The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:13:1-9

kjv@Luke:13:1 @ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

kjv@Luke:13:2 @ And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

kjv@Luke:13:3 @ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

kjv@Luke:13:4 @ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

kjv@Luke:13:5 @ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

kjv@Luke:13:6 @ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

kjv@Luke:13:7 @ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

kjv@Luke:13:8 @ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

kjv@Luke:13:9 @ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:12:54-59 Interpreting the Times
  
• After - Luke:13:10-17 A Cripple Woman Healed on the Sabbath
  

Study Resources:

dict:all Pilate

dict:easton Siloam

G3340 repent/change mind dict:easton Repent dict:naves Repentance

G622 perish/destroy

dict:torrey Fig Tree

Notes:

No matter what the time or age, questions always arise such as "why does God allow iron fisted tyrants over us?" or "why do bad things happen to good people?". There is no easy answer. Today's passage has a recent massacre at the temple's outer court by the current Roman procurator (the same man that will finally condemn Jesus to the cross) and a tower that recently fell killing several innocents. How best can Jesus explain these egregious national events?

In the case of God's chosen people being under a foreign tyrant, it has been a slow steady decent they have made by turning their backs from God. God has warned them. God has pulled them back on several occasions. The fact that they even exist at this point is a testament to God keeping His covenant, saving Himself a remnant to later at some point build back up. Yet their fathers did not repent then nor will these listeners now. They see that they have done nothing wrong even though there is every evidence to the contrary. It is almost that they wear the promised consequence of their double measure as a badge of hardened honor. In the vacuum of their godlessness there stands a tyrant and others just like him; and there they have stood for quite some time. This is Israel's case; it may or may not be any other's to this extent.

In the case of bad things happening, all men are sinners, not one can be judged more guilty and deserving of punishment anymore than any other. Bad things do not always happen because of some heavenly judgment upon the victims. Sometimes towers fall because they were incompetently designed, corners were cut, design plans arrogantly not followed, girders hurried, purposes altered beyond their designed capacities, inspections and certificates bribed. Sometimes it is airplanes commandeered by men with murderous intentions. Other times cities that never should have been built where they were, drain pumps and dikes left to corrupt officials to upgrade and maintain. Then there are the few times that cannot be explained; at least not to our immediate and mortal satisfaction.

Jesus' best answer? Everyone repent! Not that these calamities come out of judgment, but because judgment will surely one day come. Perhaps a building you are in will fall. Perhaps a tyrant will seek to send a message to the people out in the temple square while you are there to worship. Perhaps a madman will break loose in a movie theater on premiere night. Perhaps a saint will out of nowhere be diagnosed with stage four cancer. Perhaps the Lord returns tonight like a thief in the night. Perhaps you nap one afternoon and don't wake up. You just don't ever know, but don't ever take the probability lightly. These things are not the judgment. The judgment is that you have spent all of this time convinced that it cannot happen to you because somehow you are too good of a person. The judgment is that you have spent this time blaming God and/or the victims when these things happened to others. The judgment is that you the fruitful tree and your nation the fruitful tree has yet to be fruitful and has yet to surrender heart and soul to the one that can make you fruitful in this time before final judgment does come.

After all, does it really matter how and when it comes as long as you are prepared for the certainty that it will at any time come?

That being made clear, there are also times that God did reach down to punish Israel, but not without direct warning and advance notice. It does little good to punish a rebellious child if the child is not aware of who is punishing him, why he is being punished and what to do next time in order not to be punished. If the child does not properly respond even with the expectation of being punished then yes punishment may be called for.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:13:1-9
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:13:1-9 rwp@Luke:13:1-9 mhcc@Luke:13:1-9
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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