September 14 – Love Offering Day 14

This month we are doing a 30-day “Love Offering” study by Rachael Adams. Each day will have a verse of Scripture with an application, to not merely listen to God’s Word but DO what it says (James 1:22). From Rachael: “Time spent with God and time spent serving those around us, changes the condition of our own hearts in the process. Our faith in action creates a chain reaction of full hearts and eternal impacts.” Click HERE to visit the “Love Offering” website for more resources and a daily calendar of applications. Please use the comment section of our website to share your stories on what God is doing through the daily applications.

You can join our study by reading today’s scripture below and journaling about it using SOAP (click on the “What’s SOAP?” link above to learn more). Below today’s scripture is an example SOAP from our team. Whether it’s your first time reading the Bible or you’ve been doing daily devotions for decades, God will use this One Thing to speak to you. We are excited to be starting our 5th year of the Discover One Thing online study!

Scripture: Luke 14:8-9 (Context vs. 1-14) Jesus at a Pharisee’s House One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say. 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Application: Offer your seat to someone else.

SOAP Note

Humility and Grace | Kathy Page

Scripture

Luke 14:10-11, 12-14

Observation

I am sure Jesus was not a dull dinner guest.  During His ministry from town to town, He was invited to eat in many homes.  Some poor, some wealthy.  And, in each case, He always had something to say worth listening to.  Just as in this Pharisee’s home.  But, He was not afraid to face them, even though He knew that their purpose was to trick Him into breaking their laws.

As I read these verses, I saw two things, humility, and the Father’s grace.  In verse 10-11 – Jesus recommends to the guests that they take a more humble spot.  It is not just a dinner host who might humble you, but God Himself.  Don’t presume, but be humble before God.  Let God exalt you, do not do it yourself.

Verses 12-14 — Now Jesus turns to the host and says, “when you hold a special meal, invite those who are not able to invite you back.  Do it out of love, out of the goodness of your heart.  Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and don’t look for status, but rather bless with your generosity.” This is the Father’s grace.

Application

God invites to His table not those who can do something for Him, but those who have nothing to bring; He invites the crushed and brokenhearted, not to receive a blessing but to bless.  Many times in our homes and in our churches we do the right things for the wrong reasons.  Our motives are not pure.  Do we heal out of love or duty?  Do we seek to advance ourselves or seek to honor others before ourselves?  Do we do good works so others will praise us or because we are overflowing with blessings to spread to others?

I see in me my own need for the fruit of the Spirit to grow good, wholesome fruit.  I need my Lord’s good work in me – not self-serving surface good, but the deep character of Jesus in an otherwise barren and needy heart.  You and I have received our invitation to His table for no other reason than love, abundantly seasoned with grace.

Prayer

Father, sometimes I can be like the Pharisees sitting at this table.  Cleanse and renew me.  Perfect and refine my motives so that Your heart might fill mine and Your desires might become my own.  I want to be Your humble, grace-filled servant.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Discover One Thing main website follows a reading plan that goes through the entire Bible in one year. Click HERE to check out today’s Discover One Thing post.