Today's "At the Table" is what Pastor Adam termed a "messy meal." But as we will see, Jesus meets us right in the middle of such meals - and right in the middle of our mess. Sometimes in an intense way--such as the "at the table" experience that was the subject of today's message.
One key to life and the Christian journey is being willing to examine your heart to see what your deep and true motives are. What is truly underlying your beliefs and behavior? Until you and I are willing to surrender and allow the Spirit of God to "search us and know us" (Psalm 139) at ALL levels and then to be honest with ourselves, we will likely remain in our state of "messy." Just like the Pharisees, we are often not honest with ourselves, are hypocrites and are simply faking things hoping to look good and impress others.
The Pharisees were the religious people of the day. Their goal seemed to be to avoid every "mess" in life by making rules and then spending all their time and energy trying to follow them. Likely their initial intentions were good, i.e. obey rules and laws and be faithful to God. However, their strategy (to be perfectly "clean"), ended up creating a great divide with the people and filling themselves with pride and arrogance. It also created an "us vs. them" atmosphere. Does that sound familiar? In our culture? In our world? What about in YOUR heart of hearts? Do you have an "us vs. them" attitude about anyone or anything?
INVITATION: Are you willing to do the hard work of an internal search this week? What are your deep and true motives behind some of your actions? Could you be guilty of doing some right behaviors and actions but for all the wrong reasons? Are you willing to bring those things out into the light of God and let him do some work in your heart?
MONDAY: Luke11:37-38: Jesus did not wash his hands. Can you identify with this today? Maybe it's seeing someone not sanitize their hands in the midst of this pandemic. Jesus by-passes the ceremonial hand washing and sat down to eat. This was not lost on the Pharisee. What are you sometimes judgmental about? Like this Pharisee, perhaps it is something that is "right" and "good" in life, or church, or work, but are you making it an "us vs. them" type of situation? How does your heart feel at the deepest level when you are truly honest about it?
TUESDAY: Luke 11:39-41: A key word in this verse is "generous." Such a word indicates what the condition of the heart is. Certainly you can give to the poor and any other number of "right" and "good" behaviors that God loves, but do it with a poor attitude and wrong motive in your heart. Are you willing to ask God to show you ways in which you may be being hypocritical in your life and journey with Jesus?
WEDNESDAY: Luke 16:13-15: Jesus knows what the true condition of your heart is. Does that comfort you or make you feel uneasy? Why or why not? Are you falling into the trap of trying to behave and believe correctly, when all the while your heart is "messy" and unclean? Where or how do you "posture" in your life? Can you surrender that to Jesus today and begin again with his new mercy and forgiveness?
THURSDAY: Luke 11:42: The Pharisees were missing the real point of God's teaching. Are you missing the point and letting ego and pride guide your beliefs and behaviors? A changed life begins with a cleansed heart. The Pharisees were spending so much time on rules and regulations and "getting it right" that they got the bottom line main thing wrong. Could that be happening in your life with God?
FRIDAY: Proverbs 4:23: Your heart is the wellspring of your life. How do you guard it? Do you love what God loves? Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God and love people. How are you doing with that these days? (Matt. 22-37-39).
SATURDAY: Luke 11:43-44: Do you live life for the approval of others or for God? Do you leave people better or worse when you are with them? What about at work? Or School? Or church or in your neighborhood?