Luke 7 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Luke 7:12,13

As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, “Don’t cry.”

This is part of an account of Jesus raising someone from the dead; He raised 3 people: Lazarus, Jairus’s daughter, and this man. What’s interesting to me about this account is it doesn’t mention this man’s faith, nor the faith of those around him. It doesn’t speak of anyone asking Christ to raise him, nor pleading with Christ for mercy. Don’t get me wrong; faith, belief, and coming to Christ for mercy are paramount in our walk with Him. But we must never forget one of the truths this account teaches us; it’s all about Him and who He is!

He is the Compassionate Christ, willing to die for our sins. He is the only One who could bring peace with God to a fallen world. This account speaks about His heart for the dead and the pain it leaves behind. It speaks of His willingness and action in the midst of our despair and heartache. It speaks of a God who did not come to condemn the world but save the world through Himself. It is a beautiful and powerful reminder of the God we serve and the heart He has for us.

Yes, we are called to live a holy life, set apart from this world, but we are not above this world or anyone in it. He is the only reason that we are even able to look up to Heaven with confidence and peace. He gives us that confidence and security when we give our lives over to Him. So today, are we willing to let go of what little we have in order to experience and be filled with all that He has for us?

Psalm 23:5- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

God bless! I love you all, but His love is the only way, so let’s walk in it! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Luke 7:22

So, he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Growing up, people always used to ask, “who is your hero?” It always made me uncomfortable because I didn’t have one. I had people I looked up to or loved, but none of them were hero status to me. Then I met Jesus Christ, and I realized He had been my hero all along! He ran into the burning building that was my life and carried me on His shoulders to freedom and true salvation! Because of Jesus, I can look in the mirror and not hate what I see. I see a sinner saved by grace and covered by the Blood of God’s Son!

Last night, I was praying and thinking about all these different miracles Jesus performed on different people, and the Holy Spirit revealed to me that He performed them all on me as well!! I was blinded by pride, and He opened my eyes with His humility! I was lame, and He taught me how to walk in the Spirit! My leprosy was a heroin addiction, and He cleansed and restored me to my family! I couldn’t or wouldn’t listen to anything or anyone until His kindness opened my ears! I was dead and rotting in my sins until He reached in the grave and said, “This one is Mine!”

The best news I ever heard was that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, not to condemn them, and guess what? I am a sinner who needed a Savior, and He found me right in my mess!!!

In case you don’t know Him, I would like to introduce you to my Hero. His name is Jesus Christ, He saved me, and He will save you too!!! All you have to do is ask, because trust me, He wants to be your Hero too!!!

Be saved, Be forgiven, Be redeemed, Be restored, and allow Christ to rescue you from the fire!

I love you all, God bless, and glory to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Luke 7:24-26

After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.”

If Jesus held a press conference, what would He say about you? This is how Jesus described His faithful follower John the Baptist. How would He describe us? If He were here addressing the crowds about us, what would He say? Would He speak of our devotion to Him, our undying love and unyielding faith? Or would it be more of a time of chastisement and rebuke? Make no mistake, this walk with Christ is not performance-based, but we are called to walk before Him humbly, faithfully, and obediently.

John was not a sinless man; he was a fallen man just like you and me, yet Christ commends him for his unwillingness to be blown about or shaken in his faith. John’s life was not perfect or easy, yet he served Christ faithfully; will we?

I want to live a life filled with His Presence and one that puts a smile on His face. He has saved me from the pit of hell and taken me to heights I would never have known without Him. He has brought me into His confidence and shared His great truth with me. He has called me from dwelling in the dungeon of darkness to living a lavish life of love in His light! Today, I am grateful that He calls me His own and that He desires for me to know and be known by Him more and more.

He spared us from Hell by hanging on that tree and being raised to life with our victory in His mighty hand! That is why I want to serve Him more today than I did yesterday. Not to earn more rewards but to honor the God who gave me everything I never had and everything I could ever need in Him! So, I ask again if Jesus held a press conference, what would He say about you?

1 Peter 2:10-12- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

God bless! I love you all, but His love brought us from our deep depths to His glorious heights! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Luke 7:37,38

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

This woman is clearly a sinner, unworthy of the feet she is washing, and yet she is received wholeheartedly by the King! Christ not only acknowledges that she is a sinner but forgives her and sends her home in peace. Peace with God and peace within herself. What an amazing God we serve! To know that He would allow and even welcome sinners to come broken to His feet, where they could find healing and forgiveness is almost beyond belief.

Who are we that He would welcome us so intimately and so freely? What have we done to deserve such an honor as to find our rest at His feet? In this story, the self-righteous Pharisee is shamed at his own party, and the broken-hearted, uninvited worshipper of God is praised. This helps us see the heart our Lord is after, not one that can check every religious box but the one that is not ashamed or above coming broken to His feet.

We too must come broken to His feet. Just like this lady, we will find our freedom, healing, and forgiveness at the feet of Christ. At end of this story, Jesus tells her to go in peace; in order to go, she must rise. So she starts at His feet, but then He raises her to hers and sends her on her way in peace. We too must start at His feet, but He will raise us up in Him and send us out in true peace. Peace not given nor defined by the world but peace that was bought through the blood of Christ and given to all who call Him Lord!

Luke 7:50-Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

James 4:10- Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

God bless! I love you all, but His love is calling to you and me today; will we respond? Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

Luke 7:40-43

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

I don’t know about you, but I am more like the man who owed 500 than the man who owed 50. My debt was insurmountable, engulfing me, consuming me, and destroying me. The hole I dug was so deep that the light of day barely trickled in. The snares of my sins entangled me; they coiled around my neck, squeezing ever tighter day by day. Instead of getting better, I grew worse. I fell farther and farther from the truth and deeper into the lies of this world and the enemy of our souls. He had me in his clutches and wouldn’t let go, but my God is more than enough!

He reached into that pit. He washed me with His precious blood. He set my feet on the solid Rock. He gave me a new name, purpose, and plan! My God would not be denied. He said, “This one is mine and I have paid for him!” This same God who saved me can and will save you. His arm is not too short, His power not limited by anything nor anyone, His love so powerful and far-reaching not even the grave can hold it back!

It is good for us to remember just how much He saved us from. How far He has brought us in Him, not for our glory but for His. It helps us to remain grateful when we remember just how lost we were before He set us free. I was literally incapable of saving or changing myself. I had no hope until Hope Himself came rushing in!

Jesus says that our love will be directly effected by our perception of how much we have been forgiven. If we think we have been forgiven little, we will love little, but if we know we have been forgiven of much, we will love much. Truth be told, everyone’s debt was bigger than they could handle, so each one of us should have a love that reflects that truth and honors the Lord, the Redeemer of our souls! Not one of us had the bank account big enough to pay for even one of our sins, but Jesus did, and He paid it all for you and me. Will we love Him today?

Thank You, Jesus, for saving a wretch like me!

Luke 7:47- Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Psalm 40:1-3- For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him.

God bless! I love you all, but His love is worthy of all we have, all we are, and all we can give! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!