Sin and Suffering

June 18

(Luke 13:1-5 NIV) ““Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. {2} Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? {3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. {4} Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? {5} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.””

(Ecclesiastes 9:11 NIV) “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.”

When bad stuff happens and we suffer, does that mean God is punishing us? Scripture teaches that sin always results in suffering, but that our suffering is not always the result of our sin. Sin splatters! It splatters on us, but it also splatters on those we love -- those who are wrapped up with us in this bundle we call life. There is no such thing as “victimless sin”. When we run around in the dark, somebody always gets hurt. What we sow, someone will reap. Sin can trickle down through generations in our family. This doesn’t mean others are to blame for our suffering -- just that those who suffer are not always the ones who did the sinning. Suffering comes even to the righteous. Missionaries are murdered. Innocent babies are killed. Good people are assaulted. Drunk drivers destroy lives. We will indeed reap what we sow, but we also reap what others have sown. There is no fairness in sin and suffering. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Settle Out of Court

June 17

(Luke 12:54-59 NIV) “He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. {55} And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. {56} Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? {57} "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? {58} As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. {59} I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.””

(2 Peter 3:3-7 NIV) “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. {4} They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." {5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. {6} By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. {7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

(Romans 1:18-19 NIV) “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, {19} since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

Jesus taught that a final judgment is coming and we had better get ready for it. There will be a day when God gathers all the souls who have ever lived and we will stand exposed before the Lord. Today Jesus wonders how people could be so good at reading the Earth’s winds, but such dismal failures at reading the spiritual winds blowing around them. Jesus called these people hypocrites because they were in a position to know the truth, but deliberately rejected it. We are in the same position today. We live in a culture that continues to reject the gospel -- a culture that calls good evil and evil good -- a culture that worships money, glorifies perversion, makes heroes of villains, kills unwanted babies in the name of convenience, and worships self as the god of all things. God’s judgment is imminent. Plead guilty and settle out of court with Him today. The time for plea bargaining will soon be over. Today is the day of salvation. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Home Wrecker

June 16

(Luke 12:52-53 NIV) “From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. {53} They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

(Mark 3:20-21 NIV) “Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. {21} When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind.””

(Matthew 12:46-49 NIV) ““While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. {47} Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." {48} He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" {49} Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.””

(John 7:43 NIV) “Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.”

Jesus is a home wrecker. Loving Him can cause significant family issues. This is probably the most painful division that happens when one follows the Lord. Many Christians have experienced the disapproval of family members because of your faith. Jesus, the great peacemaker, told His disciples that following Him would cause division. This division would begin in families and ripple out into their culture. Jesus made no apologies for this -- He simply stated it as a fact. When we come to Christ, we change families. We get new brothers and sisters, and we are called to new loyalties. Spiritual relationships will begin to supersede family traditions. Biological families will not always be happy about this. We will be chastised and told not to take our religion so seriously. We will be pressured to change our minds and come to our senses. Jesus divides families. If your Jesus doesn’t, He is probably not the Jesus of the Bible. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Divisive Savior

June 15

(Luke 12:49-50 NIV) “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! {50} But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!”

(Luke 3:15-17 NIV) “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. {16} John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. {17} His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Many people today see Jesus as one who will unite the world. But the Jesus we find in Scripture is a divider. He began by separating light from darkness and the sea from the dry land. When He came to Earth, He said He had come to bring fire -- fire that would purify as it separated the dross from gold and burned the chaff from the wheat. Jesus knew that He was destined to ignite that divisive fire and that it would come through His death on the cross. The cross divides history. It divides believers from unbelievers -- the saved from the unsaved. For Jesus, the cross divided life and death. He wished that God’s fire could be kindled in some other way, but accepted the fact that He was the kindling. Jesus knew his destiny was a destiny of suffering and division. God had set Him apart and being set apart always causes division. We serve a divisive Savior. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Doing Faith

June 14

(Luke 12:41-48 NIV) “Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" {42} The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? {43} It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. {44} I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. {45} But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. {46} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. {47} That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. {48} But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

(James 1:22-25 NIV) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

(James 2:14, 26 NIV) “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?...  {26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Jesus made it clear that faith is more than just something we believe -- it’s something we do. Faith changes us and moves us to action or it is not biblical faith. Faith involves following Jesus and becoming a disciple. It involves a walk with God that takes time and energy. Some Christians think faith is mostly about receiving from God -- but Jesus said much will be “demanded” of us. A “demand” is not a request. When we stand before God we will not be presented with options concerning the color and décor of our room in the heavenly mansion. We will be presented with the book of our life -- that permanent record of our action or inaction. What will be written on your pages in that book? Both grace and the gospel have been given to us with the clear assignment of sharing them with the world. God’s investment in us should be growing. We’ve been entrusted with much. Much will be demanded of us. Genuine faith produces action. What is your faith doing? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Ready or Not, Here I Come

June 13

(Luke 12:35-40 NIV) “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. {37} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. {38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. {39} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. {40} You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

(John 14:3 NIV)  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

(Galatians 3:26-27 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.”

In the game “hide and seek”, children hide while the person who is “it” counts to one hundred. When finished counting, that person yells, “Ready or not, here I come.” Jesus is coming back and we are told to be ready. Christ said to be “watching” -- to be living in anticipation of His return -- to be expecting Him to return. Are you watching? We are to be dressed in clothes of righteousness that God provides for us. Only those who are dressed right will be admitted. Are you dressed? Are you clothed with Christ? Our lamps must be burning as we light up the darkness of our world. Are you shining? Jesus said, “Be ready.” We cannot “get ready” after He comes -- we must be ready WHEN He comes. Are you ready? Are there accounts that need to be settled? Are there sins that need to be forsaken? Are there commitments that need to be kept? Get ready, because ready or not, Jesus is coming. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Pagan Running

June 12

(Luke 12:29-34 NIV) “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. {30} For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. {31} But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. {32} Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Matthew 6:19-21 NIV) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. {20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. {21} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

You will find no Christian T-shirts with the slogan, “Life Goes Better With Worry”. Why then, do so many believers live a worried life? When it comes to anxiety many Christians live no differently than the pagans. Jesus taught that the anxiety arising from our perceived lack of stuff is a pagan thought rather than a godly thought. Rather than the mind of God, it demonstrates a mind pursuing false gods, or no god at all. Jesus also taught that no one can add time to their life by worrying. However, worry may subtract days from our life. Christ told His disciples that worry was essentially a lack of faith. People of faith worry less and trust more. People of faith seek God’s kingdom first. People of faith rid themselves of possessions that entangle them. People of faith invest in a purse that will not wear out -- in things that are eternal. People of faith continuously re-evaluate what they treasure, for they realize that’s where their hearts are tied. Are you a person of faith? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Worry Warts

June 11

(Luke 12:22-28 NIV) ““Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. {23} Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. {24} Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! {25} Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? {26} Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? {27} "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. {28} If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!””

(John 14:1 NIV) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

Worry and anxiety are big business today. Billions of dollars are spent each year on prescription anti-anxiety medicine. Billions more are spent on non-prescription drugs and alcohol that directly relate to worrying about life -- yet our “Happy Hours” never seem to produce contentment or peace. We have become a nation of worry warts. We are addicted to worrying as much as we are to the medications we consume to help us cope. On the other hand, Jesus tells us not to worry because it is a pointless waste of time. We constantly fret about things that God provides for His creation on a regular basis. Are we not more important than sparrows, ravens, flowers, and grass? When Christ tells us not to worry, He is not encouraging sloth. God does not bless sloth, but He also does not bless anxiety. The Lord calls us to faith. Will you leave your fields of fret and go there with Him? Will you trust in God’s provision, or will you remain a worry wart? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Bigger Barn Syndrome

June 10

(Luke 12:13-21 NIV) ““Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." {14} Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" {15} Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." {16} And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. {17} He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' {18} "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. {19} And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' {20} "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' {21} "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.””

(2 Corinthians 8:13-15 NIV) “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. {14} At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, {15} as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.””

Sometimes being prudent in how we handle money morphs into greed and we don’t even know it. Any of us can fall prey to “Bigger Barn Syndrome”. This parable does not discourage saving or planning for the future -- it discourages pride, greed, hoarding, and living in self indulgence. It is about what or who we trust in for tomorrow and eternity. Jesus is discouraging the common practice, even among Christians, of storing up things for ourselves, but not being rich toward God. This man's problem was not wealth -- it was thinking that his inner needs could be satisfied by accumulation. He neglected the things of God to build more storage sheds because he thought it would make him secure. He trusted in bigger barns for his future, rather than trusting in the Lord. He thought mostly of himself and failed to consider those who had less. He thought about the things of this world more than he thought about eternity. Be careful -- Bigger Barn Syndrome is a contagious disease. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

The Biggest No-No

June 9

(Luke 12:10 NIV) “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

(Matthew 12:22-24,27-32 NIV) “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. {23} All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" {24} But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons… {27} And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. {28} But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. {29} "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. {30} "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. {31} And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. {32} Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

(Acts 7:51-58 NIV) ““You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! {52} Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- {53} you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." {54} When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. {55} But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. {56} "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." {57} At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, {58} dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.””

Jesus said the unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Jesus had cast out a demon and the Pharisees said He used the power of the devil to do it. But Christ said it was the power of the Holy Spirit. God was present among them. The Kingdom of God had come to Earth and was working right before their eyes. Denying the Spirit of Truth and the Lord Jesus is the unforgivable sin. Denying the call to glorify God, ignoring the Spirit of God when we hear Him calling us to Him, and attributing God’s work to the devil or ourselves -- this is unforgivable. Stephen told the Pharisees, “You always resist the Holy Spirit”. Instead of repenting, they killed him. They heard the Holy Spirit speaking, but didn’t believe Him. They were on the highway to hell. When we hear the Spirit calling us, but ignore Him or ridicule Him, we are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. If we die in this state of unbelief, there is no forgiveness available -- we are lost for eternity -- we have blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Believe God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Denial Syndrome

June 8

(Luke 12:8 NIV) “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. {9} But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”

(Luke 12:11-12 NIV) “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, {12} for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

(Matthew 26:34 NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

(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.”

Think of all the times you have felt the urging of God to speak up and name the name of Jesus, but you didn’t. We all struggle with denial syndrome. It is a sin to deny Christ and sin separates us from God. Just ask Peter. After his very loud and public proclamation about never becoming a denier, he did just that -- three times -- loudly and publicly. He felt the shame and remorse that comes with sin. But with Jesus, failure is never final. Repent! If you wilted yesterday, you can do better today. Peter eventually became a bold witness for Christ -- in his life, and in his death. We can do the same. Don’t worry about what to say -- God will give you the words. Just tell the truth. When we stand for the faith, we never stand alone. God is with us, and His Spirit will fill us with the right words at the right time. All that is required to overcome denier syndrome, is the willingness to do so. Be willing! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Fear the Right Stuff

June 7

(Luke 12:4-7 NIV) “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. {5} But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. {6} Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. {7} Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

(Matthew 10:28-29 NIV) “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. {29} Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.”

We all deal with fear. It is a natural human emotion. But Jesus taught that we should fear the right stuff. We should fear judgment more than death. We are prone to put personal survival ahead of everything else. We can be tempted to deny Christ when threatened in some way. We can do this verbally, or with silence. We forget that our souls are destined to outlive our bodies. We fear death more than we fear God. This is a mistake. The God who knows when a sparrow falls and who knows how many hairs are on your head, also knows how to take care of us. Our souls will be cared for when the time comes for us to leave this world and step into the next. Believers, we will not be forgotten or forsaken by God when we die. Jesus is Lord. Fear judgment more than you fear for your life. Fear God more than you fear death. This will change everything. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hypocrisy Warning

June 6

(Luke 12:1-3 NIV) “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. {2} There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. {3} What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

(1 Peter 2:1 NIV) “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”

Although the religious establishment criticized Him, Christ’s popularity continued to grow. His message was not always positive, but people felt genuine love coming from the Savior. Jesus despised hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is representing yourself as someone you are not. Hypocrites pretend to have virtues, or religious beliefs they do not actually possess. They display attitudes in public that they do not hold in their private lives. This may well be the church’s biggest problem today. Our showy religion often conceals a heart contaminated by sin. We look Christian on the outside, but inside, we harbor darkness. We champion moral causes, but live immorally. We decry murder, but kill reputations with our slander. And the world sees it. Hypocritical Christians have probably turned more people away from Jesus than the devil ever could. There’s an old hymn of the church called “Standin in the Need of Prayer”. It goes like this: Not my mother, not my father, not my brother, not my sister -- not my elder, not my leader, not the preacher, not the sinner -- But it's me… It’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Pray against hypocrisy in your heart. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Six Pack of Woe

June 5

(Luke 11:42-54 NIV) ““Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. {43} "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. {44} "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it." {45} One of the experts in the law answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also." {46} Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. {47} "Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. {48} So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. {49} Because of this, God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.' {50} Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, {51} from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. {52} "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." {53} When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, {54} waiting to catch him in something he might say.””

Jesus condemned the Pharisees in six areas where they were fell short of God’s will. They failed to honor God in all things. They tithed to their church, but they discriminated against poor people. They put status ahead of servanthood. They loved themselves more than God. Everything they did was designed for maximum visibility. They strutted around like big shots, yet their flowing robes and moral opining failed to impact their culture. They didn’t influence people toward true godliness. Because they didn’t know the Lord personally, they hindered people from drawing near to God. They made faith harder than it needed to be. They always took people down a notch, instead of lifting them up. They honored those who killed God’s prophets, and eventually they would kill God’s greatest Prophet. Like unmarked graves, their lives would amount to nothing when they returned to dust. After His scathing critique, the Pharisees declared open war on Jesus, and eventually succeeded in crucifying Him. This same spirit of deafness, deference, and defiance cripples much of the Church today as we clamor for preachers who will prophesy pleasant things and teachers who will tell us what our itching ears want to hear. Rise above it Christian! Listen to Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Inside and Outside

June 4

(Luke 11:37-41 NIV) “When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. {38} But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. {39} Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. {40} You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? {41} But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

(Mark 7:14-23 NIV) ““Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. {15} Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" {16} If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. {17} After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. {18} "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? {19} For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") {20} He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' {21} For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, {22} greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. {23} All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'””

Jesus didn’t follow the Pharisee’s elaborate custom of ceremonially washing His hands before he ate. Their religious ritual had nothing to do with physical cleanness, but was one of many spiritual rules that made them feel godlier than the people outside of their holy huddle. Jesus made no apologies. Instead, He went on the offensive and scolded the Pharisees for worrying about the wrong stuff. It wasn’t pretty. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version: “You and your partners in crime can wash your hands until the skin comes off, but that will never clean out your filthy hearts. Your ceremonial clap-trap means nothing to God. Your cup may look good to the casual observer, but God knows it is full of sin and greed. You’re stingy and you treat the poor with contempt. You fuss about the externals, but God looks at your hearts, which are rotten to the core. You’re just a bunch of “holier than thou” fools.” How’s that for an encouraging and uplifting message? Let’s just be sure we don’t become like those Pharisees! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Choice: Darkness or Light

June 3

(Luke 11:34-36 NIV) “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. {35} See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. {36} Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”

(John 3:19-21 NIV) “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

(John 12:46 NIV) “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

(Ephesians 5:8 NIV) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”

The Lord says we have a choice to make. We can lurk in the darkness, or we can walk in light. We cannot love both. We who believe have His light, but when we hide it, the darkness grows -- inside of us and outside of us. We can become filled with darkness instead of light. Our eyes can get bad and our spirit can become dark. If we remain in darkness long enough, we become like the darkness and no longer reflect the light of Christ. Jesus, the Light of the world, did not die on a cross so we could continue to walk in the darkness of this broken world. Remember, light and darkness cannot dwell together. Wherever light shines, the darkness flees. Is your light shining, or is it covered up by something right now? Come out of the darkness and walk in the light of God. Live as a child of the light. This is the road to healing and wholeness. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Let There Be Light

June 2

(Luke 11:33 NIV) “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.”

(Matthew 5:14-16 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Lighting up darkness has been God’s thing since the beginning of time. The very first words spoken by God in Scripture have to do with light. God’s first priority was to light up the darkness. Light is divisive. Every time it shines, it separates us from darkness. For those who desire darkness, light causes tension. It happened when our incarnate Lord came to Earth. A great light announced Christ’s coming and people of the light came to Bethlehem to worship him. But people of the darkness also came, trying to kill Him. Darkness pushes back. The only counter measure to the increasing darkness in our world is light that shines boldly. Light is meant to be seen. It was not created by God to be hidden. Disciples of Jesus are commanded to light up the world. Hiding our light is disobedience. Hiding our light is sin. We are the light of the world. Let your light shine! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Queen of Sheba

June 1

(Luke 11:31-32 NIV) “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. {32} The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.”

(1 Kings 10:1-9 NIV) “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. {2} Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. {3} Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. {4} When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, {5} the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. {6} She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. {7} But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. {8} How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! {9} Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

The Queen of the South (a.k.a. the Queen of Sheba) once came to visit King Solomon. When she realized what great wisdom he had, saw the splendor of the land, and experienced worship at the temple, she recognized that this had to be the blessing of God. She realized that no one could accomplish all this by themselves, and that God had to be in it. Her eyes were opened to the greatness of the God of Israel, and she believed. With her mouth, she praised the name of the Lord for His love, His righteousness, and His justice. Jesus told the doubters who were seeking a miraculous sign, that because of her faith, this same queen would one day rise up and sit in judgment of their unbelief. He said the same about the “men of Nineveh”. The “men of Nineveh” and the “Queen of the South” would have been considered unclean infidels, but they repented and turned to God because of the witness of Jonah and Solomon. Jesus told these skeptics that One greater than Jonah or Solomon was now with them. The Messiah had come and was speaking in their presence. He is still speaking! Open your ears. Repent and turn to God. Jesus is Lord! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day