{"id":2297,"date":"2021-05-02T18:30:06","date_gmt":"2021-05-03T01:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2297"},"modified":"2021-05-01T22:50:47","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T05:50:47","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Luke Ch. 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Luke Ch. 17 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-4)\u00a0<\/span>According to Jesus,\u00a0<\/span>there are two key areas\u00a0<\/span>that we should\u00a0<\/span>be mindful about:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Do not temp<\/span><\/b>t<\/span><\/b>\u00a0others<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>To cause someone to stumble generally refers to weakening\u00a0<\/span>that person\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>faith<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>distracting him<\/span>\/her<\/span>\u00a0from God<\/span>\u00a0or caus<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0him\/her<\/span>\u00a0to sin<\/span>. There are many temptations in our life that could cause us to\u00a0<\/span>sin<\/span>\u00a0and Jesus said\u00a0<\/span>such things\u00a0<\/span>are sure to come<\/span>. However,<\/span>\u00a0we\u00a0<\/span>shall not\u00a0<\/span>allow\u00a0<\/span>temptations\u00a0<\/span>to come through us<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that could\u00a0<\/span>make others stumble\u00a0<\/span>because the Lord says,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIt would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0This means that even if you\u00a0<\/span>may be afflicted<\/span>, it\u00a0<\/span>would still be\u00a0<\/span>better than you to<\/span>\u00a0cause others to sin<\/span>. So how do we avoid “<\/span>being tempted by others<\/span>”\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>“<\/span>tempting others<\/span>“? We\u00a0<\/span>will have to\u00a0<\/span>hold on to God’s Word,\u00a0<\/span>to be reconciled\u00a0<\/span>with Jesus<\/span>, and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>abid<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0in the Lord. We will let\u00a0<\/span>God\u00a0<\/span>lead us\u00a0<\/span>in our decision-making process in our lives and our actions, discernments, etc.\u00a0<\/span>Romans 12:2<\/span>\u00a0states,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0The\u00a0<\/span>more we know God\u2019s will, the better we can stand firm!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Can you think of any other i<\/span>deas (that would avoid tempting others or being tempted by others)<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>May God help us<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Forgive Always<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>any\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>teachings\u00a0<\/span>of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>recorded in the Bible\u00a0<\/span>place great emphasis on the importance of forgiveness.\u00a0<\/span>In this passage,\u00a0<\/span>Jesus said:<\/span>\u00a0\u201cIf your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.\u201d\u00a0 If someone offends you or commits a crime, you\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>need to talk to him and encourage him to repent, and forgive him if he repents.\u00a0<\/span>Quite often the reason why\u00a0<\/span>we are not able to forgive\u00a0<\/span>others\u00a0<\/span>is because we\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>cling<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0to someone\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>faults<\/span>\u00a0(sins) and are not willing to let go of them.\u00a0<\/span>The opposite of forgiveness is resentment. It\u00a0<\/span>is easy to understand that if there is “<\/span>resentment<\/span>” in\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0heart<\/span>s<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>we will no longer be happy, which would bring more hurt to ourselves<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>eventually. Sometimes people have no clue about why things went wrong or how they offended us.\u00a0<\/span>More importantly, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>said:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/b>(Matthew 6:14-15)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Can you think of anyone that y<\/span>ou need to forgive<\/span>\u00a0lately<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/b>Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(Colossians 3:13)<\/span>\u00a0Let<\/span>\u00a0us learn to be more willing to forgive people!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    (vv.\u00a0<\/span>5<\/span>–<\/span>10<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0Through\u00a0<\/span>reading\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>apostles<\/span>‘ request to<\/span>\u00a0the Lord<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIncrease our faith\u201d<\/span>\u00a0and Jesus’ response<\/span>\u00a0using the parable of \u201c<\/span>useless (or unworthy) servants<\/span>\u201d<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>let us think about\u00a0<\/span>the relationship between\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>faith and<\/span>\u00a0servi<\/span>ce<\/span>\u201d<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Our ministry is a great way to exercise our faith.\u00a0<\/span>As we serve by faith, knowing f<\/span>or whom our services are for, we will have the right perspective for our ministry.<\/span>\u00a0First,\u00a0<\/span>you\u00a0<\/span>will not overestimate our ability or the value of\u00a0<\/span>you<\/span>r<\/span>\u00a0work<\/span>\u00a0nor will you underestimate yourself\u00a0<\/span>because you know that it’s God who\u00a0<\/span>works<\/span>!\u00a0<\/span>Therefore,\u00a0<\/span>even if\u00a0<\/span>we see ourselves as useless, the Lord sees us as faithful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let us<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fix our eyes on God<\/span>\u00a0and get<\/span>\u00a0ready to serve<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Him.\u00a0<\/span>God will enable us to\u00a0<\/span>see\u00a0<\/span>great things through our faith!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    (vv. 11-19)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Of the ten\u00a0<\/span>lepers\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>had been\u00a0<\/span>healed, only one\u00a0<\/span>came back\u00a0<\/span>to thank Jesus and give glory to God. Amazingly, it’s a Samaritan who\u00a0<\/span>returned with gratitude!<\/span>\u00a0A<\/span>s he returned with gratitude,\u00a0<\/span>he received more\u00a0<\/span>blessings\u00a0<\/span>from Jesus than the other nine\u00a0<\/span>lepers\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0healed<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Jesus said to th<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0Samaritan,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Your faith has made you well.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0This\u00a0<\/span>declaration<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>more precious than\u00a0<\/span>the actual\u00a0<\/span>healing he<\/span>\u00a0had<\/span>\u00a0receive<\/span>d<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Brothers and sisters,\u00a0<\/span>when we are seeking God for something, are we acting just like these\u00a0<\/span>ten\u00a0<\/span>lepers who\u00a0<\/span>shout<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/b>Jesus,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Master, have mercy on us.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Have you ever expressed\u00a0<\/span>gratitude to<\/span>ward<\/span>\u00a0God\u00a0<\/span>after having experienced\u00a0<\/span>his salvation and help? Or\u00a0<\/span>have you disregarded it? May\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0be like this Samaritan who returned with gratitude and g<\/span>a<\/span>ve glory to God<\/span>. Likewise, we can\u00a0<\/span>experience more<\/span>\u00a0blessings<\/span>\u00a0from God! Don’t be like those nine people who\u00a0<\/span>were healed\u00a0<\/span>b<\/span>ut\u00a0<\/span>ung<\/span>rateful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Does this mean God want<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0us to be grateful? Of course! Note that Jesus asked,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhere are the nine?\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0The truth is God\u00a0<\/span>deserves all our worship, praise, gratitude, reverence, servi<\/span>ce, and so on<\/span>. N<\/span>ot only\u00a0<\/span>because He saves, helps,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>blesses us, but\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>because He is the True\u00a0<\/span>Almighty God<\/span>! He deserves\u00a0<\/span>all the\u00a0<\/span>\u201c\u2026<\/span><\/b>power and wealth and wisdom, and might, and honor and glory and blessings<\/span><\/b>1\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0(Revelation 5:12) because\u00a0<\/span>He is Worthy!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    (vv. 20-37)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This passage contains the following key points about the\u00a0<\/span>K<\/span>ingdom of God and the<\/span>\u00a0second\u00a0<\/span>coming\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0the Lord:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The\u00a0<\/span><\/b>K<\/span><\/b>ingdom of God is in the heart of man:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0It is clear that\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>K<\/span>ingdom of God<\/span>\u00a0is in\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0midst<\/span>. Who\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>on your mind<\/span>? Who is the one that reigns? Wh<\/span>ose\u00a0<\/span>Kingdom do you belong to?\u00a0<\/span>Let’s\u00a0<\/span>abide\u00a0<\/span>in the Lord!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. The day of the Lord’s coming will suddenly come:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Jesus<\/span>\u00a0mentioned in the days of\u00a0<\/span>Noah and\u00a0<\/span>Lot to explain the days\u00a0<\/span>of His coming again<\/span>. It will be a day\u00a0<\/span>that no one can\u00a0<\/span>calculate and\u00a0<\/span>on a normal day while all is busy, the Lord will suddenly come<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. T<\/span><\/b>he judgment will come\u00a0<\/span><\/b>o<\/span><\/b>n the<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>day of the Lord’s\u00a0<\/span><\/b>coming<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>After\u00a0<\/span>Noah entered the Ark and\u00a0<\/span>Lot<\/span>\u00a0fled the city of Sodom, all\u00a0<\/span>other\u00a0<\/span>people were\u00a0<\/span>then\u00a0<\/span>destroyed.\u00a0<\/span>Similar, t<\/span>he return of Jesus will be the day when all mankind will be judged!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Therefore, we should\u00a0<\/span>be prepared and be watchful. Do not procrastinate\u00a0<\/span>for world<\/span>ly matters. Let us earnestly look\u00a0<\/span>forward to the\u00a0<\/span>second coming of the Lord<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2297"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2298,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2297\/revisions\/2298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}