For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

Luke 16:1-13

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

No one can serve two masters. 

You cannot serve both God and money.

Why?

Using the property to help people, when one day the money is useless such as in Heaven, for the love to the needy may get eternal life in Heaven.

To be a servant of the Lord, we must serve the Lord honestly, it is impossible to serve both. If so it will fail in both services.

From very little to watch a man could be trusted or not. The small job can reflect one's heart and capability.

How?

Be a good servant of the Lord, and obey the word of Jesus with a good attitude and manner.

You are always with me, and everything I have is yours; this brother of yours was dead and is alive again

Luke 15:1-32

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Why?

Jesus loves everyone the righteous or the sinner. The kingdom of the Lord belongs to the righteous men. But if the sinner repented and he was dead and is alive again in Spirit, All of us should rejoice his return.

It is uneasy the son went out and came back safe and sound.  

So when the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. Jesus hopes they can repent like the lost sheep come back, should be rejoice.

The love of the Lord comes down to everyone in the world and allows everyone to repent, if they don't they will face the consequences of sins.

These are the grace of the Lord that comes upon us. We all are this son, we are sinners and against our heavenly father.

Don't envy or hate any other who doesn't like me.

How?

Be aware I belong to the Lord, but my heart my way and my word have to obey the word of Jesus.

whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

Luke 14:15-35

The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’  Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Why?

Anyone who rejected the gospel could not get a taste of God's banquet. those are no share in the kingdom of the Lord.

To be a disciple of Jesus have to carry his cross and follow Jesus. It is hard work to follow Jesus, the reward is not in this world but in the kingdom of the Lord.

To be a Christian should live out the smell of perfume or light to shine on others, if it is nothing and no one knows it is in vain to be a Christian, and he will be discarded outside.

It is uneasy to be a real Christian, carry our own cross, and follow Jesus.

How?

Am I a salt in my living environment? Can I stop the corruption and embarrassment (shame things)?

All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted

 Luke 14:1-14

Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. 

Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” And they had nothing to say.

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Why?

The Pharisees and experts in the law have the decision, not matter Jesus what says, they try to get the evidence of Jesus against the laws.

Be humble and will be raised at the right time. Don't care about our title but do the right things at the right time.

Doing mercy to others and not wanting the feedback or getting something back, including the honor or gifts. The Lord, our Father in heaven will reward us in his time. We love others is not want to get the feedback, but get the reward in heaven.

How?

Be humble before men, and love others for God loves me.

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door

Luke 13:22-35

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.

Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.

He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Why?

Earlier accepted Jesus as a Christian, but on the last day, it isn't able to enter the gate of God's kingdom. The gate of the kingdom of God is narrow and hard to enter, if we don't care what we are doing, even if we worship the Lord every Sunday in the church, it is not guaranteed to enter the kingdom of the Lord.

Jesus claimed he would be in Jerusalem and he would be killed there to get his goal to this world.

This city Jerusalem would be desolate until they say "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord", until they recognize Jesus Christ is the Lord.

How?

Do my best to enter the kingdom of God, this is a job of my whole life, it is a daily mission to me.

What is the kingdom of God like?

Luke 13:1-21

When someone criticized the Galileans to Jesus. Jesus said: But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 

 ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

“What is the kingdom of God like?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Why?

Repent is more important than doing anything, all people will perish unless repent their sins through Jesus Christ.

The Sabbath is not a day for memory or worship but shows the love of the Lord to needy people.

What is the kingdom of God like? In the kingdom of God is easy to let people turn to the Lord and the life growing up, like yeast and mustard seeds to grow up.

If our church or our life cannot honor the Name of the Lord, it is useless and could be cut off.

How?

Can I witness the glory of the Lord in my life? May the Holy Spirit help me!

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him

Luke 12:35-59

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

Why?

Jesus brings no peace but division. Because people have different responses they divide into different parts and against each other.

To be a good servant before the Lord, for the Lord will return at we unexpected time.

The unexpected time is our lazy time, relaxation time, and living in the dark world.

Watchful in this generation and this world.

How?

Prepare my heart, prepare my devotion to the Lord, and give my love to others for all I have is the mercy of the Lord.