Have you ever missed the party while it was happening? Looking back, you realized, Oh man, that was it! The magic was happening right in front of me and I didn’t see it! I find myself in this situation again and again. Hiking on a mountain but missing the view on account of stinging flies. Or brushing off my children’s impromptu theatrical performances to keep to my own schedule. I even remember being so caught up in the minutiae of pins, flowers, and curling irons on my sister’s wedding day that I forgot to take in the simple beauty and goodness of my sister transformed into a bride until we found ourselves giggling in the bathroom at her reception.
We are all prone to miss the important things. In the moment, it can be tough to even know whether something is vital until it’s too late. The Pharisees are missing a tremendous moment that is right in front of them. Because Christ wasn’t what they expected, they turned off their sense of expectation. But that’s the thing: Christ does not appear as we want Him to. His law, His logic, His person, His actions, even His teaching, do not conform to man’s way of thinking or living. He comes as Lord of the Sabbath, and if we are caught up like the Pharisees in what we imagine that to be, we miss Him as He is.
Indeed, He is Lord of a kingdom that cuts against the grain of every human inclination. When He calls the twelve, He doesn’t pick from among the great or accomplished. He chooses the lowly, the ordinary, even the despised. When He heals, He does not curry favor with the high and mighty, but heals foreigners and the weak. His Beatitudes and the woes that follow overturn every modern notion of morality, self-esteem, and success. His call not to judge, but to love even our enemies, runs counter to every inclination toward self-justification and vengeance.
There are only two foundations: the foundation of Christ or the foundation of man’s natural disposition, which crumbles and fails. Instead of depending on the foundations that we build ourselves, we can stand on the foundation of the Lord of the Sabbath and stand secure. If we’re expecting Christ to be our personal sentimental version of newborn baby Jesus, we are going to miss the majesty and truth of Him as Lord of All.
Here is the good news: Though we are prone to hypocrisy, to blindness, to judgment and folly, Christ comes to us anyway; He comes, loving His enemies and doing good to those who despise Him. He makes us His, and we can take comfort in this promise: “Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Christ calls us away from ourselves to Himself, and in so doing, makes us like Himself. “We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
Lord call me away from myself and draw me closer to you. If you’re not in it, I don’t want it. This winter break came to reality that the major I’m in might not be what I want to focus on (majoring in Zoo &Wildlife Biology, but I think I want to be more in the marine biology side of things). So with my family’s help, I’ve been looking up a bunch of colleges that offer it. Just really stressful to think about transferring, and in general figuring out what I (and really what God) wants me to do with my life. Any prayers are appreciated!! Love you all, so thankful for SRT!
Praying for you Sarah
Yesterday at church, we talked about using Jesus as the example speak truth to one another no matter the cost. Now when I read passages in the Bible, I see that Jesus speaks the truth, no matter how blunt or how unsettling it might be. To understand the old self is key to understanding the new self, and walking as Jesus did amongst one another.
There is much about faith found in Luke 6. The word may not appear often, but it is frequently demonstrated. Not the “Yes, that seems easy, I’ll accept it” kind of faith, but faith that goes contrary to the social norms, our cultural expectations and our own selfish desires.
Lord, stretch my faith, my thinking, my actions and reactions, completely trusting You to help me follow the example of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.
This chapter is so full of wonderful life guidance.
Excellent explanation. Blessings!
So much hope found in today’s reading. So much hope found in the Gospel. So much hope found in Jesus. Thank you God for the grace and hope you pour out over us.
Bless those who persecute you…words I needed to read today. Great reminders in this passage! I’m so thankful for a Father who chooses the weak and lowly!
“Christ calls us away from ourselves to Himself, and in so doing, makes us like Himself.“
I am constantly in awe of God. He is so clearly teaching me to come away from myself and focus on Him. To humble myself (not to think less of myself, but to think more of Him) and seek to be close to Him, just to be close to Him. No agenda, just to be close to Him.
My heart longs to be like Him and let go of everything else.
Love to you, dear sisters, as we start a new week. I’m praying for all of you teachers as you head back to school. Mari, you are a teacher! You teach the precious little children and you teach me!
Churchmouse, I pray that your back pain will ease.