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).
I had an absolute TERRIBLE day at work and felt attacked by my boss and other managers. This scripture reminded me (Luke 6:27) that I should treat all those who do me wrong, right. It’s a “kill them with kindness” mentality that is hard to do. I pray I can do just this when asked about the situation. Instead of gossip & slander their name, as I sinfully want to. I’m begging for prayers during this hard situation. May I see Gods plan first of all.
I had an absolute TERRIBLE day at work and felt attacked by my boss and other managers. This scripture reminded me (Luke 6:27) that I should treat all those who do me wrong, right. It’s a “kill them with kindness” mentality that is hard to do. I pray I can do just this when asked about the situation. Instead of gossip & slander their name, as I sinfully want to. I’m begging for prayers during this hard situation. May I see Gods plan first of all.
Praying for you, Chelsea.
Thank you!!!!!
The charge we’re given in this passage–to not judge, to love our enemies, to offer the other cheek when stuck–is one I find I’m struggling with more and more as my eyes are opened to the humanity’s capacity for darkness. And then I get caught up in the human ways of writing people off. Jesus’ way is far from easy, and we constantly fall short. How deep is His grace that He still loves us and holds us in His heart? Wow
Luke 6 reminds us God takes us as we are flaws and all. Despite our stubbornness and human inclination to rely on flesh, He accepts and meets us where we are.
Building a foundation in God is necessary for this walk. There’s no expectation that it’s completed overnight, but brick by brick, or better yet by constant renewing of our minds, hearts and actions we dig deep and change.
Fearlessly continue in your journey knowing that everyday won’t be easy, and knowing that with every brick you lay when the storms come you will not be shaken.
So much knowledge and truth in the reading today! Lord, I often feel inadequate as a Christian. No matter how much I commit to learning, I still feel like an elementary school student. I hope one day to be able to recite scripture at the right moment to be a blessing to someone else. I hope that my actions towards others reflect Christ, not me.
Wow, Rebecca what a powerful devotional. I am with you and want to “stand on the foundation of the Lord of the Sabbath and stand secure.” Christ thank you for calling “us away from ourselves” to Yourself and making “us like” You.
Amen Angie and Jennifer McElhannon.
I’m praying for you, Abi and your husband, Sarah D and Churchmouse, may the Lord watch over you and be with and help you.
Sitting here, waiting for a back xray. Seems I’m often in a “waiting” mode. How wonderful it is to have technology at my fingertips so that I might read the Word right here. And yet this same technology can be a time waster and it can prevent me from having conversations with those near me. I’m reminded today of how engaged Jesus was with those around Him. Every place He went was an opportunity to fulfill His mission. He separated Himself only for prayer. May I commit to do the same. And so I am putting my phone away as I wait.
A season of waiting can bring so much goodness- beauty in every situation!
We can all relate to the challenges of technology. Put on some worship music and meditate to scripture! I encourage you to focus on yourself and the Lord and that you would feel contentment and the ability to disconnect ❤️
What a wonderful reading from Luke today! One thing that really stuck with me was the solid foundation that we need to build up in Christ. If what we are building upon isn’t sturdy, then all we will do is crumble beneath it all and continually have to start over. In lieu of repairing shoddy foundations, we need to stand firm and create a foundation with Christ at the center of it all.
I know many of times in my past where I have rededicated my life, relented of all of my sin and handed it over to Jesus once more. Yet we are imperfect beings. We are born with sin within us and it’s only through Christ that we can be cleansed of it. As we repent, we must focus on our foundation in Christ. Build it with the sturdiest materials out there. Waste no resources on it. For if we don’t, we will just continue to crumble.
I needed this reminder this morning. Jesus is the solid rock in my life who I know I can always talk to and lean on no matter what. I’m done repairing my foundations. I’m ready to invest everything into it and for it to stand firm no matter what.