Day 12: Luke 14-19 Opening Reflection

In today’s prescribed text Jesus is being closely watched by many people.  Many of these people are the same people that ridiculed Jesus, talked about Jesus, and discarded Jesus’ ministry.  These same people, however, were all watching Jesus for various reasons: some were secretly watching Jesus because they desired to be like Him, some were watching and waiting on Jesus to make a mistake or do something wrong and some were watching Jesus just to be nosy.

What ever the case, Jesus gives us the perfect example through a parable.  For Jesus doesn’t do his ministry to be exalted and neither should we do anything for reward.  Jesus says those that humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled

It is not possible as humans similar to sheep no matter how much we humble ourselves and no matter how cognizant we try to be of whom is watching us, to not go astray.  Luke recorded various examples in today’s listening that outline the occurrence of entities being lost and then being found.  There is nothing more exciting than finding something you lost.  Therefore, God is always ready to accept a lost soul into His loving arms.  But there is a responsibility, however, for being in God’s arms: servant hood and being responsible with your blessings.

People are watching you…is your light shining bright, brightly enough to lead people to Christ?  How forgiving are you? How much do you desire to serve?  How humble are you?  How righteous do you attempt to be?  Are you willing to lose your life in order to gain true life?  God has the ultimate last word and there will come a day to judge the living and the dead.  This means that when that day comes you can not be one of the living if you have not given your all to the Lord to the point of death.