God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3.

Our numbers were few this morning in our Friday Zoom Retreat, so the four of us enjoyed talking together and wondering at the vastness of everything God has created and how we, His children, are fearfully and wonderfully made. To see, to hear, to think and remember; things that if had to be “coded” to perform would stagger us – without the gifts Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, has amply provided and made provision for. And our chapter, Luke 12, begins with a staggering number of people. Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him.” v. 1-5. And without knowing Creator God and His love, that reading would terrorize us and has terrorized many. But listen…“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” v. 6-12. The Holy Spirit teaches us! And we need teaching so we can understand things we could not understand without the Spirit helping us. A man in the crowd wants Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him and Jesus tells him He is not a judge or arbitrator over him. And He warns them all against greed. And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” v. 13-21. We think the way we have been taught or accustomed to doing in this broken world is the way things are and must always be. And yet, look how we worry about everything when “everything” is not in our personal control. I don’t know about you, but when something goes wrong, I despair and everything loses hope. The way of this world is to constantly worry about food, clothing, jobs, life itself. Listen to Jesus…“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” v. 22-32. We know well the things of this physical life we need. We don’t know what we don’t know yet, but be assured…Creator God does know. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch (9 pm. to midnight), or even in the third, (midnight to 3 a.m.), and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You, too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” v. 34-40. Jesus lived that example. He served. Are we learning from Jesus ourselves? Or are we living like those in this world who beat and hurt others with no thought for them? Do we truly want to be like them? We will all give an account to our God who loves. How are we doing? Jesus will return. And until that time? “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members of one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” v. 49-53. Jesus compares knowing the signs in weather we come to know, but questions why we can’t analyze the present time? And living in present times, make every effort to settle accounts with others who would hand you over to be tried and then be thrown into jail, “I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.” v. 54-59. What is the “last cent” we will one day pay? How about all the things we now believe about God that are not what God is? Jesus the Son, Creator God, is teaching them and us because He loves us and knows the sorrows we bring on ourselves and others. Blessed are those whom God will find on the alert when He comes; truly I say to you, that He will gird Himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. The marriage supper of the Lamb. Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready….Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:7, 9. How could we possibly know without Creator God revealing them to us? Why would He reveal them unless His desire is for our good given in His love for us?