Are You the One? Devo - Luke 7: 18-35

 February 7th, 2021

Devotional

“Are You the One?”

Luke 7: 18-35

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Monday: “Go and Tell” - Luke 7: 18-23

  John the Baptist is in a jail cell and finds himself having an important question running though his mind- “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” In other words, are you the Messiah or did we get it wrong and need to wait for someone else?

Its not surprising that John has this question. Jesus isn’t acting or speaking like anyone imagined that the Messiah would. He isn’t a conquering military hero, he is a man going through the country side teaching folks and performing miracles.

Jesus sends John’s disciples back to him with an answer, but not a “yes” or “no” that he expected. Instead he said, go and tell John all that you have seen and heard. In other words testify to what is happening. 

We continue to testify today. I don’t know about you, but I find a lot more folks who are willing to hear the Good News when it is connected to stories of what I have seen, what I have witnessed. It shows that the Kingdom of God isn’t just about words, but actions that change hearts and lives. 

How are you testifying to what you have seen and heard?

Prayer: God, we thank you that you didn’t just give John a simple answer, but instead invited people to bear witness. May we continue to bear that witness as your disciples today, all for the glory of your Kingdom and name. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Look At” - Luke 7: 24-27

There is a big difference between someone who goes to an event and someone who is part of it. Someone who goes to a dance recital and someone who is on stage performing. Someone who attends a baseball game and those players on the field playing their hearts out. 

It’s true in the Kingdom of God as well. There is a big difference between going out to just observe what is happening and committing your life to being a part of it. Jesus is trying to point this out as he is asking the crowds why they went out the wilderness. Were they just going to look at someone? To hear the words of this prophet? Or were they going to have their lives upended and changed by having what was being preached touch their hearts?

Pastor Mike Slaughter was known for saying on more than one occasion that he was done playing church. For him that really mean that he was done messing around or just observing what was happening, but instead jumping both feet first into the truly transformative work of the Kingdom. Are we willing to join as well?

What is the difference between looking and participating when it comes to the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Lord, we confess we really like the passivity of watching. We like the idea that we can come and observe without truly having to commit to being a part of the work of your Kingdom. Shake us up, O Lord. Call us again to the work at hand. And send us out we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Greater and Least” - Luke 7: 28-30

I have to wonder if the crowds who gathered around Jesus that day, as they had gathered around John in the wilderness before, really understood what he was saying. Think about it - Jesus was both affirming that John was a great prophet, the greatest of those born of humans, but in the Kingdom of God he is the least. 

What is Jesus trying to say?

I think he was trying to say that yes, you went to hear someone great, but it can’t just be about listening. Because greater things are to come through the power of heaven with the Kingdom of God. John is great, but he pales in comparison of what is to come. 

Think of the greatest things that we can experience on this earth. Or the best person we could ever listen to. They still are pale in comparison to the greatness of our God!

How would you explain Jesus’s statement about John?

Prayer: Almighty God, forgive us for the times we have uplifted humans, even humans you have appointed, as the end all, be all. Open up our hearts to hear what you are trying to communicate through them, but our souls to respond for your Kingdom alone. Amen. 

Thursday: “Children” - Luke 7: 31-32

We started out the sermon this week talking about how kids are excellent at asking questions, especially “why?” And they trust people to give them answers and not lead them astray. They have a fascination and sense of wonder that undergirds their questions that we have too quickly lost as adults.

But children also can get in a place where they are insistent on their own way and reasoning. Jesus picks up on this with his example about the children not getting the responses they expected by their music playing and wailing. They simply could not understand.

Sometimes we will ask questions and still get answers that we do not understand. However, the adult response is not to cease asking questions, but instead be open to unexpected answers that reveal the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

What are marks of mature faith?

Prayer: God of Grace, we thank you that there are things we do not understand, for it reminds us that your glory is beyond our human comprehension. Free us to embrace the mystery of your Kingdom, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “John vs. Son of Man” - Luke 7: 33-35

  Jesus’s concluding mark in this passage is a difficult one to hear. He points out that people looked down upon John because of his abstinence and condemned the Son of Man equally for his engagement. 

While it might have been hard for the crowd to hear, it was also fully true. People are fickle. And as wise as we may believe our judgment and standards are, Jesus points out just how faulty. For people failed to recognize both who the Son of Man and John the Baptist were.

We can let our own judgement get in the way as well. What could change if instead we prayed to have the eyes of Christ and a discerning spirit? What could God be trying to reveal to us?

When was a time that you misjudged someone? What did you learn from that particular experience?

Prayer: God, sometimes we pretend that we know all of the answers or have everything figured out. Forgive us, O Lord, and renew in us a sense of curiosity and wonder, replacing the judgment in our hearts. Amen.