Luke 7 – The Listening Plan

Devotional

“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

– Luke 7:23

It is easy to become upset or offended with the Lord when He doesn’t meet your expectations. I think that’s where John the Baptist was in his heart and mind when he sent his closest friends to Jesus, while he sat in prison, awaiting execution.

John’s predicament was “for righteousness sake.” He’d done nothing worthy of imprisonment and death, but that’s what awaited him. I’m sure he was discouraged. I’m sure this wasn’t what he expected. Certainly he thought things would be better for him at this point in the game. Jesus’ word to John is challenging to me. Things don’t always go the way I think they should for me (as a follower and servant of God), but “Blessed is he who is not offended” when He doesn’t work the way I think He should or would.

For more thought on this, I highly recommend the book “The Prisoner in the Third Cell” by Gene Edwards.