An Upside Down World
We had 9 men for our study of Luke 6 this morning at 5 AM. We started our study of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. It is similar in some ways to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, but it is not the same. We had a rousing, spirited study this morning as we looked at the introduction.
The remarkable thing about how Jesus began His message was that it was the opposite of what the world thinks. Jesus told them that the poor, the hungry, and those who weep were blessed. How could that ever be? We are taught that it is impossible to be happy or fulfilled if you are poor or hungry. If you are weeping, something must be wrong. Jesus looks at it completely different. He knows that the poor, the hungry, and the hurting have more of a chance to seek the Lord and find His comfort and provision than those who have everything.
We talked about the Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus. He had everything, but he left with nothing, because he valued his possessions more than Jesus. The rich have the tendency to make material possessions their idols. Then, they miss the real meaning in life. On the other hand, what does a poor man or woman lack that keeps him or her from experiencing real life in Jesus? The answer is nothing. They are wide open to trusting Christ and receiving the Kingdom of God. The same is true with the hungry and those who weep. Their hunger and crying do not keep them from Jesus, but they may draw them closer to hearing from Him.
We must try to turn our world upside down for Jesus. We must show people around us that their thinking is opposite of Jesus' way. If they would just look at things from His way, they would be right side up. We are the ones who will have to do this, because no one except believers have this perspective on life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 12-14 and II Timothy 1.
The remarkable thing about how Jesus began His message was that it was the opposite of what the world thinks. Jesus told them that the poor, the hungry, and those who weep were blessed. How could that ever be? We are taught that it is impossible to be happy or fulfilled if you are poor or hungry. If you are weeping, something must be wrong. Jesus looks at it completely different. He knows that the poor, the hungry, and the hurting have more of a chance to seek the Lord and find His comfort and provision than those who have everything.
We talked about the Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus. He had everything, but he left with nothing, because he valued his possessions more than Jesus. The rich have the tendency to make material possessions their idols. Then, they miss the real meaning in life. On the other hand, what does a poor man or woman lack that keeps him or her from experiencing real life in Jesus? The answer is nothing. They are wide open to trusting Christ and receiving the Kingdom of God. The same is true with the hungry and those who weep. Their hunger and crying do not keep them from Jesus, but they may draw them closer to hearing from Him.
We must try to turn our world upside down for Jesus. We must show people around us that their thinking is opposite of Jesus' way. If they would just look at things from His way, they would be right side up. We are the ones who will have to do this, because no one except believers have this perspective on life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 12-14 and II Timothy 1.