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 Luke 14:25-34: Traveller or pilgrim? (please click here for todays passage)

In this passage we read that large crowds ‘were travelling with Jesus’. It is one thing to be a traveller – a spiritual tourist – and quite another to be a disciple. Discipleship demands everything.

When I was a teenager, the then leader of my denomination, Percy Brewster, came to speak to a large gathering at the church I attended in Wigan. Christians had travelled from a number of churches to hear this godly man speak. He gave an inspirational message, and then he said, ‘Please will you stand if you are willing to give your life unreservedly to Jesus.’ All over the building people stood to their feet in large numbers. ‘No, please sit down,’ said Pastor Brewster. ‘You didn’t hear me. I said stand to your feet if you are willing to give your life UNRESERVEDLY to Jesus.’ I think many people still stood up at the second opportunity, but the point had been made. Commitment to Christ should not be entered into thoughtlessly.

There is a challenge here for preachers. We must spell out the cost of discipleship. Christianity is free, but it isn’t cheap. We shouldn’t hurry people into a quick and easy decision for Christ. Give them space and time to consider what Christianity is; what it will mean for their lives; what they are getting themselves into. ‘When Jesus bids a man come and follow Him, He bids him come and die.’ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

There is a challenge here for would be followers. ‘Look before you leap.’ Count the cost. A building that is started but not finished is called a ‘folly’. Take care you are not constructing one of those.

”Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple’ (33) The Message. That will get worked out in different ways in different lives, but at its heart Christianity will involve a surrendering up of everything to Jesus, and a decision that He will never take second place to anyone or anything. This kind of full-blooded commitment is world changing (34). There is nothing insipid about a genuine disciple.

 Luke 14:12-24: What’s your excuse? (please click here for todays passage)

The initial invites to the ‘great banquet’ of the Kingdom of God went to the Jewish people, but the majority missed out because of their own reasons. They had their excuses. But their rejection meant that the gospel went out into the world with the widest of embrace.

What’s your excuse?

What’s your excuse for avoiding Jesus? Maybe you know something about Him. Possibly you are impressed by Him and attracted to Him, but you still haven’t surrendered your life to Him. If not, why not? Is it just that you think you’ve got something better to do at the moment, and one day you will give Him the time of day?For many people that ‘one day’ keeps getting pushed back, and it never comes. In Jesus’ parable the excuses made were feeble and ridiculous. So are ours.

It may also be that for some Christian reading this, that you are currently content to fly at a low altitude spiritually. One day you will be a stronger disciple; at some indefinite point in the future you will have the walk with God you know to be possible for you. You will give up that favourite besetting sin. But for now you have your excuses for mediocrity.

What’s YOUR excuse? Realise that it stands between you and really good things God wants to give you. He is not out to ruin your life. He invites you to the best party ever.

 Luke 14:12-14: Exchanging hospitality?(please click for todays passage)

A number of years ago I came across the notion of ‘exchanging hospitality’. I heard the expression in church, and it jarred with my spirit then, and it still irritates today. Something about it doesn’t ‘smell’ right.Would Jesus have put His Name to the exchange of meals? Do you still think so after reading today’s passage. Hospitality is something to be freely given with no expectation of getting back. It is one way to show the love and kindness of our Lord and Saviour, and I believe we should especially look out for those who are unlikely or unable to invite back. Get those sort of people around your table and you’ll find that Jesus is right there with you.

 Luke 14:1-6: Silencing the critics.(please click here for todays passage)

It is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reasons. On the face of it, it’s a good thing to watch Jesus ‘carefully’ (1). This is essential for the life of discipleship – watch Jesus, and copy Him (Colossians 3:1,2; Hebrews 12:1,2). ‘Follow the Leader.’ But Jesus’ enemies were watching Him in order to ‘get’ Him.

Beware of that critical spirit that is always looking for faults in people, and quick to believe the worst. There are far too many negative people like this in the professing church, and they do the cause a great disservice. They also end up smearing good people and fine ministries. They speak out of ignorance, arrogance and prejudice in many, many instances, and they get Christians a bad name. If you see any tendency in your heart to become a critical, judgmental person, prayerfully weed it out before you cause significant damage – to yourself as well as to others.

Beware of putting religion and ritual above relationship. People matter. If we watch Jesus ‘carefully’ – with pure motives – we will be led to love and serve and care.

Prayer: Lord give me a heart like yours

Luke 13: 18-21: The growth of the Kingdom.(please click here for todays passage)

It has been pointed out that these two parables, taken together, speak of the extensive and intensive growth of God’s Kingdom on earth. From tiny and insignificant beginnings, with just a handful of very ordinary people, the Kingdom has spread across the globe. The ‘birds of the air’ speak of the nations finding refuge – a nesting place – in this glorious Kingdom of God.

But not only have we seen (and still do see) the Kingdom growing numerically. We are also aware of the spread of its influence. So even as it grows extensively, in numbers, it also grows intensively, moving through society and its structures. Like leaven, it works slowly, silently and invisibly, but it certainly works. There is a ‘hiddenness’ about Kingdom life and growth. There is always a lot more happening than we can see.

Someone showed me a mustard seed on one occasion. I could hardly see it. But look what comes from it. God so often starts with the small, the anonymous, the obscure and the unlikely, and then works wonders with it.

On one occasion, Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, was being introduced as a guest speaker at a meeting. The chairman, undoubtedly well-meaning, rhapsodised about what a wonderful man Hudson was. Hudson Taylor, however, came to the platform and said, ‘I am just the small servant of an illustrious Master.’ God sowed him like a mustard seed into the soil of China, and what growth has come from that one ‘small servant’. The impact is still being felt today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me that I often judge by appearances. Help me to not despise the day of small things.

 Luke 13:10-17: A place of healing?(please click here)

This story contains a number of challenges. Here are three:

1. Am I more concerned about religious rules and propriety than I am about people and their needs? There are hard- hearted folk in the professing church who, it seems to me, care more about legalistic correctness than their fellow-human beings. Today I recognise the danger and want to flag up a warning. I do not want to be like that.We ought not to be that way.

2. Do I think for one minute that I can dictate to God as to where, when and how He can work (14)? Do I want to try to cramp and confine the infinite Lord of the universe into my narrow framework? God is the ‘God of surprises’ and just when I think I have Him ‘taped’ I will discover no one can tie Him down to their own narrow understanding. Did you hear the story about the schoolboy who, when his teacher told him God was everywhere and so was most certainly in his inkwell, slapped his hand over the top of the well and exclaimed, ‘Got Him’!? We can (foolishly) be like that. But the wind blows wherever it wills. You can’t catch or control it.

3. Is my church a place of healing? Is it really Jesus’ church? Does He have freedom of movement? Does He reign there?  Do we try to tie Him up with the ropes of religious rules and regulations? Is it a place where the needy find welcome and compassion? Is it somewhere the bound are set free? Is it an environment, an atmosphere filled with miraculous power?

Jesus came into the world to release those bound by Satan, and that includes you. Will you come to Him today?