THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 14:7-14
“Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (Luke 14:13?-?14)
As Jesus followers, we march by the beat of a different drum.
The people we focus on are the weak, the outcasts, those who struggle.
We see them as God sees them, as His much loved children who need a hand.
And yet, lets be honest, are these the people we normally invite?
What if we took these words literally as a church?
What if we planned our weekly gatherings for people like this?
And if we made it a point to seek them out, invite them, and pick them up?
If the message, and the fellowship, was all about blessing and serving them?
Have them over for lunch, or drive them somewhere, or help with groceries?
This would be radical… it sounds like something Jesus would do!!!
We want our church to be blessed, we want our church to grow.
What if the way Jesus wants to bless us is by doing exactly what He says here?
I’m actually thinking of this verse as a strategy for our church.
Help me out here, what do YOU think, would this be too radical?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, this strategy for our church is so simple, so obvious… obeying what You said, in order to be blessed. If this is from you, then may it resonate in other peoples’ hearts as well.
Thanks for sharing honestly. I have the same nervousness and hesitation.
I wonder if Jesus was on to something when He sent His disciples two by two. In other words, talk it through with someone else, and take those first small steps together.
I think this applies to all personal growth or discipline: ‘if you could do it alone, you would have done it already!’
Really, this is what church could/should be, an accountability and support team (like AA).
I know myself too well and this is very difficult to do – step out of my comfort zone! I totally agree it is the right thing to do – words are easy – actions are much more difficult.
I would need to start small but am not sure how I would let myself do that yet.