Luke 5:12-13, 27-30 & Luke 7:34
Daily Scripture:
Luke 5:12 Once, when Yeshua was in one of the towns, there came a man completely covered with tzara‘at. On seeing Yeshua, he fell on his face and begged him, “Sir, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13 Yeshua reached out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing! Be cleansed!” Immediately the tzara‘at left him., 27 Later Yeshua went out and saw a tax-collector named Levi sitting in his tax-collection booth; and he said to him, “Follow me!” 28 He got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Levi gave a banquet at his house in Yeshua’s honor, and there was a large group of tax-collectors and others at the table with them. 30 The P’rushim and their Torah-teachers protested indignantly against his talmidim, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Luke 7:34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Aha! A glutton and a drunkard! A friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ (Complete Jewish Bible).
Prayer Tip: In the movie The Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum sends out an ad calling for unique persons who can become part of its transition from a wax museum to a live show. The individuals who tried out were outcasts, not accepted or valued by society. They were considered "freaks," people who should be hidden, people not to be associated with or loved because of their unusual physical features, unusual talents, or race.
Yet Barnum saw something more in them. He not only valued their gifts, but he also gave them a platform for purposeful living. He brought meaning to their lives, and also to the lives of others. He saw something in them that the world could not see.
And it’s the same with Jesus. Though society shunned and shamed lepers, Jesus touched them, healed them, and empowered them to make a difference. Though society treated women as inferior, basically as property, Jesus fought for them and made them participants in the work of his kingdom.
So we ask ourselves today: How are we treating people, especially those who are different from us? Let us pray that God will open our hearts and shine a light on those areas where we are prejudiced against others.
Lord, Continue to work on our hearts, that we may be channels of grace, welcoming all and empowering all in the work of kingdom. Amen. ( Tino Herrera, Congregational Care Pastor)
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Church of the Resurrection
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