Today’s Reading: Luke 6:32-38

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.” – Luke 6:32-34

WHY SHOULDN’T I GET CREDIT?

How often do we do something for someone else and then creatively describe our generous act for our next social media post? Generosity feels good and it quickly becomes our next Tweet; self-sacrifice is rewarding and gets posted on Instagram before the day is over. But what if we did something God led us to do and then never told anyone else about it? What if God moved on our heart to be kind to someone else without it becoming part of our Snapchat story?

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. – Luke 6:35-36

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

Reciprocity is the exchange of things with others for mutual benefit. When our girls were little, we would trade childcare nights with our friends so that each couple could go out on a date without the cost of a babysitter. One mom would watch another mom’s kids while she ran errands and then the other would return the favor. It was mutually beneficial, gave our girls time to build friendships and saved everyone money.

But what if there’s nothing in it for me? What if God moves on my heart to be generous towards someone who is self-absorbed or thoughtless? What if the Spirit tells me to be kind to someone who has been less than kind to me? What if my good deed will never be reciprocated? Am I willing to be who God is calling me to be even if I never receive credit or even gratitude for my actions?

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” – Luke 6:37-38

GIVE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE.

God’s promise is that we do gain from all that we give, but it is not for us to decide what that should look like. It is not for us to judge the hearts of those who receive our kindness; it is not for us to condemn the response of those who benefit from our generosity.

We are to respond to the Spirit’s lead in obedience and be quick to forgive those who are ungrateful. We are to let our light shine in the darkness, even when it seems no one has noticed. We do not demand an apology and we do not need applause. Our acts of righteousness are not for public admiration but a natural outflow of our relationship with Christ. When His light is shining within us, there is a natural glow that sheds light so that others can see who He is — not who we are. It leads us to be kind and thoughtful, as well as generous and good.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. – Psalm 112:4

Father God, may we look to you alone for our reward. May we feel your smile of approval and may that be enough for us as we live out our relationship with you. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to respond today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Luke 6:20-31

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,
“God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.” – Luke 6:20-21

Do you remember Opposite Day in school? Or perhaps you celebrate National Opposite Day every January 25th, a day when people say Good Morning instead of Goodnight or Goodbye instead of Hello. Opposite Day is intended to be a fun day for everyone to say the opposite of what they mean.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches using several different opposites: Poor or rich, hungry or prosperous, laughter or sorrow. He also surprised the crowd by telling them to love their enemies, to celebrate persecution, and to forgive rather than judge. He compared a tree that bears bad fruit with a tree that bears good fruit, and he compared the house built on rock to the house built on sand.

As you read through this passage, look for the opposites or the stark contrasts Jesus describes. Then, as you go through your day, recognize the crazy opposite moments God puts before you – moments when you could have reacted to the rude woman at the cash register but you chose kindness; moments when you could have been in a hurry but you chose to slow down and greet someone; moments when you chose to laugh instead of cry.

“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

“What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
for you have your only happiness now.
What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,
for a time of awful hunger awaits you.
What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,
for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.
What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,
for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” – Luke 6:22-31

God, prepare us for what may lie ahead of us today that requires us to declare a day of opposites! May today’s OPPOSITES ATTRACT others to you!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

One day as the crowds were gathering, he went up the hillside with his disciples and sat down and taught them there.

“Humble men are very fortunate!” he told them, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. Those who mourn are fortunate for they shall be comforted. The meek and lowly are fortunate for the whole wide world belongs to them.

“HAPPY are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. HAPPY are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. HAPPY are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. HAPPY are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God. HAPPY are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

“When you are reviled and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers—wonderful! Be HAPPY about it! Be very glad! For a tremendous reward awaits you up in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted too. – Matthew 5:1-12 (TLB)

Most of us know this passage from other translations that use the word “blessed”. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers. And this is the one that catches most of us off guard – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because GREAT is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12 (NIV)

GREAT is your reward! SO great that there is no limit to the happiness you will experience, no ceiling to the joy! Nothing can bring you down – not insults, persecution or slander.

Now I must admit I do not experience that kind of joy 24-7. I don’t know if anyone does. There are times in our life when we grieve or experience the pain that comes with life. Sometimes we go through a time when the accusations of the enemy are drowning out the voice of God. It is during these times when we are battling against doubt and hurt when we need to declare the promises of God to replace the lies of Satan. We need to remind ourselves to rejoice and be glad, even when it does not come naturally. Great is my reward IN HEAVEN – not always so great here on earth.

But there is a joy that begins right here, right now, when we walk in relationship with Jesus – a joy that finds us in those moments when we need it most. A joy that comes from praising God and declaring His faithfulness when others fail us or the battle intensifies. I don’t have to conjure up joy. I don’t have to pretend to be happy. Just a whisper for help and the Spirit can produce in me fruit that is unexplainable, such as JOY in the middle of a difficult situation or PEACE in the midst of trials.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So BE TRULY GLAD. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:3-9

Do you remember the song “HAPPY” from the movie Despicable Me 2. It is a fun song with a great beat. The song comes on the radio and immediately the volume goes up. It is a song declaring that I am happy and there is no limit to my happiness – it’s like a room without a roof! There’s no ceiling. My level of happiness is so high, nothing can bring it down. Bring the bad news, but it is not going to change the fact that I AM HAPPY! [Happy by Pharrell Williams]

I would argue that the only way for someone to consistently be that happy would be in the context of a relationship with Christ. I’m happy and there is no limit to my happiness – it’s like a room without a roof! There is no ceiling. My level of happiness is so high, nothing can bring it down. Bring the bad news but it is not going to change the fact that I am happy! I am happy because I am blessed by a God who protects me by His power and tells me of a wonderful joy that is ahead for me. So I choose to embrace my God in the good and the bad. I choose to be truly glad…because I’m happy!

Today’s Reading: Mark 3:13-19, Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus touched so many lives as massive crowds formed around him in each town he visited. Yet with all the needs pressing in around him, his focus remained on his investment in the lives of twelve.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. – Mark 3:13-19

The twelve Jesus appointed are often referred to as the twelve disciples or the apostles. According to the NLT Study Bible I am using, disciples were students and followers while apostles were specially commissioned representatives. I would argue that today we are all both disciples and apostles.

TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST IS TO BE A STUDENT OR A FOLLOWER.

God has called us all to be students of the Word, to sit at His feet regularly and learn from Him. We spend time reading the Bible and we walk away with new understanding. His word is living and active and we cannot help but be changed by studying the Scriptures. We have so much to learn and we have a Great Teacher who loves His students.

We also learn by listening to other students of the Word or disciples. What a great investment of our time to read a book written by another follower of Christ or to listen to the teachings of a great preacher! We listen and call on the Spirit to discern the truth of the message, allowing our hearts to grow and be transformed through the words God has given those He has called. When I question something I am reading, God’s word is the foundation of truth that I go back to each time.

Even pastors and preachers benefit from spending time listening to others and reading. This helps us find the humility God calls all of us to. We have not already arrived. We do not know all there is to know. We desperately need to keep learning in order to increase our understanding of God’s ways.

TO BE AN APOSTLE IS TO BE SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED TO REPRESENT JESUS & FULFILL HIS PURPOSE.

So we are all disciples but I would argue that we are also all apostles. If the definition of apostle is a person who is specially commissioned to represent something or someone then that is absolutely what we are. God has chosen every one of us for a specific purpose today. He has a plan and we have a choice. We can walk into that plan with the willingness to represent Jesus and fulfill His purpose for our day or we can focus on our own desires and plans.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:35-38

Lord, this morning I pray that you would open up my heart and show me your purpose today. Confirm in my heart what you have called me to do. Remind me WHO I have been specially commissioned to represent. God, I open up my life with a willingness today to be used by you, whether in small ways or large. Today is about you and your plan. Teach me. Show me. Use me. Guide me. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:12-19

Jesus went out to the lake with his disciples and a large crowd followed him. They came from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him. – Mark 3:7-8

Word was spreading of Jesus’ healing power and people were bringing their sick from all over the region. Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds followed. Some were genuinely seeking to follow Christ and some were only there to see this great physician or magician.

THEY CAME TO SEE JESUS DO SOMETHING GREAT, NOT TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR JESUS.

Jesus touched many lives as these massive crowds formed. There was so much to do and so many people who needed his healing touch, but Jesus intentionally pulled away from the crowds and found time to be alone with His Father.

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

Simon (whom he called Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (Son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). – Luke 6:12-16

After spending an extended amount of time in God’s presence and in prayer, Jesus called all of his followers together and distinguished between those who would be disciples and those who would be the twelve apostles. Don’t miss that he made this decision AFTER going to the Father in prayer.

It is easy for us to fall into the trap of working hard for the Lord without taking time to be alone with the Lord. We think of all who are depending on us to get something done or to accomplish something great, and we make everything else a priority over intentionally creating periods of sabbath rest. We hit a point of pure exhaustion and start making critical decisions when we are mentally worn out. Jesus is saying — “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR JESUS, WE NEED TO COME ALLOW JESUS TO DO SOMETHING GREAT WITHIN US.

When we are rooted in Christ and filled with His presence, we are ready to be used by Him. We can be more effective for the work God is calling us to do if we go to Him with all of our decisions. He fills us with His power and equips us for the call. Even Jesus knew that he needed time on the mountain with the Father before stepping into the crowds. If Jesus needed that, we definitely do.

When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. – Luke 6:17-19

It was not about the WHEN, but the WHO.
It was not about the PHYSICAL, but about the SPIRITUAL.
It was not about HEALING, but about CHANGE.
It was not about the BODY, but about the HEART.
It was not about the TIMING, but about the SOURCE.
It was not just about a MOMENT, but about a LIFE.

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people – blind, lame, or paralyzed – lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

“I can’t sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

“Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. – John 5:1-15

There were crowds of sick people all around, yet Jesus approached one man because he knew this man had been ill for a very long time. He knew this man, knew his situation and his need — not only for PHYSICAL healing but for SPIRITUAL healing. Jesus’ desire was for this man’s life to change. For 38 years he had been sick but Jesus had more than just physical healing in mind to change this man’s situation. Jesus wanted to give this man eternal life!

This was a miracle of life that Jesus was offering. The physical touch was for the purpose of this man believing in Jesus and choosing obedience. Jesus told this man to do two things: “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” and “Stop sinning”. The first required a MOMENT of faith and obedience. He had to believe in Jesus enough to stand up. The second required a LIFE of faith and obedience, a healing of the heart that would change the way this man lived – holy and set apart for the One who had healed him.

The Jewish leaders tried to make this next miracle about timing but Jesus corrected them, letting them know this was not about WHEN but about WHO – not about the physical healing but about spiritual healing. While the Jewish leaders focused in on the TIMING of the miracle, Jesus tried to point out to them the SOURCE of the miracle. Jesus had come to bring life and they were missing out on this miracle that was also available for them because they were too caught up in the legalism of when the miracle had taken place. What is it that has us so distracted that we are missing out on the miracle of life that God is offering?

For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. – John 5:21

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death to life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice – the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. – John 5:24-26

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. – John 5:39-40

The miracle of life is what Jesus was offering at the pool of Bethesda and it is what He is still offering us today. This miracle comes from the love of a God who would send His one and only Son to die for our sins so that we might believe and experience eternal life. This miracle of life is available to all of us – it requires a MOMENT of faith and obedience, as well as a LIFE of surrender and submission. The purpose of all of these miracles performed by Jesus was to prove that He was sent by God so that we might truly believe and experience eternal life (5:36).

Lord, give us eyes to see what today is about – not what WE want to make it but about YOUR purpose. Give us patience to focus on the source instead of the timing, the spiritual instead of the physical. Thank you for being a Father who is always working (5:17). Amen.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 6:1-11

QUESTION: “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” – Luke 6:2

The Pharisees watched Jesus closely, especially on the Sabbath. They wanted to catch him breaking the Jewish traditions and laws so as to have grounds to accuse him and shut down his ministry. They had his disciples under close surveillance.

The question they asked Jesus also exaggerated the truth; it made it sound like the disciples were harvesting the fields on the Sabbath. The truth was that they simply broke off some heads of grain, rubbed off the husks with their hands, and then ate the grain. In other words, they fixed themselves a quick snack as they walked through the grainfields.

ANSWER: “The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.” – Luke 6:5

Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! – Luke 6:8-10

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there in that moment as Jesus took the time to make eye contact with each and every one of his accusers? Jesus knew their thoughts and he knew their motives. He knew what he was about to do was going to make them very angry — angry enough to make them start plotting against him.

Jesus looks at the heart of each and every one of us – individually. He knows when we use the Sabbath as an excuse to make the day about ourselves when His intention has always been that the Sabbath would be about Him. The Sabbath is not a day for us to focus on our own needs for rest but to slow down the busyness of our lives and focus our attention fully on Him.

“I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” – Matthew 12:7b and Hosea 6:6

When we are fully focused on Him and we feel His eye on us, God may move on our hearts to show mercy to someone or to do something for Him. Our response should be one of obedience. The Sabbath is a great day to worship God and a great day to hear from Him. Isn’t it also a great day to respond in obedience, no matter what He is asking us to do?

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” – Matthew 12:11-12

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” – Mark 2:27

Mark describes Jesus as experiencing both anger at the Pharisees’ manipulation and sadness at the hardness of their hearts. Knowing how they were about to respond, he told the man to hold out his deformed hand and he healed it. He restored that which was broken and healed that which was wounded.

HOLD OUT YOUR HAND.

Let’s reach out and allow God to use our hands however and whenever He asks. Let’s care more about ministering to the needs of others than we care about ourselves.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39

QUESTION: “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” – Matthew 9:14

This was a question asked by one of the disciples of John the Baptist. He had been taught to make a regular habit of periods of fasting, as did the Pharisees. At some point, he noticed that Jesus’ disciples were not fasting and he went straight to Jesus for an explanation. What a great place to take our questions — straight to the One who has all the answers!

It seems a common tendency in the church for us to look around at other believers and take notice of how they are living out their faith. We question their choices and sometimes doubt our own habits of discipleship. We wonder who is right and who is wrong, or we arrogantly assume we are the one who needs to impose our own thoughts on those around us.

We have a tendency to compare ourselves with others and worry about how we measure up with someone else, or how another believer measures up with us. God has made each one of us unique and He has a plan for our lives that is different from anyone else’s. It is NOT God’s plan for us to criticize our brothers and sisters in Christ, but to lift them up in prayer and support their obedience to God.

Jesus’ response to John’s disciple spoke to the heart of this question. The great teacher did something so many educators are known for doing — he answered his question with another question.

ANSWER: Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.” – Luke 5:34-39

Sometimes the old is not compatible with the new. If I buy the newest available software and then try to load it on a computer I have had for ten years, the two are not going to be compatible. If a church hangs onto old traditions in a changing culture, they may find their numbers declining. My point is that sometimes we hold so tightly to the non-essentials of yesterday that we miss out on the new thing that God is doing today.

Are we ready for the new thing God wants to do in our lives? When we daily spend time in the Word, are we available to receive a new revelation from the Spirit or are we hanging on tightly to an old mindset? Are we too comfortable with the familiar or are we eager for God to give us a fresh perspective?

Lord, open our hearts so that we are always ready to love and support our fellow believers. Open our minds so that we are always a student of the Spirit living within us. Open our schedules to spend time studying your Word with fresh eyes and clear thoughts so that we can hear from you today.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32

Jesus endured many questions during his ministry. He was challenged on why he did one thing and why he failed to do another. He was questioned regarding the places he went and the people he spent time with. He was questioned by the religious leaders, by his disciples and even by his own family.

We continue to question Jesus today on things we do not fully understand, or things we understand but dislike or even disagree with. God is Almighty and we say we trust Him, yet we find ourselves challenging him. We like to think of ourselves as nothing like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees; yet, if we were honest, we would see that we have moments that are more similar than we wish to admit.

We are going to spend the next few days looking at three questions asked of Jesus during his earthly ministry.

QUESTION: “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” – Luke 5:30b

This was the question asked of Jesus when he attended a banquet that Matthew (Levi) held in his home in Jesus’ honor. The guest list included Matthew’s coworkers and colleagues — tax collectors and other guests.

Scripture says the Pharisees and teachers of the law complained BITTERLY that Jesus was spending time with people who were considered unrighteous. In the ancient world, meals were rituals of social status and Jesus’ act of dining with Matthew and his friends was seen as Jesus socially accepting them regardless of their lifestyle.

ANSWER: Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come not to call those who THINK they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and need to repent.” – Luke 5:31-32

Investing in sinners by spending time with them and inviting them into our fellowship is not accepting their sin, as some would accuse. Jesus calls us to reach out to anyone who needs him and love them as they come to recognize their sin and understand what it means to repent – to admit they have sinned and come to a point of change.

Jesus did not say to Matthew and his friends that what they were doing was good and that they should keep doing it if they so desired. They were cheating their fellow Jews, unnecessarily putting financial burdens on others while padding their own pockets. In the same way, we are not called to condone sin nor have we been given permission to change what the Bible defines as sin.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. – 2 John 1:3

To love them in spite of their sin is grace; to speak truth into their life is love. It was Jesus’ desire to free them of their sins, to release them from their current lifestyle. He did not love them enough to leave them in the mess they had made; he loved them enough to save them from it. He gave us a great example of how grace and truth work together in order to help others find freedom. Grace without truth is not love, while truth spoken in love is a great way to tell someone about the grace of our God.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:10-11

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:1-4, 9:1-8; Mark 1:40-2:12; Luke 5:12-26

Several years ago, I had the privilege of sitting and visiting with Pam Tebow, mother of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. As we waited for her turn to speak at our fundraising banquet in Champaign, we got to know each other and I enjoyed her sweet spirit and genuine heart. We spoke of some of the big public moments in Tim’s life on the football field but she also shared some of their private moments as a family. By the time Pam rose to go to the stage, I no longer saw her as a public figure about to speak to a room of 800 people about pro-life issues — I now saw her as another mom who loves her family and daily allows God to use her however He desires.

WITH OR WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE

As we read through the gospels, we see that Jesus’ ministry had both its public and private moments. In many of those private moments, Jesus instructed the person he healed not to reveal his identity to others. There was a bigger plan at work and there was wisdom in what Jesus was asking his followers to do, even though they did not always listen to him. Let’s look at the difference between these two kinds of moments in the ministry of the Messiah.

In the first chapter of Mark, we read of a private moment when a man with leprosy fell on his knees before Jesus and was healed. There were probably very few people listening in on their conversation, or very few left within hearing distance when they realized the man had a highly contagious disease.

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you.” – Mark 1:41-44a

But because the man left and told everyone who had healed him, large crowds began to follow Jesus. He struggled to enter into a town publicly because of the attention he would immediately receive. When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, news spread of the house where he was staying and it was soon packed with visitors. As Jesus was preaching to the standing room only crowd, four men dug a hole in the roof and began to lower a paralyzed man down in front of Jesus. Jesus not only met his physical needs, he also met his spiritual needs, which caused the religious leaders in attendance to grumble.

Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” – Mark 2:8-12

There may be moments in our lives when many people are aware of something we have accomplished or a way in which we have served God. We may get a pat on the back or the applause of an audience and in all of that we hope and pray that God is glorified. But there may also be moments in our lives when God asks us to do something for Him, something we will never get earthly recognition for. We obediently follow Jesus REGARDLESS OF THE PRESENCE OF AN AUDIENCE. There is no need for public fanfare or media attention, we are simply daily responding to God’s lead.

That night at the banquet, I was introduced and the crowd of pregnancy center supporters welcomed me warmly. In that moment, everyone in the room knew who I was and the position in the ministry I hold. In the same room there was a retired couple sitting at their assigned table. Every week she comes in and volunteers, working with the young mothers who are learning how to parent. Her husband comes in each week and volunteers by cleaning the pregnancy center. Neither of them got specific public recognition that night but I was given the honor of privately thanking them for all they do for Living Alternatives.

My obedience to what God has asked me to do with my time is no greater than the faithful service of this couple. I guarantee you they were not concerned that they did not get a standing ovation. That is not why they do what they do. They are humble servants of their Savior and King and it is His approval that they are living for.

May our testimony today be the same — willing hearts, WITH OR WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE, whether or not our reward is on earth or in Heaven. May our testimony be as strong in today’s private moments as it is in the public moments when others are watching.