Luke 13

Who in your life is God inviting you to continue to invest in?

“leave it alone” – áphes – to permit, forgive, pardon.

“Father, forgive (áphes) them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

“If it bears fruit next year, well and good but if not, you can cut it down.” – Luke 13:9

“My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused “My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger.” – Hosea 11:8-9

“Who then is the one who condemns. No one “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

“…For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:34-35, 37-39

“God the Father is that lucky to have such a loveable son…He does not come to see if we are good: he comes to disturb the caked conventions by which we pretend to be good…He comes only to forgive. For free. For nothing…We are saved gratis, by grace. We do nothing and we deserve nothing, it is all, absolutely and without qualification, one huge, hilarious gift.” – Robert Farrar Capon

Isaiah 55

“Come, all you who are thirsty,     come to the waters; and you who have no money,     come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk     without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,     and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,     and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me;     listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you,     my faithful love promised to David.” – Isaiah 55:1-3

“The question strikes at the heart of why we would invest so much in forms of life that cannot work. Why work so hard and so long in ways that give no satisfaction, why give life over to the demands and rewards of the empire that yield nothing of value in return? As an alternative to the junk food of the empire, Israel is summoned to listen, as are we, to the offer of the rich food of the kingdom of God.” – Walter Bruggemann

“Stop! Drink water. You are thirsty, whether you realize it or not.”

“Are you tired. Worn out. Burned out on religion. Come to me “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39