Section 52: Luke12--Part 2
Section 52
CONCERNING HYPOCRISY, WORLDLY ANXIETY, WATCHFULNESS, AND HIS APPROACHING PASSION
(Galilee.)
LUKE 12:1-59
Keep Trusting
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:32
Anxiety is impotent. It only works on our own minds, racking them in vain, but has no effect on the material world, not even on our own bodies, still less on the universe.-MacLaren
The fourth reason bids us look with attention at examples of unanxious existence clothed with beauty. Christ here teaches the highest use of nature, and the noblest way of looking at it. The scientific botanist considers how the lilies grow, and can tell all about cells and chlorophyll and the like. The poet is in raptures with their beauty. Both teach us much, but the religious way of looking at nature includes and transcends both the others. Nature is a parable. It is a visible manifestation of God, and His ways there shadow His ways with us, and are lessons in trust..-MacLaren
How should we be anxious if we know that we have a Father in heaven, and that He knows our needs? He recognises our claims on Him. He made the needs, and will send the supply. That is a wide truth, stretching far beyond the mere earthly wants of food and raiment. My wants, so far as God has made me to feel them, are prophecies of God’s gifts. -MacLaren
Anxious care is a denial of His love or knowledge or power. -MacLaren
That direction of all our desires and energies to the attainment of the kingdom which is the state of being ruled by the will of God, is to be accompanied with joyous, brave confidence. How should they fear whose desires and efforts run parallel with the ‘Father’s good pleasure’? They are seeking as their chief good what He desires, as His chief delight, to give them. Then they may be sure that, if He gives that, He will not withhold less gifts than may be needed. He will not ‘spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar,’ nor allow His children, whom He has made heirs of a kingdom, to starve on their road to their crown. If they can trust Him to give them the kingdom, they may surely trust Him for bread and clothes. -MacLaren
"Do not think of God as grudging! It is your Father’s good pleasure to give. Nothing delights Him more than to be able to “give good things to them that ask Him.” For Him also “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Remember that the best investments are those we store, not in banks, etc., but in the lives of others: for God Himself guarantees the interest." -F.B. Meyer
Keep Watching
The one watching for the Lord's coming will be blessed because Jesus will gird Himself with a towel and will serve him, take care of him, bless him. It was to a cold, weary Peter that Jesus served a hot, hearty breakfast. Thus, even at a time of disobedience in his own life—even when Peter was fishing when he was supposed to be in Jerusalem waiting, he found in the hand of the Lord the very thing he had been searching for all night long (Joh_21:9).-Courson
Just as it is impossible for one to work off his debt once he's put in prison, those who are without Christ on the Day of Judgment will be cast into hell with no way to work their way out. Oh, to be watching and wise concerning the day of His appearing. -Courson
CONCERNING HYPOCRISY, WORLDLY ANXIETY, WATCHFULNESS, AND HIS APPROACHING PASSION
(Galilee.)
LUKE 12:1-59
Keep Trusting
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:32
Anxiety is impotent. It only works on our own minds, racking them in vain, but has no effect on the material world, not even on our own bodies, still less on the universe.-MacLaren
The fourth reason bids us look with attention at examples of unanxious existence clothed with beauty. Christ here teaches the highest use of nature, and the noblest way of looking at it. The scientific botanist considers how the lilies grow, and can tell all about cells and chlorophyll and the like. The poet is in raptures with their beauty. Both teach us much, but the religious way of looking at nature includes and transcends both the others. Nature is a parable. It is a visible manifestation of God, and His ways there shadow His ways with us, and are lessons in trust..-MacLaren
How should we be anxious if we know that we have a Father in heaven, and that He knows our needs? He recognises our claims on Him. He made the needs, and will send the supply. That is a wide truth, stretching far beyond the mere earthly wants of food and raiment. My wants, so far as God has made me to feel them, are prophecies of God’s gifts. -MacLaren
Anxious care is a denial of His love or knowledge or power. -MacLaren
That direction of all our desires and energies to the attainment of the kingdom which is the state of being ruled by the will of God, is to be accompanied with joyous, brave confidence. How should they fear whose desires and efforts run parallel with the ‘Father’s good pleasure’? They are seeking as their chief good what He desires, as His chief delight, to give them. Then they may be sure that, if He gives that, He will not withhold less gifts than may be needed. He will not ‘spoil the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar,’ nor allow His children, whom He has made heirs of a kingdom, to starve on their road to their crown. If they can trust Him to give them the kingdom, they may surely trust Him for bread and clothes. -MacLaren
"Do not think of God as grudging! It is your Father’s good pleasure to give. Nothing delights Him more than to be able to “give good things to them that ask Him.” For Him also “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Remember that the best investments are those we store, not in banks, etc., but in the lives of others: for God Himself guarantees the interest." -F.B. Meyer
Discern His Boundaries, Enjoy His Freedoms
It's good to think deeply about God and His Kingdom--He's expansive and generous, but definite in scope and plan:
"God Himself sovereignly draws certain boundary lines. In some instances God allows us to a large extent to draw our own boundaries; in others He presently gives the final and decisive word, “Hitherto—no further.” It is important to know the difference between quantities which are variable and quantities which are fixed. This knowledge may save us a great deal of trouble, and prevent very much pain
Again, though you cannot add one cubit unto your stature, You MAY RELIEVE THE PAIN OF A THOUSAND HEARTS.
Again, though you cannot add one cubit unto your stature, You MAY CULTIVATE AN EVER-DEEPENING ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE WILL OF GOD; you may know God more perfectly, read His Word with a clearer eye, receive the suggestions and instructions of His Holy Spirit more lovingly, more loyally and trustfully, so that you may be men in understanding. Let us go to them, then, knowing that we are limited in our little sphere; that there are marked and positive limitations in some cases; and that everywhere—excepting when we are growing up into the likeness of God—there is limitation. Let that rebuke human reason—let that curb humanselfishness let that stand by us when we read the Holy Word and try to solve its mysteries. And when we become weary of looking at our littleness, our experiments, and our impotence, and turn round in other directions, we find that we may take wings—strong, great, unwearying pinions—and fly away right up to the very heart and heaven of God! Though we be little we are great. Though we are shut in and confined and mocked in some directions, in other directions we are citizens of the universe, freemen of the whole creation. Blessed are they who know alike the limit and the liberty of human life!" -BI, J. Parker
Keep Watching
The one watching for the Lord's coming will be blessed because Jesus will gird Himself with a towel and will serve him, take care of him, bless him. It was to a cold, weary Peter that Jesus served a hot, hearty breakfast. Thus, even at a time of disobedience in his own life—even when Peter was fishing when he was supposed to be in Jerusalem waiting, he found in the hand of the Lord the very thing he had been searching for all night long (Joh_21:9).-Courson
Just as it is impossible for one to work off his debt once he's put in prison, those who are without Christ on the Day of Judgment will be cast into hell with no way to work their way out. Oh, to be watching and wise concerning the day of His appearing. -Courson
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