{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Christ Covenant Church","title":"Journaling: Luke 18-21","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3973,"description":"Jesus doesn’t want faithful Christians to become lazy or discouraged in continuing to ask God to mete out justice against false Christians who persecute them since such prayers will lead to a speedy fulfillment (18:1-8a; See context in 17:22-25 = Faithful Christians are the audience).\nJesus suggests that there will not be many faithful Christians in existence at the time of His return (18:8b; Mat 24:12).\nNo one wb justified before God who does not confess and repent of their sins and submit themselves in full obedience to God and His justice (18:9-14 = The Pharisees were lawless hypocrites – Mat 23:28; “twice a week” [δις του σαββατου] = twice on the Sabbath; “humbles himself” = Confesses, repents and obediently submits – Jam 4:6-10).\nChildren of covenant members belong to (and are valuable to) Jesus. Hence the reason special provision is made for their baptism/early entrance into the “kingdom of God” (18:15-16).\nChild-like trust in God – not experience in the world or wickedness, is the key to appreciating Him and His kingdom (18:17; “receive” = Welcome or appreciate – Mar 6:11; Joh 4:45).\nSalvation/eternal life requires maintaining the salvation/covenant relationship we gained, thru faithful obedience to ALL of God’s commands (18:18-23 = Though this covenant Jew kept most of God’s commands, he ignored/refused to obey God’s command to care for the covenant poor [Deu 15:7-8], and therefore would not being inheriting eternal life).\nBeing wealthy is a curse since few wealthy people get to heaven outside of God’s exceptional mercy (18:23-27).\nThose who submit their entire lives (including their loyalties to family and possessions) to the Lordship (control/will) of Jesus will: 1) lose (or forego) things in this life (18:28), 2) receive back – both in this life and the life to come, things much more valuable than what they gave up (18:29-30; 2Co 4:17-18).\nLiving your life for God will oftentimes get you mistreated and not be immediately understood by others –...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/UXGjftzm8Yw--IISwUKe6A6-CX1YtARptisfLmFJFoI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81Zjc4/MmNmNTMxZjNmOTgw/YjA1NWRhYmMxMTNl/YmE1Zi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}