For the next eight weeks, the daily devotionals will be based on parables found in the Gospel of Luke. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus throughout the Gospels. Throughout the book of Luke, we see Jesus interacting with individuals, his small group of disciples, the religious leaders, and the huge crowds that followed Him. As a man, he fully experienced life here on earth, and it was from this experience that He was able to teach so effectively. As you read these devotionals, ask God to give you His wisdom to understand and apply the lessons of each parable to your own life.
As we begin this new series, consider and remember these perspectives over the next several months:
“By telling stories, Jesus isn’t somehow putting sugar in a spoon to make the medicine go down a bit easier. These stories are the medicine. These stories are an extension and explanation of Jesus’ revolutionary ministry. These stories show us that things are not as they appear. Our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality, faith, and reality shatter when confronted by Christ and the God he represents.” ― Ronnie McBrayer, Leaving Religion, Following Jesus
“He [Jesus] speaks in parables, and though we have approached these parables reverentially all these many years and have heard them expounded as grave and reverent vehicles of holy truth, I suspect that many if not all of them were originally not grave at all but were antic, comic, often more than just a little shocking.” ― Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale
Continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus! Read your Bible, pray, connect with other believers, serve; God is working in you and through you.