On the Couch With God - Daily Devotional

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” (Luke 23:2-25) In Luke 23:2–25, the accusation of Jesus is the topic of discussion—with the chief priests, religious leaders, and “council” being the loudest accusers. This Scripture tells us that the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him; they were fierce, and they became desperate. Across translations, we read the crowd being described as urgent, insisting, and desperate to get their point across that Jesus had basically been wrecking their world. Jesus had travelled all over Judea forgiving sins, healing the sick, driving out demons, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God and repentance, challenging the religious law of the land, dining with sinners, and sending His disciples to preach the Gospel and heal everywhere. The issue at hand for the religious leaders and Pharisees was that what He preached went against their nor...

“ But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am ” (Luke 22:66–23:1) As soon as it was day..." we read in Luke 22:66. Jesus has endured an unlawful trial the previous night —arrested, falsely accused, and denied a proper hearing— "The elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes came together and led Him into their counsel, saying 'If you are the Christ, tell us'" (v. 67). As we ponder again the sufferings of our beloved Saviour and Lord, the injustice, the false accusations, and the unbelief of those who questioned who He really was, the scene is heart-wrenching. How can we relate to His pain and agony? To be forsaken by your friends, denied by your companions, and mocked and abused by your accusers. I dare say none has endured such grief, pain, and heartache. Despite Jesus' beautiful words of life, His many mi...

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54–65) Our passage follows the betrayal of Jesus with a kiss from Judas. Now, as Jesus is seized and kept under guard at the high priest’s house, we can only imagine the shock and fear that Peter and the other disciples must have felt. Peter, who had violently resisted the temple troops to prevent Jesus’ arrest just hours before, now follow “at a distance”, trying to blend into the crowd. Jesus had predicted in the garden that same night that Peter would deny Him three times before the crowing of the rooster (Mathew 26). When Jesus had confronted him in the garden, Peter boldly contradicted Jesus, almost boasting that he would die before betraying Jesus. How quickly Peter’s mindset and attitude changes to self-preservation once the stakes are raised, he is recognised ...

"You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives." (Luke 21:5–19) Have you ever felt obligated to give a gift? A straightforward approach in those situations is to just decide how much to spend and purchase something that seems appropriate. Often there isn't much thought given by the gift giver, and likely the gift receiver's appreciation matches the giver's enthusiasm. Think about some of the more memorable gifts you have received. Your list probably includes gifts of little value by earthly standards, yet they were priceless to you. Why is that? How is it that something that appears to be valueless can actually be priceless? Likely it is because those gifts were from the heart. What about a card from your wife that encourages you during a challenging time at work? I still have that one. What about a bookmark from your 9-year-old daughter that says, "I'll love you ...

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. (Luke 20:9-19) The characters in this passage are reflective of the kingdom of God. They would have been understood by the religious leaders. The vineyard owner represents God, the tenants represent the religious leaders, and the servants represent God's prophets. In this parable, we see God's continued efforts to bring His people back to Himself. Just as the owner of the vineyard sent his servants to the tenants yet received no response, the people and kings also ignored appeals for repentance made by God's prophets. The vineyard owner sends his own beloved son to them in a final attempt to turn the tenants back to respect and obedience. Still, the tenants conspired together and killed him. By ending the parable, Jesus foretells His own death. In this parable, we notice several things. One is th...

But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner." (Luke 19:1-10) As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was under no illusion. He knew he was a sinner. In fact, the word tax collector was synonymous with "sinner" in his day since they routinely took over and above what was required by the Roman government and kept it for themselves. Was he present when John the Baptist preached his message of repentance along the Jordan River? (Luke 3:12–13) Tax collectors were among the first to respond and wanted to know what they needed to do. John had told them not to take more than what was required by the government. Maybe Zacchaeus had begun to follow that instruction but still felt troubled. As he climbed the tree to see Jesus better, was he hopeful or apprehensive? Jesus was known to call people as He saw them, particularly hypocrites. As Jesus pushed through the crowd and approached the tree, He addressed Zacchaeus by his name. Not o...

"I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14) Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is one of several in Luke regarding prayer. Here, in verses 9–14, Jesus reveals the authenticity of prayer. Most of us find this parable straightforward. The church-going, rule-following Pharisee offers haughty, self-righteous words that we almost intuitively know should not be our prayer. In contrast, the lowly tax collector moves away from the crowd and asks only for mercy. Jesus says he went home justified. So, pray like the tax collector, be humble before God. But how do you have a humble heart in prayer? Suppose we simply try to avoid the Pharisee. In that case, our prayer might become something like, "God, thank you for making me humble and not like the boastful Pharisee." Even as we seek humility, we may ...

Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19) In today's passage, we read about 10 men living with one of the most challenging trials of their time: leprosy. The people who suffer from leprosy are thrown into isolation, forced to deal with their torment all on their own. Presumably, this group of people have hit their lowest valleys. They come to Jesus, who has just arrived in town, and they cry out, "Teacher, please heal us! Save us from our agony! Give us our lives back!" And guess what? He does it. By the end of verse 14, all 10 of these men walk away with hope for a new life and with their pain a mere memory. Then something else happens. One of them comes racing back with an attitude of thanksgiving, of confidence, and of humility, knowing that his healer was the...

The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg." (Luke 16:1-13) Often these verses are a reminder that we cannot serve both God and money, and it is often not a choice of God and money or good and bad for most people. We know the difference, but we choose "good things" and push the "great things"—our priorities, our loves—to the margins of our lives, which often happens gradually with small choices. We see this beginning in verse 3 with an internal question, "What now?" Throughout life, we have times when we have the same questions: "I've lost my job, what now? I want to be at my son's game, but I should work, what now? I don't have the money, but I want it, what now?" We are faced with a choice and may not be proud when we reflect upon our decision. So, what now? • Micah 6:8: Do justice, love with kindness and walk humbl...

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4-10) Have you ever lost something important, maybe not of significant monetary value but nonetheless very important to you? When you did, you probably could not think of anything else except finding it, almost obsessively doing everything you could to search for it. Is the same thing true when God loses someone? We often refer to people who do not know Jesus as being "lost." In what sense are they lost? They are lost from God, and they have wandered away from Him. In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd knew that he must find the lost sheep to save him from certain death. In the parable of the lost coin, the woman had to find the coin because of its value to her. Many sermons have been preached on Luke 15 because it is so rich in essential truths for us. But let's...

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:25-33) Nearing the end of His ministry, Jesus was travelling on the road to Jerusalem, knowing that the cross was soon to come. He was surrounded by crowds of people anxious to hear what He would say or see what miracle He would perform next. Jesus instead shocked the crowd by saying, "if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." It is easy to focus on the word hate here and take it literally. However, this does not mean we should hate and despise others; instead, the word hate in this context means "to love less." Therefore, as disciples, we should be devoted to Christ such that no other relationship compares to the love we have for Him. Jesus knew that many people were following Him for the wrong reasons and challenged them by saying, ...

"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:22-30) In today's passage, Jesus was asked a question about eternal life (v. 23). The way He responded gives insight to a prophetic revelation and an urgent invitation. Someone in the crowd asked Jesus a curious and perhaps well-intentioned question: "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" Jesus, in His wisdom and understanding of the heart of man, did not answer the question. Instead, He focused on the responsibility that each individual has regarding their salvation: "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Striving implies that entering through the door will present specific difficulties that will require devotion, discipline, obedience, and perseverance to overcome. This does not mean that salvation is achieved by our own human efforts but through faith i...

"You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Luke 12:35-40) While the title of this devotion seems like a line from a game of "Hide and Seek" and not part of a Lenten devotional series, it can be a serious matter as we look at our preparedness for the coming of Lord and Saviour, Jesus, the Christ. In verse 35, Luke gives us two visual elements as he describes the readiness for the return of the Master from a Wedding Feast: we are to be "dressed", and we are to "keep our lamps burning." Why would Jesus instruct us to do this? Imagine being notified the Queen of England had requested to visit your home at a specified date and time during a visit to Devon. You would most assuredly work to ensure your home was immaculate and would either wear your finest outfit or rush to purchase a dress/suit worthy of the Queen. It is doubtful anyone reading this has a home, or furnishings, on a comparable level with B...

"Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:12-32) The words of Jesus in Luke 12 warn us of hypocrisy, covetousness, and anxiousness. As Christians, these are feelings and attitudes that many of us struggle with and can often be significant obstacles to our personal relationship with Christ. Even more significant concern is that each is usually interconnected and can manifest itself together. While speaking to the crowds, Jesus began with a warning of "the leaven of the Pharisees." It is a metaphor for hypocrisy, as it only takes a little bit of leaven to affect a great mass. This was especially important for the disciples to remember, as hypocrisy can often be strongest in those who enjoy high prestige or success. We hear the "Parable of the Rich Fool", who has become more concerned with justice related to his inheritance rather than the covetousness that was at the root of his question for Jesus. As the man asked ...

"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness." (Luke 11:33-36) Today we continue our Lenten journey in Luke 11: 29–53. As the passage opens, we see Jesus warning the crowds who continue to grow around him. Jesus called them "an evil generation" who "seeks for a sign" (v. 29). Jesus reminded the crowds thatthe people of Nineveh were sent a sign from God through Jonah's preaching. He said that the people of Nineveh chose to respond to God's message with repentance. Next, Jesus reminded the crowds that the "queen of the South," who 1 Kings 10:1 and following tells us is the Queen of Sheba, travelled a long way to "test" Solomon. When she heard of "the wisdom of Solomon," she believed. Conversely, the crowds gathering around Jesus were hearing the Gospel from Jesus Himself and rejecting it. Jesus warned the crowds that ...

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1-8) Of all the spiritual disciplines, prayer can be one of the most difficult. Because of its private and personal nature, it can quickly be drowned out by the tasks and noise of each day. How is prayer a priority in our lives? Once again, we see the example of the importance of prayer from Jesus. Luke took specific notice of how often Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed when He was baptised (Luke 3:21), withdrew into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16), prayed all night (Luke 6:12), prayed alone (Luke 9:18), prayed when He was transfigured (Luke 9:28–29) and, in today's passage, we discover that Jesus was praying in a "certain place." We know the importance of prayer, but it is helpful to be reminded in the pages of Scripture of how it was a consistent part of the life of Jesus. May we be stirred to be m...

"Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him,"You go, and do likewise." (Luke 10:25–37) There's a line, right? For whom, exactly? Just how much do I have to do? We all want to know just what we're getting into, how far we can take it before going too far, and how much it will take to justify ourselves without getting inconvenient. We want to do just what's required and get defensive about whether we're doing enough. In the good Samaritan parable, we see Jesus responding to a question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus prompted the man to sum up the law with the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself." Despite all the Old Testament provisions of sac...

Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:37-62) For eight chapters, the Gospel of Luke describes the coming of Jesus Christ and His early ministry. His disciples witness Him teach with wisdom, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, cast out demons, and bring the dead back to life. They were "astonished at the majesty of God" (v. 43). However, the narrative takes a drastic turn here in chapter nine. Jesus explicitly named the path awaiting him for the first time, involving suffering, betrayal, and death. Then He chose that path: "He set his face to go to Jerusalem" (v. 51), where He would suffer, be crucified, and die, and he chose the way of the cross. The disciples were slow to understand what Jesus meant. They were still excited by the glorious acts of Jesus' life so far. This exclusive focus on glory leads them to argue about the greatest. Then they wonder if they should...

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:18-27) Our willing dependence on God's faithful provision marks Luke 9. Yet, hearing Jesus say He must face rejection, suffering, and death soon after feeding the 5,000 must- haves disturbed his followers. The imagery and blunt language Jesus used to instruct His disciples most certainly captured their attention. Everyone who heard Jesus' words understood the gravity of the cross. In the Roman world, a man sentenced to die on a cross was first forced to carry the cross to the location of His own execution. This fact was not lost on those who heard Jesus say these words. In truth, a cross is heavy and awkward to carry, and it is not subtle and is difficult to ignore. A cross is public and often attracts disdain and ridicule, and it is severe and lethal and implies finality. And still, Jesus asks His followers (us) to voluntarily ta...

And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." (Luke 8:40-56) Jairus was probably used to being in control and solving problems. After all, he was the business administrator for the synagogue. Managing logistics and solving problems was part of his job description. However, in this passage, Jairus found himself facing a problem he could not solve on his own. He did not have the power or ability to save his dying daughter. Facing the reality of his daughter's illness, Jairus fell at Jesus' feet, begging Jesus to come to his house and save his daughter. Jairus must have felt relief as they moved through the crowd, only to have that relief turned to frustration when their progress was halted because a woman touched the fringe of Jesus' cloak. We do not know how long Jairus had to wait. Still, I imagine his feelings were of loss and grief when news arrived, saying, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."...