Luke 14:1, 7-14 (NRSV)
Read Luke 14:1, 7-14 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 14On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
Verse 7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. Verse 8"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; Verse 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. Verse 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. Verse 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Verse 12He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. Verse 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Verse 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Devotion
How often do we look to others to determine our self-worth? Do we seek out affirmations that will prove our value? Jesus encourages us in this parable to let go of all such anxious judging. We must remind ourselves, “I am a beloved child of the creator of the universe—that is my identity!” We must not allow the shallow response of another to make us feel unloved. When we are able to trust that we are unique and beloved children of God, we may step into the freedom of having God’s love as our only guide. Then we can be free to invite those who cannot repay, whether from their hearts or their too small pocketbooks. Just imagine the world of intentional love we could create if we gave up using relationships as a system for evaluating relative worth. Stop calculating and live freely in God’s grace!
Prayer
Lord, help us to celebrate a life of grace-filled community by seeing others through your eyes of grace-filled mercy. Amen.
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