10/16/2026
Luke 14:13-14 (NASB "[13] But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, [14] and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Today, because our nation is in turmoil, and some want to change the way the Constitution reads, and some want to remove it altogether, I decided to read through it again.
As I did, and in reading the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence it states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
While it is true that in the eyes of God, we are all "equal." But in fact, here on earth, our bodies, our health, and our opportunities during our life are not "equal."
Some live lives that seem nothing shy of "charmed," while other's the exact opposite. There are always those who seem tremendously blessed, while others seem to battle one challenge, and misfortune after another.
Truly, our lives and experiences are very unequal, and not all have the opportunities of the "blessed."
As we are all aware, the world can be "cliquish", and we all have our friends and peer groups. And yet, in our passage for today, Jesus encourages, no, commands us to expand our circle of friends. He tells us that when we feast, when we throw a party, rather than inviting the same old crowd, we should invite those who are poor, or who have some "special need" or "handicap."
Jesus points out that your "friends" can always "recompense" you by brining the traditional bottle of w**e, or desert to the party, or they will surely invite you to their own celebration in the not-too-distant future.
However, Jesus reminds us that the poor, the maimed, or the blind, "cannot recompense you" (Luke 14:14).
So, your invitation to them can only be one offered out of love, and not because of some reciprocal arrangement.
Oh, sure, there are good feelings that come when we bless others.
As the Lord explains: "you will be happy and blessed" if you invite them to your "feast," and you will "be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:14)
Jesus commissioned us to expand our circle, and to embrace the unfortunate, because Christ embraces and blesses us each and every day of our lives.
I believe that we at the Life Church Visa6 are doing just that. Let's not grow weary in doing good.
Chap
