I'm going to level with you, speaking plain.

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2722788f/im-going-to-le...

There's one thing left to do - [having looked at an overview of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments], dig right in. And so I take you back to Luke's gospel, where we will pick up in chapter 6.

But first - where has Luke taken us in his gospel? This morning, I reread chapters 1 - 6 in preparation for this briefing (took about 35 minutes). In chapters 1 through 4, through prophecies given and fulfilled, angelic visits and messages, different people and settings, we see Jesus was surely born in the flesh to be the promised Savior of the world.

Jesus' Inauguration was in the waters of the Jordan River, where he was baptized by John the Baptist; and then, He was released onto the scene to heal, inform, change, challenge, teach us how to pray, upset the status quo, and love as no other. His conduct and manner were unparalleled, and his teaching oft unsettling. The Jewish leaders were already looking for a way to get rid of him--"they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus."1

Aware but undeterred, Jesus went up on a mountain "all night he continued in prayer to God."2 Apparently, one thing on Jesus' mind as he prayed was the choosing of the disciples, as when morning dawned, he called 12 disciples who would be with him until the night he was betrayed by one of them.3

But first: "Lord God, please open our minds to understand your Word. Amen."

These next verses move me greatly as I so wish I could have been there that day: "And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.4

And now in the middle of Luke chapter 6, Jesus looks around at them and says,

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."5

Context is key. We do well to understand that in Jesus' day, wealth was a sign of God's blessing. In fact, to most Jewish people the word blessing evoked images of a long life, wealth, a large, healthy family, a full barn and defeated enemies.6 After all, in large part, that had been how God taught and corrected them up to this point.

BUT now, Jesus.

This 'sermon on the plain' or on the level. has some similarities to Jesus' longer Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7; interesting that Matthew's sermon is 101 verses, where Luke's is just 29 verses. Both include the Beatitudes, and teach us so much about what God values.

Jesus looks out and around that day, probably taking in a view of the lake he loved so much, the Sea of Galilee, speaking to his newly chosen disciples and the greater crowd around them. He utters some revolutionary words - indicating that God is interested in that which lasts, not fleeting things. Our feelings and attitudes ought not be shaped by our daily circumstances, even trials, griefs or heartache, but rather our disposition toward God. Whatever befalls us, that we might honor God, and grow up in Christlike character - this is what lasts, this is how we ought live.

As with the people on that hillside with Jesus that day, we do well to remember the message behind Jesus' words: what matters most is relationship with God and a proper orientation toward daily life.

In a class I taught in Oklahoma recently, I had a quote on the front cover of the notes. It was an inexpensive little plaque that my mom had on our wall at home--which clearly had penetrated deep into my soul:

"Only one life, twill soon be past . . .

only what's done for Christ will last."

Look at the "blessed" above, then the "woes":

>Rich or poor - it is not eternal

>hungry or well fed - nope, not eternal either

>crying or laughing now - same.

>rejected now because you choose Christ's way - the rejection won't last, but your choice will; in fact, you will be rewarded for it, Jesus said.7

I close with this: Tuesday morning, I was on the treadmill at the gym, when my young friend, Gleason, happened by with vacuum in hand. A mild gentle guy, he looked up and said, 'Are you looking forward to the snow?'

'Yes, I sure am - hope the weather report is accurate, and we will get some! Are you?' 'No, I'm really not as I'm heading to Florida tomorrow.'

'Florida?'

'Yeah, I'm going down to see C.J.8 ... he's involved in starting a house church; I want to be part of it. I'm planning to move down there.'

And then he said, 'my parents don't really get it. They kinda make fun... see, they are not believers...' he stopped, not wanting to disrespect his parents.

'Gleason, how old are you?'

'Twenty,' he replied.

Gleason, C.J. - they get it. Two young men who want that which lasts, no matter that others do not 'get it', no matter what others might say. I believe Jesus is saying, "Blessed are you, Gleason and C.J., when you put me first, obey my voice, and choose that which lasts, for great will your reward in Heaven be!" hmmm, yes.

By the way, did you see the glory/the air time God got after the Notre Dame/Ohio State game? Why, these Ohio State guys are leading a revival, even baptizing students on campus!9 [Link below.]

I'm going to level with you right now: God is on the move. And you and I can choose to join him, choose what lasts - or just ride on what we enjoy today and neglect the eternal. I've made my choice . . . 'you?

Blessed are you, Gleason, for choosing the higher road...

blessed are you, Judy, who though you grieve, choose to honor God each day...

blessed are you, Nirmala, in your weakness, you serve God by serving little children...

blessed are you, _________ (your name?) for choosing to honor God each day, looking past your circumstances because 'only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.'10

Brand new song - uplifting! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnkgqh5GpoA

Level up,

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Luke 6.11

2 - Luke 6.12b

3 - and then for a bit, after Judas hangs himself, they would be 11

4 - Luke 6.17-19

5 - Luke 6.20-26

6 - Warren Wiersbe, NT Bible Commentary

7 - Luke 6.23

8 - C.J. used to work at our gym before his move south. We would talk about the Lord - well, he gets these Morning Briefings in fact. It was exciting to hear of his growing faith and courage in leadership.

9 - https://www.kosu.org/religion/2024-12-11/ohio-state-university-foot...

10 - poem by C.T. Studd