Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 9

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-39

Jesus is going to do things differently.

Notice that he builds up some relational capital by healing and exorcising earlier in the chapter.  

Then he offers forgiveness to the paralytic - uh, oh.

Now he's calling tax collectors to be disciples - huh?

Oh, and his disciples are not acting overtly spiritual through regular outward fasting and prayer - rather, they are eating and drinking with the masses.

Must be a disciple of Jesus

His Gospel is going to be a relational Gospel.  His Good News is going to be one where we celebrate rather than mourn.  His evangel is going to include all kinds of people - including people that make us uncomfortable.

Jesus is saying this through the parable about patching garments and wineskins.  If he were to call the regular candidates to be disciples of a rabbi - like a Pharisee - they wouldn't fit.  He needs someone who understands the grace they've received because we are moving into a new territory.  We are going to reach people that have been overlooked but still need to be seen.  

Sometimes, I think that I am too stuck in my ways as a Christian.  I wonder what I do that keeps people from hearing the message?

It is a compelling message.  I think the question we all need to ask during Lent may be, "Is it compelling enough to change me?"

Can I see others less as people that need to be fixed and more as God's children to be celebrated?  If we're honest with ourselves, that is hard to do without God's help.

Prayer for the day:

God, we thank you for the invitation to the party.  We would like to enter but we're not sure of those already in attendance.  And we're not sure who else you are going to let in.  We've got some ideas for the guest list.  And dress code.  And menu.  Help us to let go of these as we say, "Yes, we will come in."  Amen.

Photo by las - initially via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.