The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:15:8-10

kjv@Luke:15:8 @ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

kjv@Luke:15:9 @ And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

kjv@Luke:15:10 @ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:15:1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
  
• After - Luke:15:11-32 The Parable of the Lost Son
  

Study Resources:

G32 dict:easton Angel

dict:torrey Repent

Notes:

In continuation we find the Pharisee and Scribe detesting the very sinner that all heaven values and rejoices over; not sin mind you, but the return of individual souls from sin. If all men and women are sinners, which is the greater sin, being a publican/prostitute that with godly sorrow repents back? or being a religious shepherd responsible over many that leads them astray/closing the gates of salvation tight against those lost souls and refuses to repent of it?

Jesus has many pointed attacks against that generation of Israel, the majority of words raised squarely against the leadership. If an individual Jew today were to critique Jesus they would no doubt be taken back by His relentless attack and likely thus take it personally. If to be honest however, the emphasis Jesus emphatically pursues is not on the lost sheep of Israel, but fattened and grossly negligent shepherds. Can the many other shepherds rightly be defended by you. This fact we should not be attempting to make apology for as Christians.

If one was to intelligently look over the history of the former Hebrew nation and all of it's many difficulties for which God judged them, one would have to ask in almost constant progression "where were the shepherds"? Where were the shepherds when she bowed to her idols? When they called for a king such as the other nations? When high priests of other gods moved themselves right into God's own temple? Where were her shepherds when ten of her twelve tribes divided off into their own and their kings one after another did evil in the sight of the Lord attempting to create a facsimile of the covenant minus Judah and Benjamin? Where were they when it was the eight hundred prophets against the one? Where were they when the prophets were slain? When the book of the law was hidden for ages in a cellar waiting to be refound? Honestly in all of this history where were these supposedly great shepherds? If this is not undeniably true then show me better now if you can.

Can we expect that the shepherds over Israel today are any different from the Scribe and Pharisee of that particular day? Perhaps the picture Jesus paints in these recent passages and parables are the best way to judge:

Cannot the times be known as is the weather (especially the times concerning the Savior)? kjv@Luke:12:56

Is it not iniquity to work against the direction of the Lord? kjv@Luke:13:27

Has not God often sought to gather Jerusalem under His wing as His children but the children would not? kjv@Luke:13:34

Has not the most honored guest come but not been given His place? kjv@Luke:14:8

Is there a resurrection of all and therefore a divine righteous judgment just from unjust? kjv@Luke:14:14

Have not the chosen been bidden already to the feast but have with one consent refused to come? Have not others now been bidden in their absence? kjv@Luke:14:18 kjv@Luke:14:23

Has not the cost of those Jews bidden often been at the cost of family friends and Jewish community? kjv@Luke:14:27

Is it upsetting that Jesus is found there with the sinners with the mind of saving those few that will admit that they are lost rather than congregate with the high minded that have no need for Him? kjv@Luke:15:7

Is the value of one returning soul just as important if not more so than the keeping of the unrepentant traditions of the majority? Is what you're rejoicing over in harmony with the angelic host? kjv@Luke:15:10

Unlike some other Christians and many cults, I do not believe that God has given up on the children of Israel. HIS covenant with them as a whole nation was made without conditions. The double measure of HIS blessing and curse is quite evident both in good and bad senses even today. I know that for a long time many of my so called Christian brethren have performed nothing but evil upon Abraham's seed. I have no way of justifying it nor making excuse for it than by saying if the heart of sin has done this to you Hebrews then the heart of sin is no less tame in us gentiles yet the God of Heaven and Earth is the same. There then is HIS testimony of us and there then is HIS testimony of our mutual and utter need for HIS redemption and Redeemer.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:15:8-10
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:15:8-10 rwp@Luke:15:8-10 mhcc@Luke:15:8-10
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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