Scripture:

Luke 14:12-14 (NIV) 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Observation:

The obvious message I am getting from this passage is taking care of those that need help, those that are weak or struggling, those that because of circumstances are unable to provide for themselves and those that have lack.  Do it freely expecting nothing back....do it joyfully because you want to. Too often in our daily lives we can get caught up on the same wheel that the hamster or mice keeps going round and round on. We find ourselves on a routine that blinds us from those that need help around us.  And in this world there are many...

Application:

Praying for our loved ones or neighbors is definitely important, but so is actually going out and helping them if they need it. Whether it be clothing, food, a helping hand around the home or in the home, etc. The daily reading of God's word, like today's, will help us to hone in on what's important in our lives. Or I should say what's important in God's eyes.  It's like a "guided missile" that recalibrates towards its target constantly, the Bible helps us to do that.  In this busy world we find ourselves in, it takes an anchor of discipline to hold us still to read God's word...but it is vital and life-sustaining.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, thank you for the nourishment of your word...steer me into the right direction to help people, for there are many.  

Lord I lift up our building project and pray that it may be a blessing to those on our Island.  Give us the wisdom to help those in need with this land and building you have entrusted us with.  In Jesus name...Amen.