Skip to main content

Luke 14-16

Have you ever noticed that Jesus took advantage of many teachable moments to reinforce truths for living?  He didn’t schedule seminars to deal with these subjects.  He took what was at hand and taught truth, using the situation itself for illustrating exactly what He was teaching.  Notice that He did it several times in these chapters in Luke. In particular He had a perfect opportunity to teach about pride and humility when invited guests chose the places of honor at a feast.

He summarized His teaching in Luke 14:11 – “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  We can also take advantage of teachable moments that occur all the time – with easily impressionable youngsters and with season veterans as well. 

I read a story years ago about how one man learned a lesson the hard way concerning pride and humility.

A strong young man at a construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen.

After several minutes, the older worker had had enough.

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" he said. "I'll bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you won't be able to wheel back."

"You're on, old man," the young worker replied.

The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles.

Then he turned to the young man and said, "All right. Get in."

The strong, young man had a teachable moment.  

 ~Paul Thompson

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 27-28

There are some very interesting developments in Acts 27.  One of the most amazing is to see the quick rise of Paul’s status on the ship – the meteoric rise from low man on the totem pole to chief of the whole tribe.   In v. 1 we find that of the 276 people on board the ship heading for Rome, Paul was numbered among the prisoners.  He was near the bottom of the barrel.  When we approach the end of the chapter we find that Paul has now virtually taken over the leadership of the boat.  He has practically been given command.  The others are looking to him for inspiration and leadership.   From prisoner to commander in a short voyage.  How did it come about?  It came because Paul demonstrated leadership in the storm.  Everyone else was looking at the storm.  He was looking at God.   The child of God, no matter where we find him, can be master of the situation.  Circumstances should never affect our confidence an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew 23-24

Have you ever asked yourself the question…I wonder when Jesus will return? No matter where you fall in your view of End Times, there is going to be a day when Jesus comes back. When will it be? Today, tomorrow, next week or 50 years from now, we do not know. What we do know is that man is not able to predict the exact time that it will happen. The question that we should be asking is do we believe that Jesus is coming back? If the answer is yes, then the follow-up is “am I truly living like it could be today?” Because if we do, it changes the way we live our lives. Matthew 24:44  (ESV) Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Are you ready? Are you living like Jesus could come back today?  May God grant us the wisdom, strength, courage and love to live like Jesus could come back today. ~Tony Murrin
Post a Comment
Read more

Luke 2-3

Merry Christmas!  Oops.  It’s a little late to be sharing Christmas greetings.  But here’s some good news.  Only 310 days until next Christmas.  In the meantime let’s look at one way we can get the most out of the 320 days.  Let’s see if we can learn a lesson from the shepherds that will help us move forward the way God wants us to. The shepherds weren’t going anywhere until they dealt with their fear.  Luke 2:8-9 tells us they were afraid on the first Christmas night.  In fact they were filled with fear.  The KJV states it in a memorable way – “They were sore afraid.” It was not just the angel that terrified them but also the visible manifestation of the glory of God. What was the glory of the Lord?  It must have been a superb light show.  The glory shone around them – a dazzling specter of light.  It was infinitely better than a meteor shower. But God’s angel had good news of great joy.  The news would calm th...
Post a Comment
Read more