I love reading the Gospel of Luke.  However, I don’t think that I ever remember paying attention to Luke 12:35 until now.

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.  Luke 12:35

What an amazing reminder of our calling.  Disciples are not just disciples on Sunday morning or when it’s convenient to serve.  Followers of Christ are ready at a moments notice to give an account of the grace that Christ has shown them and be a witness to others.  What a great reminder to us all that we never know when Christ will return and we won’t have another opportunity to share the Good News.  May the light of Christ in us burning brightly and may we be ready to share it at any moment.

The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke the Physician.  He comes across in his writing as a detailed person.  However, there are four words that jump out to me in today’s section of scripture.  In the chapter three Luke speaks about John the Baptist and then tells the story of Jesus’ baptism by John.  He then begins to give account of the lineage of Jesus – to give proof that Jesus is the Messiah.  Just as he begins the list of men from Jesus back to Adam, Luke says, “He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph.” (Luke 3:23)  What?  Did Luke not know for sure that Joseph was Jesus’ earthly father?  Maybe this gives us indication that Joseph really wasn’t there or was dead by the time Jesus began his ministry.  It’s obvious that Joseph isn’t mentioned in the Gospels past Jesus’ childhood, but we never know exactly what happens to him.  I just find the words, “…so it was thought…” to be a little odd.   If Luke is supposed to be a details kind of guy and he is about to go down the person-by-person lineage of Jesus, surely he should know that Joseph was part of that lineage.

I’m jumping back to a verse that was in the section of scripture two days ago.  I’ve never noticed it before.  I read it the other day to my mom, but forgot to mention it in the that day’s blog.  She commented that she had never noticed it before either.  Mark 3:25 says, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannon stand.”  (also in Matthew 12:25)  Most people would say that these are the words of Abraham Lincoln.  He did uses these words in one of his most famous speeches as he accepted the Republican nomination for the race in Illinois for Senate on June 16, 1858.  He was quoting this scripture and using it to describe the rift that was forming in our nation over slavery.  Lincoln was a good leader of our country…many people look up to him even today.  I’m just glad that he looked up to Jesus.