Luke 19:26

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” In this parable, Jesus spoke about servants who had all been entrusted with some money. Two of them managed to multiply the original amount enormously, and the king was thrilled when he discovered this. However, the third servant played it safe – very safe. He hid the money and ensured that he could return it in full to the king. The king was furious and ordered that this preserved money should go to the most successful servant. Jesus’ message is clear: don’t play it safe! If God has given you a gift, use it. If you have a gift of caring, studying, administrating, teaching, healing, praying, writing or whatever it may be, make sure you are using that gift as productively as you possibly can. One day, the Lord will ask you what you have done with the gift, and you must expect a severe response if your answer is that you played it safe and did nothing with it. It’s very tempting for all of us to look at our gifts and think that they don’t amount to much. We can all look at others and reflect that they are so much more gifted than we are, but that isn’t the point. You and I have been given a gift by God and he is looking to us to use it. If you’re not sure what your gift is, let me encourage you to pray about this and then talk with others. Most people who know you well will immediately identify it. I started preaching as a teenager because someone else identified that this was my gift. I would never, ever have put myself forward for this, and I was really nervous when I first did so, but I am so grateful that they identified the gift and encouraged me. Whatever you do, don’t play it safe. Make good use of whatever gift God has given you.

Question What’s your gift and how are you going to use it?

Prayer Thank you Lord for the generous gifts that you have given to me. Help me to make the most of them. Amen

Luke 19:5-7

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Everyone loves to be called by name. It is particularly special if you didn’t realise that the person speaking to you knew your name. Clearly, Zacchaeus was not only surprised that Jesus knew his name, but thrilled when he offered to visit his house. This changed everything for Zacchaeus, who realised that he had to turn his life around. The fact that Jesus came into the world to save sinners is amazing and wonderful, but it means little until you realise that he is addressing you personally. You matter to God. Incredibly, as Augustine stated long ago, if you had been the only sinner who had ever lived, Jesus would have died for you. As a teenager, I really struggled to believe that I could be that important to God. It seemed so unlikely, but that is precisely the truth that Jesus came to proclaim to the world. That is the good news, and when you accept it for yourself, it cannot fail to turn your life upside down. The crowd didn’t approve of Jesus’ choice. They couldn’t believe that he would go to the home of a notorious sinner. They had assumed that Jesus would choose people who they considered to be respectable, not a tax collector who represented everything that was most appalling and distasteful about their society. However, the good news of Jesus knows no limits. He still comes to sinners of all kinds and personally welcomes them to receive the gift of his salvation.

Question If Jesus were walking the streets of your community and looking for a notorious sinner, whose home would he visit?

Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you that you call me by name and that, incredibly, you offer me the gift of new life. Amen

Luke 18:35; 40-43

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road…When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. Jesus knew that he was heading to Jerusalem where he would be killed. Despite what was ahead, he still had time for people, and when he heard a blind man call out, he stopped and gave him his full attention. From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he had declared that he had come to bring sight to the blind, in fulfilment of Isaiah 61. That didn’t mean he had come to impose his healing – he’d come to offer it, and that’s what he did when he met this blind beggar in Jericho. Jesus never barges into our lives telling us what’s best for us and imposing his will on us. He simply offers himself. On the face of it, it seems strange that Jesus would ask a blind man what he wanted him to do for him. We know nothing of the circumstances of this man, but we might presume that his blindness was connected to his begging. He lived a life of complete vulnerability, so it was surely obvious that he needed to receive his sight. However, Jesus respected him as an individual and let him make the decision. All of us need the loving touch of Jesus on our lives. We need his forgiveness, his peace, his love and his joy. We are all in desperate need of him, but he refuses to impose himself upon us. Today, as Jesus knocks at the door of our lives, he leaves it to us to decide whether we will open it or not.

Question Will you open the door to Jesus today?

Prayer Loving Lord Jesus, thank you that you offer me your life today. I welcome you and invite you to fill me with your Spirit. Amen