Thought For Today

Jesus said to him, (the ruler) “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good except One – God.  Luke 18:19

Lord You always pointed everyone to Your Father.  You could have answered this question in a proud manner but You pointed the ruler to Your Father as the good one.  But then You tell us that Your Father and You are one which makes this statement even more intriguing for me.

What can I learn today while sitting at Your feet to listen Lord.  What can I be grateful for from reading this scripture.

Thank You Lord that You allow us to be selfless.

Thank You for helping us point to our heavenly Father as the source of all that we have and are.

Thank You for showing us that without You we are nothing.

Thank You for making us who we are.

Thank You for each gift You give us.

Thank You Lord.

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And a ruler asked him, (Jesus) “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Luke 18:18

Lord there were always those that had questions for You.  There were some that had true questions because they really wanted to know and then there were those that were trying to trip You up and make You look stupid.

This man had a genuine question.  He wanted to know.  Who of us doesn’t want to know today and need to know what You are saying to us about living forever.

Thank You Lord that You are willing to hear and answer our questions.

Thank You for Your compassion.

Thank You for Your unconditional love.

Thank You for our lives.

Thank You that You want us all to come to You and have eternal life.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  Luke 18:17

Thank You Lord for Your gift of the kingdom of God.

Thank You that You made it so easy that even a child can have it.

Thank You for the simplicity of the gospel.

Thank You for Your open arms that invite us all to come follow You.

Thank You Lord.

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But Jesus called them (little children) to Him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”  Luke 18:16

Lord I have always loved the pictures of You with the little children all around You.  You were smiling and the artist gave me the feeling of how much You were enjoying them.

This verse tells me what the artist saw and painted.  You loved the little children then and You love them today.  They are very special to You and Your gift to us.  They bring joy to our lives.

Thank You Lord for the children.

Thank You for eyes to watch them.

Thank You for thoughts that help us remember what we were like when we were children.

Thank You for their innocence.

Thank You for their laughter.

Thank You for the joy they bring.

Oh how blessed we are Lord.

Thank You Lord.

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Now they were bringing even infants to Him (Jesus) that He might touch them and when the disciples saw it they rebuked them.  Luke 18:15

Lord this is an interesting part of history.  The disciples obviously didn’t think You should waste Your time on the infants.   I am sure there were many adults that were there that had been sick for years and that is no doubt the reason for their rebuke.

Thank You Lord for Your love for our children.

Thank You that You know each one and You care about them.

Thank You for the gift of children for truly we are blessed to have them.

Thank You for their innocence and their love.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!'”  Luke 18:13

Lord, it is obvious that the tax collector was a repentant man.  He knew he had done wrong even though his position warranted doing what he was doing.  He wanted forgiveness and asked for mercy.

Thank You Lord for helping us see the errors of our way.

Thank You for hearts that want to be forgiven.

Thank You for giving us the desire to change and turn to You.

Thank You for always being there to listen and forgive.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus parable)  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God I thank thee that I am not the other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ ”  Luke 18:10 – 12

Lord, You were trying so hard to get through the to Pharisees when You were here on earth.

They were so righteous and thought they were so much better than others and this Pharisee in Your parable shows us what they were really like.  They looked so good on the outside who would have known.  After all they kept all the laws.  You knew what they were like and this parable shows us that You knew.

The good news is that You came to change them and show them a better way.

Thank You Lord for loving us all in spite of how blatantly bad we are.

Thank You for forgiveness when we call out to You and ask for Your help.

Thank You for Your unconditional love.

Thank You Lord.

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He (Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others:”  Luke 18:9

Thank You Lord for showing us all a better way to live.

Thank You for giving us the intellect to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.

Thank You for helping us live as You want us to live.

Thank You for coming to earth for us and living the life You are asking us to live.

Thank You Lord.

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And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.  And will not God vindicate His elect, who cry to Him day and night?  Will He delay long over them?  I tell you, He will vindicate them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on earth?”  Luke 18:6 – 8

Lord You started this chapter by telling us to pray and not lose heart.

Now You are asking about our faith.

Thank You that You have told us that if we ask You for more faith You will give it.

Thank You for helping us because so often it is hard for us and we want to give up.

Thank You for the knowledge that You are on our side and will do what is best for us.  So often we are so short sighted and You see the total picture.  You know things we don’t have a clue about.  You call us all to trust and believe.

Thank You for being with us each step of the way.

Thank You Lord.

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He (Jesus) said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’  For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself. ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'”  Luke 18:2 – 5

Lord this is an interesting parable as all of Your parables are.  We see a judge being so bombarded by this woman that he finally gives in.  It reminds me of children and how when they know there is a chance for the parents to give in they continue to ask.

What are we to see here?

Lord You have asked us to ask and we will receive.  Thank You for that opportunity to come to You.  Thank You for caring.  Thank You that every detail of our lives matter.

Thank You that we can continue to ask and continue to receive.

Thank You Lord.

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