Luke Chapter 19: Verse 11 (NLT)
The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.
The wisest piece of advice I got from Blanche, my lovely boss and friend, at the Western General Hospital was, “never assume”. She was very right. Its so easy to make assumptions when perhaps we don’t have the full picture. In today’s verse we see that the crowd following Jesus had made the wrong assumption about the Kingdom of God. Jesus told them a story to correct that. Many people knew scriptures about the Messiah coming as King, but that was only half of the story. Jesus is indeed the Messiah but He was also the Lamb of God who would take on Himself the sins of the world, and the Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief. Jesus’ calling to be a willing sacrifice on our behalf is also documented in Old Testament Scripture, but the people assumed the scriptures were talking about different people and not one person.
That’s why its important for us to get familiar with the whole Bible, and not just the passages we like. Its easy to take a verse out of context and make it fit our situation. We need to be prepared to be corrected through the Holy Spirit’s leading, and by paying heed to anointed teaching, even if we find it a humbling experience. If we are willing to be taught, and if needs be corrected, God will not allow us to go down a wrong path.
Dear Lord,
May I always have a teachable heart that is willing to be corrected if necessary. I’m grateful that You do all that’s needed to encourage us to stay on the right road. Thank You for all the wise teachers and anointed pastors who have encouraged and taught me on my own journey. I have been very blessed. Help me to be willing to encourage and if necessary correct those who are at the beginning of their own path, but only under the direction of Your Holy Spirit. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.