Childlike Behavior

August 12

(Luke 18:15-16 NIV) ““People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. {16} But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. {17} I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””

(Matthew 11:25 NIV) “At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

(Matthew 21:15-16 NIV) ““But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. {16} "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?””

(Luke 9:47-48 NIV) ““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.””

What does childlike faith look like? The child of Christ will play more, and worry less. We will trust in our Father and not let our hearts be weighed down with the anxieties of life. We will forgive more, and remember less. Adults keep score and hold grudges. Children forgive again and again. They are like clean slates every morning. We will love more, and hate less. A child is quick to love and their love is tenacious. It’s hard to kill the love of a child. We will believe more, and doubt less. Children are trusting. The cynical child is an anomaly. They believe the best about us. Finally, we will give more, and own less. It’s easier for children to give away their stuff than for adults. A child thinks, “My Dad got me this -- he can get me more.” Children realize they don’t own anything. Perhaps we adults need to keep this mind. Come to Christ as a child, and remain childlike in your faith. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Childlike Faith

August 11

(Luke 18:17 NIV) “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

(Luke 10:21 NIV) “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

What does it mean to receive and enter the kingdom of God as a child? In context, it means to come before God without pride, power, or possessions. The Pharisee and the rich young ruler had all three in abundance, and it kept them from receiving and entering the Kingdom. Children have little pride. They look down on no one. Everyone is higher and bigger. Children have very few possessions. Everything they have is owned and controlled by someone else. Children have little power. They rely on others for permission, transportation, food, shelter, and money. They don't control others, or give orders. The Pharisee and the rich young ruler had crossed a line somewhere. They had lost their childlike nature in relationship to God, and their pride, power, and possessions prevented them from receiving and entering the Kingdom. Don’t go there! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Childlike Context

August 10

(Luke 18:15-16 NIV) ““People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. {16} But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.””

(Matthew 18:1-6 NIV) ““At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" {2} He called a little child and had him stand among them. {3} And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. {5} "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. {6} But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.””

Jesus had a special place in His heart for children, and scolded His disciples for trying to keep them from coming to Him. Childlike faith is special, and woe to the man who hinders a child from coming to Christ. But what does it mean to have a childlike faith? There isn’t much in our verses today to clarify it for us. There are three main rules for interpreting Scripture. Rule #1 is context. Rule #2 is context. And rule #3 is context. The context of today’s verses from the Physician gives us some clues about childlike faith. The verses just before these speak of a prideful Pharisee who looked down on others. The verses immediately after these tell the story of a rich young ruler who refused to leave his wealth behind to follow Jesus. Meditate on these verses as they might apply to the meaning of childlike faith, and tomorrow we will explore them further. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

All In or All Out

August 9

(Luke 18:22-30 NIV) “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” {23} When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. {24} Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! {25} Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” {26} Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” {27} Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” {28} Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” {29} “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God {30} will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

(Matthew 16:24-27 NIV) “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. {26} What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? {27} For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

Because He loved him, Jesus told the rich young ruler what he didn’t want to hear: “Surrender your wealth and come follow me.” On the surface, the young man had it all, but inside, he was spiritually incomplete. Jesus told him that there was one thing he lacked: he had not completely sold out to God. He was doing all the right stuff, but he had a hole in his heart. When God is not first, there will always be a void and emptiness in our life. Jesus told His disciples that it would be hard for the rich to enter heaven because wealth is a powerful narcotic. When we are constantly seeking its “fix”, we will not likely be seeking God. The rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he didn’t want to surrender his wealth in order to get it. Jesus told him that when it comes to eternal life, you’re either all in or you’re all out. It’s either sell out and follow Jesus, or go away sad. Are you all in? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Elephant in the Room

August 8

(Luke 18:18-23 NIV) “A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” {19} “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. {20} You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” {21} “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. {22} When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” {23} When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.”

(Mark 10:17-22 NIV) “As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {18} "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. {19} You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" {20} "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." {21} Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." {22} At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

A powerful young man came to Jesus. He was a man of wealth and influence. He was a good and moral man -- a man of character and courage -- a man who kept the commandments. He came humbly to Jesus, fell on his knees, and asked the most important question any man can ask: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer he got caused him to wilt and turn away. Jesus told him to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Then he was to come and follow Jesus as a disciple. The rich young man balked at this because it is hard to get rid of an elephant when it’s in your room. Most of the time we will deny it is even there. But Jesus sees it.  He always sees it -- and He loves us enough to tell us. We all have an elephant in our room that can keep us from following Jesus and inheriting eternal life. This ruler’s elephant was his wealth. What’s yours? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Seven Word Justification

August 7

(Luke 18:13-14 NIV) ““But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' {14} "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

(Mark 10:46-52 NIV) ““Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. {47} When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" {48} Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" {49} Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." {50} Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. {51} "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." {52} "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.””

(Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.”

The despised tax collector approached God differently than the Pharisee. He stood at a distance. He knew he was an outcast and a sinner. His hands were not raised up in exaltation. Instead, he beat his chest, symbolic of deep sorrow. His eyes did not look upward to God, but were downcast in shame and remorse. He did not offer a flowery prayer, but uttered just seven words: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Those seven words functioned like a computer password to the heart of God: The Pharisee compared himself with others, and in his mind came out smelling like a rose. The tax collector compared himself to God, and in his mind came out smelling like dung. He approached God in deep humility rather than pride, and his heartfelt seven word prayer brought him forgiveness. Both men were sinners, but only one went home right with God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

The Better Man

August 6

(Luke 18:10-12 NIV) “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. {11} The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

(Proverbs 16:18-19 NIV) “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. {19} Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”

(1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV) “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. {27} But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. {28} He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, {29} so that no one may boast before him. {30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. {31} Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

The Pharisee approached God with extreme confidence. His prayer was mostly a list of his godly attributes. He didn’t rob others or commit adultery. He fasted and tithed. But his prayer was boastful. His desire to be separate had morphed into a desire to be known as superior to others. In his rising above sin, he had elevated himself above everyone else. His idea of godly prayer was reciting a list of bad things he didn’t do, and boasting in joy that he wasn’t like the tax collector standing nearby. He just knew he was the better man. He ended up sermonizing more than praying. Christians, we must not mistake the call to rise above sin as a call to rise above other people. We must not exchange doing things for God’s glory, for doing things that bring us glory. The honest believer will remain a humble believer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Confidence Gone Awry

August 5

(Luke 18:9 NIV) “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:”

(Luke 18:14 NIV) “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

(Romans 12:3 NIV) “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

(1 Peter 5:5-6 NIV) ““Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." {6} Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.””

Confidence is complex. Those living without it often suffer from feeling inferior -- those living with it run the risk of becoming prideful. Lack of confidence can cause us to look down on ourselves in self-loathing -- overconfidence can cause us to look down on others in self- importance. Confidence in Christ’s righteousness can quickly mutate into cockiness about our own righteousness. Confidence will cause us to exalt the Lord -- cockiness causes us to exalt ourselves. Confidence in Christ is healing and empowering. Confidence in our own righteousness is toxic and crippling. “Living in Christ” means learning to live above sin -- not longing to live above others. We cannot see heaven unless we learn to look up -- but it is impossible to look up to God while we are looking down on others. Learn to think rightly about God. Learn to think rightly about yourself. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Persistent Prayer

August 4

(Luke 18:1-8 NIV)  "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. {2} He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. {3} And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' {4} "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, {5} yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" {6} And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. {7} And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? {8} I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?""

(Matthew 6:9-13 NIV) ““This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. {11} Give us today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.””

This parable is not a theological statement about God. God does not see prayer as a “bother”. He doesn’t need to be worn down before grudgingly giving us what we demand. Jesus told this parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” It is about our need to persist in prayer. It is about scrapping our self -sufficiency and coming to God with our hands held up and our hands held out. Self-sufficiency is a spiritual disease. It’s touted as a virtue, but it destroys community and discourages dependent prayer. For the embryo of prayer to grow in us, we must kill the beast of self-sufficiency. We must learn to depend daily on our Provider. We must realize our desperate need for God’s provision in every area of our lives. We must not tire of coming before God for our daily needs. He never tires of us coming to Him. Persistence pays off in many things, but especially in prayer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Highly Selective Kingdom

August 3

(Luke 17:33-37 NIV) ““Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. {34} I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. {35} Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” {36} Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.” {37} “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.””

(Matthew 24:30-44 NIV)  ""At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. {31} And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. {32} "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. {33} Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. {34} I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. {35} Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. {36} "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. {37} As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. {38} For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; {39} and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. {40} Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. {41} Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. {42} "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. {43} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. {44} So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

God’s coming Kingdom will come suddenly and without warning. It will also be highly selective. Not everyone is allowed in. Humanity may find this appalling, but we have been warned. If the Kingdom of God is not present in us, we will not be admitted into the coming Kingdom. “Christ in us”, qualifies us for God’s coming Kingdom. In this selective process, Christ’s coming Kingdom will even separate families. One will be taken -- another will not. Admittance is based on faith, and God knows those who are His. Those who have believed God will join Him in His Kingdom. Those who have not believed will be left behind for the destruction of God’s judgment. Those who have a relationship with Christ will be saved. Those who don’t will perish. It’s a graphic, but simple equation. Now is the time to believe. Today is the day of salvation. Be one of those taken, not one of those left behind. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sudden and Final

August 2

(Luke 17:26-37 NIV) “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. {27} People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. {28} “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. {29} But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. {30} “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. {31} On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. {32} Remember Lot’s wife!”

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NIV) ““Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, {2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. {3} While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. {4} But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. {5} You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. {6} So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. {7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. {8} But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. {9} For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. {10} He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. {11} Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.””

When God’s coming Kingdom finally arrives, it will come suddenly. There will be signs of its coming, but it will happen in a heartbeat. It took years for Noah to build the Ark, but when the flood came, it was sudden. People will be engaged in the normal, daily routines of life when that lightning flashes across the sky signaling Christ’s return. But that will be their last normal day. Just as in the days of Lot, Christ’s coming will surprise the secure and the sensual. As they are striving for power, prestige, and possessions, Christ will come. They will be eating and drinking like there is no tomorrow -- and then, there will be no tomorrow. Just as fire came down suddenly from heaven to consume Sodom, Christ will come for those who are His. We must be ready. We must not be detoured or distracted. There will be no time for looking back -- only looking up. Hold on loosely to this world. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Coming Kingdom

August 1

(Luke 17:22-37 NIV) “Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. {23} People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. {24} For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. {25} But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”

(Matthew 16:21-27 NIV) ““From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. {22} Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" {23} Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." {24} Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {25} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. {26} What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? {27} For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.””

In contrast to the present Kingdom, Christ’s coming Kingdom will be visible to everyone. When Jesus returns as King, his presence will light up the sky and all mankind will see His glory. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But our Lord taught that before His Kingdom could come, there must be a suffering. The coming King would be rejected by those who should have known better. Many today (who also should know better) do the same thing. We create a god in our own image. Our god looks like us and thinks like us. We minimize His suffering, because it predicts our suffering. We embrace a god of health, wealth, and prosperity -- a god who is always on our side. And though the Kingdom comes visibly, many fail to recognize the King because they worship a different god. Don’t be among them. Know the King! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Present Kingdom

July 31

(Luke 17:20-21 NIV) “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, {21} nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in you.”

(Matthew 4:17 NIV) ““From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

(Colossians 1:13 NIV) “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,”

Jesus told the Pharisees that the Kingdom was coming, but that it was also already present. They were looking for a Kingdom they could see -- a visible throne with a visible person on that throne. They wanted a political king, but Jesus said they weren’t going to see that. The Kingdom was among them because the King was among them, but they were not going to find what they were looking for. The Kingdom was not observable, because it was internal, not external. Christ’s Kingdom was not of this world. The Kingdom of God is still among us. It lives inside of God’s people. It’s not external, except as it is reflected in the lives of those who believe. It doesn’t have a set geographic location, because it’s not a geographic Kingdom. It is a spiritual Kingdom. It lives inside the hearts of those with faith in Christ. Does it live in you? Does Christ live in you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Gratefully Seeking the Healer

July 30

(Luke 17:15-19 NIV) ““One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. {16} He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. {17} Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? {18} Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" {19} Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well.””

(Colossians 2:6-7 NIV) “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

(Colossians 3:16-17 NIV) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. {17} And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Gratitude is a vital key to genuine wellness. Only one man out of the ten who were healed came back to express gratitude. Jesus declared that this man’s faith had made him well -- a faith expressed in seeking Christ with gratitude and praise. Wellness comes when we seek the Healer more than the healing. The man who returned with gratitude knew he had met someone unique -- someone with more to offer than just temporary healing. Something in his soul had been stirred. His thankful heart wanted more of the Healer. He returned praising God and fell at the feet of Christ, and for his grateful demonstration of faith he was pronounced “well” by Jesus. It was a wise move that we should consider duplicating. Don’t settle for just being healed. Seek the Healer more than the healing. Return to Christ and publicly acknowledge what He has done for you. Gratefully seek the Healer. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Settling for Healing

July 29

(Luke 17:15-19 NIV) ““One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. {16} He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan. {17} Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? {18} Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" {19} Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well.””

(Matthew 15:29-31 NIV) “Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. {30} Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. {31} The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”

(Psalms 16:11 NIV) “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”

Jesus healed ten men, but was surprised that only one returned to thank and praise Him. This one Samaritan man was declared “well” by Jesus. Ten were healed -- only one was made well. Being healed and being made well are two different things. One is temporary. The other is eternal. Healing lasts only until the next illness comes along, but wellness lasts for a lifetime and into eternity. Strive to obtain physical and spiritual wellness. Come to Jesus to be healed of sin, but return to him and live a life of worship and praise. If we don’t return, we will likely succumb to the sickness of our sins again. When we are healed without wellness, a soul may be saved, but a life is wasted. Jesus can heal us, but it is having the faith to serve God that makes us well. Don’t settle for just being healed. Stay close to Jesus and be made well. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Biblical Faith = Trust + Action

July 28

(Luke 17:11-14 NIV) ““Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. {12} As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance {13} and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" {14} When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.””

(James 2:17, 20-22 NIV)  "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead… {20} You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

Jesus was approached by a group of lepers who had faith. We know they had faith because they trusted God enough to ask for mercy and healing, and then they acted on what Christ told them to do. As they obeyed Jesus and were on their way to show themselves to the priests, they were cleansed and healed. Biblical faith is a combination of trust and action. The faith of the lepers moved them to trust and obey. Faith led to action and obedience. If our faith does not move us to some kind of action, it is not the kind of faith found in Scripture. It is something else. It is a watered down, redacted version of faith. Faith and action must work together or faith is incomplete and impotent. Every great story of faith in Scripture involves someone trusting God enough to take some kind of action. Faith causes action, or it is dysfunctional faith. A faith without action is a dead faith. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Serving Without Expectation

July 27

(Luke 17:7-10 NIV) ““Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? {8} Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? {9} Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? {10} So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.””

(2 Corinthians 9:12-15 NIV) “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. {13} Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. {14} And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. {15} Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

(Philippians 2:3-8 NIV) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. {4} Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. {5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, {7} but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. {8} And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”

God doesn’t exist to serve us -- we were created to serve Him. Entitlement is not in the disciple’s vocabulary. Mature faith serves without the expectation of reward. It does not need a pat on the head or a gold star when it goes the extra mile, for that is normal everyday behavior for the mature. Mature faith brings a self-sacrificial spirit. We do not expect thanks for merely doing our duty. We learn to do things because they are right, not because of how it makes us feel. The genuine disciple does not work with the expectation of God’s applause. We don’t expect God to say thank you -- rather, we thank Him for the opportunity to serve the King. Christ lived as a servant. He humbled Himself and gave Himself for us. We are duty bound because of what He has done for us. The church exists to glorify God, and that happens best when mature believers graciously serve as Jesus did. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Increase Our Faith

July 26

(Luke 17:5-6 NIV) “The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" {6} He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.”

(Colossians 2:6-15 NIV) “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. {8} See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. {9} For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. {11} In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, {12} having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, {14} having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

You may have heard Christians say, “If you just have enough faith, God can do miracles in your life.” This statement implies that miracles won’t happen if your faith is small. That is really bad theology. The quality of our faith and the object of our faith are more important than its size. Jesus taught that faith the size of a mustard seed could uproot trees and move a mountain, when that faith is placed in the Lord. Miracles depend upon the power and will of God more than the size of a person’s faith. But faith is like a muscle -- it only grows when it is exercised. God grows our faith by giving us situations in which we must exercise our faith. Mature and persevering faith comes from having our faith tested over and over again. Therefore we should echo the disciple’s prayer: “Lord, increase our faith.” But we should also be willing to accept the method God uses to bring the increase. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Willing to Forgive

July 25

(Luke 17:3-4 NIV) “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. {4} Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

(Matthew 18:21-35 NIV) ““Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" {22} Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. {23} "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. {24} As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. {25} Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. {26} "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' {27} The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. {28} "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. {29} "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' {30} "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. {31} When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. {32} "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. {33} Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' {34} In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. {35} "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.””

(Matthew 6:12-15 NIV) “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. {14} For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

We will never mature as Christians if our lives are riddled with resentment and anger. One of the chief sins in the church today is un-forgiveness. It has ruined many Christians and destroyed many churches. We’ve been shown undeserved mercy and forgiveness by God. When we do not forgive, we dishonor that gift of grace. If we refuse to forgive, one of two things is true: either we have not truly experienced the forgiveness of God, or we have received His forgiveness, but have decided to live in disobedience to God’s will. There are no loop-holes in Christ’s teaching. What anyone else owes us is paltry compared to the debt that was forgiven on our behalf. Who do you need to forgive? What resentments are bubbling up in your life like radioactive waste? We have been saved by grace -- by undeserved mercy and forgiveness. We are commanded to pass it on. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Living Responsibly

July 24

(Luke 17:1-2 NIV) “Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. {2} It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. {3} So watch yourselves.”

(Matthew 18:1-7 NIV) ““At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" {2} He called a little child and had him stand among them. {3} And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. {5} "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. {6} But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. {7} "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!””

(Ephesians 4:11-15 NIV) “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, {12} to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up {13} until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. {14} Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. {15} Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Disciples watch their behavior and never lead “little ones” astray. “Little ones” can be children, but they can also be those who recently came to Christ. New Christians are highly susceptible to stumbling and falling as they take their first “baby steps” of faith. Jesus says it would be better to have a heavy millstone tied to our neck and dropped into the sea, than to lead these “little ones” astray. That’s graphic. We can damage the faith of “little ones” by behaving badly. This can come through childish behavior as much as through sinful behavior. “Little ones” see our hypocrisy and pettiness. As they witness our temper tantrums and power games, they can easily become turned off to the church. Jesus calls us to become mature and live responsibly. We are accountable for our behavior -- to God and to those “little ones” who look to us to model faith for them. Maybe it’s time to grow up. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Five Brothers

July 23

(Luke 16:26-31 NIV) ““… between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'  {27} He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, {28} for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' {27} Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.””

(Joshua 24:15 NIV) “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

We have a part in Christ’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus. To someone on the other side of death, we are like the rich man’s five brothers who remained here on Earth. The dead in hell would love to contact us and warn us about the eternal horrors there. You might be thinking, as these five brothers undoubtedly thought, "Why worry about that eternity stuff? I'll take one world at a time.” But the point of this parable is that our tomorrow is determined by our today -- our then is determined by our now. We are those five brothers, and no dead relative will be coming back to warn us -- someone already did. His name is Jesus, and He is speaking today through the Scriptures. If we will not listen to Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles… we won’t listen even if someone comes back from the dead. Brothers and sisters, we have been warned! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

A Chosen Eternity

July 22

(Luke 16:29-31 NIV) ““Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.””

(Matthew 21:28-32 NIV) ““What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' {29} "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. {30} "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. {31} "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. {32} For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.””

(Matthew 25:41-46 NIV) ““Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, {43} I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' {44} "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' {45} "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' {46} "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.””

Many ask: “Why does God make it so difficult to believe? Why doesn't He open the heavens and speak to us? Why doesn't He perform miracles, or send an angel to speak to us? Then we would believe.” But many heard Christ’s words, and still did not believe. Many witnessed His miracles, yet still chose not to follow him. Jesus said that those who would not listen to Moses and the prophets would not be convinced even if someone returned from the dead. Revelation follows faith, not the other way around. The rich man was not in hell because he had not heard -- he was in hell because he chose not to believe God. Lazarus was not in heaven because he was poor and unfortunate -- he was in heaven because he knew and believed God. We choose our eternity in this life. Death simply makes that choice permanent. Seeing is not believing -- believing is seeing. Believe God today! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Great Chasm

July 21

(Luke 16:23-28 NIV) ““In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24} "So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' {25} "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. {26} And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' {27} "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, {28} for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.””

(2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NIV) “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you {7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. {8} He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. {9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power {10} on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”

The rich man died and was now suffering in hell. He wanted Lazarus to come over to his side with some water. But Abraham tells him that is not possible because a great chasm has been fixed between them. “Fixed” means permanent. The chasm will be there for eternity. In hell, the rich man feels concern for his brothers, and wants to warn them about the horror of hell -- but he cannot. One of the greatest torments of the dead is that they cannot warn the living. No one comes back from the other side, even to do good. There is an impenetrable wall between the here and the hereafter. At the moment of death, our destiny is sealed forever. After we die, there is nothing we can do to change our eternal destination. There is an un-crossable chasm between heaven and hell. We enter one or the other, and there is no crossing over or coming back. The time for choosing is now, not later. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Reality of Hell

July 20

(Luke 16:19-24 NIV) ““There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. {20} At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores {21} and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24} So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”

(Matthew 13:40-43 NIV) “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. {41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. {42} They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is one of those rare occasions when God lifts the veil between this world and the next, and we are allowed to see what is beyond. Jesus taught the reality of heaven and hell, and that there is a direct relationship between the here and the hereafter. Jesus believed in hell because He created it for the devil and his angels. It is not a place where one parties with friends. Hell is the absence of anything good. There is no love there, so no one will have any friends. Hell is a place of conscious suffering and torment, and part of that torment is being aware of what we could have had. There are two eternal destinations for all mankind: heaven or hell. There are no others. They are permanent, and there will be no second chances after death. There is only eternity in one place or the other.  Jesus wants us to grasp this. Make a decision. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hard Teaching from a Loving Lord

July 19

(Luke 16:18 NIV) “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.””

(Matthew 19:3-11 NIV) ““Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" {4} "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' {5} and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? {6} So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." {7} "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" {8} Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. {9} I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." {10} The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." {11} Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.””

There are two mistakes the church can make in regard to sin. First, we can stop calling it sin. We can cheapen the grace of God by offering carte blanche forgiveness with no strings attached. We can adopt the philosophy that God is love, and everyone will be fine in the end. We can weaken God’s Law to suit our lifestyle. We can pervert the word of God for our pleasure. The second mistake we can make is to brand a person for life with the scarlet letter of their sin. We can crush them with the law and beat them into submission with guilt. Jesus didn’t make either mistake. If we listen to Him, we won’t be stoning divorced people -- nor will we simply smile and say, “Do whatever feels right to you.” We cannot take the bite out of His words, nor should we bite anyone with them. Jesus speaks God’s truth. Don’t look for how you can get around it -- look for how you can honor it. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Not Subject to Change

July 18

(Luke 16:17 NIV) “It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.”

(Matthew 5:17-19 NIV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. {18} I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. {19} Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

(Isaiah 40:8 NIV) “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

God’s Law is not subject to man’s changes. God’s Law cannot be altered by an emperor’s decree, an executive order, a congressional vote, or a Supreme Court ruling. Yet there are some, even in the church, who would relegate God’s Law to the rubbish heap. They believe God’s Law is archaic, even sinister. They see it as a restrictive form of bondage, rather than as a gift of love from God. They want to erase God’s Law from human memory, even though Christ declared that it would be easier for the Earth and the heavens to disappear than for God’s Law to be altered. Here’s a news flash: Regardless of man’s carnal desire to obliterate it, God’s Law will never be snuffed out. The law of the Lord is eternal -- presidents, lawmakers, and judges are dust, and to dust they will return. Rulers come and go, but “the word of our God stands forever”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Forced Entry

July 17

(Luke 16:16 NIV) “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.”

(Matthew 11:12 NIV) “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.”

(Luke 13:22-28 NIV) ““Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. {23} Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, {24} "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. {25} Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' {26} "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' {27} "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' {28} "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.””

God’s Kingdom cannot be taken by force. When closed, its narrow gate is impenetrable. Today’s verse could be translated, “Everyone uses violence toward the kingdom of God”, or “Everyone is trying violently to take the Kingdom by force”. God’s Kingdom has both a future and a present aspect. Christ the King is coming, but He is also here now. He lives in those who have received Him. The Kingdom is present. As we preach the gospel and represent His Kingdom, people will use violent means to stop us, just as they did with Jesus. The blood of the martyrs attests to this. They will try to take the Kingdom by force, or “force their way into it”. They want Christ’s Kingdom, but they do not want Christ as their King. God’s Kingdom cannot be taken by force. There are no shortcuts or alternate routes. There is only one way in. His name is Jesus. He is Lord and King. Bow down before Him. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Money Gods

July 16

(Luke 16:13-15 NIV) ““No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." {14} The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. {15} He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.””

(1 Timothy 6:6-12 NIV) “But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. {9} People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. {11} But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. {12} Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Money is made to serve us, but many times we end up serving it -- and Money makes a horrible master. When Jesus spoke of idolatry, he reserved his biggest guns for Money. He taught about money more than He taught about heaven and hell. Money has become the driving force in the lives of many people today. Even the church can idolize money. We will struggle with this idol for as long as we live. Our addiction to it can never be completely cured. We must face it one day at a time. It is cunning and baffling, and has the power to overwhelm us at any particular moment of weakness. We would be wise to seek treatment and join a group that will hold us accountable for our use of it. Christians, we should be moving toward generous dispersal rather than greedy accumulation. Be known for what you’ve given, rather than for what you’ve gathered. Learn to value what Jesus values. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Purpose of Wealth

July 15

(Luke 16:9-12 NIV) “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?”

(1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV) “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. {18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. {19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

It is not a sin to be wealthy. Simply having money does not make a person evil. It’s how we use our wealth and money that makes it good or bad. If we can earn lots of money in an honest way, we should do so for the glory of God, and be generous with God’s provision. We’ll always be tempted to use wealth for power or pleasure. Money can easily become an idol, but that is a temptation no matter how much we earn. Low income people can be just as greedy as wealthy people. Our attitude toward possessions and money is like a spiritual thermometer. The Lord can tell how well we are doing by looking at how we use our checkbooks and our bank cards. It is difficult for us to judge a person’s motivation for giving, but God looks upon the heart. He sees the attitude with which we give. Remember, our investments in eternity are the only things that will outlast us. Use your wealth wisely. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Shrewd in a Good Way

July 14

(Luke 16:1-8 NIV) ““Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.””

A business manager who was about to be fired devised a scheme to collect old debts for his boss. At first reading, he appears to be short- changing his boss by giving deep discounts on those debts. We expect the boss to be angry. But the rich man praises the business manager for acting shrewdly. He was getting money he might have never gotten and appreciated the manager’s ingenuity. Jesus implies that Christians can also be shrewd in a good way. While the church continues to make it difficult for people to pay their debts and be accepted, the world is busy inviting anyone and everyone to their “free” party. The church has no business jacking up the price of grace, or making it harder for sinners to pay their debt. All our debts were deeply discounted at the cross. In fact, Jesus paid them all in full. That’s the good news that shrewd people of the light will learn to share. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Father’s Love

July 13

(Luke 15:20-24, 31-32 NIV) ““But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. {21} "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. {23} Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. {24} For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. {31} 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. {32} But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'""

(Psalm 103:8-14 NIV) “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. {9} He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; {10} he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. {11} For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; {12} as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. {13} As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; {14} for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."

(Joel 2:13 NIV)  "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

The father in this parable represents our Father in Heaven: “slow to anger and abounding in love”. He is a peacemaker, always doing His part in the process of reconciliation. He allows us to exercise our free wills and even make bad decisions. His hope is that after we have tasted the rotten fruit of sin, we will see the wisdom in coming home. The Father feels our absence every day. He is not sitting at the pearly gates with a big stick, ready to beat His children who get in late. He patiently waits, and watches the horizon for our return. When He sees us coming, He comes out to meet us and welcomes us home with open arms. “He is gracious and compassionate, and does not treat us as our sins deserve.” God’s fathomless grace endures the folly of His stubborn children, and rejoices at their homecoming. This is the God we serve. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Out of Tune

July 12

(Luke 15:22-30 NIV)  "…. the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. {23} Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. {24} For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. {25} "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. {27} 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' {28} "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. {29} But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. {30} But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!””

Today we discover that the prodigal son had an older brother who was the “good kid”. But even though this older son stayed home and lived a “good life”, his heart was still out of tune with his father’s heart. The younger brother may have sang flat, but the older brother was singing sharp -- and it doesn’t really matter if our notes are sharp or flat, when we are out of tune we will not reflect the songwriter well. These two young men were out of tune with both their earthly father and their heavenly Father. They were just different kinds of prodigals. The older brother was trying to ride on the “high horse” and sit on the “pity pot” at the same time, and that is not a pretty picture. He represents many religious people today who do not truly understand the heart of God. We must learn that there is more than one way to squander an inheritance. Get in tune with God. Learn to love who God loves. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Coming to Our Senses

July 11

(Luke 15:11-20 NIV) ““Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. {12} The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. {13} "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. {14} After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. {15} So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. {16} He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. {17} "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! {18} I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. {19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' {20} So he got up and went to his father.””

Being a prodigal is not as easy as it looks. You must be willing to engage in “deficit living” in a distant country until you have squandered your entire inheritance and end up starving in a filthy pigsty. You must accept that you will eventually find yourself penniless and friendless and living in a slop hole. Sounds like fun, right? Prodigals start out wanting fun and freedom, but most end up in pain and bondage. Sin will always take you further than you wanted to go, keep you there longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay. Hitting bottom is an unpleasant experience, but tends to get your attention. This is what it did to the prodigal. He came to his senses and decided to head home to his father. That’s still a wise choice for anyone who has squandered their life and ended up in a pigsty. Come to your senses and head home to your heavenly Father. Do it today! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Choose Repentance - Choose Life

July 10

(Luke 15:8-10 NIV) ““Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? {9} And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' {10} In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

(Matthew 4:12-17 NIV) ““When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. {13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- {14} to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: {15} "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- {16} the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." {17} From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.””

(Matthew 11:20-24 NIV) ““Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. {21} "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. {22} But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. {23} And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. {24} But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.””

Repentance is a dirty word in much of our culture, and sadly, even in much of the church. Repentance starts with the realization that one has sinned and offended our holy God. It starts with feeling bad, and many people will spend their whole life avoiding bad feelings, living in the stupor of denial and addiction. As a result, they never reach repentance. They remain lost. Jesus is searching for those lost in the darkness of this world. We are not like the inanimate coin in today’s parable. We can choose to be found. Repentance lights us up. It lets God know we want a life with Him. It means we are done hiding and are ready to be found. When Christ walked among us, He embodied God’s love -- but He also did not hesitate to denounce those with prideful spirits, arrogant minds, cruel intentions, and unrepentant hearts. Do not be found among them. Repent! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

The Ninety Nine

July 9

(Luke 15:7 NIV)  "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

(Matthew 4:19 NIV)  ""Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.""

(Acts 1:8 NIV)  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.""

It is fashionable today to critique Christians who speak of “sin” and “salvation”. Christ’s teaching about being “lost” is seen as archaic, even derogatory. We are told to love people more, and who could argue with more love in this hate- filled world? But the “ninety-nine” must also be about finding those who are lost. Perhaps if we spent less time critiquing one another and trying to rewrite the job description Jesus gave us, we could be more effective at this task. Jesus loved the lost and treated them with respect. But He always spoke the truth to them and called them out of darkness. The salvation package is incomplete without the bow of repentance, and repentance will seem unnecessary where there is no awareness of sin. The “ninety-nine” are called to join God’s rescue team. Jesus is the only one who saves people, but we can bring them to Him. This is our calling. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Found Sheep

July 8

(Luke 15:5-7 NIV) ““And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders {6} and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ {7} I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.””

(Matthew 18:12-14 NIV) “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? {13} And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. {14} In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

(Matthew 21:31-32 NIV) ““Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. {32} For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.””

The Bible says God is joyful when sinners repent and that all heaven rejoices with Him. God parties when lost sheep are found -- when wayward children come home. Can you imagine what joy in Heaven sounds like? What is it like when God celebrates and all Heaven rejoices with Him? What a party that must be! While God is happy that the "ninety-nine" are home, there is "more joy" over one sinner who repents. This is because God understands the horrendous consequences of remaining lost. Do you? Some may criticize the term “lost”, but Jesus used it to describe those outside His grace. We should have the same attitude as Jesus toward those who are lost. God’s people should derive joy from that which brings God joy, and God loves for lost people to be found. As believers, we ought to love that too. Will you be part of the reason that God celebrates? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Lost Sheep

July 7

(Luke 15:1-7 NIV) ““Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. {2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." {3} Then Jesus told them this parable: {4} "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? {5} And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders {6} and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.””

(Luke 19:10 NIV) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

(1 Timothy 1:15-16 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. {16} But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”

We often forget how much God wants us to be found instead of lost. He was out looking for you when you were lost and didn’t even know it. And if you are still lost today, he is looking for you right now. God is not the lost one -- we are the ones who are lost. In our token and futile search for a higher power today, we can often forget that fact. We are the ones who left the safety of the flock and have gotten ourselves tangled up in the sins of the world. But God sent out the ultimate Shepherd in Jesus. When we get ourselves trapped in those dark canyons and the sun begins to set, he comes for us. He seeks us out, no matter where we are. God loves lost people, but God doesn’t love for people to be lost. God’s love is a seeking love. The Lord is seeking you. He is calling out, “Where are you? I am here for you. Come home with me.” -- Friar Tuck's Word of the Day

Diluted Discipleship

July 6

(Luke 14:34-35 NIV) ““Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? {35} It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””

(Matthew 5:10-13 NIV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. {13} "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

Christians are the salt of the Earth. Genuine disciples do not dilute or pollute their saltiness. Everything we withhold from God dilutes or pollutes our life. It’s not what we give up to God that matters -- it’s what we decide to keep. It’s not what we surrender that causes us to stray and fade -- it’s what we won’t give up. The stuff we hoard and protect causes our salt to lose its saltiness. And when we lose our saltiness, our witness becomes ineffective. We lose the ability to affect those around us for Jesus. Selective discipleship is not a possibility in the eyes of Christ. There is no bargaining, bartering, or finagling. When we decide to become a follower of Christ, we must go all in. It’s a blood oath, with Christ providing the blood up front. We may even have to do some bleeding of our own. Are you willing to do that? If not, Jesus says we will eventually end up in the dirt or the manure pile. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Count the Cost

July 5

(Luke 14:28-33 NIV) “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? {29} For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, {30} saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' {31} "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? {32} If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. {33} In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”

(Philippians 3:7-8 NIV) “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. {8} What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

Jesus answers the question that is in everyone’s heart: “If I give my life to you and follow you, what do I get to keep as my own?” The answer is, “Nothing!” The disciple of Christ owns nothing. It all belongs to God. If we lay claim to anything, we cannot legitimately claim that He is our Lord. We don’t need a list of what is God’s and what is ours -- there is only one list and it has God’s name at the top. Everything we have belongs to Jesus when we become a disciple. This includes our bitterness and anger, our money, our sex life, our habits, our time, our home, and our obedience. They all belong to the Lord. If we hold back, or reserve the right to disagree with His word, we are not “all in”. To start a relationship with Jesus and then back out when things get difficult, is repugnant to the Lord. If you decide to follow Jesus, do so with open eyes and a sold out heart. Count the cost! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day