Jesus invited everyone to come and taste the kingdom of God. But he also drew boundaries. Notice these statements from Jesus as recorded by Luke:

Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division (Luke 12:50).

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to (Luke 13:24).

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples (Luke 14:33).

Following Jesus involves giving up everything. Ponder a bit on that idea. This involves possessions, career, and financial plans, but doesn’t stop there. His ask soaks to the core of my being. Surrender of self-will to his will. Letting Jesus have his way, whatever that means. Everything strikes me uniquely.

Jesus didn’t give a two-tier call, where the saintly enter the narrow door and the rest shuffle through the turnstiles of heaven. As I read, there’s only one door, and it’s narrow.

Make every effort to enter.

Luke 12, 13 & 14 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Filip Kominik

When discussing the role of money in our lives, a friend once honestly remarked, I don’t love money…but I do love stuff, and I need more money to get more stuff! I believe many of us would agree with his sentiment.

Jesus spoke of values surrounding wealth—you cannot serve God and money. A group of Pharisees in the audience, holding a philosophy similar to my friend, sneered at Jesus. How naive. Jesus turned and responded, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Money and the stuff it buys, power and position, places of honor, attention—these the Pharisees loved. Yet God despised their values.

Which leads me to wonder—what do I think of highly that God actually detests?

Money, the use of money, the temptation to think more money will solve all my problems springs forth. Like the religious leaders surrounding Jesus, I value position, attention, pride of place. Values this world fuels with intensely narcissistic fires.

I need to pause and examine if I’m holding values that God not only finds distasteful, but actually loathes. Perhaps then I may move out of the detestable zone into a more humble region of God’s pleasure.

Luke 16 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by freestocks

The story of the Gibeonites fascinates me. These were the guys who dressed in old clothes and worn out sandals, filled cracked saddle bags with moldy bread and convinced Israel’s leaders they traveled from a distant land to sign a peace treaty.

A few days after the ceremony Joshua discovered the ruse. The Gibeonites lived one valley over and cooked up the scheme to save their skins. Who can blame them? Honoring his pledge, Joshua let them live.

When questioned about their deception they replied, your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

The Gibeonites developed a fear and respect for the Lord and his people. They heard the stories and believed. Like Rahab the prostitute in Jericho, they turned toward the Lord rather than away. They took God at his word and acted accordingly.

It seems that faith doesn’t need to be lined up perfectly in order to be effective. A little faith in the right place makes all the difference. Which is hopeful for those of us who never seem to get it all right all the time.

Joshua 9 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Oziel Gómez

Jesus leaned toward Peter, warning him of severe testing headed his way. Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.

I’m taken back by the fact the Jesus and Satan regularly communicated. Of course, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, but apparently the conversation continued. Then I remember Job, another man Satan sifted like wheat.

Jesus prayed for Simon Peter, for a return to faith after failure and a resolve to serve his fellow believers from a new, humbled position. Peter indeed returned and served and led, all the way to his martyrdom in Rome.

Jesus’s prayer for Peter during his sifting brings to mind three prayers to practice today:

First, pray for each other as we endure sifting. Pray especially for spiritual leaders and those pursuing the Lord. Satan sifted Peter, attacked Job and tempted Jesus. We live in a spiritual battle zone, where violent shaking occurs regularly.

Second, Peter suffered crucifixion, and the list of martyrs grows to this day. In many countries people face hostility simply for their faith in Jesus. Estimates vary widely, but on the low end 100 people a week are murdered throughout the world. Pray for these men, women and children to endure in the face of persecution.

Third, as Jesus restored Peter after his three denials, pray for our restoration as well. Pray for Jesus to touch even the hardest kernels of doubt and mistrust. Pray for his touch in the lives of friends and family who’ve walked away from the faith. Ask Jesus to restore as he restored Peter.

Sifting—tests of our faith—certainly arise. But thanks be to Jesus, who walks with us through such trials and waits to restore each of us when we emerge.

Luke 22 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by TUAN ANH TRAN