1. Luke 16:1-12 The Parable of the Unjust Steward
I should give as
much care to my future as much as evil works for its future.
I've always heard the term that evil never sleeps. Going off the lines of this, we should never let our guard down even for a minute. The moment we do evil can take another step forward. This can be applied in terms of the world or in our personal lives.
2. Luke 16:19-31 The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
I need to go to
the temple often in order to give people in spirit prison a chance to accept
the gospel.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints builds temples. They are our most sacred buildings because they are completely dedicated to God. People will volunteer many hours to work in the temple. In the temple, we do ordinances. One of them is baptisms for the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:29). This means a living person is baptized in the place of another that has died. We do this because many people have died without baptism. We give them a chance to accept the gospel and repent. In Mark 12:27 it says that God is a God of the living and not the dead so why should we worry about the dead? John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Those that accept baptism, whether you're alive or dead, accept Jesus Christ as the Savior. If you accept Jesus Christ, then you will live even though you die. Many people didn't accept Jesus Christ in this life and are now dead spiritually and physically so in the temples, we are giving them the chance to live again. Because God is a God of the living and not the dead. He loves all of his children, no matter how far we have strayed and will always offer us a second chance.
3. Luke 17:11-19 The Ten Lepers
What Christ requires is more than an outward
cleansing,. He invites us to cleanse our
souls too.
This one is one of my favorite parables. Ten lepers are healed, but in the excitement of being healed only one finds Jesus to thank him. Only one had a physical cleansing as well as a cleansing inside. Jesus healed many people, but only a few understood that he could forgive them and make them clean of sin. He can't force us to change, we have to do that on our own. The one leper showed gratitude and gave credit where it was due and in the process had a change of heart.
4. Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Unjust Judge
If I will pray, it will help me not be discouraged.
A constant prayer will help you keep a positive attitude and have faith that things will work out. I've been thinking how far off the world is right now and it's hard to be positive and it doesn't seem like there are very many good people out there anymore. I recently went to my first MLB game. We took the train to the game and it was packed. A man gave up his seat for a woman standing. I didn't know the guy, but I want to be like that and it helped me know that there are good people in the world still.
5. Luke 18:9-14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican
If I’m not careful pride will pull me down without me
even realizing it.
I don't remember ever reading this parable before. It's interesting because the Pharisees are supposedly the most holy of the holy. but their pride had taken over and they were very self-righteous. The Publicans weren't popular and everyone viewed them as sinners. They both prayed. Just listen to the difference in the prayers,
Pharisee: "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
Publican: "God be merciful to me a sinner."
The difference was the publican saw and understood that he was, a sinner. We all are sinners and should pray like he did. The Pharisee was exalting himself and thanking God that he wasn't like other men. Pride is sneaky and I'm probably full of it. It can happen without you noticing. I pray I'll recognize my own pride.
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