July 16, 2021 Devotion

posted by Ty Garvey | Jul 16, 2021

Friday, July 16

Read

Luke 11:37-38:  “As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table.  His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.”


Reflect 

In this passage, the Pharisees obviously had some sort of expectation for how Jesus was to behave when He came into their home for a meal.  It says they were “amazed” at his behavior.  I don’t believe this was a good kind of “amazed”, but more of a surprise that caused them to be angry.  We love to pick on the Pharisees, but more often than not, we behave just like them.  I would argue that opponents of Christianity would have far less fuel for their fire if we could stop imposing our “insider” expectations upon those who may be “outsiders”.  Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. He did not expect us to have it all together when He invited us to dine with Him. He understands the process of transforming us into who He has called us to be is a long one, which is exactly why He is full of mercy and grace for us.  We shouldn’t expect others to conform to our way of thinking and action, but rather let them be transformed because of our great hospitality in the same way Christ is transforming us. Let us be unceasingly hospitable towards those who are different from us, and love them for who they are when they accept our invitation.


Pray

God, give us eyes to see the deepest needs of people and to love them where they are.