In God's Eyes, We Are All Important

By Mary Vee
Luke 14

Peter

Sun setting in Israel
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. 

Large crowds traveled with Jesus today. When it came time to rest He turned and spoke with the people. "If anyone comes to me and does not place his devotion to me above his father, mother, wife, and children, even his brothers and sisters, and yes, his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

"I will explain. If one of you wanted to build a tower, wouldn't you first sit down and figure the cost to see if you had enough money to complete the project?

"If you laid the foundation and could not finish the work you would be ridiculed by everyone who walks by. They'd laugh and say, 'Look, this fellow began to build and was not able to finish.

"Now consider a king who is about to go to war against another king. Wouldn't he sit down and determine if the ten thousand men in his army could conquer the twenty thousand coming against him? If his answer is no, he might send a delegation asking for peace while the other army is still far away. In the same way, you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple."

Jesus broke from his rest. While He walked farther, He told those who still walked with him several parables. 

The Parable of the Salt:
Jesus said, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, it can't be made salty again. It becomes useless and is thrown out. He who has ears, let him hear.

The Parable of the Lost Coin:
Jesus sat at a table for a meal with tax collectors and sinners. There also happened to be Pharisees and teachers there. The Pharisees grumbled saying "This man is terrible. He welcomes sinners and eats with them. He should know better." In response Jesus said:

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you joyfully put it on your shoulders and go home. Once there you will call your neighbors and friends and tell them,'Rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep.' In the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Sometimes we think we are the most important. But in God's eyes, we are all important.

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

If You Were Invited to a Grand Banquet, Would You Go?

By Mary Vee
Luke 14

Peter

Sun setting in Israel
Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Peter. 

For the last few posts, I've written about a grand Sabbath dinner. At this meal, a pharisee invited Jesus and His disciples. There were many others who happened to attend as well.

Jesus has been teaching those who came while they waited for the meal. As it turns out he has started another story. This is what he is saying:

There was a man who prepared a great banquet. He sent out many guest invitations.

When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant out with this announcement, "Come. The banquet is ready."

Sadly, each invited guest gave an excuse for why he couldn't attend. The first said, "I can't come right now. I've bought a field and must stay here to care for it."

Another said, "I have bought five oxen. I must see if they can do the work I need."

Another said, "I am sorry, but I have just been married. I can't come at this time."

So the servant returned to his master's house with his report. "I am sorry, master, but everyone had a reason why they couldn't attend the banquet."

The owner was offended. In his anger, he said, "Go out to the streets and alleys and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and lame. Let them freely come to my banquet. Go now."

So the servant invited all the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame then said, "I have invited all the people you have requested. See, they are at the table, and there is room for more." 

The master said, "Then go out to the streets, the country roads, anywhere you find people. Invite them all. I want my house to be full. Mark my word, not one person from the original invitation list will get a bite of food from my table.

What would you have said to your invitation?

Come back to read the next story.

*Note from Mary Vee: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.