Luke 9:46-62

The fact that Christ's Kingdom is not of this world is enough to keep me out of the world's politics. If I participate in politics, then I am casting a vote of confidence in the system's ability to solve the world's problems. But frankly I have no such confidence because I know that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).

Politics has proved singularly ineffective in solving the problems of society. Political...

At first this seems to flatly contradict our previous verse, but there is no contradiction. There the Savior was speaking to the unbelieving Pharisees and saying, "If you aren't for Me, you're against Me." But here it is a different matter. The disciples had just restrained a man who was casting out demons in Jesus' Name. They had no better reason than that he didn't associate with them. Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

When it comes to salvation,...

When the people of Israel grumbled about the lack of water at Kadesh, God told Moses that water would flow if he would speak to the rock. But Moses was fed up with the people by now, so he lashed out at them, saying, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of the rock?" Then he smote the rock twice with his rod. By his angry words and disobedient action, he misrepresented God to the people. The result was that he forfeited the privilege of leading the children of Israel into the...

Sometimes I think we talk and sing too glibly about the Lordship of Christ, about total commitment, and about absolute surrender. We parrot neat little cliches like, "If He's not Lord of all, then He's not Lord at all." We sing, "All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give." We act as if total commitment involved little more than attending church every Sunday.

It isn't that we are insincere; it's just that we don't realize all that's involved. If we acknowledge the Lordship of...

John 16:32

"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me."

The loneliness of Jesus while in this world was one of the most pathetic elements of His experience. There are two kinds of loneliness.

One is, when a person is away from all human presences. A man who had been shipwrecked and...

Truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country … By faith Moses … [chose] rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. § “The just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who...

No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. § Let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. § Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have...

Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we for- bade him because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.” … “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He … rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.”“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” So Joshua the son of Nun … answered and said,...