PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 6:17-23
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy…” (Luke 6:23)
I can’t imagine rejoicing or leaping for joy when suffering like this.
Jesus is encouraging the disadvantaged to see their advantage with God.
The poor, hungry, sorrowful and excluded actually have God on their side.
“… because great is your reward in heaven (with God)” (Luke 6:23)
Jesus offers a heavenly perspective to those who are in the depths.
Satan wants them to think they are cursed; Jesus tells them otherwise.
I am not poor, hungry, weeping or excluded, but I know many who are.
The homeless, addicted, abused, victims of war, grieving, sick…
When I think about all this, I am discouraged; but then Jesus says:
God is not against them; God is for them and will one day bless them.
Our world may look down on such people, but God lifts them up.
This encourages me when I think about this, it gives me hope and joy.
Jesus comes to the disadvantaged and oppressed to assure them of God’s love.
Will I join with Jesus in blessing the disadvantaged and oppressed?
PRAYER
Lord, there are so many who suffer like this, and who feel cursed. Open their hearts to know that you are for them, and help them to leap for joy within!
“Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you… poor…hunger…weep….hate…insulted…”” Doesn’t sound like a blessing – maybe a curse? No Jesus says – rejoice because you are in good company. That is how the prophets and Jesus were treated – if you get the same thing happen to you Jesus says – you are in his company! WE can expect it. Help us Lord to be faithful and to be willing to suffer and to reach out to those suffering. Help instead to be poor in earthly things (I have so much) but rich in heavenly things, to weep over many in this sad world of pain and conflict (even as I experience good times) – help me to stand up to hate and insult because I believe in you Jesus. I don’t like injustice, poverty, hunger, hate, death and insults – but they do happen – help me Lord to be faithful!
Those who came to Him were healed. Those wo came were those who were the ‘outcasts’ of society. But Jesus accepts all. Jesus is the answer for all. Living for Jesus, no matter where one is in life, that’s the answer. That’s the healing because living in His presence gives hope and life everlasting. Our source of strength today and always is in our Saviour Who embraces all who live for Him.
1
This is the day, this is the day.
That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice,
And be glad in it, and be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day, this is the day
That the Lord has made.
2
We are the sons, we are the sons,
Of the living God, of the living God.
We will rejoice, we will rejoice,
And be glad in Him, and be glad in Him.
We are the sons of the living God.
We will rejoice and be glad in Him.
We are the sons, we are the sons
Of the living God.