In Chapter 14, Jesus is helping us to always trust God rather than circumstances and people. There are always going to be challenges in our lives. We are always growing so we will be covering new ground all of the time. The world acts like the world so there will be challenges. It is not our job to worry but to trust.
The lowly place is a hidden place. It is a place where people who are hurting broken and rejected stay. Jesus’ encouragement is spiritual in the sense that as people who know who they are, who love God, and have experienced His grace; we should find ourselves in a position of always being where there are people in need. This passage is often thought of as a focus on humility but if you look at the context of the other stories, a consistent theme develops.
Notice that when Jesus speaks He shares parables of which people can easily relate. The good news is not that complicated and should always be easily understood. According to Romans 1, God is easily revealed even in nature. While the depth of God’s nature and character may take a lifetime to grasp his message and love for us are simple to understand.
Back to the chapter!
We all enjoy being with our friends. There are few things more comfortable than being with people you love and who love you. The challenge Jesus presents is break out of your comfort zone. Everyone is invited to the table. Anyone can enjoy their friends, however the good news we have and the love we know must be shared with others. We have been so blessed we need to stretch ourselves to build relationships with those that may not be just like us but God has placed them in our lives to help them see Jesus.
This view of our lives and calling will challenge all of our relationships. Once again it is comfortable to hang out with our friends and family. But is we love them more and that comfort more than we love God then we aren’t really his disciple. When Jesus says, “hate” in verse 26, He does not mean, “hate”, as we would think. A more accurate translation would be, “love less.” God loves all of mankind and desires for everyone to come to a real relationship with Him. Enjoy times with your friends and family but bear in mind God has surrounded you with people who He trusts you to reach.
Trust the Lord that He opens and closes doors. Trust Him that He is surrounding you with people that are willing to follow Him if they simply understood how to do it. Statistically, 80% of people said they would come to church if they were invited. People are hungry for truth. They know there is something missing in their lives. God has placed you in the right place. Look around you today and take notice of the people God has brought into your life. Each of them is another child who Jesus gave His life for. You don’t have to be an expert evangelist, take Jesus’ story literally and invite them to dinner. Spend time with the people the Lord has placed in your life. Allow them to see Jesus in you.
It is a leap of faith to trust the Lord that He has placed the people around you. He has! You may be in a job you hate or a neighborhood with the most miserable people, but guess what the Lord has placed you there!
1 comment:
I think our human nature is to complain about our job, our coworkers/boss, or the people we encounter at the store. Today's blog should inspire all of us to realize that we are not in these situations by chance, but because God put us there. That step alone will help how we react to each situation and open our eyes to better see those in need instead of being focused on ourselves and our needs. Is it easy not to complain? Definitely not. But I am getting better, one step at a time!!! Thank you
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