August 4, 2021 – Luke 11-13

Chapter by chapter, this morning. 11 - The Lord’s prayer. Jesus noted: “If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (11:13) Jesus not only helps us to pray as we should, he encourages us by assuring us that our Father will hear and respond!

12 - What encouraging words: “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you!” (12:28) The Scriptures are full of God’s promises and of stories of God fulfilling those promises. He is faithful!

13 - A lot going on in this chapter. You get the sense that Luke is compiling a bunch of stories, especially when you read: “He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem” (13:22). Lots of places along the way and lots of things happening. But there’s, to use an old metaphor, a sharp and pointed end of this arrow. That is, Luke is relentlessly pointing us toward Jerusalem and the events that will take place there. Jerusalem’s hope is the world’s hope; it is our hope: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (13:35) If only the people had truly realized what that meant!

Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;

Let every soul be Jesus' guest;

Ye need not one be left behind,

For God hath bidden all mankind. –Charles Wesley (1747)