OUR DAILY BREAD Monday, March 20, 1995 --------------- READ: Luke 14:12-24 THE POOR MAN'S BANQUET "Go out...and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind." -- Luke 14:21 During the North African campaign of World War II, some German troops became detached from their source of supplies. With their throats parched by the intense desert sun, they were overjoyed when they found a newly constructed British waterline. Shooting it full of holes, they fell on their stomachs and began gulping furiously. But they realized something too late -- the British had been testing the pipeline with salty seawater. Within 24 hours all of the Germans were dying of thirst. Recognizing the severity of their situation, they quickly surrendered. In a similar way, life's painful reverses are sometimes required to break down the willful resistance of people who would reject God's terms of surrender. Jesus' parable in Luke 14 reminds us that misfortune can be a blessing if it makes us willing to accept God's invitation. He said that only the poor and needy accepted the offer to attend the banquet. The rest were too self-sufficient and preoccupied. Whether our need is salvation or development of Christlike character, adversities are often necessary to help us sort out what really counts. May we see them as God's loving invitation to take our place at the "poor man's banquet." -- Martin R. De Haan II God offers us His matchless grace If only we believe, But not until we sense our need Will we His love receive. -- Dennis J. De Haan ------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------- Admitting our weakness makes room for God's strength. ------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 21-24 ====================================================================== Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. Written permission must be obtained from RBC for any further posting or distribution. Radio Bible Class provides a variety of Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. This copy redistributed by Larry Holder (larryh@utm.edu) with express written permission of RBC, from an original distribution by Ken Foster (kfoster@sptekwv14.wv.tek.com). Redistribution is only to individuals and lists that have expressly consented to receiving a copy. <>< ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950320.txt .