Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

A Thanksgiving Blessing - Read: Luke 14:12-14

"When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." (Luke 14:13-14)

In 2016, Wanda Dench sent a text inviting her grandson to Thanksgiving dinner, not knowing he'd recently changed his phone number.  The text instead went to a stranger, Jamal.  Jamal didn't have plans, and so, after clarifying who he was, asked if he could still come to dinner.  Wanda said, "Of course you can."  Jamal joined the family dinner in what has since become a yearly tradition for him.  A mistaken invitation became an annual blessing.

Wanda's kindness in inviting a stranger to dinner reminds me of Jesus' encouragement in Luke's gospel.  During a dinner party at a "prominent" Pharisee's house (Luke 14:1), Jesus noticed who was invited and how the guests jostled for the best seats (v.7).  Jesus told His host that inviting people based on what they could do for him in return (v. 12) meant the blessing would be limited.  Instead, Jesus told the host that extending hospitality to people without the resources to repay him would bring even greater blessing (v.14).

For Wanda, inviting Jamal to join her family for Thanksgiving dinner resulted in the unexpected blessing of a lasting friendship that was a great encouragement to her after her husband's death.  When we reach out to others, not because of what we might receive, but because of God's love flowing through us, we receive far greater blessing and encouragement.

- Lisa M Samra

Heavenly Father, may my invitations reflect a heart that wants to bless others as You lead me.

From Beside the Still Waters...

The Great Reversal - Read: Luke 16:19-25, Matthew 25:31-46.

"But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented" - Luke 16:25

The rich man had all that he needed for a pleasant, easy life.  But Lazarus was simply "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table."  Lazarus was apparently a humble man, for he sought only what the rich man discarded.

These crumbs wouldn't have been expensive to give to the beggar.  It would have required only some effort and time.  In this story the crumbs were food, but for us today other things could be crumbs.  A visit to someone who is sick.  A phone call to an elderly person confined at home.  A card of encouragement for a widow.  Taking a meal to a family that has suffered misfortune.  Simply offering a listening ear, a smile, or a thank you.  Are we too busy for these things?

The rich man and Lazarus both died.  In the realm of departed souls, Father Abraham reminded the rich man of how different his former life had been from Lazarus' life.  Then he said "but now" and described the great reversal of their conditions.

A similar reversal is evident in the Judgement scene of Matthew 25:31-46.  The righteous had done good deeds, but they were puzzled by the King's words and asked, "When saw we thee...?"  The wicked had neglected good deeds and were also puzzled by the King's words, so they too asked, "When saw we thee...?"  The two groups received contrasting rewards according to their works.  No matter how lowly we have been in serving others for Christ's sake, we will be greatly exalted when we hear the words, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Darrell Richard - Goshen, IN

"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled...

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger." - Luke 6:21,25