Distractions – Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He (Jesus) went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table….48Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” (MSG)
We like to have guests over for meals and be hospitable. We treat them to the very best of what we have to offer and attempt to make them feel most welcome. Quite often however we find that we get so engaged in conversations we start to forget our service to them and on occasions have sat down at the table and haven’t even offered them a drink. Its only when they ask for a drink that our attention goes back to the servant mode. We get distracted because we take our focus off the task we set out to achieve.
In this text a Pharisee invites Jesus in for a meal and we are told Jesus goes and sits. I get the feeling the invite is because Jesus is a prominent person in the area and the Pharisee is hoping to gain something from the visit.
Who are these guests that we allow into our home? Mostly invites, and if I look back, they are sometimes to return a favour or as a thank you for a friendship provided.
The Pharisee very quickly learns that an uninvited guest takes the stage and is about to be the centre of Jesus attention. His judgement of this uninvited guest as person who has little to offer in his eyes becomes a teaching of acceptance as well as the revelation that no amount of outward service can predict the love shown on the inside. Not only for the Pharisee himself but for all the others in location as well.
Let’s not get distracted by judgment of where we are in the pecking order of society to see that we too require a humble heart to be forgiven.
Prayer
Father, assist not to be so distracted from your love that we fail to see who we are and what we mean to you. Speak to us today the words “I forgive your sins.” so we can truly serve others from your heart. Amen
The Zankers
