Luke 3 ~ all flesh shall see the salvation of God

Luke 3 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”


21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."


23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Abilene, Abilene - prettiest town I've ever seen.  Abilene, Texas was named for John the Baptist. John spoke of the earnest desire to set a path straight for God. And the town looked at the pancake straight, flat geography and decided this was pleasing to God. This is a simple, straight to the point, good pneumatic device for memory.

Why remember straight is the path to the Lord God Almighty? 
Good reason. All people in all nations, in all cultures from all times will see the Gates of Heaven and meet Jesus the Lord. All knees will bow to Jesus the Lord.

All of God's creation has something in Common - we are all headed in the same direction
All flesh shall see the salvation of God

This does not suggest that all people will remain in salvation.

 Luke did not want to isolate the People of God - the Jews - Luke is bringing people to peace by including the genealogy of Jesus.

People will line up to tell you, sometimes without a lot of thought, that they only follow the Gospel. Or they only follow the New Testament. And the largest part of this dialog will tell you the Old Testament must be a different God.

Now if we, and we do, believe Ephesians 4 is correct and the actual size of the Lord God Almighty's Holy Spirit is actually the size of the Universe - then in actuality and probability - after God wrote so many Letters and Books of the Bible why should HE explain again? God, is after all - God.

 

God of the Universe - pretty complicated. And then you get to His Bottom Line
“You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”

Father. When my God, and your God, is saying - Mercy Triumphs over sacrifice and this - is what He truly desires. "Do not be weary of doing Good." God has held this all up for millenniums - with - His Word.

 Jesus took upon His Shoulders for us - we have to remember in profound gratitude -

Matthew 11

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, 

and my burden is light.

And we see what Our Father God would do for me, and for you, with Great Love.

Begin each day with a fresh day and new wind reveals - His mercies renew each day. Not Joe Walsh's very precise -  "Here comes a flock of waa waa's. " When we wait upon the Lord - He does renew our strength. With grim determination? Nope. The fruit of God is much more joyous!

Father, Abba, 

We want to be your pasture - where You are pleased to dwell.

How shall we answer the tired and unjoyful same old questions? 

We endeavor not to be conformed to this world of repetitions, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

We want to live and prove the will of God is for bringing Your Love forth. 

That which is good and acceptable and perfect. In our part, we must remember How High You are and How Steadfast Your Love has been for Millenniums. For through the grace given to me, I say I will not to think more highly of myself. I will rely upon Your sound judgment as God who knows all hearts. 

We ask You, Father God to allot us more measure of faith.

Each day, I will rejoice feeling Your mercies renew each day. 

Knowing You said we walk by faith.

 And we will increase our Hope, Faith and Love. Knowing the Greatest is Love and You are Love. Open the eyes of all to see You, Lord Jesus and we lift up those we Love to You. In expectation of You.

Cover us in the Love and Name of Jesus.

Dwell in us and those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well in Jesus.

Thank You, Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Proverbs 1:1-8 ~ obtain guidance

We are looking forward in expectation for God's face to smile upon us.

How will we find God's help us make good choices and wise decisions?    

Proverbs 1:1-8

    

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction

32 For the simple are killed by their turning away 

Acts 1 - Judas tended to his own interests.




We ask to stay on Father God's good plan and path. Pleasing God. And in pleasing God, having the fruit of His Holy Spirit.


God blessed Abraham, to be a blessing to millenniums. Hezekiah was blessed to be an archaeological and Word of God treasure to understand how high, deep and wide looking for God's blessing can be to all of us.


God is Pro Instruction and Anti-Condemnation. Hence, the Words of the New Testament - no condemnation in Jesus Christ. Romans 8. We do not do away with the Law, but realize Jesus fulfills our gaps and encourages weak knees and drooping hands not to flag. God wants our determination and faith. This passage is giving us the challenge to be in His Grace.


God starts with His 10 Laws. The Law is orderly. And gives us His Son, who says worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus fulfills the Law.


So Decision Making.

We run to the new library - Google. Instead, we need to carefully consider the source.

We want our source to be genuine and good and loving. So, the equation equals = God. We need resources from God. God does not remain in hiding. God tells us His nature.




HOWEVER, what God wants is you. Be yourself. He is passionate for you, as Your Father. He wants your thoughts, not repeating old phrases like a heathen to Him. God has created gifts and talents in you.  God expects we will need and call to Him as we go forth. God knows we will have difficulties.


God has no care for mindless servitude and platitude. Conversation where you tell Him what He said, and He gets to have that conversation with your real self. That is what God wants - you to be the best you He created.  God sees Good. You are His Creation.

Zeal!

We want God to be zealous about us. 

And He gave us brains to discern what He is telling us. We want to be able to face decisions in action, path and words.  His Love to our soul. James says we are invited to ask God His Wisdom. God is encouraging us to rely on Him.


We want God to be zealous about us.

I have a friend who is a retired doctor and to watch him in Decision Making is important. It's a display of wisdom. This is how he faces our new clients with his decision making ability from Medical School and in emergencies.

1. He applies himself to the decision in attention and will not be rushed. Decision Mode.
2. He discerns the situation carefully by listening.
3. He always repeats the facts.
4. And then he applies the facts. Not in panic, in logic, in prayer, in goodness. He is a godly doctor trained in decision making.
5. He treats others as part of the team. See one, teach one, watch the next person do one.

He is orderly. Making a logical set of directions.

We want the Wind of the Holy Spirit to direct us and not just circle. We set up a framework for decision goals. God wants us to want His Help

Our first step is to decide how we will make decisions - logic, self, impulse, flowchart, prayer, asking advice, from whom, journal facts, rethink old stories and events???

Wisdom  Goal.

Jesus did this. Jesus every day was looking for the direction of God.

Discern Blessings in Decisions

1. God 

Matthew 23:37
How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Father God, I will be willing! To be gathered by You. In Your Direction. I know You are God and Your Blessings are abundant - I ask Your Help.

2. Love yourself.

Do this in good health and truth. Apply Joy and Self-Control. Often be a place to refresh God's Deep Love in who you really, really are.

2 Timothy 1:16-27

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!

Father God, I will be willing! To be refreshing to God. See His Great Love for you.

3. Love others.

Guard your heart. Our Love comes from God and then is put forth again. Love is not following the world. Wisdom is the passage Jesus tells us about Creation - the work of God. The starting out - is Wisdom. Jesus did not run to the Temple to display being the Glorious Resurrected Messiah.  Use humor in life. Have Joy. Often. Jesus did. God comes first.

Show Mercy. Love the People God Puts In Your Life. Especially the ones who show mercy.

God intends our Good Works to lead to more Good works. A life continuing.

See good in the people God places around you.

Hebrews 6:7

For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

Father God, I will be willing! As far as it depends on me, I will live at peace with everyone. Refreshing You!

"Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night!!!"


God tells us life Will Test our metal. 

 Jesus told us there would be days like this. 

In John 16:33 Jesus says: "In This World You Will Have Trouble. And Jesus overcomes the World."

Who ya gonna believe? The toothpaste casino adds? God was right. Our decisions will be tested and all shook up. Jesus said the house would have the winds assail the house. The house that stands believes in Him. 

Like Hezekiah. Hezekiah had the whole Assyrian Empire about to knock down all his life, efforts and history. His earthly father had established an 'out' to tear the Temple apart and give up the gold by convincing the people to worship away from the Temple. Hezekiah believed God instead of his earthly kingly father and had the most successful kingdom apart from David himself.


See with Your Eyes of Faith.
Building a House is building a name. Having a name that means reliable, kind, dependable actually gets us respect often unreported to the individual with the good name. We fail to feel the Love God is giving us for our diligent care. We have to see with our eyes of faith - Love and Care will continue to be appreciated by God and streams forth like light from the clouds unannounced.

God tells us the Heavens proclaim the Glory of God. 
Usually, no noise is heard.

God notices when we bring Heaven to earth.

Father God, I will be willing! To see with eyes of Faith.







 

When you know that the Season is Changing. And the Wind of the Holy Spirit is needed. Or you are just hopeful to have change.

Pray. Earnestly tell God the reasons. Stay in truth and in gratitude for Jesus - within the Law of the Spirit.

When Trouble threatens to swamp your lifeboat. Look for truth. We are told in Romans we know Truth. Lean upon God. Great struggles in the Bible tell us to look at the One who is Good. When truth is running off, ask God in. God will help.

Sometimes we have to remember where to look for real goodness - God.

Pray for the Holy Spirit, who is Jesus Christ the Lord!

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Jan Karon's famous Mitford books tell us about Father Tim praying the prayer that is Always Successful - Thy Will BE Done.

Father God, I am willing! I will cast my cares upon You. You Love me. I will strengthen and rest in You.

The Noah Step. The difficult one.

Are you doing your life right? Did you mess up God's purpose for your life? Is your life meaningful?

Guess. What. Moses could have asked this question. Many times, even as he went up Mount Nebo to see the Children of God go forth into the Promised Land.

Gratitude.
Our honest prayer for honest situations. 

We are not large enough to be perpetually punished. Jesus took our sins. We might face overcoming poor decisions. It's when we give up in the gloom of unworthiness, then we have stepped out of the Light of His Love.

We might foolishly try to put our selfishness first again and again - but we cannot blame God for that. God did put us here to grow up to go Home to Him. Even the Prodigal Son had to grow up some. To find some humility.

It's a Promise. The Word of God is Fulfilled. God's purpose for our lives will be good.

Do we Really believe God has a good purpose for us?  Similarly, the demons  shrieked at Jesus had a continual shriek, "What purpose do you have for me God? What will You do to me?"

Would God call us not to be us?  No. Does He love us as we are and give us Gifts and Talents to fit in to His Plan. Yes.

Jeremiah stood fast.

 




Jeremiah saw terrible, terrible times. Being a prophet - he said, he didn't really want the job. God surely did not smite Jeremiah in vengeance for wanting better. Peter wanted away from what he grasped was massive and Good.

Jeremiah looked on the purpose God had for him and chose to believe God is Good. And His Word to me is for a Hope and a Future. In the midst of despair, Jeremiah bought an Estate. And you bet your boots after the third round up to enslavement in the Babylonian Empire - Jeremiah remained. And after the war was basically done - more foolish people tried to escape to Egypt.

 Did Jeremiah? No. Because the Lord knew that His plans for Jeremiah were for Good. God would fulfill His promises to Jeremiah.

God created us to be us. 
How radical if God said to me - you are not someone else? 
To find our highest purpose is to be in grace of His plan.
The plans of God are done by God. 
Moses didn't bring forth the Exodus - this required generations. 

When Moses finished, God provided Joshua. God helped Joshua. God helps those who loved the Lord and work according to His Purposes.




 
Remind yourself.
We want to live well doing our part. Especially  text gratitude of the good things. Good News.

God is God.  Look up. The One who Loves you is Good. Alleluia!!!

Abba, Father,

I am willing!

 I will look to You in the expectation of the adventure Life has for me. 

May God Bless us by dwelling in us.

Bless us by dwelling in those we Love.

Help us to Seek You First

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Bless us surrounding, upholding, comforting us

and Blessing us in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

May we be so blessed as to seek God first.

Blessed be the Highest Name of Jesus

for Fulfilling His Word to us.

You are Abundant Life. 

I will drink deeply of Living Water and see Love.

In Jesus I ask Your Blessings on us and look for the Victory.

 In Your Righteous, I ask for every good thing to do Your will 

for those I love and You have given me.

Bless us with Good Health. Healing. For All of Your Good Creation.

 Cover us all with Your Goodness in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Boaz 4 ~ Then Naomi

 

1900 A.D. Gate of Bethlehem

Into marvelous Light I'm running

Boaz 4

    

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. 

And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 

5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 

6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 

8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 

10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 

14 Then the women said to Naomi, 

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 

17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: 

Perez fathered Hezron, 

19 Hezron fathered Ram, 

Ram fathered Amminadab, 

20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, 

Nahshon fathered Salmon, 

21 Salmon fathered Boaz, 

Boaz fathered Obed, 

22 Obed fathered Jesse, 

and Jesse fathered David.

Italy's drought. Last year 80% of the USA Deer had Covid, died or had antibodies.

The drought may have a purpose.

The deaths they faced, in Naomi's husband and sons, was part of Naomi and Ruth's famine escape walk. The birth of Ruth and Boaz's child is a time of world need and famine. Ruth has tasted the goodness of the Lord in Ruth's family and will travel beside her.

Luke 15:3–7

Then Jesus told them this parable: 

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 

‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’"

Psalm 132 

 14 This is My resting place forever and ever; 

here I will dwell, 

for I have desired this home. 

15 I will bless her with abundant provisions; 

I will satisfy her poor with bread. 

16 I will clothe her priests with salvation, 

and her saints will sing out in joy

Some trees in drought stricken Texas,

 looked dead, have new growth at the top

and the ends of the branches.

The Trees are trying to stay with us.

Please Adopt a tree near you, a Gallon a day

saved many old trees in Memorial Park Houston

during the 2011 Drought. 

Please put out water for the wildlife.

Let's be emphatic for the Goodness of the Lord

to have His Blessing on our land.

The Mercy of Jesus Christ upon us

in His Love.

Abba, Father God,

May God Bless us by dwelling in us.

Bless us by dwelling in those we Love.

Help us to Seek You First

In Jesus Christ, we will finish well.

Bless us surrounding, upholding, comforting us

and Blessing us in the Highest Name of Jesus Christ.

May we be so blessed as to seek God first.

Blessed be the Highest Name of Jesus

for Fulfilling His Word to us.

Surround us with Your Love

and Your Mercy, we ask in Jesus.

Thank You, Father. Abba.

Mark 16:1-8 

~ they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled 

Alleluia, Jesus has the Victory.

Alleluia!

Roads of Heaven

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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