Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Luke 18 before reading the devotional below.
Have you ever been annoyed by someone who just won’t leave you alone? Have you ever thanked God that you are not like someone else? Have you ever been mortified by your children’s behavior in public? Have you ever felt like you’ve been doing pretty good following God but you also really love all your stuff? Have you ever “shushed” a friend who was getting a little too loud in a crowd?
The Bible is full of stories of people just like me. And if I want to understand who Jesus really is, and if I want to be set free by him, I need to pay attention to what he says to people like me. His character comes through in this chapter and he gives us a blueprint for how to become like him. One story after another, Jesus reveals the character of God.
God is eternally patient and willing to deliver justice. We can’t possibly bother him too much on that. God lifts up those who thank him for his grace, not for making them better than someone else. Jesus embraces children even in their rowdiness. God extends his heart to the poor in ways that he invites us to imitate. And Jesus responds to the too-loud-for-the-crowd kinds of people.
Here’s your freedom for today: you can’t reach the end of God’s patience with you. Whether you are feeling high and mighty or whether your are publicly embarrassed, Jesus reaches out for an embrace. He is ready to lead you out of your own pride and selfishness, and he’s also right there when you need to know that it’s okay to be you even if that seems humiliating in the moment. You cannot be embarrassed in front of God because he accepts you as you are. All you need to do is sit in his presence.