Interesting and throught provoking devos for me tonight:

“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. But when you give a banquet, invite the POOR, the CRIPPLED, the LAME, the BLIND, and you will be blessed.” - Luke 14:12-16

First, don’t take this scripture out of context.

Kinna weird that Jesus says to NOT invite your friends and family to luncheons and dinners, ya?

Well this is my interpretation… Jesus isn’t talkng about ALL the time, he’s talking about our free/leisure time. 

In this chapter, Jesus is chatting with a host at a dope Pharisee party where only those within the know got invited. 

To me, I catch that God is telling the host about the importance of REACHING OUT and NOT hanging with the same people all the time.

Why invite your friends, family and neighbors that know God when you can invite the POOR, CRIPPLED, LAME, and BLIND in your free time? Or in this day and age, the ABUSED, BROKEN, ADDICTED, and OUTCAST, etc.

Granted, we’ll always need our encouragement and accountability. But just as important, we need BALANCE.

When Jesus said, “they (your close friends/family) may invite you back and so you will be repaid.” I believe he’s saying that your tight family and friends will do the same, invite ONLY YOU to the next dinner and luncheon.

In essence, ONLY inviting the people you’re comfortable with in everything you do creates a reciprical action that, in return, creates an inward faith that’s only fanning hot coals.

Jesus was bold and he ENCOURAGED the host to invite the ones who don’t have a relationship with God.

What did I get out of this?

1. Break out of your comfort zone.

2. Stop looking inward when your FAITH and your FIRE is SUPPOSED to go outward to others that don’t already know.

3. Stop fanning flames that are already burning bright.

4. Start igniting the light of lives that are in darkness.

5. And lastly, if you’re answer is “Anyone can come into this dinner and luncheon if they want”

My question, is “Why must THEY WANT to be there”?

When you’re supposed to be the one that WANTS them there.

Granted, I’m no biblical scholar. But that’s what I got,

… and I’m just sayin’

~ Russ

there is no such thing,

as an insignificant life.

you were born with a purpose,

and destined for greatness.

Humbled.

Always humbled.

Never perfect.

Never will be.

But always trying.

Atleast I’m trying.

To be an impact.

To make a difference.

And be a change.

In someone’s life.

In anyone’s life.

——

In anyone’s life.

In someone’s life.

To be the change,

To make a difference,

To be an impact,

Atleast try.

Always try.

You’ll never be perfect.

Never pefect.

But always be humble.

Humbled,

To be an impact.

I’ve come to realize that every battle I’ve won and war I’ve overcome,

wasn’t by yelling,

wasn’t with punches,

wasn’t with harsh words,

wasn’t while I was angry, upset, or frustrated.

every battle was won,

on my knees.

“But he said to me,”My grace is sufficient in you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

don’t mind me.

I’m just saying.