our daily bread

[Dexu Xia]

Radical Love
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Luke 14:13
Just one week before her scheduled wedding date, Sarah’s engagement ended. Despite her sadness and disappointment, she decided not to waste the food she had purchased for her wedding reception. She did, however, decide to change the celebration plans. She took down the gift table and revamped the guest list, inviting the residents of local homeless shelters to the feast.
Jesus upheld this sort of no-strings-attached kindness when speaking to the Pharisees, saying, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” (Luke 14:13–14). He noted that the blessing would come from God because these guests would not be able to repay the host. Jesus approved of helping people who couldn’t supply charity donations, sparkling conversation, or social connections.
When we consider that Jesus spoke these words as He sat at a meal given by a Pharisee, His message seems provocative and radical. But real love is radical. I’ve heard it said that love is giving to meet the needs of others without expecting anything in return. This is how Jesus has loved each of us. He saw our inner poverty and responded by giving His life for us.
Knowing Christ personally is a journey into His infinite love. All of us are invited to explore “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).
Dear God, help me to explore the depths of Your love. I want to give to others what You have given to me.
How deep is the Father’s love for us!
不一样的爱
你摆设筵席，倒要请那贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的。-路加福音14章13节
在原定婚期的一周前，莎柔取消了她的婚礼。她虽然伤心失望，但仍决定不要浪费那些为婚宴购买的食物，因此她改变了原定的庆祝计划。她撤除了礼物桌，更新了宴客名单，改为邀请住在当地游民收容所的人前来赴宴。
耶稣也很看重这种没有任何附加条件的恩慈，就如祂对法利赛人说：“你摆设筵席，倒要请那贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的，你就有福了！”（路加福音14章13节）耶稣告诉我们，因为这些宾客无法回报主人，所以上帝会赐下祝福。祂要我们去帮助那些没有经济能力、没有才华或没有社会地位的人。耶稣是在法利赛人家中坐席的时候，说出这样一番言论，让我们觉得祂的信息似乎会引起争议，且违反常理。然而，真实的爱确实是如此。有人说，爱是为了别人的需要而不求回报地付出。耶稣正是如此爱我们每一个人，祂看到我们生命的穷乏，祂的回应就是为你我付出祂自己的生命。
要经历基督这无限的爱，我们就要亲身认识祂。耶稣基督邀请我们每一个人去探索祂长阔高深的爱！（以弗所书3章18节）
亲爱的上帝，求祢帮助我去探究祢的爱有多深。
我愿将祢所赐给我的给予他人。
天父对我们的爱是何其深广！