Daily Devotion – February 10, 2022 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison

Luke 6:17-26
6:17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon.
6:18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.
6:19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
6:21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
6:23 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.
6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
6:25 “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.
6:26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”

The way Luke tells the story of Jesus’s life, in Chapter 6, verses 12-16, right before this, he has been praying all night on the mountain, and in the morning he gathers his disciples around and names 12 of them as apostles, the 12 we know well. There were other followers, as well, and then also great crowds who sought him out for healings. It seems that this largest group was with him for what next takes place, the story we have for this week.

Armed with confidence and a great circle of disciples/apostles, followers and seekers, Jesus heals people and then teaches them about changes that will come to them. Some who currently suffer will be blessed by God, and others who have comfortable lives will suffer in the coming years. Jesus links their fate to the prophets of old, the people chosen by God to live out God’s actions in view of the watching world, and the people who pretended to have a calling but who really did not, the false prophets. People God chose were often ridiculed and suffered poverty and disappointment, but they were rewarded by the God who always keeps promises. People setting themselves up as prophets who had not been chosen by God were initially treated well by their followers, only to suffer deprivation and weeping later on.

What do these words of Jesus tell us today? That is a question many people have debated. But I wonder if the central lesson is to be faithful and ever listening for God’s call to us, and do not lie about Gods call to us (or lie about anything else, either), and don’t inflict suffering on people unless you want the same suffering to befall you. Be faithful. Listen openly to God, whether God is giving you good news or bad news, because following God faithfully will result in joy. I suppose in the end it depends on what kind of God we think we have. Jesus believed that God was a trustworthy and loving parent who would tell Jesus the truth and help him to prepare for whatever he needed to do. I believe in that God, too. And I believe that that same God calls and leads not only individuals but also congregations. We have to discern God’s call, be open to that call, and then live it out, trusting in God’s strength and mercy.

Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us your Word as a living Word for today. Help us to listen deeply and openly and be willing to walk in the ways you have chosen for us. Help us to keep in touch with you. And help us to rejoice because you are with us.   Amen.