February 5 | Luke 6:24-26

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:24-26

---

REFLECTION

Woe Is Me

By Katie Borden

Okay.

I’ll admit it.

I like verses 20-23 better than these verses.

It’s so much nicer to hear the words of Jesus as he blesses people and offers them hope. It's... less nice... to hear the words of Jesus that call out the people who were being oppressive, or who were putting their trust in their own successes and comforts.

But these words of blessing and woe, presented side by side in Luke 6, offer us a vision of Jesus turning the world upside down in order to make it right. The oppressors will not remain in their happy-go-lucky state forever. Those who are suffering and waiting--no, yearning--for the world to be made right will eventually see that day come, and they already see that kingdom’s existence beginning in the presence of the King Himself, Jesus.

I may like one over the other, but I need both of these words of Jesus.

The part of me that is uncomfortable with this passage of Scripture–the part of me that is resistant to hearing these “woes”–is exactly the part of me that needs the truth Jesus is offering here. 

I can get caught up in the comforts of this world (..."the newest water bottle will finally adequately hydrate me and make all of my stress and problems go away, right?"...). I can hoard my resources to make myself feel more secure. I can find myself grasping for safety, status, and power--often at the expense of others. But all I am really doing in these actions is anesthetizing myself to my deeper, truer need for Jesus himself.

And so, when these words of woe make me yet once more aware of that needy condition of my heart, I turn my face away from the luxuries of this world that promise to fulfill me and satisfy me... and I turn my face back to Jesus, seeking the breadth and depth of a life rooted in love that he is already offering to me. 

Woe is me if I settle for anything less than Jesus.

PRAYER

Take some time to quietly reflect. Notice in your own heart where you experience the pull to chase after something other than Jesus, and life with him. Then you might want to pray something like this:

Jesus, thank you for your words of truth that shine light even on the parts of me that I keep hidden from myself. Replace my fears, my insecurities, and my shallow longings with the truest, deepest love that comes from your heart. Help me turn back to you and to the joy you offer.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATIE BORDEN

I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.

---

February 4 | Luke 6:20-23

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:20-23

---

REFLECTION

Blessed in Kingdom Style

By Pam Mann

Imagine the furrowed brows and the puzzled faces of the folks listening to Jesus. Was He really saying that the poor are blessed? The hungry are blessed? The weeping are blessed? The hated are blessed?

In every culture and every age, all people know that the wealthy are the blessed ones. They have more food to ease hunger and less heartbreak to cause weeping…. and less rejection. Everyone knows the rich are blessed. Just look at them!

But Jesus sees things differently. In the kingdom of God, the norms of our broken world get

turned on their heads, up-side-down. Jesus asserts that the poor are blessed because belonging to God’s kingdom changes everything!

Entering into a life in Christ, joining the kingdom of God, is a long game, actually an eternal game. Sometimes life seems a long, dark tunnel, but, for kingdom workers, there’s light at the end of that tunnel. That light is named Jesus.

Consider Paul and Silas who get arrested and imprisoned during their mission trip to Philippi (see Acts 16:25). They are fully experiencing the truth of Luke 6:23 because they are praying and singing hymns to God in jail! Likely, they’d have leapt for joy, too, except that their feet were in stocks!

Later, Paul writes a letter to the believers in Philippi and explains:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  (Phil. 4:11b-13)

Paul joins the ranks of those blessed by Jesus as they may hunger and weep. They are blessed because they trust that the day of feasting and laughter is coming. Life in Christ is a long game. To love Jesus is to learn to wait for the blessing. As we learn to wait joyfully, we grow in sweeter fellowship with the One who blesses. This eternal investment puts our present struggles for Christ’s sake into proper perspective. The believer who suffers sorrow upon sorrow is in the best position to savor grace upon grace.

PRAYER

Lord, give us the joy of Paul and Silas as they sat shackled in prison. Let us not shrink from hardship or sorrow or persecution. Instead, let us face them boldly and search them for the blessing of Your strengthening presence in their midst. Amen. 

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.

---

February 3 | Luke 6:17-19

---

DAILY READING

Luke 6:17-19

---

REFLECTION

The Nations Show the Way

By Dave Mann

In the verses that precede today’s reading, we are told that Jesus had withdrawn to the mountainside to spend time in concentrated prayer.  When he came down to a level place on the mountainside with the crowd, he taught and healed many people (v. 17).  It was common for Jesus to spend significant time in prayer before major decisions or time in public ministry.  See Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28-29, especially the high priestly prayer recorded in John 17, and in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, trial, and death on the cross.

On this level place on the side of the mountain, the crowds came to receive Jesus’ authoritative teaching and to be healed of all manner of diseases and demonic oppression.  They came from many different regions of Jewish communities, but also from the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon (v. 17).  It is interesting that Jesus not only drew crowds from the Jewish communities but also from Gentile populations throughout his ministry.  (See Luke 2:29-32, Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 8:5-12, and Matthew 28:18-20.)

From the beginning, it has been the Lord’s design to reach out beyond the borders of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and into the ethnicities of all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3).  Isaiah 49:6 is very clear. 

The Lord says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant    

to restore the tribes of Jacob    

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,    

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Among this multi-ethnic crowd, how was Jesus able to heal so many?  Scripture states that power was coming out of him. No doubt, it was the power that was gained through his time in prayer.  It is not uncommon for those who have spent time in cross-cultural ministry to see believers from other cultures (the “Gentiles” of today) spend lengthy periods in prayer.  I do not mean ten minutes or even an hour but rather a whole day or more.  I had a Haitian friend who had the practice of spending a week in prayer at the start of each new year to receive his marching orders and new power.  Maybe we have something to learn from our brothers and sisters who come from other nations.

PRAYER

Lord God, even in this action of prayer, I confess that I do not value enough the gift of prayer which you have given believers.  Not only do you allow us to draw near to the Lord of the universe, but you also warmly encourage us to be one with you in the Spirit.  I ask that you would quicken my heart to desire to respond to your gracious invitation, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

---