Monday, 3/30, Luke 14:1-35

Luke 14:12-14
"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 neighors; 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. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Yesterday I stopped in the hallway at church to chat with a young mother who was there with her year-old daughter and 3-year old son. The little boy asked her if he could have a package of chewy fruit snacks which were tucked away in their little travel bag. She said yes, and he was quite happy (well, until they ran out).

Then the Mom told me that her son had taught her a Kingdom lesson that morning. He wanted to bring chewy fruit snacks for every child in his Sunday School class! Mom's first thought was, '
"well that would be great, but then we won't have any more fruit snacks for the rest of the week..." a most natural reaction! Then she realized what was happening.

Her son was expressing what she and his Dad had taught him - to share what you have with others. He was expecting nothing in return from his friends, just wanted to give them some of what he had. Mom noted that she was glad her son had taught her that day that we can have a little bit of the Kingdom of God right here, right now when we do what Jesus asks us to do. She also noted that once it dawned on her what her little son was doing, she wanted to go out and get five more boxes to share!

This is exactly Jesus' Kingdom message in this short passage of Scripture. And this little family was definitely blessed.

Peace,
Pastor Judi