Context
There you go again!
Jesus begins Luke 14 with a miracle. Nothing strange about that, of course. But he also begins it with a miracle that happens on the Sabbath. That is not unusual either. Seems like just about every miracle he ever did took place on the Sabbath, infuriating the petty religiosity of the Pharisees and their buddie
He followed that with two parables, one about a wedding feast and the other about a banquet, both intended to skewer the religionists again. They thought they were God's special favorites and Jesus was telling them they were anything but that.
Another reminder of the cost of discipleship and a repetition of the teaching on the importance of disciples as the salt of the earth retaining their saltiness.
Jesus begins Luke 14 with a miracle. Nothing strange about that, of course. But he also begins it with a miracle that happens on the Sabbath. That is not unusual either. Seems like just about every miracle he ever did took place on the Sabbath, infuriating the petty religiosity of the Pharisees and their buddie
He followed that with two parables, one about a wedding feast and the other about a banquet, both intended to skewer the religionists again. They thought they were God's special favorites and Jesus was telling them they were anything but that.
Another reminder of the cost of discipleship and a repetition of the teaching on the importance of disciples as the salt of the earth retaining their saltiness.
Devotional - Doing for Me and Mine?
In one of my favorite movies, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" One of the main characters betrays another, his cousin. He justifies his actions by saying "I got to do for me and mine." Most aren't as cold and crass as that man was, but it is a common sentiment, even among the disciples of Christ.
But as Christians we are called to something higher than simply taking care of ourselves and our families. Of course, a believer must provide for and protect family, but that is not our highest calling - the advancement of the kingdom of God and the proclamation of the name of Christ is.
There is nothing wrong with having friends and enjoying them, but in Luke 14:12 Jesus told his disciples to lift their eyes beyond those who would return their love, or even their rich friends who could give them something in return.
Too often our lives are focused on the people whom we enjoy, those who bless our lives or those who can do something for us. It is easy to invest our lives in those people who give so much to us and to think we are serving!
But Jesus said this in Luke 14:13-14.
But as Christians we are called to something higher than simply taking care of ourselves and our families. Of course, a believer must provide for and protect family, but that is not our highest calling - the advancement of the kingdom of God and the proclamation of the name of Christ is.
There is nothing wrong with having friends and enjoying them, but in Luke 14:12 Jesus told his disciples to lift their eyes beyond those who would return their love, or even their rich friends who could give them something in return.
Too often our lives are focused on the people whom we enjoy, those who bless our lives or those who can do something for us. It is easy to invest our lives in those people who give so much to us and to think we are serving!
But Jesus said this in Luke 14:13-14.
On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Again, it is not wrong to have friends or even to serve them. But godly service is given to those who truly need to be served - the broken and beaten in life - and those who can do nothing in return.
This sinful world leaves a lot of hurting and wounded people as a consequence of its wickedness. Those are the people we need to serve. We will get nothing back from it - there's no profit, no fun, no earthly reward. But there is heavenly blessing.
The church, and every one of us who comprise the church, needs to look to this world and find the hurting, the needy, those who can give nothing in return and pour out the love of Christ to them.
Father, may I not simply love those who can give me something in return, but may I truly pour out your love on those who can give nothing in return.
Think and Pray
Is your life focused mostly on "you and yours" or on the hurting, needy, lost people of the world?
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