Meditating Luke 13-15 (Jan 4)

Emulating Compassion of Christ

Teaching that is to the point is
bound to produce a response.
Christ’s sermons are no exception.
Never attempting to make God’s
truth merely palatable, Jesus call
for repentance. But there’s tender
side to His teaching as well. The
love of the Saviour for lost sinners
permeates Luke 15, where 3 times
He states that the heavens rejoice
over one lost sinner who repents.

Father, thank You for Your concern
for our wholeness and for giving
Your Son to be our Lord & Saviour.
Thanks for Luke 13-15 where Jesus
shows compassion for weak & lost.
Lord, we will Seek Things Eternal.
Lord, we will Be Compassionate.
Lord, we will Care for the Lost.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Lord, we will Seek Things Eternal:
A man had a fig tree planted in his
vineyard & he went to look for fruit
on it, but did not find any. So he
said to the man who took care of 
the vineyard. For three years now
I’ve been coming to look for fruit
on this fig tree & haven’t found any.
Leave it alone for one more year
and I’ll dig round it and fertilise it.
If it bears fruit next year, fine !
If not, then cut it down (Lk 13:6-9).
Lord, you are compassionate and
patience but also holy. We realise
that judgment day is coming but
it is being graciously held back
for a time to allow repentance.
Help us make full use of current
time of grace to share the Gospel
before the door is shut. Amen.

Lord, we will Be Compassionate:
Jesus asked the Pharisees: Well,
is it permitted in the law to heal
people on the Sabbath day?
When they refused to answer,
Jesus touched the sick man and
healed him and sent him away.
Then he turned to them & asked:
Which of you doesn’t work on
the Sabbath? If your son falls
into a pit, don’t you proceed at
once to get him out (Lk 14:3-5).
Lord, forgive us when we follow
legalism instead of following You.
Help us practice the heart of
Christianity: to love You God and
to love others. Help us Lord to be
compassionate to those in need.
And help us to live in such a way
that others will see You. Amen.

Lord, we will Care for the Lost:
His father said: Look dear son,
you have always stayed by me,
and everything I have is yours.
We had to celebrate this happy day.
For your brother was dead and
has come back to life! He was lost,
but now he is found (Luke 15:31-32)
Lord, You truly seek & save the lost.
Do what You must to bring to their
senses those who are far away
from You, seeking satisfaction
in everything else apart from You.
If things have to get worse in their
lives, then give them patience and
faith that You are at work. Amen.