Scripture Reading: Luke 6.17-26 Today's inspiration: Great is your reward in Heaven.

Good Morning.

I'm wondering how Jesus decided what He was going to teach on a given day. . . He came to establish a new way--we know this by His responses to the accusations of the Pharisees--on fasting, healing, and observing the Sabbath. (One follow-up thought on yesterday's discussion of honoring the Sabbath--today, I ran into a young woman who I knew from church, and she asked me about some upcoming event, and before I got her question answered, she blurted out, 'I really didn't go to church this summer. . . you know, I still feel the same, but I don't really need to go to church to keep the feeling. . . 'you know what I mean?' I smiled and nodded. As I drove away, I thought, but maybe it isn't altogether about 'your feeling'--how do you think the Lord feels that you couldn't be bothered just one day of the week? I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.) Word spread about Jesus' authoritative teaching and healing power, and His popularity grew. In today's passage, Luke discusses how far the people had traveled to be near Jesus, to listen to Him and be healed--they had come from Judea, which was the southernmost region of Israel, Jerusalem--the key city of Israel, and the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon, which were Gentile cities to the far north on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Literally, His acclaim was spreading.

Jesus knew that His disciples were devoted to Him, but He also knew what it had cost them. . . their livelihoods, familiar way of life, and their families. On this day, I can almost picture the disciples sitting around Jesus, who was perhaps positioned on an elevated rock-- The crowds close in around them, so they can listen as Jesus tells these men He loves that because they have chosen well, because of their sacrifice, they will reap Heavenly rewards. Blessed are you who are poor - for choosing to follow God first, rather than making money your god, yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. (makes me think of the psalmist's words, that He collects our tears in a bottle. . . Psalm 56.8. . .our God takes note of our sorrow) Blessed are you when men hate and insult you, because of the Son of Man. . . It would not be long until the disciples would face persecution, and they would remember the words of their Lord. All but one would face a martyr's death; yes, accepting Jesus' call to be one of His disciples would be a radical, miraculous lifestyle, but it was costly too. Because religious convictions were not held privately in ancient times, a choice made for Jesus meant the loss of family fellowship, and dismissal from the synagogue. Being excluded from the synagogue meant a person would be viewed as unclean, cutting them off from social contact. Jesus, in His compassion, lets them know that this life is not all there is, and on the other side, things will be different--they will be blessed!

Kingdom values are the opposite of the world's values, as is contrasted in verses 24 to 26. Jesus is not saying that being rich was wrong--but rather that the pursuit of money to the exclusion of seeking Him would be, and would not bring about the 'blessing' of God. As for laughter, those who have laughed and scoffed at the mention of God will have all eternity to mourn their folly. For many in first century Palestine, as today, there will be a time to choose who they wanted to be: [someone who identified with Christ] << or >> [one who opposed Christ]. Each choice has an accompanying response from our God, too: [blessing] << vs. >> [displeasure].

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in Heaven. The words of Jesus. I read a lot--especially books on spiritual growth. The Life God Rewards was written a few years ago by an author I highly respect (Bruce Wilkinson); the book, however, really turned me off. . . then. The author's premise is that we determine where we will live out eternity by what we believe, and how we will live out eternity by how we behave, while on this earth. Storing up treasures in Heaven, rather than earth--well, I believed that. . . and yet, I thought to myself, I do not need any rewards for living my best life now! (another book, though quite benign) But then I made a discovery in the well-known chapter we call the Hall of Faith--Hebrews 11. Many are familiar with the first part of the verse, "For without faith it is impossible to please God, now read carefully>> because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Anyone who comes to Him must believe...that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hmm. . . so I did some grappling with the notion that because God's nature is giving and generous, it only makes sense He would His children. So, yes, I want to live the kind of life God will reward, and I'm 'good' with the concept of Heavenly reward. 'No deed for God will pass by overlooked or unrewarded. Not one cup of water, or one prayer in the middle of the night.' -Wilkinson

So, what kind of life does God reward? Jesus teaches about it throughout His ministry; the life God rewards is characterized by seeking Him diligently, serving those in need in His name, sacrificial living, and sharing time, talent and treasure to further His kingdom. . . This list paints the picture of a person who is 'sold out' to Jesus Christ. I can't think of a better mission or guiding principle for living life. A little more from Jesus on reward: For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16.27 and John closes out the New Testament with Jesus' words in Revelation 22.20, Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. How wonderful to hear at the life's end, Well done, good and faithful servant.

So that you may know,

Christine