Luke 11:52-54
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.
As we come to the end of Jesus’ warnings to a group of Pharisees and religious experts, read Luke 11:52-54 picturing the scene in your imagination.
It seems that Jesus’ dinner companions have, up to this point, allowed him to speak without interruption despite the stinging nature of his words. But at his last statement their anger spills over.
Jesus’ final warning to these religious leaders is the most sobering of all. He has thus far been addressing the faultiness of their ideas about God and religion, but now he pinpoints the effect they are having on others.
Take a moment to think about any people in your life with whom you hold some degree of influence. These could be family members, friends, colleagues or something else. Then consider who in your life has some degree of influence over you. The point is that our beliefs and ideas are not formed in a vacuum - they are influenced by those around us just as we influence the thinking of others.
Talk to Jesus about any thoughts or feelings you might have about this.
Read Luke 11:52-54 again.
When our deeply held beliefs are challenged, we have the choice to invite Jesus in and allow him to lead us to truth. But we can also choose to allow defensiveness to close us off. Whether the challenge comes directly from Jesus, through what we read in the Bible or through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or whether the challenge comes from another person, we have the choice to either hunker down and defend our thinking or open up and become curious.
And holy curiosity helps keep us in a place of dependence on Jesus.
Take a moment to center yourself in the presence of Jesus. Breathe in the name of Jesus and exhale any tension or anxiety you are holding. When you feel centered, talk to Jesus about any thoughts or feelings that have arisen during this time of meditation.
Then return to silence and listen to him.
What might Jesus want you to internalize or act on based on his warnings in the last few passages?
How do you plan to 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.
