SHARING BREAD

¹⁶ Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

¹⁸ ”But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

¹⁹ ”Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

²⁰ ”Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

Luke 14:16-20 (NIV)

Scripture makes it plain – all are invited unfortunately few choose.  Free will and predestination living side by side throughout Scripture -God’s foreknowledge and man’s culpability both presented clearly within its pages.  To deny either doctrine is not to hold to the truth of all of Scripture.  Scripture states we were “chosen out of” and “determined beforehand” by God to be holy and blameless and adopted as His children through Christ:

⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– Eph 1:3-5 (NIV)

At the same time, Scripture also makes it clear that Jesus died for all and that the invitation to believe in Him and be saved is extended to all.  We are held responsible for either our acceptance of or our rejection of Christ:

  ¹⁶ ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   John 3:16 (NIV)

³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”   John 3:36 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus is telling a parable describing His people, the Jews, who were simply too preoccupied to accept the invitation of the Master of the banquet.  Their excuses appear quite lame – a field bought, five oxen purchased, newly married.  These preoccupations seem rather inconsequential in light of eternity do they not?  How often we make like excuses from following the call of our Savior.  The still small voice that keeps urging us we quiet with our busyness and our multitudes of distractions and interests.  Constantly putting off our acceptance of Christ or our following hard after Him, we are reminiscent of those the prophet Haggai ministered to in his day.  The word from God to His people through this prophet fits our times as well:

 ² This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built.’”

³ Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: ⁴ ”Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”  Hag 1:2-4 (NIV)

Today people still continue to put off their acceptance of Christ choosing rather to fully consider Him at a later date.  Believers also choose to delay their work of “building their temples” in following hard after Christ.  God’s temple or dwelling place is now within the hearts of those who believe therefore we can take what was meant literally by the prophet Haggai in rebuilding the temple of God, figuratively.  We become so distracted in all of our busyness that we neglect the most important things – the old tyranny of the urgent creeps in and before you know it we have wasted a life discovering it to be not satisfying and fruitless – which aptly describes a life disregarding the Lord Jesus.  In this little two page book of Haggai God states no less than five times:  “Give careful thought to your ways”. We find within its pages:

⁵ Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”   Hag 1:5-6 (NIV)

Basically, their activities had proven fruitless and not satisfying.  Going about business as usual with no consideration or preeminence to God and their relationship with Him, the Israelites give us a wonderful reflection of our own times.  God’s chastening of them turned their hearts back to Him.  Lovingly, He disciplined them for their good.  We have been given one shot at this life – one.   How unloving it would be for God not to chastise His wayward children.  We should have no more lame excuses.

What I glean from this today:

·       Both free will and predestination are presented within the pages of Scripture.

·       I can be too preoccupied with the busyness of life missing the most important of following hard after Christ.  I must give careful thought to my ways.

·       God chastises me out of love to bring me back into relationship with Him.  God does not want my house to remain a ruin.

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SHARING BREAD

 ¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 14:15 (NIV)

Blessed indeed will be all whom enjoy the feast in the kingdom of God!  We are told about this many times in Scripture.  In the book of Isaiah the prophet pens the following words regarding this sumptuous gala:

⁶ On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine– the best of meats and the finest of wines. ⁷ On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; ⁸ he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.   Isaiah 25:6-8 (NIV)

Regarding the verses presented above the Bible Knowledge Commentary states:

“God’s deliverance of His people in the kingdom is pictured as a banquet feast on the mountain of the Lord Almighty. Mountains are often symbols of governmental authority (e.g., Dan. 2:44-45) but here the mountain probably refers to Jerusalem (Mount Zion) from which the Messiah will rule in the kingdom. Food will be provided for all peoples, which fact once again stresses the worldwide extent of God’s kingdom over those who believe. This does not mean that everyone who lives in the Millennium will be saved (though only redeemed people will enter the Millennium at its beginning); instead it means that people in all areas of the world will be saved. The best of meats and the finest of wines picture God’s ability to supply the needs of His people during that time. Some Bible interpreters say this refers symbolically to God’s care for His people in the present age. However, Isaiah was speaking of a future time when (after God’s worldwide judgment) His people in Israel and other nations will feast together in peace and prosperity. This is the 1,000-year reign of Christ.”

This is a feast no one should want to miss.  In fact, Jesus tells us that those who cannot enter will be found weeping and gnashing their teeth – two behaviors that do not sound very pleasant to me!  We find the Savior’s words in Luke to support this:

²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’  ”But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  ²⁶ ”Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ ”But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ ²⁸ ”There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Luke 13:22-29 (NIV)

Many things come to light in the above passage regarding the feast in the kingdom of God.  Some of these, listed below, should make us take pause and consider:

·       We are to make every effort to enter through the narrow door.  This is found also in the Sermon on the Mount, the narrow gate referring to Jesus’ teaching which emphasized internal transformation rather than external requirements:    ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)

·       Many will desire entry but will not be able to.

·       There will come a time when the door is shut and no amount of knocking and pleading will be able to open it.

·       Just being familiar with Whom Jesus is will not be sufficient for entry.

·       Those not allowed entry Jesus refers to as evildoers.

·        Those not allowed entry will be found weeping and gnashing their teeth.

·       Believers will come from all over and take their places at the feast along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest.

Like I stated before, this is not something that we want to miss!  The following quotes by Packer and Ogden help shed light on our discussion:

“Do you know who you are? Do you know who you were designed to be? Do you know the Father’s intent for your life? You are meant to hear in your spirit the same thing Jesus heard when he came out of the waters of baptism at the beginning of his ministry: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’….J I Packer puts it simply. ‘What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father’…Our highest privilege and deepest need is to experience the holy God as our loving Father, to approach him without fear and to be assured of his fatherly care and concern.”  Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”   C. S. Lewis

“The future belongs to those who belong to God.  This is hope.”  W.T. Purkiser

What I glean from this:

·       Blessed are all who will enjoy the feast in the kingdom of God.

·       I desire greatly to be on the “narrow road” that leads to life.

·       Being a Christian, I know that God is my Father.

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SHARING BREAD

 ¹² Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or 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.”

Luke 14:12-14 (NIV)

Jesus has a desire for us to flesh out the mindset of the following truth:

² Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.   Prov 22:2 (NIV)

God is concerned about everyone, regardless of their economic status or of popular opinion.  An Old Testament story comes to mind that fulfills Jesus’ command in our verses for today.  David had become King over Israel and his predecessor, King Saul, and his son Jonathan (David’s beloved and loyal friend) were now dead.  It was a customary practice for new kings to execute all remaining heirs of the previous king’s family to ensure the safety of their throne.  Wanting to show kindness in remembrance of Jonathan, King David throws a kink in custom fleshing out, in my opinion, Luke 14:12-14.  We find the story in 2 Samuel 9:

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”  ² Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “Your servant,” he replied.  ³ The king asked, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.” 2 Sam 9:1-3 (NIV)

⁶ When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “Your servant,” he replied. ⁷ ”Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” ⁸ Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” ⁹ Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)    2 Sam 9:6-10 (NIV)

¹³ And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.   2 Sam 9:13 (NIV)

It has been stated, and rightly so, that you can tell a great deal about a person’s character by how they treat those who can do nothing to benefit or help them.  From accounts of David’s life like the one above, it is no wonder God calls him “A man after His own heart”:

²² After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Jesus Himself demonstrates our verses for today in the feeding of the four thousand.  We find in Matthew 15:

 ²⁹ Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. ³¹ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. ³² Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”  Matt 15:29-32 (NIV)

Ever the reasonable, humanly possible, thinking disciples balked at the idea stating:

 ³³ His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”   Matt 15:33 (NIV)

Yet seven loaves of bread and a few small fish in the Master’s hands were enough to satisfy the four thousand plus the women and children:

³⁵ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children.   Matt 15:35-38 (NIV)

It is another one of those “immutable laws of the universe” where sharing, caring and giving trumps self-centered, narcissistic and selfish every time.  Anonymous

“I am a humble pensioner myself for my daily bread. Shall I forget my        brother who seems in great need? I know not how it happened that I have more than they, Unless God meant that I should give a larger part away. The humblest wayside beggar and I have wants the same. Close side by side we walked when God called out one name. So brother, it happened the name He called was mine, The food was given for both, here, half of it is thine.”  Helen Hunt Jackson

What I glean from this:

·           The Lord is the maker of both the rich and the poor.

·           God desires for me to be concerned and share with His people who are in need – ¹³ Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 (NIV)

·           My character is shown by how I treat those who cannot benefit me.

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SHARING BREAD

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 your fellow guests. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:10-11 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus once again deals with the subject of humility.  It is no wonder that He stresses this point considering our lack of it and our subsequent gross magnitude and rampant occurrences of pride which tends to permeate the human race.  Since this subject is addressed so often in Scripture, I thought it would be interesting to cite several verses regarding God’s opinion on humility and pride.  While certainly not exhaustive, the following verses are worth our consideration:

 ²⁷ You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.   Psalms 18:27 (NIV)

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.   Prov 6:16-19 (NIV)

Interestingly, “haughty eyes” (pride) ranks number one on God’s detestable list certainly giving us a heads-up or fair warning!  We must remember that arrogance will always drive out humility in one’s life and conversely, fortunately, humility will drive out arrogance.  Many benefits accompany humility.  Scripture tells us:

⁹ He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.    Psalms 25:9 (NIV)

 ⁴ For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.  Psalms 149:4 (NIV)

³⁴ He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.   Prov 3:34 (NIV)

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)

Pride comes from a lack of understanding of what God and others have done in our lives.  Job came face to face with this issue when he had a compulsory conversation with the God of all creation.  God starts out the discussion by asking Job many questions – all of which he had no clue how to answer:

¹ Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: ² ”Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge? ³ Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.   Job 38:1-3 (NIV)

God proceeds with a litany of questions- perhaps even “tongue in cheek” – which renders Job speechless. God begins by asking:

⁴ ”Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. ⁵ Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!   Who stretched a measuring line across it? ⁶ On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone– ⁷ while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?   Job 38:4-7 (NIV)

At the end of three chapters of continuous questioning by God, “blameless” Job has the proper (and, I might add, only reasonable) response:

 ¹ Then Job replied to the LORD: ² ”I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. ³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ⁴ ”You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ ⁵ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. ⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”   Job 42:1-6 (NIV)

Nothing like coming face to face with Almighty God!  It certainly will give one the proper perspective of their life!  Better to get to that perspective before having such an encounter with our Creator.  God gives us a choice between humility and humiliation and I believe the former is infinitely far superior!

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   Micah 6:8 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Arrogance will drive out humility in my life and conversely humility will drive out pride.
• God bestows grace to me when I am humble.
• God desires for me to walk humbly with Him.

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SHARING BREAD

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 man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

Luke 14:7-9 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus teaches us how not to have a death grip on last place!  The key to unlocking this treasure is humility.  This is a recurrent theme from the lips of our Savior.  A few verses later in this same chapter Jesus states:

¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Luke 14:11 (NIV)

Jesus states the exact same thing again later in Luke:

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14 (NIV)

The word “everyone” used in these two verses sound pretty all inclusive to me!  Jesus also applies this same theme to our relationship with God – it is necessary for us to humble ourselves before Him to gain forgiveness from our sins.  Those who arrogantly exalt themselves in God’s presence will be brought low yet for those who humble themselves, God will exalt.  James tells us:

⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:6-10 (NIV)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary state the following regarding the above verses:

“The way up is down. The lowly one becomes the lifted one. There is a marked advantage to humility—eventually it brings honor.”

This was true of our Savior too.  Paul tells us in Philippians:

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.  Phil 2:3-11 (NIV)

This is how it works – we empty ourselves of all of our vain “importance” and God exalts us in His timing.  How much better to be exalted by God than by our own mouth?  Sounds like a no-brainer to me!  All throughout Scripture we find examples of this principle  at work– God exalted David, Joshua, Moses, Gideon and many others who Scripture tells us:

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. ³⁷ They were stoned ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated– ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them.   Heb 11:32-38 (NIV)

“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world.  It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender….God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.”  Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You

What I glean from this:

·       The key to our death grip on last place is humility.

·       We will not have holiness without humility.

·       God will exalt the humble.

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SHARING BREAD

⁵ Then he asked them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?” ⁶ And they had nothing to say.

Luke 14:5-6 (NIV)

Jesus can certainly be a conversation stopper!  When confronted face to face with one’s own hypocrisy, one rarely has much to say.  These guys were willing to get their son or ox out of a well on the Sabbath yet not willing to agree that someone could be healed on God’s day of rest.  Rules, rules, rules!!!  It reminds me of a verse found in Isaiah:

¹³ So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there– so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.   Isaiah 28:13 (NIV)

The Israelites lack of obedience and indifference to God’s Word through His prophet Isaiah resulted in God giving them over to foreign captivity.  God had offered them rest and repose but they had refused to listen opening themselves up to being ensnared and injured.  God is serious about His Word to us and He has no desire for us to add to it or take away from it rather pay attention and heed!  This, by the way, is for our own good and the good of our children.  It is a lie from Satan to believe that God’s commands are burdensome and not beneficial.   Scripture tells us:

 ¹ Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.   Deut 4:1-2 (NIV)

³² See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.  Deut 12:32 (NIV)

The last few verses in Revelation echo this same command:

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.   Rev 22:18-19 (NIV)

When we disregard God’s rules we tend to make up our own.  This is exactly what the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were doing regarding the Sabbath Day. They were turning it into a giant list of “Do not’s” making it impossible to adhere to and taking it upon themselves to define the meaning of the Sabbath.  God made the Sabbath a day of rest.  It was and is to be a day that draws us closer to Him through private and corporate worship, through prayer and praise, through song and thanksgiving.  It was and is to be a day of reflection and more of a day to “be” with God rather than “do” for God.  It was and is a day that required advance preparation and joyful anticipation.  It was and is a gift given for man’s benefit and pleasure.  As I reflected on Scripture with an eye towards the proper “use” of this precious day a few years ago I came up with a few points.  While certainly not exhaustive, you perhaps may find some of these gleanings helpful or enlightening:

What Should a Sabbath Day Look Like?

• Day of reflection and appreciation of God’s past blessings in our lives and for the work He allows and equips us to do for Him.
• Day of joyful thankfulness over all His hand has bestowed.  Counting our blessings and being thankful to Him thrills God.
• The Sabbath is to be a covenant sign of God’s authority over our life.
• The Sabbath is to be a time of personal refreshment remembering that any refreshment that does not draw us closer to Him does not leave us refreshed but lacking. 
• The Sabbath is to be a time of celebration – looking forward to it and celebrating it as we do a day off or a vacation.
• The Sabbath is to be a time of quiet worship.
• The Sabbath is to be a sacred time of rest.
• The Sabbath is to be a time to refresh oneself.
•  God looks at our lack of observing the Sabbath as defilement, prostitution, to make common what He has declared holy, pollution and a desecration to our temples.
• We are blessed and strengthened when we observe the Sabbath properly and we suffer physically and emotionally when we do not.

Rest is a beautiful gift from God.  He desires for His children to come away with Him to a quiet place of rest.  The writer of Hebrews states:

⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.   Heb 4:9-11 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• I am not to make up my own rules of “Do’s and Do Not’s” for the Sabbath Day.
• The Sabbath Day is to be a day of rest from my work and one that brings me into closer relationship with my Abba Father.
•  I am strengthened when I observe the Sabbath.

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SHARING BREAD

² There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 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 away.

Luke 14:2-4 (NIV)

In today’s verses we find our Teacher answering His own question to the Pharisees and experts of the law through His subsequent action of healing as the onlookers remained mute.  Indeed, Jesus states elsewhere in Scripture:

 ⁷ If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”   Matt 12:7-8 (NIV)

We find this again stated in Mark:

²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:27-28 (NIV)

The Sabbath was instituted by God as a gift for the benefit and refreshment of mankind not as some burdensome regulation of manmade lists that we are forced to keep.  We are warned of this in Scripture by Paul in Colossians:

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷ These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. ¹⁹ He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.   Col 2:16-19 (NIV)

I love what the Bible Knowledge Commentary states about the above verses:

“True spirituality does not come by compliance with laws (which are only a shadow) but by connection with the Life (who is the reality). Without a vital connection to its Head, the body of Christ cannot grow.”

God knows how we are made (amazing!) and that our constant frenzied pace will wear us out becoming spent through the barrage of ceaseless noise, interruptions, and a driven desire to be more and more productive.  We have a tendency to become frenetic doers rather than to live in His presence and peacefully be.  Even our most noble causes and passions can leave us worn out.  Jesus says:

²⁸ ”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)

David reiterates this same theme in Psalm 62:

 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.   Psalms 62:1 (NIV)

The wording here literally translates “Only to God is my soul silence” meaning only to God did he look for complete calmness.  God knows this about us.  He knows how desperate we are for Him even if we do not.  He cries out to us:

 ¹⁰ ”Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”   Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

I do not know about anyone else, but this is a very difficult command for me to keep.  It is certainly much easier for me to be doing than for me to be still yet that is a huge violation of God’s Word to me and I suffer physically and spiritually when I am not obedient.  I pollute His Sabbath and I desecrate my temple when I choose not to rest in Him in solitude and silence.  Jesus established this principle with His original disciples as He often retreated with them to a quiet place for rest – away from the masses.  They had not healed every person nor had they fed every hungry mouth – He extricated them from the mayhem of human need to refresh them so that they may go forth in His renewed power.  Good lesson for us to learn too!  We often just do not know when to stop and consequently end up suffering from spiritual drought.  I am reminded of a verse spoken by Moses to the fearful Israelites:

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Ex 14:13-14 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• The Sabbath was made for me not me for the Sabbath.
• My body suffers when I lose connection with the Head which is Christ.
• My soul finds rest in God alone.  He alone can refresh and renew my spirit – anything and everything else will be found lacking.

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SHARING BREAD

¹ One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

Luke 14:1 (NIV)

Similar to Jesus’ experience at the house of this prominent Pharisee, Christians are often observed by non-believers in much the same way – carefully, with a motive towards evil intent as the wording in our verse for today suggests.  It is almost as if their desire is to catch us in some wrong doing or hoping that we will fall into error.  Our failing somehow makes them feel better – that, like they, we are not perfect.  Remember, darkness loves darkness while light exposes the darkness.  While our claim is not perfection, we are to be on a pursuit towards holiness or Christlikeness through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling within us.  We are given this command in Scripture:

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.    Col 4:5-6 (NIV)

It matters greatly how we live – we are to be pointing others to Christ by our words and deeds.  So how are we doing in this endeavor?  Are those in our spheres drawn to the Lord because they see Him fleshed out in our lives or are they turned away with the thoughts that Christianity is no different than any of the other false claims rampant in our day?   Peter tells us:

¹⁵ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.   1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

When Christ is Lord, of our lives, we are not!   This does not lead us to arrogance but to a demonstration of gentleness mixed with respect, keeping a clear conscious and not being fearful of persecution.  Good behavior is the best defense against unjust punishment and persecution because it totally goes against human nature and allows the Holy Spirit to shine forth pointing others to our Lord Jesus.  It is not natural to be offended and respond in love but this is what our Savior did and this is what we are also called to do.  We are told in Scripture regarding Christ’s actions:

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)

Christ remained silent rather than defend Himself, willingly led to His death knowing that it would benefit those who would believe.  The salvation of men’s souls was actually the “joy set before Him” enabling Him to endure the cross.  Looking forward to finishing the race well, we too are called to exhibit such loving responses.  Remember the fruit of the Spirit:

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.   Gal 5:22-23 (NIV)

This “fruit” is produced by the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life who is in vital union with the Lord Jesus.  All of these qualities are to be made manifest in the life of a believer who lives under the control of the Holy Spirit. We are to be dying to self, living for Christ, pursuing holiness and purity, strengthened in the faith as we have been taught and overflowing with thankfulness.  This is the life that we are called to as we are being conformed to His likeness with ever increasing glory.  We are told by Paul:

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.   2 Cor 3:17-18 (NIV)

It is the Holy Spirit who leads Christians from justification to sanctification to glorification.  Certainly a believer’s eternal state is one of glory yet even now through the Spirit’s power we may reflect God’s glory pointing others to Him.  It is the Holy Spirit’s job to point others to Christ in our jars of clay.  Paul tells us:

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.  2 Cor 4:7-12 (NIV)

If our death to self brings life to others then this too is our “joy set before us” helping us to endure our crosses as the writer of Hebrews states:

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.   Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• As a believer my words and actions are being watched by others in my sphere.  My life should be pointing others to Christ.
• I should respond in love to others, not being defensive and dying to self.
• My life is to be a reflection of Christ in ever-increasing glory.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁵ Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ “

Luke 13:35 (NIV)

Contrary to what many may believe, one day every tongue will confess Christ is Lord, one day every knee will bow in His presence.  Matthew Henry states: 

“The judgment of the great day will effectively convince unbelievers that would not now be convinced:  ‘Then you will say, blessed is he who comes’ – ‘you will not see me to be the Messiah until then when it is too late.’”

There is a false belief that life will just continue on without any accountability for transgressions eventually dying into nothingness.  While certainly palatable to those who desire not to change their ways there is nothing further from the truth.  Their house is left desolate and solitary because, being unwanted, Christ will no longer “trouble” them.  Sadly, not only is their eternal state doomed, they miss the greatest joy that is offered to all believers in the here and now:

“God is the only source of true happiness, because He offers those intangibles that we mistakenly believe can be found on earth:  contentment, security, peace, and hope for the future.  None of these can be found in a job, a human relationship, money, power, or position.  They are God’s alone to give…The Lord Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told where ultimate happiness lies:  ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled’ (Matthew 5:6).  This is God’s promise – and it is true.”  Billy Graham  

The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible states the following regarding Christ’s certain return:

“The same Jesus who ascended to heaven will come again (Acts 1:11) at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3).  He will overthrow the Antichrist by the breath of His mouth and destroy his evil work by the splendor of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).  Christ is now reigning as Lord at God’s right hand (Hebrews 12:2), sharing God’s throne (Revelation 3:21).  Although His authority is not readily discerned by the world at the present time, it will be made visible by His ‘apokalypsis’, or ‘revelation’ (2 Thessalonians 1:7).  The power and glory that Christ possesses will then be unveiled and disclosed to the world.”

As believers, we wait patiently for His return.  Having God as our confidence, we know that He will guide and teach us; directing us in the paths that we should follow.  We are told in Proverbs:

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)

Our verse for today reminds me of a quote I recently came across that on first blush seemed offensive yet later loving:

“If you are reading this because you count yourself a good person and good people read religious books, let me give you a warning; you are dancing on the edge of a cliff. One day, maybe soon, you’re going to fall off. Not only that, but when you fall off, it’s going to hurt really bad. I just wanted you know, and I didn’t want you to say that nobody ever told you. I just told you….Feeling ashamed and knowing Christ far surpasses being good and never thirsting for mercy and forgiveness.” Steve Brown,  A Scandalous Freedom

C. S. Lewis has a word for us too regarding Christianity.  While lengthy, it is worth the slow read – contemplating the truth of his statement:

“Christianity simply does not make sense until you face the sort of facts I have been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness.  It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know that they have anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real moral law and a power behind the law and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that power – It is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk… (Christianity) tells you how the demands of this law, which you and I cannot meet, have been met on our behalf. How God himself becomes a man to save man from the disapproval of God. It is an old story…All I am doing is to ask people to face the facts – to understand the questions which Christianity claims to answer. And they are very terrifying facts. I wish it was possible to say something more agreeable. But I must say what I think true. Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I am describing and it is no use at all to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay.  In religion, as in war and everything else comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: If you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth. – only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end despair.” CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   John 14:6 (NIV)

“Jesus is the “Way” because He is the “Truth” and the “Life.” As the Father is Truth and Life, Jesus is the embodiment of God so people can come to the Father (cf. 1:4, 14, 18; 11:25).”   Bible Knowledge Commentary  

What I glean from this:

• One day every tongue will confess Christ is Lord and one day every knee will bow in His presence.
• God is my only true source of happiness.  When I hunger and thirst for righteousness I will be filled.
• Jesus is the “Way” because He is the “Truth” and the “Life”.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁴ ”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Luke 13:34 (NIV)

In our verse for today we see firsthand the tender and compassionate love of our Savior.  He longed for the Jewish people in Jerusalem to turn to Him but they were not willing.  His desire was to protect her as a hen protects her chicks yet He was rejected by them.  I am reminded of the prophecy in Isaiah speaking of Christ:

³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:3-5 (NIV)

His mission statement was crystal clear – we are told later in Isaiah:

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.   Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

His purpose, God’s will, was for Him to preach the Good News, bring freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners.  Jesus came to proclaim God’s favor for His people Israel and the children of the promise who would be regarded as Abraham’s “offspring”, though not naturally, through their faith in Christ.  Jesus came first to the Jewish people proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor and comforting those who grieved and mourned replacing their garment of despair for spirits of praise – all this so that they may display the splendor of God to a lost and hurting world.  Yet, we are told in John:

¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.   John 1:11-13 (NIV)

Of these verses the Bible Knowledge Commentary states:

“In some ways this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. The Logos went to His own home but He had no welcome. Jesus went to His own people, the nation Israel, but they as a whole rejected Him. In rejecting Him, they refused to accept Him as the Revelation sent by the Father and refused to obey His commands. Isaiah long before had prophesied of this Jewish national unbelief: “Who has believed our message?” (Isa. 53:1).  That unbelief, however, was not universal. Some received Jesus’ universal invitation. To all who accepted Jesus as the Revealer of the Father’s will and as the Sacrifice for sin, He gave the right to become children of God. People are not naturally children of God but can become so by receiving the gift of the new birth. The new birth does not come by natural descent (lit., “of bloods”), nor is it the result of a human decision (lit., “the will of the flesh,” i.e., the natural human desire for children), nor is it the result of a husband’s will. The birth of a child of God is not a natural birth; it is a supernatural work of God in regeneration. A person welcomes Jesus and responds in faith and obedience to Him, but the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is “the cause” of regeneration.”

Paul also had this burning desire for his brothers:

¹ I speak the truth in Christ–I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit– ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, ⁴ the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. ⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. Romans 9:1-5 (NIV)

We also find in Acts where he turns to the Gentiles after the rejection of the Jews:

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” ⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.   Acts 13:44-48 (NIV)

Joy will always be the resulting fruit of embracing the Gospel message.  It is Good News indeed!

What I glean from this:

• Jesus longs to bestow tender and compassionate love to the lost.
• Jesus came so that I may have the power to display God’s splendor to a lost and hurting world.
•  Joy will always accompany the embracing of the Gospel message.

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