[Jesus continued,] "I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than ###. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!"
When they heard this, all the people — even the tax collectors — agreed that God's way was right, for they had been baptized by ###. But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused ###'s baptism.
—Luke 7:28-30 NLT
"Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." [1] Luke helps us see the great reversals that God's justice brings. Those who had all the advantages of being religious insiders and leaders often rejected Jesus because he called them to repent. Those who were outsiders, who knew they were sinners and who were looking for a way out of their sinful bondage, repented and let Jesus completely reorient their lives. Even today, many of us who have had all the advantages of being raised around faith can find it hard not to tone down Jesus' call to change our lives and follow him as Lord. Let's use the failure of those who rejected Jesus as our warning! We are all saved by grace and are called to follow Jesus with our all!
[1] Luke 13:30 NRSV.
Abba Father, please help me never let my familiarity with faith blind me to true and whole-hearted belief in Jesus and service in his Kingdom. I don't want anything to dilute my devotion to your Son as my Lord or to turn my heart away from his sacrifice, so please give me the discernment I need when Satan tries to use my weaknesses to blind me to your truth. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by ### and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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When they heard this, all the people — even the tax collectors — agreed that God's way was right, for they had been baptized by ###. But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused ###'s baptism.
—Luke 7:28-30 NLT
Key Thought
"Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." [1] Luke helps us see the great reversals that God's justice brings. Those who had all the advantages of being religious insiders and leaders often rejected Jesus because he called them to repent. Those who were outsiders, who knew they were sinners and who were looking for a way out of their sinful bondage, repented and let Jesus completely reorient their lives. Even today, many of us who have had all the advantages of being raised around faith can find it hard not to tone down Jesus' call to change our lives and follow him as Lord. Let's use the failure of those who rejected Jesus as our warning! We are all saved by grace and are called to follow Jesus with our all!
[1] Luke 13:30 NRSV.
Today's Prayer
Abba Father, please help me never let my familiarity with faith blind me to true and whole-hearted belief in Jesus and service in his Kingdom. I don't want anything to dilute my devotion to your Son as my Lord or to turn my heart away from his sacrifice, so please give me the discernment I need when Satan tries to use my weaknesses to blind me to your truth. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by ### and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Let Us Pray: God I ask You in Jesus’ name fill the person who blessed me with this prayer and myself with Your peace and joy today (joy unspeakable and full of glory and peace). Teach us how and bless each of us to abide in You. Bless us to know and walk in the rooted inner joy and peace that comes from abiding in You. Keep us secure and rooted in You in every season of our lives. Shower us with Your undeserved grace and mercy when we fail. Let us rest in You and allow You to do Your work in each of us so that joy and peace grows as an abundant fruit in each of our lives. God please do the same for all those in my family that are saved, all those I love, care about, and the writers of this prayer. God forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. Amen.
