"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 3 November 2016 with Scripture Luke 6:20-26

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 3 November 2016 with Scripture Luke 6:20-26

-------

Luke 6:20 He looked at his talmidim and said:
“How blessed are you poor!
    for the Kingdom of God is yours.
21 “How blessed are you who are hungry!
    for you will be filled.
“How blessed are you who are crying now!
    for you will laugh.
22 “How blessed you are whenever people hate you and ostracize you and insult you and denounce you as a criminal on account of the Son of Man. 23 Be glad when that happens; yes, dance for joy! because in heaven your reward is great. For that is just how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already had all the comfort you will get!
25 “Woe to you who are full now,
    for you will go hungry!
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
    for you will mourn and cry!
26 “Woe to you when people speak well of you, for that is just how their fathers treated the false prophets![Complete Jewish Bible]
-------

Health and wealth, joy and comfort, ease. These are the things our world values. Yet Jesus paints a different picture of how the kingdom of God works. Those who are normally pushed aside and judged are the ones lifted up in God's kingdom. Think of the grace that is for people who have had their fair share of hungry nights, weeping despair and the disdain of society! They're probably ready to hear judgment on the apathetic rich, the gluttons and those who laugh at them.
If we've never been in those trying situations, it's hard to grasp the hope of this full reversal. But if we walk alongside other saints and hear their praises of God's mercy, we will begin to feel and share in the depth of their hope.
Don't let me miss out on the kingdom, God, by staying safely in my comfort zone. Help me see all your saints and honor them as you do. Amen.
Amanda Kempthorne, '09
Pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, North Pole, Ala. 
Luke 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.[New Revised Standard Version]
-------