Buying the Sword

September 22

(Luke 22:35-38 NIV)  "Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. {36} He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. {37} It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors' ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." {38} The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied."

(Matthew 26:50-54 NIV)  "Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. {51} With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. {52} "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. {53} Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? {54} But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?""

These are difficult verses. What is Jesus trying to teach? He wants the disciples to know that things are going to change rapidly. Overnight, He would go from being an “eccentric rabbi” to a convicted criminal. This also meant dramatic changes for His disciples. They would become fugitives. Taken literally, Christ’s call to take purses and acquire swords contradicts His earlier teaching. Most Bible scholars see this teaching as metaphorical. Two swords would have never been sufficient for fending off those who arrested Jesus. This view is bolstered by both Christ’s rebuke of Peter for using a sword at His arrest, as well as His statement that twelve legions of angels would come at His request. Jesus does not promote violence. He’s telling the disciples that things are going to change drastically, and that they should prepare themselves. That’s still good advice for today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Faith and Fear

September 21

(Luke 22:31-34 NIV) ““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. {32} But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." {33} But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." {34} Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.””

(Luke 22:54-62 NIV) ““Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. {55} But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. {56} A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." {57} But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. {58} A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. {59} About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." {60} Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. {61} The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." {62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.””

Peter’s denial of Christ is legendary. Some say he lost his faith, but that’s not true. Peter didn’t lose his faith, but for a brief moment in time he lost hope that things were going to turn out well, and fear overpowered his faith. He disowned Jesus publicly, but Jesus did not disown him. Christ’s gaze broke Peter’s heart, and in shame and remorse he wept bitterly over his failure. But with God, failure is never final. At one time or another, all of us have backed away from Jesus, distancing ourselves from Him. In our own ways, big and small, we have disowned Him, denied Him, and deserted Him. That does not mean we have lost our faith. It means that for a time, our hope was diminished, and our fear grew stronger than our faith. God’s solution is not to disown us, but to strengthen us. Look Jesus in the eye, repent, and allow God to restore your hope and strengthen your faith. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Ego Driven Discipleship

September 20

(Luke 22:24-30 NIV) ““Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. {25} Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. {26} But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. {27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. {28} You are those who have stood by me in my trials. {29} And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, {30} so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.””

(Luke 9:46-48 NIV) ““An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. {47} Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. {48} Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest.””

(Micah 6:8 NIV) “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Jesus must have been frustrated with the disciples at times. Earlier in Luke’s gospel, they had argued about who was the greatest… and it was still happening. Jesus probably shook His head and wondered, “Have they learned nothing?” But once more He stressed that the least among them would be the greatest -- the servant would end up at the head of the table. This is the life that Christ modeled for His disciples. One of the greatest enemies of servant discipleship is the human ego. Our desire to be important, to be noticed, or to be in charge, can cripple us in our quest to walk humbly with our God. More than one church has been laid low by the insidious and incessant power struggles that happen between those who claim to be “servants” of Christ. You can’t be great in God’s eyes when climbing on the backs of other believers. Ditch the ego. Be a servant. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

In Remembrance of Me

September 19

(Luke 22:14-23 NIV) ““When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. {15} And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. {16} For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." {17} After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. {18} For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." {19} And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." {20} In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. {21} But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. {22} The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." {23} They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.””

(1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NIV) ““The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, {24} and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." {25} In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

At their last meal together, Christ reminded the disciples of the Passover’s significance. A lamb was slain. The blood of the lamb covered the believer’s home. Bread without yeast was eaten. And God’s people were told to remember what God had done. Then Christ established a new Passover celebration. Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be slain. The blood of the Lamb would cover the believer. Christ’s body would be represented in the bread without yeast (sin). He would be the bread of life. The disciples were to remember Him and pass this commemoration on to new disciples. When we take Communion today, we remember our Lord and what He did for us. We remember His body, given for us -- His blood, poured out to cover our sin. We examine our lives for “yeast”. And we anticipate His return, for then we won’t have to remember anymore -- we will be forever in His presence. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

I Will Pass Over You

September 18

(Luke 22:7-13 NIV) "Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. {8} Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." {9} "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. {10} He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, {11} and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' {12} He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." {13} They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”

(Exodus 12:13-14 NIV) "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. {14} "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord -- a lasting ordinance."

Passover is a yearly remembrance of how God saved His people from the death angel and freed them from bondage in Egypt. The Lord had sent various plagues on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to set God’s people free. Finally, God declared that every firstborn in Egypt would be struck down and would die. In preparation, each Jewish household was told to sacrifice a lamb. The family was to eat the lamb for supper, along with bread made without yeast. The blood of the lamb was to be smeared above their doorposts, and when the destroying angel saw the blood, he would “pass over” their house. The events of this night broke the resistance of Pharaoh and he agreed to set God’s people free. Since that night, Jewish households have celebrated Passover, and in obedience to God’s command, have remembered how the Lord saved them from death and freed them from captivity. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Seeds of Betrayal

September 17

(Luke 22:1-6 NIV) “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, {2} and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. {3} Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. {4} And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. {5} They were delighted and agreed to give him money. {6} He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.”

(John 12:1-6 NIV) ““Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {2} Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. {3} Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. {4} But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, {5} "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." {6} He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.””

(Ephesians 4:25-32 NIV) ““Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. {26} "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, {27} and do not give the devil a foothold. {28} He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. {29} Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. {30} And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. {31} Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. {32} Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.””

Judas’ betrayal of Christ will live in infamy. It ranks up there with Lucifer’s rebellion against God. The chief priests and teachers of the law had failed at catching Jesus in punishable errors. They had also failed at dissuading the people from following this young prophet from Nazareth. They needed a Judas. The seeds of betrayal had been planted in Judas long before the night he visited the religious authorities. He had been stealing from Jesus and the disciples for some time. He gave the devil a foothold. He was dishonest and disappointed -- a volatile combination. Christ had not measured up to his expectations. But avoid feeling smug, for we all have a bit of Judas in us. What would it take for you to sell out or bail out? Being angry with God and disappointed with our circumstances, form the seedbed of betrayal. Don’t give the devil a foothold! Be careful, or those seeds can sprout. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Words That Will Never Pass Away

September 16

(Luke 21:32-33, 37-38 NIV) “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. {33} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. {37} Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, {38} and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.”

(1 Peter 1:23-25 NIV) ““For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. {24} For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, {25} but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.””

(Psalms 119:89-91 NIV) “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. {90} Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. {91} Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.”

Many foolish tyrants have tried to rid the world of God’s word. In their folly, they failed to recognize that God is eternal, while they are but dust -- and to dust they will return. The word of God stands forever, because God is forever. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, told His disciples that the heavens and the Earth would pass away, but not His words. They are eternal, because Christ is eternal. So when Jesus speaks of what is to come, we can bank on it. When He speaks to what we should be doing, we would be wise to heed His words. They will not pass away. When we get into God’s word we are not just into the wisdom of the ancients -- we are into something eternal… something that has been forever and forever will be. Only the fool would try to destroy that kind of knowledge. Only the fool would ignore or neglect it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Three Headed Monster

September 15

(Luke 21:34-36 NIV) “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. {35} For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. {36} Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

(Matthew 6:25-34 NIV)  ""Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? {26} Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? {27} Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? {28} "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. {29} Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. {30} If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? {31} So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33} But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. {34} Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jesus warns of a three-headed monster that can weigh our hearts down and keep us from watching for His return. “Dissipation” is the scattering, wasting, or squandering of our time and affections. We have so many other “lovers” that our affection for Christ dissipates to the point of being non-existent. “Drunkenness” includes alcohol, but we can be intoxicated by money, sex, power, success, or possessions. This is why Jesus warns us not to go back to our houses for anything when we hear his call -- if we trust him, we won't need anything else. The “anxieties of life” can be crippling. Worry can become a lifestyle that weighs the heart down. Jesus warns against it. When we are filled with insecurity, it’s impossible to rest in the Lord. We become too anxious to watch for Jesus. Kill the three-headed monster, or it will kill you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

 

Lift Up Your Heads

September 14

(Luke 21:25-31 NIV) ““There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. {26} Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. {27} At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. {28} When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. {29} He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. {30} When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. {31} Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.””

(Psalm 46:1-7 NIV) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. {2} Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, {3} though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. {4} There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. {5} God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. {6} Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. {7} The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Just before the return of Christ, there will be signs on the Earth and in the sky that are so frightening, men will faint with fear. Heavenly bodies will be shaken. The Earth will tremble and convulse. The oceans will roar. Chaos and fear will reign in this world that God created for peace, order, and harmony. This is sin’s final gasp. For the lost, there will be no place to hide -- no escape from the horror. But for those who have trusted Christ, redemption will be drawing near. Believer, when you see these things happening, do not look down in despair or look around in terror -- look up in faith! Those watching for Christ’s return will see Him coming in the sky. Look up! Watch for Jesus more than you watch for the signs of His coming. Knowing the signs will not save you. Only knowing Jesus can do that. Hope is lost when we look around. Hope is realized when we look up. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Jerusalem’s Desolation

September 13

(Luke 21:20-24 NIV) “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. {21} Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. {22} For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. {23} How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. {24} They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

(Matthew 24:15-22 NIV) “So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- {16} then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. {17} Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. {18} Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. {19} How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! {20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. {21} For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. {22} If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”

Every day we hear news of Jerusalem. It is a world “hot spot” that never seems to cool down. Why is it such an important place? Jerusalem is a holy city for three major world religions. For Christians, it is where our Lord was crucified and rose from the dead. It is where He ascended into heaven, and it is where His feet will touch down when He returns again. Jesus told His disciples that Jerusalem would be surrounded, trampled, and destroyed. This happened in 70 A.D. when Roman armies leveled the city, and her people were dispersed all over the world. Not until 1967 were the “times of the Gentiles fulfilled” as the Jewish nation once again took control of the holy city. Many prophecy scholars see Jerusalem being trampled on again just prior to the return of Christ. The world talks daily about New York, L.A., London, Paris, Beijing, and Moscow -- but keep your eyes on Jerusalem. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Hated Because of Him

September 12

(Luke 21:12-19 NIV) ““But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. {13} This will result in your being witnesses to them. {14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. {15} For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. {16} You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.””

(Hebrews 11:32-40 NIV) “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, {33} who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, {34} quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. {35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. {36} Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. {37} They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- {38} the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. {39} These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. {40} God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Some Christians think of God as the great security man in the sky -- trust Him and you can slay a thousand enemies or walk through fire. Although this has been true in the lives of some believers, history also records that saints bleed and die on a regular basis. And as the end draws closer, the fires of persecution will burn hotter. Anyone willing to stand for anything associated with the glory and holiness of God will pay dearly. Even parents and siblings will turn against those who choose to persevere in the faith. We will be hated for just bearing His name. But Jesus counseled us not to worry. We will not perish like those without Christ. Glorify His name as you stand before your enemies. Divine power does not come from the muzzle of a gun. The Lord will give us words and grace to face whatever comes. Pray that we can be His witnesses. Stand firm and gain eternal life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Birth Pains

September 11

(Luke 21:6-11 NIV) ““As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." {7} "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" {8} He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. {9} When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." {10} Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. {11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.””

(Matthew 24:3-8 NIV) ““As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" {4} Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. {5} For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. {6} You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. {7} Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. {8} All these are the beginning of birth pains.””

The signs of Christ’s return are present in every age, but there will be an intensification of these signs in the days before He comes again. When we look at end time’s prophecy we must realize that there is mystery involved. Anyone saying they have it all figured out should be viewed with suspicion. We will never have all the answers on this side of eternity. The run-up to the end of the age will be marked by false messiahs, claiming divine knowledge and demanding divine respect. They will be phonies. Wars and revolutions will abound. Violence will increase. Earthquakes will shake the foundations of the Earth. Famine will cause millions of deaths. Pestilence and disease will overpower the healthcare systems. Things will happen in the heavens that bring great fear and anxiety. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus calls these events, “the beginning of birth pains”. Get ready. Something big is coming. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Not One Stone

September 10

(Luke 21:5-6 NIV) ““Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, {6} "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.””

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV) ““As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it {42} and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. {43} The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. {44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.””

(Acts 7:48-49 NIV) ““However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: {49} "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?””

Man builds magnificent buildings. He adorns them beautifully and endows them with the latest technology. They can be tall, reaching toward the sky. They can be massive and have huge seating capacities. We often become impressed with our cathedrals and temples and they become the objects of our worship. We begin to value the created more than the Creator. The  Temple in Jerusalem was such a building. The disciples were impressed by its size and its beautiful stone work. But the Creator of the heavens and the Earth remained unimpressed. Christ prophesied that not one stone would remain upon another -- it would eventually all come down. Then the Lord would live where He has always wanted to live -- in the hearts of those who worship Him and follow Him as Lord. Does the Lord God Almighty live in you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Three Truths About Giving

September 9

(Luke 21:1-4 NIV) ““As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. {2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. {3} "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. {4} All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””

(1 Kings 17:7-16 NIV)  "Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. {8} Then the word of the Lord came to him: {9} "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." {10} So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" {11} As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread." {12} "As surely as the Lord your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son,  that we may eat it--and die." {13} Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. {14} For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"  {15} She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. {16} For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah."

Love always costs us something. It always involves self-denial and sacrifice. You cannot love without giving. With the widow’s gift at the Temple, Jesus teaches three things. First, God knows what we give. Just as Jesus took note of the widow’s giving and the giving of others, God observes our giving. Second, God cares about what we give. Jesus said the widow’s gift had significance beyond the amount she contributed. She had given “more than all the others”. Third, God cares more about attitude than amount. The widow wasn’t a big giver in terms of amount. She contributed only two small copper coins -- others put in much more. But in faith, she gave “all that she had”. While others dutifully tithed their ten percent, this woman gave one hundred percent. With God, the amount you give is not as important as the amount you have left over. The more we love, the more we give. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Humility

September 8

(Luke 20:45-47 NIV) ““While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, {46} “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. {47} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.””

(Luke 14:7-11 NIV)  "When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: {8} "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. {9} If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. {10} But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. {11} For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.""

Two different cancers can grow in the Christian heart: lack of humility and false humility. Both originate in pride. Jesus faced many teachers of the law who loved their places of honor and their flowing robes. It can get heady when you always sit at the head table. Lengthy prayers, flowery oration, and the power to get people’s money are not why God created the priesthood. The other cancer grows in those who are constantly assuring themselves, and us, of their humility. They make a show of their humility so everyone will know just how humble they are. They are humble and proud of it. These two attitudes are two sides of the same counterfeit coin. Genuine humility is marked, not by self-awareness, but by a heightened “other-awareness”. Jesus didn’t spend His time in front of a mirror. Instead, He was constantly looking around for those who needed their feet washed. That’s humility! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

My Lord

September 7

(Luke 20:41-47 NIV) ““Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? {42} David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand {43} until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ {44} David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

(Matthew 22:41-46 NIV) ““While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, {42} “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. {43} He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, {44} “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ {45} If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” {46} No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.””

(Psalm 110:1 NIV) ““The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.””

Jesus was continually dueling with the Bible experts of His day. He had no degree from any seminary, nor had He studied under any of the famous rabbis of the day. He had no formal education and so the spiritual intellectuals saw Him as an inferior upstart. But more than once, Jesus simply took them to their Bible, and corrected them from the very Scriptures where they claimed to be experts. He took them to Psalm 110 and made a case for a different type of Christ than they were expecting. They thought that the Christ/Messiah would be the son of David. This would make Him a mere human being. But Jesus contended that if David called Him “my Lord”, He couldn’t be the son of David. His human bloodline may trace back to David, but to be “Lord”, the Christ must be the Son of God. Jesus was that Son, and when you are the Son of God, that’s all the credentials you need. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Children of the Resurrection

September 6

(Luke 20:34-40 NIV) ““Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. {35} But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, {36} and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. {37} But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ {38} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” {39} Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” {40} And no one dared to ask him any more questions.””

(Exodus 3:5-6 NIV) ““Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” {6} Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God””

One of the great proofs of resurrection comes from a book in Scripture where the Sadducees claimed to be experts. In Exodus chapter three, God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God is the God of the living, this means that for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a resurrection had taken place and there is an afterlife. The Sadducees were humiliated. The age to come is eternal. It will have no end. But that eternal existence applies to both inside and outside the Kingdom. Not everyone will enjoy eternity. Some will spend it outside looking in. This is the teaching of our Savior. His words, “considered worthy of taking part” are an indication that the age to come will be exclusive. Some will be found worthy of taking part, some will not. Some will stand as God’s children, some will not. Which group will you be in? Are you a child of the resurrection? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

No Marriage in Heaven

September 5

(Luke 20:27-35 NIV) ““Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. {28} “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. {29} Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. {30} The second {31} and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. {32} Finally, the woman died too. {33} Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” {34} Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. {35} But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.”” 

(Deuteronomy 25:5-6 NIV) “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. {6} The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.”

(Galatians 3:26-28 NIV) “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, {27} for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. {28} There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

What will we do in eternity? There is one thing we know for sure that we won’t do. We won’t be married. For many people, this may bring some angst and confusion. Marriage and family are part of God’s creation package -- building blocks of godly culture here on Earth. Essential values are learned there. This is so important that God said if a husband died, having no son to carry on the family name, the dead man’s brother was to marry his widow (if he wasn’t already married) in order to carry on the family name. The question from the Sadducees was, who would the woman be married to in the afterlife? Jesus said the question was moot because there will be no marriage in the age to come. Gender and marriage are earthly constructs. In eternity, we will live an asexual existence, like the angels. The physical will have given way to the spiritual. The flesh will count for nothing. Hallelujah! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sad You See

September 4

(Luke 20:27 NIV) ““Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.”” 

(Matthew 16:5-12 NIV) ““When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. {6} “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” {7} They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” {8} Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? {9} Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? {10} Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? {11} How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” {12} Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.””

(Acts 23:6-8 NIV) ““Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” {7} When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. {8} (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)””

Like the Pharisees, the Sadducees were fundamentalists. They were also fundamentally different. They were rivals and had different foundations for their doctrine. The Pharisees saw the Torah and Prophets as their foundation, and had added many oral traditions to God’s law. The Sadducees recognized only the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, as their source of truth (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Leviticus). Another major difference: the Pharisees believed in an afterlife, the Sadducees did not. The Sadducees did not believe that the soul is immortal. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and since they did not believe in eternal life, they were sad, you see? Jesus told them they were wrong, and eventually proved it with His resurrection. There is an afterlife, and Christ has promised those who follow Him an eternity filled with joy. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Foolish Trappers

September 3

(Luke 20:26 NIV) ““They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.””

(Matthew 22:46 NIV) “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”

(Psalm 31:18 NIV) “Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.”

The learned religious leaders of Christ’s day tried many times to trap Jesus with trick questions. They always failed. You cannot catch a Lion with a mousetrap and you cannot trap the Son of God with a human question. Only a very foolish trapper would entertain such a notion. The puny traps of the religious leaders were never big enough to catch the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Trying to con, fool, trick, or trap God is really stupid. We don’t catch Him -- He catches us. Who are we to think that we can deceive an omniscient, all knowing God or hide anything from an omnipresent Creator? Who are we to think we can get around someone who has no front, back, or sides? Just about every one of us has tried this in some way. You may even be in the middle of an attempted con job right now. It is foolishness. Put your mousetraps away -- you are dealing with a Lion! Be silent before Him. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

What is God’s

September 2

(Luke 20:25 NIV) ““He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””

(Psalm 50:8-12 NIV) “I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. {9} I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, {10} for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. {11} I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. {12} If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”

(Haggai 2:8 NIV) ““The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord Almighty.””

Jesus told us to give to Caesar what was is Caesar’s, and to give to God what is God’s. The greatest sin of humanity is not giving to God what is His. Many Christians debate about what to give to Caesar, but far fewer seem concerned about what they should give to God. The Church must quit spending so much time and energy on what Caesar does or doesn’t get, and focus on the God side of this equation. If it is true that God owns everything, then why do so few Christians live as if everything really belonged to God? Why are so many of us content to rob God by not giving Him what we owe Him? Why are so many Christians satisfied with their giving when the national average is a paltry 3.1% of their income? At a tax rate of 20%, this means Caesar is getting seven times more than God! Keep your priorities straight. Give to God what is God’s! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Render Unto Caesar

September 1

(Luke 20:23-25 NIV) ““He saw through their duplicity and said to them, {24} “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” {25} “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””

(Job 38:1-3 NIV) ““Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: {2} “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? {3} Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.””

The religious hot shots asked Jesus a question about paying taxes to Caesar. They thought they had Him in a bind. But putting God in a bind is impossible. Christ saw through their duplicity and asked, “Whose portrait is on your coins?” Everyone knew it was Caesar’s. Jesus told them to give to Caesar what belonged to him, and give to God what was His. It was a genius answer. Jesus never taught hostility toward government. Government is neutral. It will never be perfect because the people who run them aren’t perfect. People mess government up, and one of those people is the person you look at in the mirror every day. You don’t hear hostility toward government coming from Jesus. Neither does He endorse any particular form of government. Christ operates on a different plane. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Just do not give to Caesar what belongs to God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Trick Question

August 31

(Luke 20:22 NIV) “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

(Matthew 22:15 NIV) “Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.”

(Jeremiah 9:8 NIV) “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

The religious gestapo was trying to get Jesus to say something that would be impeachable -- something in violation of Jewish or Roman law. They asked Him a trick question: “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” There was no good answer to this question. If Jesus said “Yes”, the crowds would likely have turned against Him. He would have lost all credibility with the very people He came to reach. But if Jesus answered “No”, He would have likely been arrested by the Romans for public insurrection. His enemies thought they had him -- either answer, and Jesus was in trouble. But the Lord was wiser than they thought. He still is! We waste our time when we try to trick Jesus with questions for which we already know the answer. A newer and trickier phrasing of the question won’t get you a different answer from God. Do what you know is right. Jesus is Lord! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Pretending to be Honest

August 30

(Luke 20:20-26 NIV) ““Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. {21} So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.””

(Psalm 5:9 NIV) “Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.”

It is a sad day when you have men of God “pretending to be honest”. Holy men of God, deceiving and lying for the purpose of hurting another -- pretending to ask honest questions -- it’s not a pretty picture. These phonies were hard hearted, cold, and calculating as they came after Jesus. They were out to destroy him. They were conniving men, hoping for evil. Jesus certainly must have thought of Psalm 5:9 when speaking with them. Their words came from hearts full of destruction and deceit. They lied as they tried to flatter Jesus. They pretended to respect Him and His teaching, but actually they despised Him. They were hoping to puff Jesus up and catch Him off guard. But you cannot puff up someone who is full of the Holy Spirit of God. Christ did not come to receive the approval and accolades of men. He came to die for their sins, and that is exactly what He did. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Crushing Religion

August 29

(Luke 20:15-19 NIV) ““What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? {16} He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!" {17} Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone '? {18} Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." {19} The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.””

(Psalm 118:22 NIV) “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.”

(Isaiah 8:13-15 NIV) “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, {14} and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. {15} Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”

(Isaiah 28:16 NIV) ““So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.””

(Daniel 2:34, 44-45 NIV) “While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them…. {44} In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. {45} This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands--a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.”

The Parable of the Vineyard contains one of the clearest claims ever made by Jesus to be the unique Son of God. The Pharisees understood His claim and they hated Him for it. They not only knew who they were in this parable, they knew what Jesus was saying about Himself. Jesus is Lord. He is the Rock -- the stone that the builders rejected. He is the Cornerstone of the Church. We fall on him in brokenness and receive mercy, or we are eventually crushed by His holy judgment. We have to be broken before we can be mended. We have to be mended, or we will be crushed. Do not resist being broken before the Lord. The pride of the Pharisees shunned brokenness and they were eventually crushed by God. Choose the brokenness that leads to life, or be crushed into dust on the last day. Make a decision. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Kill the Heir

August 28

(Luke 20:9-16 NIV) ““He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. {10} At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. {11} He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. {12} He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. {13} "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' {14} "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' {15} So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? {16} He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!””

In this parable, the vineyard is the nation of Israel. The owner of the vineyard is God. The tenants are the religious leaders of the day who had been left in charge to produce a spiritual crop in God’s vineyard. The servants are God’s prophets. The son is Jesus. The new tenants are Christ’s disciples. Christianity has taught since its beginning that God owns the heavens and the Earth. He created them. It has also taught that God came to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ, to collect his people to Him. But greedy souls would not relinquish control of what really belonged to God and they killed the heir, God’s Son. In this parable, Christ is prophesying His death, the fall of Israel, and the rise of the Church. He warns the Pharisees that it’s not about how religious you are, but about whether or not you honor God’s Son and have a loving relationship with Him. What’s it about for you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Futile Games

August 27

(Luke 20:2-8 NIV) ““Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” {3} He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, {4} John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?” {5} They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ {6} But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” {7} So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” {8} Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

(Psalm 18:39-42 NIV) “You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. {40} You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. {41} They cried for help, but there was no one to save them -- to the LORD, but he did not answer. {42} I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind; I poured them out like mud in the streets.”

The religious leaders and temple priests were more interested in maintaining their power base than in knowing God. When they asked Jesus where His authority came from, He did not answer them, but instead asked them a question about John’s baptism and John’s authority. The temple priests were caught in their own duplicity and had to fudge on their answer. They were made to look utterly foolish. They had wanted to demonstrate their authority in front of the crowd, but were forced to say that they could not tell whether someone was from God or not -- and if they could not judge regarding John, how could they judge regarding Jesus? Playing cat and mouse with God is foolish and futile. Trying to outsmart an omniscient God is a waste of time. If you will not answer Jesus, He will not answer you. Truth is a two way street. Ditch the games and begin to work for Him, not against Him. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Questioning Authority

August 26

(Luke 20:1-8 NIV) ““One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. {2} “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?””

(Daniel 7:13-14 NIV) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. {14} He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Some who think of themselves as Christians haven’t looked at their Bible in months. We limit God’s authority in our lives when we neglect his word. Not only do we limit His authority, we often reject his gifts, because using them would mean extra work for us. We might have to change our important plans. If we accept His authority, we must surrender some of our authority, and that’s not acceptable. God’s authority threatens our autonomy, so we do whatever it takes to plug our ears. Still, the Lord has ways of getting through. Our hectic, noisy lives, and our self-affirming chatter cannot cover up His call to us. The Lord is persistent and patient. But until we accept His authority, and seek His wisdom, life will continue to be a hassle, and our purpose for living will always be up for grabs. Submit to Christ’s authority. Peace and clarity await. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Take No Prisoners

August 25

(Luke 19:45-46 NIV) “Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. {46} “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

(Mark 11:15-17 NIV) ““On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.””

On the day Christ cleared the Temple, Gentiles had become third class believers in a place that was to be a “house of prayer for all nations”. Their area of worship had been compromised, co-opted, and overrun with huckster priests. It was virtually impossible to worship there among the bleating sheep and vendors hawking their wares. The priests, who were called to bring people together and promote worship, had set up a system that excluded many from doing so. The holy place had been polluted by the stench of manure and the jingling of coins. The desire to please God had been overrun by a lust for money. The profane had been exchanged for the holy. Christians, we are now the holy temple of God. The Lord desires to inhabit all of our life. Be careful what you allow into the outer courts of your temple. The whole temple belongs to God. Cleanse your temple. Take no prisoners. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Explosion at the Temple

August 24

(Luke 19:45-48 NIV) “Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. {46} “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” {47} Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. {48} Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.”

(Mark 11:15-18 NIV) ““On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" {18} The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.””

(John 2:13-17 NIV) ““When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. {14} In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. {15} So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. {16} To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" {17} His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.””

Pilgrims coming to the Jerusalem Temple were forced to buy sacrificial animals at obscenely high prices. They also had to pay a temple tax with temple currency, and the money changers charged exorbitant rates for the exchange. Jesus was angered and got physical. He drove the merchants and money changers out, and overturned their tables. God’s “house of prayer” had become a “den of robbers”. Profit had replaced piety with the priests. People were being exploited. The Court of the Gentiles had been compromised and profaned. No one could pray there. It had become a loud and obnoxious market place. Many ministries today have a similar feel. They exploit rather than edify. People are cajoled into giving, or “We’ll go off the air.” Merchandise trumps ministry. Healing is offered, but only to those with enough faith. Maybe it’s time for a house cleaning. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The High Cost of Non-Recognition

August 23

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV) “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it {42} and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. {43} The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. {44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.””

(John 1:10-13 NIV) “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. {12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—{13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

Rarely does Scripture speak of God crying, but as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He wept over the city. He knew He would be rejected there, and that the city would eventually be destroyed because they failed to recognize Him. These prophetic words were fulfilled in 70 AD when the Roman army completely destroyed the city and the temple of God, killing men, women, and children. Not recognizing Jesus has a high cost. We all have the same choice as Jerusalem had. We must decide whether to receive him as King or reject him. There is no in-between. We either recognize him, or we don’t. We either believe him, or we don’t. We either follow Him, or we don’t. But when we fail to recognize the time of Christ’s coming to us, moral destruction and spiritual death will follow. Jesus knows the high cost of non-recognition, and He still weeps over those who will be lost. Don’t be one of them. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

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

Sycamore Salvation

August 18

(Luke 19:1-8 NIV) ““Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. {2} A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. {3} He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. {4} So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore–fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. {5} When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” {6} So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. {7} All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” {8} But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.””

(Acts 26:20 NIV) “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”

Revelation is a glorious and dreadful thing. It’s a blessing to see that we’ve been on the wrong side of God, but the repentance can be costly. Zacchaeus was not only short in stature -- he was short on his account with God. He climbed a tree to see Jesus, and the rest is history. Another despised tax collector is saved. His determination to see Jesus paid off. Christ came into his home and into his heart. But his genuine repentance had a high cost. He gave away half his wealth and vowed to repay those he had cheated. It was like a vow of poverty. Zacchaeus proved his repentance by his deeds. He called Jesus “Lord”, and then proceeded to behave as if he really believed it. The desire to see Jesus can change our life. Find your “sycamore tree” and do what it takes to rise above the crowd. Respond immediately to Christ’s call and be willing to pay the cost of repentance in your life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Beggars Can Be Choosers

August 17

(Luke 18:40-43 NIV) ““Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, {41} "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. {42} Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." {43} Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.””

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV) ““One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”” {42} Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” {43} Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.””

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Beggars can’t be choosers.” Christ teaches otherwise. Jesus asked the blind beggar, “What do you want me to do for you?” The beggar said, “Lord, I want to see.” The blind beggar became a chooser. He chose not to let Jesus just pass by. He chose to cry out. He chose to persist in verbalizing his request. Jesus then spoke the words and the man was healed. In a short sentence, the blind beggar declared his faith, and in a short sentence, Jesus changed his life forever. Maybe it’s time for you to quit begging and become a chooser. Are you desperate? The blind man certainly was. He cried out to God, because no one else could save him. Desperation is often at the root of faith. That is why desperate people often become healed and saved people. If you qualify as a “desperate beggar” today, call on Jesus. Beggars can be choosers. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Persistence Pays Off

August 16

(Luke 18:38-40 NIV) ““He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" {39} Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" {40} Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him.””

(Luke 18:1 NIV) “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

(Galatians 6:9 NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Often, we do not obtain what we need from God because we give up too quickly. When life becomes a struggle, we quit the faith. When an answer to prayer doesn’t come as fast as we think it should, we quit praying. But this man would not give up or shut up. The disciples rebuked him for bothering the Master, but he refused to be quiet. He kept calling out until Jesus stopped. He is a model of persistence, and he can teach us some valuable lessons. Instead of crying about your circumstances, cry out in your circumstances. Call on God until God answers. Don’t let anyone shush you. Don’t quit. We also learn that believing is seeing. The old cliché “seeing is believing” has been turned upside down in the Kingdom of God. The blind beggar believed before he saw, and he believed until he saw. His persistent faith in Christ brought him sight. Persistence pays off. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Passing By

August 15

(Luke 18:35-38 NIV) ““As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. {36} When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. {37} They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." {38} He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!””

(John 1:35-37 NIV) ““The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. {36} When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” {37} When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.”” 

As the blind beggar sat beside the road, he was a desperate man. He had none of the many support systems available today for people with handicaps. He was on his own. But then he heard a commotion and asked what was happening. Jesus was passing by. The blind man cried out for mercy. Before he asked for healing, he asked for mercy. That was a good decision. He took advantage of God’s nearness and summed up his need in a single sentence. Jesus is passing by today. The Lord is near. Will you cry out to Him? Can you sum up your need in a single sentence? Jesus doesn’t ask us to fully understand Him -- He asks us to fully stand under Him. That’s what the blind beggar did. He heard that Jesus was passing by, and cried out for mercy. He left his worldly possessions behind, and went to Jesus for healing. Have you? Will you? Jesus is passing by! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hearing and Understanding

August 14

(Luke 18:33-34 NIV) “On the third day he will rise again.” {34} The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.”

(Deuteronomy 29:4 NIV) “But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”

(Matthew 13:13-16 NIV) “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. {14} In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. {15} For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ {16} But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” 

Christ spoke of His death, but He also spoke of His resurrection. But the disciples seemed oblivious. They didn’t get it. It went over their heads. They could not comprehend. Luke says, “Its meaning was hidden from them.” As we say today, “It did not compute.” The words of Jesus were so foreign to their understanding of the Messiah’s mission, that they just could not take it in. A flawed concept of God will always do this. Bad theology produces fantasy gods… gods that behave pretty much like we think they should. Eventually, the disciples would “get it”. Their thinking about Jesus would change, and that would change how they looked at life and death. Today, some will understand, and some won’t. Some will hear, and some won’t. If you heard and understood the gospel, you are privileged. The Lord has unstopped your ears and given you a heart to understand. Praise God! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day