March 29 - Luke 20: Denial

Jesus' enemies were closing in, and His stories were becoming more pointed, making the religious establishment very angry. He refused to answer their questions (20:8), caught them off guard and left them speechless (20:26), and soon no one dared put questions to him (20:40).

In the midst of this environment, Jesus' story of corrupt farmhands was particularly direct and galling to those in charge.

The religion scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them. (20:19)

I can only imagine how startling and uncomfortable these words must have been for the hearers.

"Perceiving that Jesus was speaking about them, they got the point of the story as it dealt them a painful jab. 

"They saw themselves as the rebellious tenants - as stewards who had tried for a thousand years to be owners. For generations, they used every means at hand to silence the voice of the servants God sent to them. And they were going to do the same thing to Jesus. That's when they tried to arrest him. 

"So far the story has been an exposure of the miserable life that results from a denial of God's ownership and our stewardship...It's a life where everything is in the hands and nothing is in the heart." Eugene Peterson, Conversations, pg. 1524

My fallen human nature continues to ensure that I almost always perceive myself as the victim, not the perpetrator, in most situations. And every bit of me wants to see myself as the wronged servant or son in this story, not the corrupt farmhand. But the Holy Spirit gently convicts me of the truth of my spiritual condition apart from Christ; He doesn't let me stay in denial for long.

It's a story with amazingly relevant undertones for our day, when our standard of living is so high, our ability to possess is so well developed, and our claims to ownership are so conspicuous - and yet, all the while, we're burdened with anxiety, guilt, emptiness, and boredom. 

"Despite our playing the role of wicked tenants in the vineyard, God hasn't left us alone. Despite our sin, God is still here in love and forgiveness, exercising his gracious rule over our lives. 

"The warning is this: If you refuse to acknowledge the ownership of God and your position as a steward of life, there will be no meaning or beauty or fullness in anything you do. Even the marvelous wonders of material things - material created by God - won't give you happiness. You'll descend into a downward spiral of neurotic anxiety and unhappy pleasure seeking, for your constant denial of God's central place won't get rid of him. 

"The point of the stewardship story is this: God wants us to enjoy all that he has given us. But we can't do it unless we enjoy him at the center. Every joy radiates from that central joy, just as the rays of life-giving light radiate from the sun." Peterson

Father, thank You that You haven't left me alone to live in denial. Thank You for continuing to pursue me and point me back to You through Your Word and by Your Spirit, despite my repeated failures and ever-present sin. I acknowledge You as the owner of all I am and have; I repent of my attempts to control people and circumstances and You.

I praise You for Your gospel that frees me from slavery to sin and self and allows me to embrace reality. Lord, I desire Your gracious rule and reign in my life. I want to enjoy You at the center of my life, living in freedom and truth and relationship with You. Once again, I surrender my imperfect ways to Your perfect way. May I never forget my place in Your kingdom, with You as Father and me as Your beloved daughter.