The Daily Devotional Podcast

Abide in Action – 5 | Luke 5:27–32

• Waypoint Church

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0:00 | 5:15

This reflection concludes the series by exploring the practice of feasting, showing that celebration is a fitting response to God’s grace and the growth of His family. Drawing from Jesus’ meal with Levi and the broader biblical story, it presents feasting as a communal practice that celebrates God’s faithfulness, welcomes others into His kingdom, and reminds believers that abiding ultimately leads to joyful life together around the Father’s table.

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“May the Lord bless you and keep you — and may His presence guide you this week.”


SPEAKER_00

Today I'm reading Luke five, verses twenty seven through thirty two. Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. Follow me and be my disciple, Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi's fellow tax collectors and other guests also wait with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples. Why do you eat and drink with such scum? Jesus answered them, Healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they're righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.

SPEAKER_01

The last of the practices ties everything together feasting.

SPEAKER_00

This is by far the easiest and probably the most enjoyable of the practices. It's also the one we have the strongest starting point on. When there's a big church event, there's food. It's a great place to start, but I think we have a little further to go. My first plan was a read from Nehemiah. Chapter eight tells the story of God's people hearing the law read aloud for the first time in a long time. And their immediate response is repentance. They begin to weep. But it wasn't meant to be a day of mourning, it was a day of celebration. Ezra and the Levites tell the people, Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine, for today is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. The word of God touching the hearts of his people is a thing to be celebrated. There's a time for mourning, for fasting, but there's also times where the only proper response is to celebrate. Jesus speaks on this here in Luke 5. After calling Levi to follow him, Levi throws a great feast in his home. Being a tax collector, it was probably quite the party. It also makes sense that the guest list was filled with other tax collectors, and the people that religious leaders wanted nothing to do with. Which of course sets off the Pharisees. How could a rabbi celebrate with people like this? Jesus sets them straight and reminds them who he came to minister to. And Jesus answered them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And they said to him, The disciples of John fast often, and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink. And Jesus said to them, Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? That is the picture. When the hearts of people turn toward God and the family begins to grow, the celebration should look like a wedding. A celebration rivaled by no other. Looking back over the week, that's where all these practices have been leading. Prayer continually turns our hearts back toward the Father. Solitude reminds us to slow down long enough to hear his voice. Community teaches us that following Jesus was never meant to be solitary. Fasting helps us carry both repentance and grief with our whole selves before God. And then as God continues drawing people into the family, we celebrate. We gather around tables, we laugh, we tell stories of God's faithfulness. We welcome new brothers and sisters into the family. In many ways, this is what the kingdom of God has always been moving toward. A family gathered around the table of the Father, celebrating the grace that made all of us welcome. I hope you'll join us in living out faith this way. Every practice we looked at this week takes intentionality. Habits aren't formed overnight, but I believe Scripture gives us these rhythms because they shape us into people who look more like Jesus. God's word is alive.

SPEAKER_01

Keep digging. You never know what he might reveal next. Before I close in prayer, here's a question to wrestle with. Does my life reflect the joy of someone who's been welcomed into God's family?

SPEAKER_00

Father, thank you for welcoming me into your family through Jesus. May my life reflect the joy of belonging to you. Teach me to celebrate what you celebrate, to welcome others with the same grace you've shown me, and to live in such a way that the beauty of your kingdom becomes visible to the world around me.