{"id":2288,"date":"2021-04-27T18:30:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T01:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2288"},"modified":"2021-04-24T21:41:10","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T04:41:10","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-luke-ch-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Luke Ch. 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Luke Ch. 14 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(vv. 1-6)\u00a0<\/span>This is what happened when\u00a0<\/span>a ruler of the Pharisees invited\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>to eat at his house.\u00a0<\/span>Not only did Jesus<\/span>\u00a0he<\/span>al a person suffering from dro<\/span>psy<\/span>, but\u00a0<\/span>he also asked two\u00a0<\/span>seemingly\u00a0<\/span>dichotomous\u00a0<\/span>questions\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0those<\/span>\u00a0keeping a close watch on him<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>“Is it\u00a0<\/span><\/b>lawful to heal on<\/span><\/b>\u00a0the Sabbath<\/span><\/b>, or not<\/span><\/b>?”\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201cWhich of you, having a son<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>However,\u00a0<\/span>none of the people at the scene responded. It can be\u00a0<\/span>observed that<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>their hearts, they actually held<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>double standard: they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>did\u00a0<\/span>things on the<\/span>\u00a0Sabbath, but Jesus could not<\/span>\u00a0heal the sick on the Sabbath.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These poignant questions illustrate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a typical double standard. When others make\u00a0<\/span>mistakes<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>use the<\/span>\u00a0narrow<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>lens of a microscope to\u00a0<\/span>see<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>their<\/span>\u00a0mistakes, and when we make\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0mistake<\/span>s<\/span>, we\u00a0<\/span>use<\/span>\u00a0the wide lens of<\/span>\u00a0a telescope<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>see our\u00a0<\/span>mistakes<\/span>. Today, try to reflect on this point<\/span>. If you invite Jesus to eat at<\/span>\u00a0home someday, would he not<\/span>\u00a0also\u00a0<\/span>point out the mistakes you have\u00a0<\/span>made?!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>7-11) At<\/span>\u00a0the same meal, because the host<\/span>\u00a0saw the invited guests,\u00a0<\/span>he chose<\/span>\u00a0someone to sit in the place of honor<\/span>\u00a0at the table\u00a0<\/span>(in Jesus\u2019 time, the closer you were to the<\/span>\u00a0owner, the higher the position<\/span>)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Jesus took the opp<\/span>ortunity to tell all\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the guests a<\/span>\u00a0parable. This parable<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>does not mean that we rush to lower our status\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>sit in the<\/span>\u00a0least honorable<\/span>\u00a0position first; and after this,<\/span>\u00a0wait for someone to invite us<\/span>\u00a0to the place of honor<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>so that we will<\/span>\u00a0be glorified<\/span>. In fact, the true value of man i<\/span>s calculated in the<\/span>\u00a0eyes of God.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The last sentence<\/span>\u00a0of verse 11 reflects this point:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>“<\/span><\/b>For<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>This verse does not mean t<\/span>hat you rush to the least honorable place<\/span>\u00a0hoping all will see that you are humble when in fact, you want to be exalted. God sees your heart.\u00a0<\/span>Nor does it mean that we live a life of extreme inferiority. We can compare the scriptures describing Satan (Isaiah 14:12-14) and Jesus (Philippians 2:6-11):<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Isaiah 14:12-14)\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201cHow<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>you are fallen from heaven,<\/span><\/b>
\nO Day Star,<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>son of Dawn!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>How you are cut down to the ground,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u2018I will ascend to heaven;<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>above the stars of God<\/span><\/b>;\u00a0<\/span><\/b>I will set my throne on high;<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>I will sit on the mount of assembly<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>in the far reaches of the north;<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>I will make myself like the Most High.\u2019<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Philippians 2:6-11)\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201c<\/span><\/b>who, though he was in<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>the form of God, did not count equality with God<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>a thing to be grasped, but<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>emptied himself, by taking the form of a<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>servant, being born in the likeness of men.<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>And being found in human form, he humbled himself by<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>becoming obedient to the point of death,<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>even death on a cross.<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>Therefore<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>God has<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>highly exalted him and bestowed on him<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>the name that is above every name,<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>so that at the name of Jesus<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>every knee should bow,<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>in heaven and on earth and under the earth,<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>and<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span><\/b>Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At that ti<\/span>me, no one ask<\/span>ed Jesus to sit in the place of honor<\/span>\u00a0at the table.\u00a0<\/span>He did n<\/span>ot compete with others to sit in<\/span>\u00a0the least honorable<\/span>\u00a0place<\/span>\u00a0either<\/span>, but his true value and status<\/span>\u00a0were<\/span>\u00a0undeniable. The way of t<\/span>rue humility\u00a0<\/span>is to\u00a0<\/span>humble<\/span>\u00a0your heart<\/span>, respect God, and know your own place<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>following Jesus\u2019 example.\u00a0<\/span>We need to return to God from time to time to see our\u00a0<\/span>true\u00a0<\/span>value clearly, to think abou<\/span>t our original outlook<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>nd our current status.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>What am I<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>most\u00a0<\/span>proud of<\/span>\u00a0that can bring me anything or\u00a0<\/span>take me\u00a0<\/span>anywhere?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(vv. 12-24)\u00a0<\/span>While reading this verse, I felt very convicted because\u00a0<\/span>when dining with my brothers and sisters in Christ,\u00a0<\/span>I\u00a0<\/span>would always think in my heart: We ar<\/span>e eating in the kingdom of God and we are so blessed!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Regardless of those who\u00a0<\/span>mak<\/span>e excuses to decline invitations to the banquet, the Lord’s heart is clear –<\/span>\u00a0it is\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>“poor, disabled, lame, blind…”<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>– those who cannot reciprocate and<\/span>\u00a0those who were originally uninvited.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The wedding banquet of Christ and the banquet in heaven are really for those who are poor<\/span>\u00a0in spirit<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0of the lowest rung<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of society<\/span>. When we are\u00a0<\/span>blessed\u00a0<\/span>enough to be part<\/span>akers at the banquet<\/span>, can we see<\/span>\u00a0more of those who have not yet attended the\u00a0<\/span>banquet\u00a0<\/span>because of the empty seats beside us\u00a0<\/span>at the table?\u00a0<\/span>Pray for the Lord to use us!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(vv. 25-35) Fr<\/span>om the scene of\u00a0<\/span>gathering to eat<\/span>\u00a0together<\/span>\u00a0to the road<\/span>, walking alongside<\/span>\u00a0Jesus, the scriptures say that there are a lot of people following Jesus. Jesus used the parables of\u00a0<\/span>constructing\u00a0<\/span>a building<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and fighting\u00a0<\/span>a war<\/span>\u00a0to ask\u00a0<\/span>as the Lord\u00a0<\/span>did.\u00a0<\/span>Jesus taught<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>people to calculate the cost<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>following him first. Otherwise, the person<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>might\u00a0<\/span>retreat halfway through<\/span>\u00a0their<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>spiritual\u00a0<\/span>journey<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>like salt that has lost its flavor and is of no use<\/span>. We can easily understand this<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>b<\/span>ut, when\u00a0<\/span>Jesus wants his followers to “hate” (meaning from the original text) his relatives an<\/span>d\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>his own life<\/span>, people may<\/span>\u00a0respond<\/span>\u00a0with dismay<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, Christians should\u00a0<\/span>love others well,<\/span>\u00a0including our<\/span>\u00a0ow<\/span>n family members.\u00a0<\/span>This is a given.\u00a0<\/span>It is<\/span>\u00a0becaus<\/span>e of Jesus that our identities have<\/span>\u00a0become the children of God. Our\u00a0<\/span>own relatives will gradually not recognize our values \u200b\u200band priorities in life.\u00a0<\/span>It is difficult for them to understand our newfound identity<\/span>\u00a0in Christ<\/span>, and i<\/span>t may even be possible for others to view them\u00a0<\/span>as strange\u00a0<\/span>because of their relationship to us<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Others\u2019\u00a0<\/span>viewpoints have<\/span>\u00a0caused pressure in the<\/span>\u00a0relationship between our relatives<\/span>\u00a0and us<\/span>. This is the “hate” Jesus is talking about here. I believe that this is extremely challenging for everyone<\/span>\u00a0who wants to be a disciple! However,<\/span>\u00a0this is what Jesus wants us to think about: Am I willing to leave everything behind, take up my cross, follow the Lord, and be a disciple of the Lord?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2288"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2289,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2288\/revisions\/2289"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}