Today is Day 20, and the reading is Luke chapters 14–16.
I love how Luke chapter 14 starts off!
Jesus is about to heal a man with a disease they called “the dropsy” at the time. But the people around Him are watching closely. It’s the Sabbath, and according to their rules, He’s “not supposed” to be doing any work.
Jesus responds with a question—one that reestablishes a simple but powerful norm:
“Which one of you, having an ox or a donkey that fell into a ditch, would not pull it out on the Sabbath? Would you really let it suffer and die just because it’s the Sabbath?”
They couldn’t answer. Why? Because the answer was obvious.
Jesus is exposing their hypocrisy. They would rescue their animal without a second thought, yet they questioned Him for healing a man in need.
Jesus continues teaching through parables, and one that stands out is the story of the great supper.
A man prepares a feast and invites many, but everyone gives excuses:
One just bought land.
Another purchased oxen.
Another recently married.
These excuses reflect the things in our own culture and society today that preoccupy our minds and pull us away from our true purpose.
In response, the host says:
“Go out quickly into the streets and alleys. Bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Compel them to come, so my house may be full.”
Then Jesus makes a strong statement: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.”
At first, this sounds harsh. But He’s not telling us to literally hate our family or our lives. He’s addressing the cultural, social, and even familial attachments that distract us from our true identity—our oneness with God.
In chapters 15 and 16, Jesus gives more parables—each pointing us back to who we really are.
One of the most familiar is the parable of the prodigal son. This story reestablishes the norm of our origin and identity.
The son takes the inheritance—the life and gifts given by the Father—and leaves home to use them however he pleases. He wastes what was meant to establish God’s kingdom and lives far beneath his true identity.
But when he returns home, he isn’t treated as a failure. He isn’t seen as less than. He’s welcomed back into his original place of sonship—the normal place he was always meant to live from.
As Jesus continues with more parables, the theme becomes clear: God’s normal is our origin. Our oneness with Him is not something to earn or strive for—it’s where we were always meant to live.
As you read Luke 14–16 today, remember that your gifts, your life, and your identity were all given for a purpose. Returning to your Father isn’t a loss—it’s a return to your normal place of being one with Him.
Enjoy today’s reading.
Let’s Read/Listen to Luke 14-16!
There are a few ways you can get the reading done: listen below via our YouTube video, open up the Bible App of your choice, or simply turn to the pages in your physical Bible.
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