Good Morning Gorgeous!

It’s a brand new day. A fresh NEW START!!!

There are so so many lessons, parables, and miracles in the gospel of Luke! This reading plan has been so exciting! Luke recorded so many details of Jesus’s ministry and teaching!

And wow Jesus brought a strong message!

This chapter opens with Jesus being invited to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to celebrate Sabbath. The leader of the Pharisees! Think head Pharisee!

And the scriptures say they were watching Him closely. Jesus knew. He knew already what they were thinking. They would catch Him healing on Sabbath. And THEY DID!!

There was a man there with swollen arms and legs. Some translations call it dropsy. It’s swelling that if left untreated can be fatal. Now here is the Lord in flesh and there is a man with a fatal illness in His Presence. Sickness doesn’t stand a chance!!!

Jesus looks right at the leaders and asks them, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Pin drop. No answer!

Jesus took the man, healed him, and let him go. And then looks right at the leaders and says, “Which of you having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not pull him out immediately even on Sabbath?” Pin drop. No answer again!

Jesus is not done with them! He sees how the guests are seating themselves and choosing the best seats of honor and so He addresses that too! He tells them to take the lower seats and then be exalted by the host to sit closer.

Then so that none feel left out! He gives stern warning to the hosts now too! He tells them to not just invite the friends, relatives, and wealthy neighbors who can repay the favor, but to go invite the weakest of society. Invite the poor, lame, blind, and disabled. This will bring blessing!

And Jesus goes on to tell a parable about the Great Supper where many were invited, but they all had excuses why they couldn’t come, so the host invited all those who were in the streets. The poor, lame, blind, and disabled. Invite them and FILL the house for none of those first invited will even share in a taste!!

Jesus calls EVERYONE to His table with NO prior qualifications.

Just to say YES to the invitation!!!

That’s all!

This was such refreshing NEWS to the people THAT GREAT multitudes went with Him and started following Him and He turned and explained HOW SERIOUS one must be to follow Him. This is not for the half in half out person. Following Jesus is ALL IN!!

The multitudes began to follow Him and He asks them..

Have you counted the cost of following Me?

I am gonna free you,

heal you,

and give you everlasting life!

Everything is about to change in your life for the BETTER in the spiritual realm for you! You are going to be elevated in the Kingdom of Heaven!

BUT you will lose your earthly positions, your family may be against you, and many will lose everything to receive the FULLNESS of this Kingdom we are building! Have you counted the cost?

There is a vast difference here between the true, Biblical teachings of Christ versus the Jesus that most culture teaches and accepts.

Seems if we haven’t read the scriptures for ourselves, the world will try to teach about a weak Jesus who makes following Him really simple. Modern culture sometimes teaches that He can just fit into your life as a sidenote, an add on blessing, or a church you attend.

This. Is. Not. What. JESUS TAUGHT!

He taught His disciples to count the cost of following Him and consider it before they became a follower.

He said that you would leave everything behind to follow Him.

He said that we would lose our life to gain the One He wanted to give us!

And when you lose the world and all of it fleeting pleasures that never deliver what they promise anyway, you gain everything Jesus died to give you!!!!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I’ve counted the cost! I’m all IN and learning to be even MORE ALL IN! I desire to follow YOU with my whole heart, whole mind, whole spirit, and whole soul. May my intentions be purified. My sins be cleansed and my walk become more and more like You everyday! Mold me, shape me. I’ve counted the cost, and I just want YOU!

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Blessings! Vanessa Lynn