How would you respond?

In Luke 14, Jesus tells a story about feast that no one wants to attend. The guests all prioritize something other than the feast and its gracious host. How do you respond when God calls you to partake of His goodness and kind gifts? 

Jesus chose compassion

Luke 14 provides insight into  Jesus Christ's values. What the religious leaders saw as an impediment, or even a prop to test Jesus, Jesus himself saw as a man in need. Challenging those who were more interested in looking pious, Jesus healed the man.  Do you choose compassion over looking righteous?

Who Owns our Stuff?

Jesus warns his followers not be like the man who spent his life accumulating possessions (Luke 12:16-21), only to discover his life was going to be cut short and he would not be able to enjoy those possessions. Are you spending time enjoying the things God has provided, or you busy gathering more?

Are you missing the big gifts?

When asked to teach prayer, Christ gave two absurd situations that illustrated the idea that God is good enough and powerful enough to answer our needs. Both absurdities expected an answer of daily provision, but Christ links these prayers to something much greater - the presence of God Himself (Lk 11:13)

Who would you refuse to help?

When confronted by an arrogant religious man, Jesus challenged him by declaring that he needed to care for those around them. In hopes of not being required to do more than he was doing, the arrogant man tried to limit the scope of who he was responsible to help. In what ways do we limit our care? Luke 10.

4 Responses to Grace

In the parable of the sower (Luke 8), Jesus describes 4 responses to the gospel message of grace. He describes people who refuse it, who lose interest when grace is hard, who are too busy to care, and those who embrace grace fully and are willing to act on it. How have you been able to share the grace of God?

What to do when you lose all hope

When experiencing profound sadness and on the brink of hopelessness, David cried out to God for help (Psalm 6). David's prior relationship with God informed him of God's interest and of God's power. Have you considered the power such a relationship could bring you?