Benevolent Leadership!

For Saturday, August 8, 2026:

Luke 6:26 NLT: “What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.”

OK, show of hands: Who wants to be famous? Be careful; it’s a double-edged sword! There can be generational rewards but also generational curses. People will talk about the good a family did, but the bad will not be forgotten either.

Examples: Elvis Presley was known as the king of rock ‘n’ roll, but died with many drugs listed on his toxicology report, which forever tainted his success. Teens used to say, “I want to be just like Elvis!” Today, not so much. Brawny James is expected to play basketball as well as his father LeBron. He has a lot to live up to! Donald Jr. and Eric Trump are forever linked to their father. Whatever good or bad you attribute to him is reflected in your opinions of the sons.

The Bible says that the sins of one generation will be passed down to the next. I don’t think that God has it in for the next generation, so much as the next generation inherits the previous generation’s shortcomings. People copy what they’ve learned. If someone is raised around poverty and drug abuse, they’ll probably continue to live in those conditions. It takes a strong force such as a miracle from Jesus or the Holy Spirit, or the casting out of a demon, a spirit of addiction, to break the chain.

Jesus questions the value of people “praised by crowds.” Those people see themselves up on a pedestal, and the crowds keep them there. They have forgotten “humble.” Jesus, the Son of God, says he is here to serve others. The King, the one with a forever Kingdom, serves the less fortunate. Today we call it benevolent leadership. This King doesn’t delight in telling others what to do. He comes to love mankind, to be compassionate and helpful. Jesus has offered to forgive the sins of the world if you will just call him Lord and Savior of your life. Accept the free gift from our humble King!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Daily message of hope...
For Friday, August 7, 2026:

Luke 6:25b NLT: “What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.”

Picture this: Jesus on the earth, healing many, casting out demons and performing miracles. Sounds like worship would be called for, but throwing a party and carousing would be more your style. Bad choice!

In keeping with his theme of the first being last and the last being first, Jesus says that in the end, the revelers will know only sorrow. Jesus’ ministry lasted only about three years, a relatively short time. That’s the time he could have been worshiped in person, and anyone who missed it may never get another chance.

Reversing the situation, Psalm 30:11 begins, “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.” Those who worship on earth will find themselves dancing in God’s forever Kingdom. If you have no time for God in this life, he won’t have time for you in the next. But if you love the Lord, he will adopt you into the Holy Family!

How we live in this life determines our eternal destination. God needs to be #1 both in this life and the next!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Prosperous vs Sorrow!

Daily message of hope...
For Thursday, August 6, 2026:

Luke 6:25a NLT: “What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

Jesus is laying out a paradox, a contradiction in terms. We don’t expect to see a word like ‘sorrow’ describing someone who is fat and prosperous! But Jesus is describing ‘now’ vs ‘sometime in the future.’ He’s describing this life vs our next life.

As time progresses, things will change. What surprises me is how quickly things change. Those living a prosperous life tend to have no sense of need. They can’t identify with those who have little. They have had luxury here on earth, but will join the needy in the next life. Then they’ll know. Remember, Jesus said, “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

In the next reality, all people will appear in Jesus’ proper order.

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church