Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. Today, from Luke 14:12-14, we reflect on how Christ-like hospitality and friendship is to mark God’s people.
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‘Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”’ (Luke 14:12-14)
Susan Boyle, an unknown woman from a small village in Scotland, lived a quiet life and cared for her elderly mother. When she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, her appearance and humble background led many to underestimate her. However, when she began singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables, her powerful voice stunned both the audience and judges. Despite being an unlikely candidate for fame, she became an overnight sensation, gaining international recognition.
I include this example of Susan Boyle because many dream of a moment when they - the overlooked - come out of the shadows and into the limelight. However, although this may happen, our appetite for this romantic breakthrough moment may reveal that we have not yet come to accept God’s love as we need to. Only God can fill, what is often called, the hole in our heart. We must all beware of trying to be ‘fixed’ through achievement and human acceptance.
Jesus’ words in our text point to how God invites us to feast with Him and on Him. In our minds and hearts, despite our struggles, we need to know that God invites us to know Him now and forever. Knowing this leads to healing. Only on this foundation can be receive other forms of success in a healthy fashion.
Finally, Having seen that these words speak of how the love of God needs to fill our hearts and minds, we are also being called to invite the unlikely into our lives, our churches and help them to come to Jesus. We are to love the way that we have been loved. As God invited us to the feast, we are to invite others to our feasts. If we only spend our time with other Christians how can we ever expect to bring others to Jesus?
Let’s pray together
“Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to be in your kingdom and family. Help me, by your Spirit, to make your invitation to those to whom you lead me. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, or maybe from our week of prayer, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Sunday’s message from our Luke series was about how: ‘Those who experience God’s promotion will offer God’s promotion.’
In our message on Sunday from Luke 14:1-24, we see how we are to have a massive impact on this fallen world. Christians and the church are to offer God’s ‘promotion’ - His healing and salvation to this fallen world, but we will only do this, and do this effectively, if we are amazed at how how God has ‘promoted us’ from the lowest place, to the top of the table as a member of His family in Christ.
Please read Luke 14:1-24 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything from Sunday’s message?
What does 14:1-11 teach us about the types of people who will and won’t respond to the gospel? And what is the 'promotion' that God speaks over all who humble themselves to receive the gospel? And How is a Christian is to behave?
What does 14:12-14 teach us about hospitality and how does God want us to become better at generous hospitality?
SIV - What does 14:15-23 teach about the various responses to the gospel, and whom we are to invite into the Kingdom?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together: Pray for one another out of our study together and for anything else for which people would like prayer.
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