Special thanks to Jill Hamming from PEI who is writing the devotionals on the readings from Luke (with help from L.E.Porter’s commentary on Luke).
SCRIPTURE: Luke 14:1-14
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION
- Have you been to a dinner party where you know one of the guests is an unusual person? You wonder what he will do or say? Jesus lived up to His reputation here. He healed a man, answered a complaint before it was verbalized, told people they were sitting in the wrong places and suggested the host should change the guest list.
- The Pharisees again question Jesus healing people on the Sabbath. Why are they so concerned with rules? Why are they not caring about people? Why not rejoice with the man! Would it be okay if the Lord interrupted the church service today to heal me?
- Jesus is using every opportunity to teach and to show who He is. He wants us to be humble, to not seek the best place, to put others first. He wants us to welcome the down and out to our homes.
- It is uncomfortable for us to invite people that are different than us. We get embarrassed trying to converse with those who are mentally ill or disabled. We feel weird. Jesus says we get blessed when we include those who cannot pay us back. It is true. The biggest blessing I find is that I realize we are all the same. We are all just people, all loved by God, all equally part of His world.
PRAYER:
Oh God, teach me, teach us; to be humble, to love all people, to be open to what You want to teach us… make us real…. please.. Amen.