Dumber than a Rock

August 22

(Luke 19:37-40 NIV) “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: {38} "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” {39} Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" {40} "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

(Psalms 148:1-14 NIV) “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. {2} Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. {3} Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. {4} Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. {5} Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. {6} He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. {7} Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, {8} lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, {9} you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, {10} wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, {11} kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, {12} young men and maidens, old men and children. {13} Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. {14} He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord.”

Today we will wrestle with one of those deep theological truths of the faith. Are you ready for this? Here it is: Rocks are not dumb! For years you have been told that certain people are as dumb as a rock, but you’ve been misled. Jesus straightens us out today. As our Lord rode into Jerusalem, the crowd began to praise Him. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus silence them, but He proclaimed that if the people didn’t praise Him, the rocks certainly would. Christ was saying that rocks aren’t dumb. In fact, He was saying that if we don’t praise Him as Lord, we really are dumber than a rock. All of creation, even the rocks, know that Jesus is Lord, and they will proclaim it if we don’t. So the question becomes: Do you really want to be dumber than a rock? Recognize Jesus as Lord and proclaim it. If you don’t, the rocks will. Praise the Lord! --Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

King of Glory

August 21

(Luke 19:28-38 NIV) ““After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. {29} As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, {30} "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. {31} If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'" {32} Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. {33} As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" {34} They replied, "The Lord needs it." {35} They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. {36} As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. {37} When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: {38} "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!””

(Zechariah 9:9 NIV) “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

(Psalm 24:9-10 NIV) “Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. {10} Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty -- he is the King of glory.”

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah. The crowds hailed Him as a King with palm branches and loud proclamations of praise. The people were “lifting up the gates, so that the King of glory could come in.” God had come to town. But in less than a week, the shouts of “Blessed be the King!” devolved into shouts of, “Crucify Him!” Crowds can be fickle when you don’t meet their expectations, or someone offers them a better deal. Millions today are looking for a Savior who will love them and deliver them -- far fewer are looking for a King who will be their Lord. But with Jesus, you can’t have one without the other. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, but He is a Lamb with the bite of a Lion. Jesus is both Savior and Lord or He is not the King of glory who rode into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day       

Investing Our Gifts

August 20

(Luke 19:11-27 NIV) ““While they were listening to this, he (Jesus) went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. {12} He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. {13} So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ {14} “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ {15} “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. {16} “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ {17} “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ {18} “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ {19} “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ {20} “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. {21} I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ {22} “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? {23} Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ {24} “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ {25} “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ {26} “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. {27} But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

(Matthew 16:25 NIV) “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

Those who believed that Jesus was the Messiah thought that when He entered Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would arrive. The Romans would be kicked out, and Israel would be restored as the premier nation on Earth. Jesus taught this parable to help them see that it was not going to happen that way. He had come to suffer for our sins. His return as King of kings would come later. Meanwhile, His disciples were to be investing their gifts and showing gain for the Kingdom. Those who profess to be servants but who will not invest, do not really know the Master and will be punished along with those who are openly hostile to Christ. To save your life, you must invest (lose) your life. Jesus is coming back. He will return on His schedule, not ours. Faithful investor servants will be rewarded. Severe judgment awaits those who won’t serve Him. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sought and Saved

August 19

(Luke 19:9-10 NIV) ““Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. {10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.””

(John 10:10 NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

(1 Timothy 1:15 NIV) “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.”

There was a day on which salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus. He became a believer -- a son of Abraham -- a disciple. A conversion took place and the name of Zacchaeus was written into the Lamb’s book of life. We hear no sinner’s prayer -- just obedience to the Spirit of God and deeds of genuine repentance. There is a “time to be born”, and there is a day on which we are born again. It’s why Jesus came. He came to seek and save the lost, and when that happens, He never forgets. Christ didn’t come to dine with royalty as one would expect of the King of kings. He didn’t come to spend time musing with the greatest of religious scholars. He didn’t come to be a superstar who fills stadiums. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and save our souls from hell. He came to make disciples and change our lives. Zacchaeus was sought and saved. He had his day of salvation. Have you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day