[Linux4christians] Monday – Read Luke 14:1-15:32

[Pastor David]

*Monday – Read Luke 14:1-15:32*

	*Commentary*
	
	Jesus heals again on the Sabbath, but this time the 
religious leaders remain silent when
	twice challenged by Jesus to respond.  He then challenges 
them to be humble, taking seats
	of lesser importance, inviting the needy to their special 
events, being genuine in caring.
	He notes that those who are humble and who care for the 
needy will be blessed at the
	resurrection, and the corollary; that the arrogant and 
selfish will not.

	In 14:15-24, the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus makes 
the point that the nation of
	Israel (the initial guest list) refused to respond to His 
invitation (salvation) so He invited
	anyone and everyone to come.  Those who refuse His 
invitation suffer the consequences.

	In 14:25-35 Jesus challenges those who might follow to 
“count the cost”.  He reminds
	them that they need to be prepared to lose everything in 
the world, indeed they need to
	voluntarily abandon it all as a condition of true salvation 
then allow Him to choose what
	He restores to them.

	In 15:1-10 Jesus shares parables of one lost sheep and one 
lost coin to make the point that
	He cares about each unique salvation from sin and hell and 
He makes a special effort to
	appeal to everyone.
	
	In 15:11-32 Jesus shares the parable of the compassionate 
father, also known as the
	parable of the prodigal son.  The focus of the parable is 
the father (God) and not the son
	(rebellious man).  The point is that despite the horrific 
selfishness of a son wishing his
	father an early death so he could have his inheritance and 
the demeaning waste of those
	resources in sin the father humbles himself to run and 
greet his lost son and sacrifices
	further to celebrate his return.  The jealous older son is 
a teachable object where Jesus
	explains that God does not merely reward those who come to 
Him easily but seeks and
	celebrates those who come by a harder road.

	*Discussion & Reflection - Keeping it Real*

	Reflect on the way that traditional gatherings of believers 
which involve buildings and
	staff, budgets and traditions may breed competition for 
title and position, adulation and
	self-serving opportunity.

	Observe that Jesus affirms the broad nature of God's 
invitation to salvation, no favorites,
	no pre-determined list of names or family lines, gender or 
denomination.  All are invited
	and all are welcome, but one must choose to accept the 
invitation.

	Reflect upon the way that you present the message of 
salvation to others; does it include
	a clear understanding that everything – including ones free 
will – must be surrendered if
	the surrender-for-salvation is genuine?
	
	Consider the love of a God who humbled Himself to come in 
the form of man that He
	could redeem man, despite thousands of years of disrespect 
and wasted resources by man.

	*Truth in Action*
	
	Today I will pause to celebrate a loving God who, despite a 
Creation in rebellion against
	its Creator, loves us so much that He chose to forgive and 
welcome us home.  I will also
	ask the Holy Spirit to search me for any place where I am 
holding back anything from His
	Lordship – because everything I have and everything I am 
belongs to Him.

	*Be Specific* 
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Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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