30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 12-14 Friend of the poor 04 Learning lessons of faith in God
📖 Luke 14:12-14
02Dec19 - *Learning lessons of faith in God* - _Luke 14:12-14_ - Bible reading: _I Peter 1:3-4_
_Luke 14:12-13 Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbours, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. (13) But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind._
The Lord was teaching the ruler of the Pharisees, to be a friend of the poor and not the rich. The reason being that it is the poor, who teach us the lesson of faith in God. Our God is calling us to be friends of the poor.
_Luke 6:20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God._ In this passage in _Luke 6_, we must realise that the comparison is between the rich and the poor. It is particularly said to the poor that the kingdom of God is given to them.
_I Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,_ We are begotten into the family of God by faith in Jesus. Being born into the family of God, by faith in Jesus, also entitles us to His kingdom.
_Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together._ We are children of God, born into the family of God by faith in Jesus and we continue to live by faith in His Holy Spirit. We therefore become joint heirs with Christ in His kingdom.
_Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom._
The poor, those who walk by faith in Jesus, are the recipients of His kingdom. We must therefore be friends of the poor.
*Thought to ponder*
```Who are our friends, the rich or the poor?```