Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Lent Bible Challenge | Day 35
April 4
Luke 16:19-17:19

Jesus expands upon his teaching in the early part of chapter 16. We are called to practice what we preach, to live what we profess to believe. Faith isn't about broadcasting our righteousness, proclaiming our superior dogma - it's about subversive change in the sense that we live what God calls us to, that we live not into righteousness, but rather from the gift of faith.

It's about participation in a way that's God-driven, faith-given and other-focused. It's about participating, not just listening to a sermon, or reflecting upon something we've read. It's where the rubber hits the road. It's about doing what we are believing. Often that's the opposite of what faith looks like: we're other focused - but in terms of saying who's "in" and who's "out" - when Jesus calls us to be other focused in lives of radical service, subversive solidarity and unexpected compassion. Why did only 1 healed leper return? Because we often think we deserve what we get as opposed to being grateful for the gift(s) that we are given.

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