Luke 5:12-26
Luke 5:12-26
The goal of life is godliness… spiritual maturity > mere spiritual activity. Spiritual maturity means to think like Jesus, act like Jesus, love like Jesus. Spiritual activity - church, studying Scripture, prayer - are important vehicles to get there but cannot be the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is and must be Jesus.
What lengths will you go to in order to experience Jesus? What lengths will you go to in order that others may experience Jesus?
These are two of the most important questions to be answered in our lives. In our text we see this played out…
THE LEPER (v.12-16)
According to societal rules and norms he should have never gone up to Jesus. Jesus was a famous teacher. He was an outcast. They even had separate living quarters from everyone else - sent there to die. In their society lepers didn’t have hope.
He could have let this stop him. He could have used this as an excuse. He could have used his burdens as an excuse but he didn’t. He fell on his face and begged Jesus. Jesus met him where he was and cared for him.
He fought for his time with Jesus. He fought to experience life with Him. He went to great lengths. And not just for a one time experience but a life changing experience.
What lengths will you go to in order to experience Jesus?
THE FRIENDS (v.17-26)
Not only does Jesus want to pursue our relationship with Him personally, He wants us to fight to bring others into His presence.
We see this with these friends. When all of their options seemed to be closed, they did all they could to get their friend to Jesus. They lowered him through a ceiling. Have you ever asked… “Why?” The reason they fought so hard to get their friend to Jesus is because they genuinely believed Jesus could change his life.
Jesus wants us to fight to bring others to Him. We do this through sharing with them the message of the gospel - the source of life change.
What lengths will you go to in order that others may experience Jesus?
These two questions are so valuable for us. They show our heart for Jesus and for others. They help us live out the first and second greatest commandment found in Matthew 22… Love God and love others.
Questions:
By: Nick Parsons
The goal of life is godliness… spiritual maturity > mere spiritual activity. Spiritual maturity means to think like Jesus, act like Jesus, love like Jesus. Spiritual activity - church, studying Scripture, prayer - are important vehicles to get there but cannot be the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is and must be Jesus.
What lengths will you go to in order to experience Jesus? What lengths will you go to in order that others may experience Jesus?
These are two of the most important questions to be answered in our lives. In our text we see this played out…
THE LEPER (v.12-16)
According to societal rules and norms he should have never gone up to Jesus. Jesus was a famous teacher. He was an outcast. They even had separate living quarters from everyone else - sent there to die. In their society lepers didn’t have hope.
He could have let this stop him. He could have used this as an excuse. He could have used his burdens as an excuse but he didn’t. He fell on his face and begged Jesus. Jesus met him where he was and cared for him.
He fought for his time with Jesus. He fought to experience life with Him. He went to great lengths. And not just for a one time experience but a life changing experience.
What lengths will you go to in order to experience Jesus?
THE FRIENDS (v.17-26)
Not only does Jesus want to pursue our relationship with Him personally, He wants us to fight to bring others into His presence.
We see this with these friends. When all of their options seemed to be closed, they did all they could to get their friend to Jesus. They lowered him through a ceiling. Have you ever asked… “Why?” The reason they fought so hard to get their friend to Jesus is because they genuinely believed Jesus could change his life.
Jesus wants us to fight to bring others to Him. We do this through sharing with them the message of the gospel - the source of life change.
What lengths will you go to in order that others may experience Jesus?
These two questions are so valuable for us. They show our heart for Jesus and for others. They help us live out the first and second greatest commandment found in Matthew 22… Love God and love others.
Questions:
- How are you growing in your relationship with Jesus? Are you fighting to be in His presence? Or does laziness more define your relationship with Jesus right now?
- Who are you praying for in your life? How can you take a step with them this week to help them experience Jesus?
By: Nick Parsons
1 Comment
Great questions to wrestle with today. Thank you Nick!