Thursday Devo

Read Luke 14:1-14. This group of Pharisees were a bit different from those in chapter 13 who were looking out for Jesus' welfare! The passage doesn't say Jesus was invited to this meal but that was the normal custom of how one would end up at a prominent Pharisee's home. 

"On the Sabbath" may not mean much to us but it is key to this whole passage. The ten commandments said, "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." The Pharisees in Jesus' day then took that and added many extra interpretations. Over time all of their interpretations began to benefit themselves which of course revealed who they really worshipped. - Self!

This would be like me saying to my children - "no ice cream will be eaten in this home until after 8 pm." Well - my kids go to bed at eight - who does that law favor? This is what frustrated Jesus so much. The religious leaders who were in charge of communicating God's word were abusing their power. They would help their own fallen animal on the Sabbath to protect their assets but to help someone in need - truly in need - that wouldn't advance themselves - would be going too far!

That helps v. 7-14 make sense. The way they used the law to advance self would be like going to a party and taking the best seat - elevating self. It would be like throwing a party and only inviting those who could repay you - elevating self. Paul will say in I Corinthians 13 that true love does not seek its own.

The Lord is looking for religion that elevates him - not the worshiper. Recently I heard an evangelist point out how many Christians telling their testimony make it more about themselves than what God did. Does our story elevate us or our maker? Does our worship elevate self or Christ?

questions

1) what are ways today people use religion and God for self-promotion? (how do we use religion as an excuse to neglect those in need or promote our soap-box etc)

2) what are ways you can "humble yourself" so that God is exalted?

3) what areas do you tend to think highly of yourself in? What do you excel at? Do you tend to see this as a gift from God and how it glorifies him or do you tend to look down on others who are not as competent in that area?

prayer

Father we hate to think we've used you to advance our life. We know Jesus asked us to come follow him and give up our life. Reveal to our hearts where selfish religion has set in. Reveal to our hearts where we've made our worship more about what we get out of it for self than we have what we give. Forgive us for looking at Sunday morning like a consumer with a check list rating how well each segment benefited us rather than thinking on how you were glorified. We've made church about us - we're sorry Lord - forgive. Create in us a clean heart God and please renew a right spirit in us. Don't take away your present, restore to us a joy of our salvation.