Key Bible Verse: Tax collectors … often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees … complain that he was associating with such despicable people (Luke 15:1-2). Bonus Reading: Luke 17:11-19

Salomon gently pointed out whom they were supposed to be following. "Jesus continually served people Jews hated—" he reminded. "the Samaritans, lepers, and tax collectors, even prostitutes."

Soon after, a larger group returned. "We've decided to build a second church building," an elder announced. "One for the Mayans, one for us."

"If we're going to follow Jesus," Salomon urged, "we must grow together, loving and serving each other as a community." Few were convinced.

Soon they delivered an ultimatum. "Salomon, either be our pastor, or serve the Mayans— not both. It's your choice." Painful as it was, Salomon and Mery had chosen their course long before. Should they fail at serving, little else mattered. Salomon would no longer be their pastor.

Since then, Salomon and Mery have spent their lives working with the Mayan people. More than once during Guatemala's bloody civil war, they were rescued from death at the hands of Mayan guerillas by friends they'd served.

—Jedd Medefind and Erik Lokkesmow in The Revolutionary Communicator

My Response: How might following Jesus nudge me to go against prevailing social attitudes?

Thought to Apply: Jesus forced the lawyer to pick the Samaritan—over two religious Jews—as the person God wanted him to imitate. How that must have stung! —Randy Woodley (Cherokee evangelist)

Adapted from The Revolutionary Communicator (Relevant Books, 2004) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Make me willing, Lord, to move out of my comfort zone in order to grow your kingdom.

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