just such a collaborator—a Jew collecting taxes on behalf of the Romans who had taken over his country, and benefiting himself in the process. Paradoxically, it was precisely because he was Jewish that patriotic Jews regarded him as a rank outsider. The leper was a sad character; the tax collector was a bad one. Who of God’s people would be prepared to accept such a quisling in their company?

Jesus would. For he knew that if Levi responded to his call, it would mean he had “left everything” that had made him such a bad man. In a word, he would have repented. Restoring the sick to health is one way of describing what Jesus came to do; bringing sinners to repentance is another way—an even more exact and necessary description.

And notice what follows. Levi is the kind of outsider we really would not want to have in our fellowship. But once Jesus brings him in, we may find he is better at outreach than we are!

Prayer: Lord, give me a penitent heart and such an evangelistic vision.

Today’s devotional was written by Michael Wilcock, a retired pastor in the Church of England. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 23, 2016: Stop Sitting on Acorns

Luke 5:17-26

Some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed (v. 18).

There are two ways to get to the top of a tall oak tree:

1) Roll up your sleeves and start climbing, or 2) Sit on an acorn.

We read about four friends who bring their sick buddy to see Jesus. When the way is blocked because of the crowd, they scramble up onto the roof, tear open a hole, and lower their pal down into Jesus’ lap.

Faith always finds the opening that doubt would never have guessed was there.

These guys don’t sit on acorns. They are industrious, ingenious, and daring. And not too concerned with protocol. Notice that they don’t ask permission. They don’t form a committee to study this matter and give a report at the next congregational meeting. Their sick buddy is going to see Jesus, and that’s that.

Isn’t that a picture of the church at its best—a group of folks who bring the needy to Jesus? And isn’t the church at its best when it emulates the resourcefulness and persistence of these four true-blue friends? If one way is blocked, try another way. If the conventional approach doesn’t work, try the unconventional. Isn’t the church at its best when it is more interested in results than in regulations, more concerned with redemption than with rules, and more interested in people than in property?

Prayer: Use me in your service, Lord.

Today’s devotional was written by Lou Lotz, the pastoral leader of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visitwww.woh.org.

February 22, 2016: Someone Excluded

Luke 5:12-16

In a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy (v. 12, KJV).

Within a chapter of his reference to Elisha healing a leper, Jesus is himself doing the same. Although both the sick men were “outsiders,” the point about Naaman in the Old Testament is that he was “outside” primarily because he was foreign. But the point about this man in the Gospel of Luke is that he was “outside” simply because of his leprosy.

Perhaps that is why the wording of verse 12 seems to express shocked surprise. The King James translation sticks closer to Luke’s original than most: “Behold a man full of leprosy,” as if to say, “Will you look at that, a leper! Here, in town?” Like every sufferer from such disease, this man had been shut out from his local community, his home, and his family, to live in wretched isolation. He was not supposed to be in the town. Perhaps he had crept back into it surreptitiously, desperate to find the Jesus he had heard about, the only one he believed capable of healing him.

To everyone else he was an untouchable, literally beyond the pale. But not even this man was beyond the reach of the Savior of the world. None of us is, no matter what our spiritual condition.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you have reached out even to me.

Today’s devotional was written by Michael Wilcock, a retired pastor in the Church of England. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.

February 21, 2016: Let Down the Nets!

Luke 5:1-11

What a story! Peter and the others had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught one fish. They were discouraged. A hot meal and a comfortable bed would suit each of them fine. But Jesus tells them to go out into the deep water one more time and let down their nets. Without hesitation, they do it. Peter says, “We really don’t see the point, Jesus, but if you say so, down go the nets!” That’s obedience.

Next came the blessing. Having done what Jesus asked, they received what Jesus promised. They caught so many fish that their boats began to sink. And Peter drops to his knees before Jesus. Here is a picture of worship. Confronted by the power of the Master, Simon sees his own inadequacy. He realizes he is not worthy to be in the presence of the Son of God. But the grace of Jesus reaches out, pulls an obedient Peter to his feet, and commissions him to go forth and “catch men.”

This story is our story. Jesus calls us to “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (v. 4). There are people around us whom God wants on board his boat—the Church. He commands us to seek them out, to be “fishers of men.” If we obey, God will bless our efforts. We, too, will be awed by the results. So, go forth and “let down the nets.”

Prayer: Jesus, I know someone who needs you. Give me the courage to obey you and go fishing. Amen.

Today’s devotional was written by Anthony Vis, a retired pastor in the RCA. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visit www.woh.org.