“Most of us, most of the time, feel left out—misfits.  We don’t belong. 

Others seem to be so confident, so sure of themselves, “insider” who know the ropes, old hands in a club from which we are excluded.

One of the ways we have of responding to this is to form our own club, or join one that will have us.  Here is at least one place where we are “in” and the others “out.”  The clubs range from informal to formal in gatherings that are variously political, social, cultural, and economic.  But the one thing they have in common is the principle of exclusion.  Identity or worth is achieved by excluding all but the chosen.  The terrible price we pay for keeping all those other people out so that we can savor the sweetness of being insiders is a reduction of reality, a shrinkage of life.

Nowhere is this price more terrible thana when it is paid in the cause of religion.  But religion has a long history of doing just that, of reducing the huge mysteries of God to the respectability of club rules, of shrinking the vast human community to a “membership.”  But with God there are no outsiders.

Luke is a most vigorous champion of the outsider.  An outsider himself, the only Gentile in an all-Jewish cast of New Testament writers, he shows how Jesus includes those who typically were treated as outsiders by the religious establishment of the day:  women, common laborers (sheepherders), the radically different (Samaritans), the poor.  He will not countenance religion as a club.  As Luke tells the story, all of us who have found ourselves on the outside looking in on life with no hope of gaining entrance (and who of us hasn’t felt it?) now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus.”  —Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Luke, The Message Bible

Luke, a doctor by trade, was compassionately compelled to write on behalf of the lost who were found by Jesus.  That includes you and me, too!

Luke 1, The Message

^1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

As we read, meditate, study, and learn from Luke, may our faith be stronger still and our love for the lost be impassioned by the fire of the Holy Spirit living within us.  It’s okay to be one who does not fit where we need not belong.  Belong to Christ.  He is our identity.

Lord,

Thank you for Dr Luke who was inspired by you to bring all the eyewitness stories together that confirm your message of salvation for all who believe. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for leading me to avoid clubs of religion and instead seek those who would include everyone who needs you with open hearts and open arms. Yes, help us to continually love others like you love us—without conditions.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And were singing… “Oh Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide . . .
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ