Luke 12:1-12 - Transformed Living

Jesus began to instruct His disciples at a time when the crowds that followed Him swelled. Luke 12:1 tells us that they were literally stepping on each other. Though His words were meant to assure His disciples, He allowed the crowds to listen in. Keep in mind that He was moving toward Jerusalem to face His impending death and the opposition against Him was mounting. He wanted them to stay on the task even after His earthly life with them was terminated. Luke 12:1-12, though spoken to His disciples, are also meant for us today. We need to feel His assurance in our daily living as well. There are at least six encouragements and instructions for us.

Be truthful. Don't live like hypocrites. That's the Lord's warning. Here He called it the leaven of the Pharisees. It has a corrupting influence. Just be real. Why? Because every word spoken, every action done and even every intention, would come to light ultimately.

Be bold. Don't be afraid of persecution. God has the final authority. Man may destroy the physical bodies but only God has the ultimate say in where man would end up. He alone has the power to cast a person to face the ultimate condemnation.

Be assured. Don't be overly concerned about personal safety. God cares more for us than we ever know. If He even cares about His lesser creation such as sparrows, He would certainly care about us, His highest creation. We don't even know the number of hairs on our head but He does. He knows every single hair on our heads. So don't be overly concerned.

Be steadfast. Don't be unfaithful. Stay trusting. The Lord will stand with every one of His faithful ones. Yes including us. If we dare to stand for Him in tough times, He will stand with us in our final accounting before God.

Be sensitive. Don't offend the Holy Spirit. His guidance is liberating. It's a serious matter to deny the personal work of the Holy Spirit in one's life. He is the one who illuminates and reveals. How could a person know the Son of Man when the work of the Holy Spirit in his or her personal life is denied? Without that knowledge of the Son of Man, one would be eternally condemned. Learn to walk between the two guiding posts found in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 and Ephesians 4:30. Do not quench the Spirit's guidance and do not grieve His instruction. Quenching the Holy Spirit has to do with not doing the things we know He is leading us to do. Grieving the Holy Spirit is doing things when He clearly shows us not to do. Walking anywhere between these two instruction will keep us from offending the Holy Spirit.

Be dependent. Don't be overly concerned on how to defend our faith. When our defence is called for before any hostile authority, the Holy Spirit will be there with us. He will enable us to speak the right word to answer any accusation. Just stay dependent.

How do we live in a world full of disbelieving people? We are called to be authentic. Truths are not just for us to know but also to live. When opposition mounts and it gets harder to be real, what should we do? Pray that what Christ said to His disciples would also be our guiding principles. Let's live the transformed life.