- And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15 – Imagine going to some magician’s show. Everyone in the crowd is applauding the act on the stage for the “magic” displayed is something they can’t explain. Yet midway during the show the curtain behind the magician drops and all the secrets are out. We see the helpers behind the curtain making the tricks happen, we see the wires, we see everything. What was amazing and unexplainable is immediately ruined and understandable. In context with the previous verses, Jesus is speaking about the wealth and prestige of man. Such things are often praised in our culture and we can justify our devotion to possessing them in many ways. But as with the magician, God sees behind the curtain. He sees behind our excuses as to why we are pursuing money and power like we may be. He sees our heart. We can’t hide anything from Him. What God is looking for is followers of His that will not be caught up in the endless race for more wealth and power like the world around us is. God knows when our heart is for Him or for selfish gain and we can’t pull anything over on Him like we may be able to with those around us. Let’s then ask ourselves are we in the camp of the people Jesus is speaking to. Is money something that we are consumed with? Are we making justifications for our pursuit of wealth/power on why were aren’t prioritizing our life with God? Maybe it’s as simple as I just don’t have time to read scripture today because I need to go to work. God sees what’s most important to you, and His desire is that it be Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3545
- He said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Luke 16:31 – Interesting. Jesus is saying that the stories of Moses and the Prophets point out enough in themselves to the trueness of the Gospel. Often people today say if they got to see all that Jesus did and see Him raised from the dead like the people back then they’d believe as well. Yet, they haven’t seen all that so they choose not to believe. What Jesus is saying here to the people who did see all that Jesus did, was that they already had enough proof that God was real and we should follow Him just by the stories of the past. They didn’t need the miracles and such to prove anything. Now though for us we even have that as proof. We have the stories of Moses, the Prophets, and now Jesus as well as proof. It’s now our choice to believe it all or not. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 621
- And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9 – This is an odd parable to be heard from Jesus and it’s so different than many of the other parables we hear from Him. We have a master about to fire a manager, and in the last moments that the manager has access to the master’s wealth he uses it to make sure he is covered for the future. Know Jesus isn’t here saying we should be dishonest or use wealth in ungodly ways. He’s revealing here how well those of the world use the possessions they have to further their future and how beautiful it would be for those who do believe in God to do the same. Jesus here is desiring those who have access to the storehouses of Heaven and the blessings of God to be smart and use such resources. Use for worldly gain or ungodly futures? Not at all, but to further His kingdom. Jesus wants us to be smart with what He has given us. We have been blessed with so much as children of God; instead of just wasting these blessings we are called us be creative and wise with how we use them to further the kingdom. If believers were as wise with God’s provisions as unbelievers can be with worldly possessions, how much further would the message of the gospel be in our world! I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2333
