Who's in? Who's out?

READ: Acts 13:38-47

Who got invited to the party and who didn’t? Who made the team and who got cut? Who got the promotion and who fell short?

People love to ask these questions because if we’re in, we’re superior.

So, naturally, the Jews (who were in as God’s people) felt superior to the Gentiles (who were out).

Yet in Acts 13:39, Paul preaches that through Jesus everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

We’re all in!

“But that’s not fair!” cries the voice of pride. “It’s because of my superiority and hard work that I got invited to that party, made that team, and earned that promotion! Doesn’t my extra effort count for anything?”

Jesus addresses this complaint in The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16). Though many worked different hours, they all received the same wage - the full grace of God.

Again in Luke 7:36-50, a prideful Pharisee is offended by Christ’s association with a sinful woman. Jesus’s response? He commends the woman, for because she was forgiven more, she loved more.

For some, this idea that everyone is invited into the Kingdom of God is such an offense to pride that they join those who in verse 45 speak abusively against the Gospel.

To them Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matt 21:31)

Luke 7:36-50

There are times in our lives when we ache to hear the words, "I forgive you."  We are capable of hurting someone deeply, especially someone we care about.  Remorse is usually great, but pride puts up a wall which hinders us from asking forgiveness.  Living in the land of, "I wish I hadn't said that," or, "If only I had done things differently," is a tough place to reside.  Regrets and if only's make for uneasy living.

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

When Jesus said these words to the woman who crashed the dinner party, she must have felt a tremendous burden lifted off her heart.  She recognized Jesus as one who cared deeply and as one she needed to approach.  Her eyes were opening and she saw her sinful life for what it was and took action.  Jesus, the light, caused her to see clearly.

When we go through life with blinders on we do not see the real world.  These lessons this week remind me I need to see the world as it is, I need to rely on the one who can change my eye-sight.  God's plan for you and for me is already in front of us.  We only need eyes to see it and hearts to embrace it and we too will find peace.

Read the Luke 7:36-50 text here.  Listen to a reading of the Luke 7:36-50 text here.

Luke 7:36-50

There are a number of stories in the text for today, and a number of places where I see myself.  That is usually where I begin when preparing to write one of these devotionals; I read the scripture then reflect on what the Word might be reminding me.  So often I can see where God has been working in my life and then I recognize how far He has moved me from that place of sin and death to this place of hope and life.

"When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)
Isn't this interesting did you catch it?  I know I read this a number of times in the past before truly seeing what was written.  "He said to himself," The Pharisee wasn't speaking out loud, he was talking to himself and Jesus responded.  I don't know if the Pharisee understood what just happened either.  It certainly gives more weight to the truth that Jesus knows our every thought.

I know there have been times I have thought something, or journaled my heart, only to have God act on my dreams or desires.  I don't have to verbalize with my tongue only with my heart and God will respond.

Read the Luke 7:36-50 text for today here.