Luke 5:27-32; Luke 14:1-6, 12-14; Luke 15:1-2; Luke 19:1-10; John 13:1-5, 12-30 We are loved. How can we not then be happy? How can we not love, others, as we have been loved? We have been forgiven of our sins… and this, by God, how can we not be relieved and grateful, and, want that (relief) for others? (1Cor 6:11; Eph 2:1-10)
The joy and enthusiasm of the Kingdom, the joyful humility of the loved…
● Seen…
● Received, accepted… He, invites Himself in
● Undone, redone – enthusiasm and delirium
An inventory of this past week... (Romans 12)
● How many of us were just excited to be alive?
● How many of us could hardly contain ourselves?
● How many of us were looking for something, someone to love?
So now…
How many of us, recognizing we are seen, known, received and accepted, had Him invite Himself in to our hearts and lives – were bewildered, astonished, moved and motivated to respond with joy and humble exuberance – looking for someone to bless…? (maybe, despite our own personal suffering – certainly taking into account, that some us were the acutely hurt)
Quick survey of Luke… Jesus refuses to not love the unlovable, but loves
Luke 5:27-32; Luke 14:1-6, 12-14; Luke 15:1-2; Luke 19:1-10 - Accept - those who sin; Condone - not, the behavior; Patient - long suffering, slow in avenging wrongs, long-tempered, avoids the premature use of force (retribution) that rises out of improper anger... Tolerant - to restrain, forebear
John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
John 17:14-16 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.”
The privilege of “being” Jesus to the lost… (Prov 4:18; Matt 5:13-16; John 5:18; Acts 4:13)
1Peter 2:11-25; 3:8-22
So now…
How many of us are happy, glad, relieved, that God loves us in Jesus and does not treat us as our sin deserves, but is merciful, patient, tolerant, and kind, and invites us into fellowship with Him - seeing, knowing, that we are works in progress, progressing, working the process… with Him? (Psalm 103; Rom 2; 5; 7&8; 1Peter 1)
