A Tough Call (Luke 6:32-36, esp vs 32 and 35-36)

 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them ... But love your enemies, and do good ... expecting nothing in return ... be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:32, 35-36 ESV).

These verses direct the follower of Jesus Christ to doing good even to those one would not be naturally inclined to help.  Helping an enemy in distress is generally not on a person's agenda but we followers are commanded to be merciful as our Father is.

Like Father, like son (or daughter), but it's a tough call for sure!  Who wants to be of service to "thorns in our flesh"?  I don't know about you but it takes effort in my heart, like a wrestling match, as to which attitude will come to the fore.

Will it be a turning away, will it be a reluctant giving of help, or will with the grace of God and the bestowing of mercy, giving with a willing, cheerful helping hand?  Pray that the Christ like attitude and action will win out.

Why?

Because God loves those enemies even as much as He loves me.  The downtrodden, infirm, and poor also need our love and care.  God's people are the ones to fulfill such needs.

Abba Father, thank You for Your love and care.  Your mercy is even upon us as is Your gracious hand.  As Your children, help us to do as Jesus would.  After all we too were once Your 'enemies' but You gave Your all, for us.  May Your Holy Spirit mold and shape us to be more like Your son Jesus.  May our natural bent be to love our enemies and do good to them because our life is in You.  This is a tall order, I think, but with Your Holy Spirit's help, we can.  In Jesus' name I ask, Amen.

                                            ERC  August 2025.

Based on Luke 6:32, 35-36 ESV.

Sing, All Because of Mercy, along with Casting Crowns.

Fishing Boat Pulpit (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

 Jesus met Simon Peter right where he was at; his fishing boat and his nets.  Simon and his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were likely disheartened after an all nighter out on the sea with nothing to show for it.

But Jesus was after a different kind of 'fish' and asked to use Simon's boat as a pulpit, of all things!  Actually, Jesus didn't ask, He just stepped into Simon's boat and told him

 "to put out a little from the land" (vs 3). 

This was kinda right in Simon's face.  But of course, Simon had the option to put out or not.   However, he seemed willing enough to oblige and then Jesus could more easily preach to the crowd upon the seashore.

I think we sometimes need such awakenings.  I picture Simon continuing to wash his nets but with his ear cocked, listening to Jesus' words.

Subtle, but effective method of teaching, don't you think?  There are times I'd like to take a believer-in-Jesus friend to say, a coffee shop, and talk about Jesus.  I speak a little louder than necessary, just enough to be heard at the next tables and I'd ask something like, "OK, you say Jesus is your best friend,  how did that happen?  Why is He so good to you?" Or some such questions that as my friend answers, others may overhear and even while they sip and sup their tea or coffee and their food, they could hear the message of Jesus explained.  That would be a coffee shop pulpit.

Anyway, Jesus paid His pulpit renting dues, again right where Simon Peter would be most impacted.  Skeptically, he moves out to the deeper waters and

 "let down [his] nets for a catch" (vs 4).

Lo and behold, they ...

"... enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking" (vs 5)!

He had to call his partners James and John to the rescue.  They could hear, I imagine, Jesus chuckling.  Simon Peter though, was struck as if by lightning.  He falls on his knees before Jesus and admits he's a sinful man.

Jesus then tells Simon,

"Do not be afraid:  from now on you will be catcing men" (vs 10).

Jesus commissioned Simon Peter for his life's purposeful work.  When we read the rest of the story and into the book of Acts and even Peter's writings we see he fulfilled that purpose.

It would be good to stop and reflect.  Have we been impacted and/or struck in  a highly significant manner similar to Peter's experience?  Or maybe it was the "still small voice" of the Holy Spirit nudging, convicting and challenging us.  How will we respond?

Let's have our ears cocked for the Holy Spirit's guidance, ready to listen and take obedient action despite any misgivings we may have.  Don't be afraid.

                                                  ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 5:1-11 ESV.

Sing, Fishers of Men, along with Believe.

Acceptable Offerings

 

What is it that makes an offering acceptable to God?  Here's what God commanded Moses to speak to the people of Israel on the topic,

"When you offer a sacrifice of peace [or fellowship] offering to the LORD, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted" (vs 5).

Peace, or otherwise called, fellowship, offerings were voluntary.  However, there were still criteria and boundaries - terms and conditions - for what and how one was to offer these.

When they made these fellowship offerings to God, the priests and the offerer could share the meat or other food offered.   They could still eat it on the second day but not on the third day after having offered the offering.  It was considered 'tainted' on the third day.  It would therefore be unacceptable to God.

All sacrifices and offerings had to be "without blemish".  If the food was tainted then it would have 'blemish'.  It was then a serious offense to God to keep and eat it.  These leftovers were supposed to be burned up.

Acceptable offerings would be characterized by the willingness of the offerers.  How joyfully and generously they'd offer.  Also these would need to have been funded from legitimate sources, one sister pointed out to us at a Bible study.

Making it somewhat relatable to our day and age, one could offer hospitablity to a brother or sister-in-Christ for instance.  They may stay a day or two and you'd be happy and gladly have them in your home.  But what if the stay was extended to the third or more days?  Would the willingness, joy and generosity still be there?

This could be a test of acceptability before God.  Patience and perseverence to continue until the need was no longer needed.  If one flinches and falters in giving of the hospitality offering, I think one could consider this offering 'blemished' and therefore unacceptable to the Lord.

The song, "Freely, freely  You have received, Freely, freely give" is ringing through my mind.  We may need to check our initial motives in making our offerings.

When we give without reluctance or under compulsion, but rather freely, joyfully and generously, these are acceptable to God.  Let's support needy believers as the need arises and according to what we can give.

If one hasn't yet found a need to offer to, one can still set aside an amount as 1 Corinthians 16:2 instructs,

" ... save it to the extent that God has blessed you ..." (unknown version but could be a paraphrase).

Or, as the ESV reads,

" ... store it up, as He may prosper ..."

Then, as needed, one is ready.  There's that "posture of readiness' to do good works in the service of our Lord and for His peoples' benefit.

We might add,

" ... and for the furtherance of the gospel."

A favorite marriage motto verse of my husband and I is found in Galations.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galations 6:9 & 10 ESV).

These are acceptable offerings that please the Lord as we cheerfully offer these fellowship offerings in praise and heartfelt gratitude to Him.  The best such offering however, would be ourselves.  By God's grace let us continue to offer our acceptable offerings to Him.

Amen.

                                                      ~ ERC  August 2025  ~

Based on Leviticus 19:5-8 ESV.  Also see, 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Chronicles 29:17B; 2 Corinthians 9:5-6; and 1 Corinthians 16:2.  Secondly, based on B. Study about offerings, How to Give to God - The Bible Unpacked by Paul Mallison.

Sing, We Are An Offering, along with Christ Christian and Living Sacrifice, also along with Chris Christian.

Lord's Day Devotion - "I'm A Sinner" (Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV)

 I find these verses such sad commentary ...

"When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him"            (Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV).

The first part is great.  It's the second part about the Pharisees and lawyers that is sad.  The very ones who should be setting examples due to their religious leadership roles and the knowledge of God's Laws, steadfastly refused John's baptism.  I suppose they thought they had impeccable portfolios of behavior according to "God's Law" and therefore exempt.  They surely don't need to repent of any sins nor receive baptism!

This attitude continued and even became more ingrained when relating to Jesus.  The holier-than-thou stance blinded them to who Jesus truly was.

How blessed though the people were who had repented and were baptised.  I like the phrase like even, 

"the tax collectors too!"

These were a despised group who were notorious for dubious dealings whilst collecting taxes for the Romans.  These tax collectors being their own kinsfolk and thus looked upon with even greater despicableness and contempt due to their extorting money out of their own poeple.

But even the tax collectors acknowledged their own wrong.  This is such stark contrast to the religious leaders bearing.  

This puts one in mind of Jesus' parable of the two men who went to pray.  The first extolled himself proudly with a litany of all his accomplishements and self-righteousness.  The second pray-er could barely lift his head and admitted, "I'm a sinner," but just the same asking God for mercy (see Luke 18:9-14).

May we not be characterized by pride but be truly humble before the Lord, seeking His grace and mercy every day.  This is greater wisdom.

We see Jesus who humbled Himself and even "fulfilled all righteousness" by being baptized by John the Baptizer Himself.  He is the only one who never had had to do this.  In Him was NO sin (see 1 John 3:5).  Therefore there was nothing for Him to repent of (see Philippians 2:4-11).

He could then be our spotless Lamb of God who sacrificed Himself for us (see 1 Peter 1:19).  Let us followers of Jesus Christ ponder on these things as we partake of the broken bread and drink from the cup of wine in remembrance of His death and resurrection, this Lord's Day.

In Him we have redemption and the chance to repent and be saved receiving His forgiveness and salvation.  This in turn leading to our baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Thank You Jesus for blessing us with Your salvation and making us Your disciples.  May we be humble followers all our days.  Amen.

                                                    ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 7:29 & 30 ESV.

Sing, Lamb of God, along with The Maranatha Singers.

The Holy Spirit Descended (Luke 4 ESV)

 The Spirit of the Lord was seen ... 

" ... descending on Him like a dove ... as Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters of the Jordan River ..." (see Mark 1:10 & 11 ESV).

We see Jesus heading to the wilderness next.  Luke records that Jesus was ... 

" ... full of the Holy Spirit ...and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness" (Luke 4:1 ESV).

We knew that that's when He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and was then tested by Satan with temptations that could have brought many others down.

We know that our blessed Jesus did not succumb to these wiles of the devil.  Praise be to Jesus!

In no way diminished, Jesus ... 

" ... returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee ... and He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all" (Luke 4:14 & 15 ESV).

Then Jesus finds and reads from the scroll,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" (vs 18).

His comment when He'd finished reading was ...

 "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in Your hearing" (Luke 4:21 ESV).

After that we read of Him healing and teaching.  The Holy Spirit had filled Him leading Him into the wilderness temptation but He overcame and in the power of the Holy Spirit He taught and publically read the Scriptures.

He notates for His hearers that the portions read have already been "fulfilled," thus, indirectly referring to Himself.

He taught and healed in the power of the HolySpirit.  This is what the Holy Spirit led Jesus to do.  I believe that those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior have this same Holy Spirit indwelling them.  Jesus sent Him to the disciples after He ascended back to Heaven.  From that time on the Holy Spirit has been active within believers.

It is up to us to listen for the Holy Spirit's leading and then go about our days filled with the Holy Spirit who then empowers us to do works for Jesus as they arise in our daily life.

Thank You Jesus for the gift of salvation and of Your Holy Spirit who indwells us.  Your good and perfect gifts are wonderful! Amen.

                                               ~ ERC  August 2025 ~

Based on Luke 4 ESV.

Sing, Hymn of the Holy Spirit, along with Pat Barret.

Prayer - Bring Out the Best (Luke 6:31 & 32 ESV)

 There's people we have to see, often on a daily basis.  People who aren't necessarily family but with whom we still interact with for good or bad, whether we want to or not.  There are those who bring out the worst in us no matter how hard we try not to let them disturb our peace of mind.

But then, for a follower of Jesus Christ, we can turn it into opportunities to test, in a fierce crucible even, our Christ-like grace, character and attitudes.  We can let Jesus help us turn it into bringing out our best Christ-likeness instead.

Oh Lord, give us the fortitude to navigate with "thorns-in-the-flesh" people.

I suppose You'd say, "I love them as much as I love You."

Okay, Lord, but I definitely NEED YOUR help!  May Your Holy Spirit work mightily in me to overcome and bring out Your -ness ness.

Then we can give You our praise and thanks from grateful hearts and Your glory can be exalted, O God, over all the environment and situations in which we respectively live.

Only by Your grace can we do this.  Help us to keep this in mind in those crucial moments when we'd much rather let our old nature take over.  May Your Holy Spirit fill us to let You be in charge of those moments.

In Jesus' name I pray from the depth of my heart to ask.  Amen.

                                          ~ ERC  August 2025  ~

Based on Luke 6:31 & 32 ESV.

Sing, Holy Spirit Living Breath of God, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

Book Review - Mastering Chronic Pain: How Peak Resilience Unlocks Your Potential - By Dr. Sahar Swidan and Dr. Matthew Bennett - Publication Date: 4 September 2025

 

In my opinion, this book is a message of hope and comunication feeding directly into the hearts and minds of those who suffer from chronic pain.  The word 'resilience' is a key word thoughout as the complete book title indicates.  If I'm understanding the authors correctly, the book offers a progressive chain of action that is important to note when talking about mastering chronic pain.

As a potential reader would read through this book, they can expect some significant technical jargon given the topic.  However, I believe even laymen will be able to understand what is described regarding managing and mastering chronic pain.  What's more, I feel that those who suffer such pain will definitely be able to relate, learning a wealth of beneficial information, not just to cope but to cultivate resilience, helping themselves to 'come back to life' and enabling a better quality of life.

Furthermore, there is good information on the nature of pain and how it works on the body systems, intertwining and entangling, captivating them in vicious cycles of pain unless there is intervention, not with medication, per se, but with other actions as prescribed in this book.  For example, explanations about how pain works on the nerves, gut, the brain, the pschological elements and more, setting them afire.  Then helpful suggestions on how to help oneself in these areas.

Once again, I'll say that I feel the authors are thankfully bringing hope to those who suffer chronic pain, teaching them how to apply certain breathing exercises, giving questions for reflection, journaling and other things to try to reframe their pain story.

The authors really seem to cover a broad spectrum of all that is inter-connected to the management and mastering of chronic pain.  I reckon most readers, whether they are the actual sufferers, or the family and friends and support group, will all have satisfaction when gaining this knowledge and understanding and be able to reach for that desired peak resilience to master the chronic pain, together, one little bit at a time - slow and steady though it may be.

                                          ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger ~

                                                       September 2025

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent to me by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.