Luke 8:1-3
[Women Accompanying Jesus]
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Devotional Question:
Why didn't Jesus set up a 401k? Why are his needs (and only his true needs) satisfied by the overflow of love from people who had desperate need of healing?
Did You Know?
This teaching of Jesus is crucial. Every teaching is crucial, but this one may prove quite difficult to understand and even more challenging to learn how to obey. This is an internal motive issue - which cannot be judged by external observation.
This is so important, it is the only verse to meditate on for today's devotional.
Understanding the heart of mercy is very difficult, unless you have truly repented. Unless you feel true compassion that is not mired with mere pity (a type of pride in your high position), it will be nearly impossible to understand why these women who followed Jesus would be so willing to provide out of their personal means.
When you have been lost, helpless or without hope... and have found Jesus Christ to be your ONLY viable Savior... it becomes clear that nothing compares with the riches found in Him alone. When you see hurting people - you see yourself - as though you were looking in a mirror. You are overwhelmed and motivated by compassion. This is the same compassion Jesus had in Matthew 9:35-37.
