Daily Bread

1. In any case I must keep on going (31-33)

As Jesus drew nearer to Jerusalem he received a message that Herod wanted to kill him. Some Pharisees advised him to escape. The threat of death did not change Jesus' plans. He considered his mission more important than his life. He would continue healing people and casting out demons. He did not fear Herod, for he knew that life and death are in God's hands--not in the hands of the Herods of the world. He knew that he would die at the time and in the place of God's choosing.

2. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! (34-35)

Jesus loved the people of Israel even though, time after time, they had rejected God's love and God's saving grace. He loved them with the shepherd heart of God, with the heart of the father who loved his prodigal son. He could not force them to accept God's love; he could only keep on loving them with a broken heart.

One word: Jesus is the Good Shepherd

DINNER WITH A PHARISEE

Luke 14:1-11

1. The man with dropsy (1-6)

The man with dropsy was suffering, but the Pharisees who sat down to eat with Jesus didn't care. They only wanted to catch Jesus doing something they could criticize. It was the Sabbath, but that didn't stop Jesus. He healed the man and silenced the selfish Pharisees (5). Jesus didn't care about being politically correct. He did care about suffering people.

2. He who humbles himself will be exalted (7-11)

Jesus saw how the Pharisee guests scrambled for the seats of honor. So he told them a parable about some guests who sought the places of honor at a wedding feast. Those who seek human honor for themselves will be humiliated, but humble people will be honored. The religious leaders should have had compassion for a suffering man, but they didn't care. They only thought about getting human recognition.


Prayer: Lord, help me not to seek honor or recognition from people; give me Jesus' heart and his courage so that I can live a useful life.

One Word: He who humbles himself...