Luke Part 2 Week 10

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:57-58 

⁵⁷ As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” 

It is relatively easy for people to say they will follow Jesus. He wanted them to know, however, that it would not be an easy life. Jesus wanted it known that following Him could mean giving up the comforts of life. The Bible does not say whether this person followed Jesus or not. 

REFLECT 

How much comfortable living have you given up by following Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in discussing these comments Jesus made. Talk about any comforts you have lost by following Jesus. Pray for those whom you know who have lost plenty by being Christ-followers.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:59-60 

⁵⁹ He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” 

Commentators disagree on whether this person’s father was dead already of if he was asking to stay with his father until he died. The second possibility might be more reasonable as the Jewish people usually buried a person on the same day the individual died. Jesus told the person to let those who were not followers of Jesus bury their own dead. Jesus said the urgent duty of this person was to go and preach about the Kingdom of God. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize it is the duty of Christ-followers to share their faith with others? 

RESPOND  

Talk with a friend about the need to talk to others about the change Jesus has made in your life. If every believer would only live a good life, other individuals would not know that they needed to trust in Jesus for salvation. Do not have a message but fail to deliver it. Tell others about Jesus and the need to trust in Him for salvation. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:61-62 

⁶¹ Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” ⁶² But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” 

Another person gave the excuse of why he could not follow Jesus immediately. Jesus expressed the urgency of sharing the good news with others rather than postponing it to a later time. Apparently the person had begun doing right but failed to follow through. Those who turn back are “not fit for the Kingdom of God.” 

REFLECT 

How is it with you? Do you only follow Jesus half-heartedly or are you committed to doing what He wants you to do? 

RESPOND 

Luke gave the example of these three who gave excuses for not following Jesus. Interestingly, Luke does not say whether they decided then to follow Jesus or not. Talk with a friend about the importance of sharing with others the change Jesus has made in your life and encourage others to decide to follow Jesus.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:1-2 

¹ The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. ² These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” 

Of the gospel writers, only Luke records the sending out of the 72 disciples. This is true also of most of the material found in Luke 10:1—18:14. The instruction the 72 were told to pray is something believers should be praying for today. They need to ask the Lord to send more workers into the harvest field. This means that Christ-followers need to respond to His urging to be witnessing to others. 

REFLECT 

Have you responded to the Lord you say you love by sharing your faith with others? If not, do your friends know you believe there is only one way to heaven? 

RESPOND 

Compare two passages of Scripture with a friend. See 2 Timothy 2:15. What kind of person should be ashamed? Read also Proverbs 10:5 to see one who needs to be ashamed. May followers of Jesus not be asleep when the spiritual harvest is all around them. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 10:3-4 

³ “Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. ⁴ Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.” 

The 72 were to take little that would provide for their needs. When they found people in houses that would welcome them apparently their needs would be provided in that way. The reason for not greeting along the way was because the means of greeting in those days took so long. Jesus stressed the urgency of the mission on which He was sending the 72. 

REFLECT 

To what extent have you had to depend on others during your time of witnessing for Jesus? 

RESPOND  

Do you know of others who have given up most comforts in this life to be a worker or missionary in other lands? Join with a friend in praying for such Christian workers.