Scripture:
Luke 5:27-32
Wed, 14 December 2022

Eat with a Friend

Observation:

Why is it significant that Jesus ate with the tax collectors?

Deeper Reflection
WRITING A DEVOTIONAL ENTRY THAT ENCOURAGES Singaporeans to eat feels like an unnecessary exercise. After all, many Singaporeans live to eat! We discuss our dinner menu before we finish lunch. Eating has more than a material significance, however; it also has a social significance. In all societies of the world, ancient and modern, eating is a primary way of entering into and sustaining relationships.10 In fact, the English word “companion” is derived from the French and Latin words meaning “one who eats bread with another”.Verse 30 tells us that Jesus joined a lavish dinner banquet thrown by Levi the tax collector. The few verses before this provide the context of this feast – Jesus had called Levi the tax collector and Levi left his lucrative profession to follow Jesus (vv.27-28). In that society, tax collectors were heartily disliked: they were seen as collaborators with the Roman authorities and as extortioners. The Talmud classified them as robbers!11So why was Jesus at the banquet? Not to dine on wagyu and lobster, but to enter into fellowship with those despised in Jewish society. His motivation was compassion: to call sinners to repentance (v.32). He saw beyond their social stigma to their deep spiritual need. Will we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and become a compassionate companion of someone who needs the Saviour?
10 Holt, Simon. 2011. “Eating”, in The complete book of everyday Christianity, R. J. Banks and R. Paul Stevens, eds., 322-328. Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press 11 Morris, L. (1988). Luke: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 3, p. 139). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Application:

Enjoy some bonding time with a pre-believing family member, friend or colleague (it may or may not involve eating!)

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That the different generations in our church will be able to understand and relate closely with one another
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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