Luke 11:42
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Recall our last meditation on Luke 11:37-41 and then read Luke 11:42.
It’s important to remember that the Pharisees were committed to the Jewish religion and believed themselves to be honoring God through their adherence not only to the Mosaic laws but to the extra regulations and religious traditions passed down from their ancestors. But as we can see from Jesus’ prophetic declarations, they had either misunderstood, or simply missed, the heart and intent of God.
In a manner similar to the Older Testament prophets, Jesus pinpoints the faulty thinking of his dinner companions pronouncing “woe!” or “how sad for you!” over their misguided religiosity. And like the prophets of old, the tone of Jesus’ words is both sad and urgent.
Stop for a moment and imagine what Jesus might be feeling as he speaks these words:
“What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”
Share your thoughts with him now.
When Jesus speaks of God’s “justice’ he is referring to the way God sees and judges what is right and wrong. And because Jesus ties God’s justice to God’s love we can conclude that the only lens for determining what is right in God’s eyes is love. Love in this sense is more than just feelings of goodwill; it is a choice a person makes that results in acts of goodwill toward others.
It is tragic to lose sight of God’s heart while attempting to serve and worship God. But for those who continually seek the heart of God and choose the way of love and justice, there is great blessing.
Take some time to meditate on these words of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel:
“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.” – Matthew 5:6
What might Jesus be inviting you to do today?
How will you follow through on that?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
