Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

Sometimes he just grumbles at the sight of new food.  Then, you pop it in his mouth when he's crying and wow -- ice cream really is good! Scripture: Luke 15:1   Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Observation: The people coming near to Jesus were those whom the religious officials found repulsive. Tax collectors were some of the worst because of the ways that they served the Roman government and stole from their own people. This was treasonous behavior for those who should have been loyal to God’s people. Sinners were just sinners in general — not as bad as the tax collectors!   The religious leaders were muttering and grumbling. The word used here is the same one used in Exodus where the Israelites grumble against the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the desert. “The Pharisees are like the grumbling Israelites who ...

Scripture: Luke 14:34   “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Observation: We must be constantly reminded that Jesus is talking about discipleship. He is looking for disciples who are going to remain committed, sticking with him through thick and thin. The crowds of people would have been impressed with his healing skills and great teaching, but they may not have been prepared to commit themselves to a life of discipleship.   To the inner circle he is reminding them that they have become salty. There were many uses for salt, including the flavoring of food, the creation of medicinal pastes, and the preserving of meats. Salt was useful and necessary for everyday life. This statement by Jesus is profound, because unsalty salt would be entirely worthless. Unsalty disciples therefore, would be entirely worthless. ...

A completed tower in Istanbul.  ***The service that sends out the e-mails has been extended for another month. I will switch to another service but need to know if you would like to continue receiving these posts. I have heard from a number of you, but if you have not contacted me, please e-mail me at CarlaSun@aol.com and let me know that you would like to remain on the mailing list. Thank you! Scripture: Luke 14:25   Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 s...

Great fellowship around the table in Armenia. Scripture: Luke 14:15   One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ 20 Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 And the slave ...

Same table from yesterday's post -- but now filled with children from the community.  Scripture: Luke 14:12   He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Observation: Jesus continues his teaching at the home of the Pharisee and now, he’s not just talking about the place at the table, but about people giving up their place altogether. Far too often parties were held and invitations given in hopes of receiving an invitation in return. This was a part of the social working of society, but Jesus wanted them to think about doing things from an entirely different perspective. What would h...

A table spread for dinner in Armenia.  Scripture: Luke 14:7   When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Observation: Jesus was dining at the home of the Pharisee and the guests were jostling for just the right position. Jesus’ position may have been in question. Where would a good Pharisee pu...

Hot Topic Store:  http://history.hottopic.com/wp-content/uploads/1996/03/currentstore-1140x700.jpg Scripture: Luke 14:1   On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 2 Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?” 4 But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. 5 Then he said to them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?” 6 And they could not reply to this. Observation: Again we find Jesus with a Pharisee, however, this time it is not in a positive light. This Pharisee intentionally invited Jesus to a sabbath meal so that he could catch him doing something wrong.   This man who appeared before Jesus was present at the meal. This meant that he co...

A beautiful church in Kyiv, Ukraine.  Scripture: Luke 13:31   At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Observation: Luke gives us several glimpses of Pharisees in a positive light. They were not all opposed to Jesus, and here we f...