Ready or Not; here He comes!

So, I read Mark 13 today and there was one thing stood out to me. Ready or Not; here HE comes. In Mark 13 one of the Disciples was very impressed with the architecture the Temple that they were passing. He called out to Jesus, so that Jesus would notice.

Jesus told him

"You're impressed by this grandiose architecture? There's not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble."

Wow, can you imagine being amazed by something and have Jesus shoot you down.  But Jesus wasn’t just shooting him down but instead He was showing how all that matters in this life is our souls.

Ezekiel 38:20 says "The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.”

Someday all that we know will come to an end. The disciples wanted to know when that would be so they asked Jesus for some signs. Jesus then goes on to describe some very graphic and sad things that will be ahead but then he says this

“There's no telling who will hate you because of me. Stay with it—that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.”

We do not know when Jesus will return. We do not know when the world will end. But we need to always remember that Jesus is coming back someday and we need to LIVE LIKE IT. I don’t mean worry about this and that, what I am talking about is taking the most of every opportunity that we are presented with. Do you live like He is coming back?

There was a song from the 90’s written by Big Tent Revival that talks about this. It is called “If loving God was a crime”. Here it is.

Will you stand with me, for the World to see when all is on the line? Will you be ashamed of Jesus name when loving God is a crime? Wow, the answers to those questions answer the question of “Are you living like HE is coming back”.

In America it is rare that someone is faced with Death for their belief in God, but we are faced with ridicule. Would you share with someone about the love of Christ even if you knew that they would make fun of you? Are you living like Jesus is coming back because ready or not; HERE...HE...COMES!

Second Chances

The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God provides second chances. When Jesus was crucified it came as a shock to His followers. They just did not seem to understand that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day. When the Crucifixion actually took place, it shattered their faith. But after His resurrection we see the risen Lord seeking out these discouraged, disheartened disciples to revive them, to reignite them.

How easily Jesus could have written them all off and said, "You didn't stand by Me in My greatest hour of need; now I am not going to stand by you in yours." But no—the Lord sought to restore them.

When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning, the angel told her that the Lord had risen. As she and the other Mary "went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying, 'Greetings!' (Matthew 28:9). She found the living Lord to restore her hope and purpose in life.

Thomas missed the meeting when Jesus had appeared to the other disciples, but He reappeared when Thomas was back with the group. How gracious of Jesus to welcome the skepticism of one single man. It almost appears that He came to that meeting simply to restore Thomas.

Remember the two discouraged disciples on the Emmaus Road? As He spoke to them, their  hearts began to reignite. "And they said to each other, 'It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scripture to us?' "(Luke 24:32). Jesus went out of His way to restore their hope. 

Maybe you have doubts or fears today. The same Jesus who restored Mary, the disciples on the Emmaus Road, and the skeptical Thomas, will restore your faith. You too can find that Jesus gives second chances.

Ginger

Are We Sheep or Goats?

Yes this is the day for Matthew 27 if you are reading one chapter a day.  But I'm convicted to share from Matthew 25:31-46 (The Message). 

Jesus speaks of his return and how seated on a glorious throne he will sort out the peoples from all the nations as a shepherd sorts--putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father!  Take what's coming to you in this kingdom.  It's been ready for you since the world's foundation.  And here's why:
          I was hungry and you fed me,
          I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
          I was homeless and you gave me a room.
          I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
          I was sick and you stopped to visit,
          I was in prison and you came to me.'
The "sheep" question when they had ever seen King Jesus in these conditions and he replies, "I'm telling the solemn truth:  Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me"
Next the king addresses the "goats" on his left.  "Get out, worthless goats!  You're good for nothing but the fires of hell.  And why?  Because--
          I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
          I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
          I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
          I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
          Sick and in prison, and you never visited."
And when the "goats" ask what He is talking about He answers,  "'I'm telling the solemn truth:  Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was overlooked or ignored, that was me--you failed to do it to me.'  Then the 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

My study notes say, "the basis for judgment will be whether love is shown to God's people (1John 3:14-15)."   Okay, we can look at it through that lense.  Then we must ask:  Are we caring for each other in the ways the King described? 

Now here's another perspective:  As I associate with folks in York City, in my neighborhood, or in my family, who may not be believers, am I not supposed to treat these people, who I know God loves, as the "sheep" would treat them?
So who am I?  Who are you?  Who are we as the body of Asbury Church?

Lord,
Help us to be your sheep!

Linda

A God willing to give ALL!

So, who is this Jesus we read about in Matthew 26? Jesus, the very Son of God, who "set aside" His deity to become "flesh" - a human being, not as an adult, but born as a baby, and not in a God type manner with comfort, but in a stable. Jesus, who was raised as a carpenter's son, in an ordinary home, not a palace. Jesus, who gathered His 12 desiciples, and traveled around on foot, conviencing all who would listen, that He was the true Son of the living God. Shouldn't that have been enough for him to give up?

If Jesus would have stopped here, then we wouldn't have a chance at eternal life with God. Instead, we would be paying the consequences for our own sins.

But we find in chapter 26 that Jesus must die to complete His mission. Judas, His "personal church treasurer", betrays Him. Now I don't mean to imply that church treasurers are evil, only that everyone who is working in a church is not necessarially a true Christ follower, but that's another blog. Anyway, do we understand or get just how much we mean to God that He would go so far as to die for us. So, is Jesus really asking too much of us when He says in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would come after me, he (or she), must deny themself and take up their cross and follow me"?

So the question is, have you DENIED yourself for the growth of His Kingdom? Are souls being reached for His Kingdom? Notice, I didn't say "OUR CHURCH", but "HIS KINGDOM". It really is His, you know. He truly is the GREAT and only GOD!



Mike

Fear Factor - Squared or Don't You Care?????

Lord, speak. I am listening.

Mark 4:35-41

³⁵ On the evening of that day, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.”

^36-38 So they sent the crowd home and took him with them in the little boat in which he had been sitting, accompanied by other small craft. Then came a violent squall of wind which drove the waves aboard the boat until it was almost swamped. Jesus was in the stern asleep on the cushion. They awoke him with the words, “Master, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”

³⁹ And he woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Hush now! Be still!” The wind dropped and everything was very still.

⁴⁰ “Why are you so frightened? What has happened to your faith?! he asked them.

⁴¹ But sheer awe* swept over them and they kept saying to each other, “Who ever can he be?—even the wind and the waves do what he tells them!”

*"They became very much afraid"               NASB

*"they feared a great fear"                             Young’s Literal Translation
*"they were filled with great fear"                              English Standard Translation

The command:                                  Let’s get in the boat and go to the other side.

The circumstance:                    BIG, BIG fear. Outside the boat are Big wind and Big waves. Worse yet,

                                                    the external terrors are now threatening the internal condition of their

                                                    present position.

The care factor of the leader:     Apparently zilch / zero; asleep in the back of the boat.

Their call:                                 “Don’t you care. . . ?”

His call:                                     “Hush. Be still.”

Their new circumstance:       BIG, BIG fear. The unleashed power inside the boat is enormously

greater than the overwhelming power wreaking havoc on them.

The overwhelming fear factor before them has just been dwarfed by an overpowering fear of being in the presence of the all-powerful.

Their conclusion:                              Be afraid. Be very afraid

When God wants to do something in me or through me, it is not unusual for him to throw me into a scenario that I think can cause me to drown (like working for a church, extending love to someone, investing myself in another, . . . ).

In the midst of that scenario, I question Jesus’ power, presence, and perspective. I question God’s leading.

·         If he is so good, why am I in such a bad situation?
·         If he is so powerful, then why doesn’t he do something (usual translation . . . to make my life more comfortable

When God acts, he has amazed me with his love and his provision. If his love doesn’t scare you, then you need a different perspective. When he has revealed his power and presence in my midst, I have been undone. It is scary for a God that powerful to personally intervene and reveal himself to me and others.

It all starts with, “You, me, let’s go.”

It ends with fear and awe.

May God’s power scare us.

May God’s love undo us.

May God’s trustworthiness give us great conviction.

May God’s hope give us courage to love with his love.

May you find yourself in a boat that Jesus has called you into.
May you find yourself going with Jesus to the place where he has told you to go. . . and
     maybe being scared in the process.
When you find yourself feeling like you’re going to drown, may you call out to him.
And may you (and the people around you) be stunned at the provision of God.

Well done my good and faithful servant.

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ (Matthew 25:21 NLT)

Did you see it? Let's look at one line again. "You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities."

Really?!

Most of the time we read this for the money aspect of it, if we are good stewards with the treasure given to us we will be given more. While I do not totally disagree, I also believe there's more to it than that.

God seeks people who are faithful, people who are willing to say yes to Him in small things so that He can trust them with even greater things. Our walk with Him is never about being comfortable or doing just enough to get by or even attempting to take pride in the little ways we say yes. Because with every yes becomes a far greater assignment. I'm not sure about you but there are times I am not sure I am ready for something bigger, to be trusted with even more.

Yet, God knows our hearts and is able to use each day of our lives to stretch us and mold us into the people He desires us to be. We all want to hear, "well done my good and faithful servant", but are we willing to be faithful? In the small ways? In the life changing ways? Are we willing to risk our comfortable lives to be trusted with the far greater responsibility of Kingdom building? That might just be what God is asking, are you willing?

Aimee

Shaking the dust from their feet

If anyone knows me even in the slightest, you know that I love understanding things contextually in scripture. It's funny because I never liked history growing up... but I love it now.  There is much truth in history... understanding it (especially in scripture) helps us to grow in wisdom and not repeat it.

I was very interested and my curious mind was grabbed by the statement in Acts 13:51 which says, "So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium."

This is in reference to the Jews reaction to Paul and Barnabas sharing with the Gentiles (non-Jews/Greeks) that the salvation of Christ was even for them!  The Jews were going to have nothing of the sort!  So they stirred up people to persecute the two guys and drove them out of their region.  Their response to the persecution?  They moved on and shook the dust off their feet as they left.

My first thought was, "I must know more about this shaking of the feet business!" I assumed that it resembled the same action of when a dog goes to the bathroom and does that little feet movement where they are basically saying "I'm finished!" or when a person wipes their feet behind them which says, "Moving on!"  And that's kind of what it means...

Feet/Shoes are super important in the Bible.  It's interesting, really.  Did a little research... when you were punished in Hebrew culture they took away your shoes.  When you were mourning the death of someone, David went barefoot (most people did).  If you didn't go barefoot, they put stones in the bottom of your sandals so that you remembered that you were mourning.

Just some fun facts to build my case that this incident has meaning just the same: This was the response that Jesus taught the disciples to have when a group of people rejected them/the Good News (Luke 9:5, Luke 10:11, Mark 6:11, Matthew 10:14) because it symbolized that where they just walked was "unclean" and it also means that they aren't just rejecting man, but Jesus and the Father, too (Luke 10:16, Mark 9:37).

I wonder if the Jewish people knew what this meant?  Or if they even cared?

I think what bothers me about this passage is that it is referring to the Jews--God's chosen people--who knew the law and had a significant part in the scriptures.  And this wasn't the first time they were confronted with Jesus, the Good News or the apostles.  I thought, "Wow, they are so ignorant.  They blew it now."

Then, I asked myself this question, "Have any of my thoughts and/or actions ever warranted someone shaking the dust off of their feet?"  Have I ever thought my ways were so right but they were so far off from the Good News of Jesus?  Or have I ever been so selfish/ignorant/tangled up in legality that my actions do not reflect/represent the love movement Jesus is bring to the world?

Has any non-Christian or Christian ever shaken the dust off their feet after being in my presence?

Before I jump to conclusions, which happened to me this week incidentally, I must check myself.  Isaiah 55:8-9, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."


I really can't always explain to you how I learn what I do when I read scripture.  But it is never a dull moment.


Pam

What Do We Do When We See God's Glory?

There were a group of shepherds sitting on a hillside at night. They had already spent much of their day working and now they were going to sit on a hill and watch their sheep to protect them from thieves. When all of the sudden they were surrounded by the glory of God. An angel appeared to them and said "Do not be afraid".

Luke 2:13-14
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

What would you do? The better question is what do you do when the glory of God shines around you?

The story goes on to say that the angels came to tell them that Jesus was born. The shepherds decided to see what all of this was about and when they found Mary, Joseph and Jesus they SPREAD the word. What do you do when you see the glory of God demonstrated in your life?

Believe it or not we see the glory of God every single day. Whether it is in creation, provision or just God's love, His glory is demonstrated everyday and what do we do with that? The shepherds went around telling everyone about what they had seen no matter what people thought of them. Are you willing to share when you have seen the glory of God this week? If you are please comment below...It is such an encouragement when you see the Lord at work in someones life! Let's encourage one another by giving God the praise He deserves.

Tony

"Steadfastly"  is how the Gospel writer says Jesus "set his face toward  Jerusalem."  HE knew what awaited,  but obediently, intentionall, deteminedly,  he moved to what he knew was extreme physical and spiritual suffering  - and then death!

Would that my life were steadfast.  Especially now as I prepare to enter Lent and want to follow Jesus as he moves toward Calvary and beyond that to resurrection.  What difference will Easter make for me?   How will it be different from other Easters?

Jesus,  you walked the "lonesome valley" alone.  I cannot walk the path ahead alone.  But THANK YOU!,  Jesus,  for you are with me.  Open my eyes and heart and lifso I can let you lead.    Yes,  I would be steadfast.   Amen

pes

Not what we expect?

     Let’s see…..one Chapter each day…..beginning February 1^st…..starting in Matthew

(of course)….and today is the 19^th…..that should put me right about at Chapter 19…..but….I’m still back at Chapter 8.  Sorry.

     I have been reading and rereading 5 through 8 this week.  (Thankfully, I noted Pastor Paul was in a similar state, having read his blog entry, so I’m not the only one trying to get something that either won’t come or is settling into my heart for another reason).  I am struggling with the last verses of Chapter 8, where after a multitude of miracles and signs, Jesus is simply asked to “depart and, (essentially) leave us alone…”.

     Check it out for yourself; healing leprosy “if He wants to”?  Done!  No problem.  Healing the servant from afar?  Ditto, easy-peasy.  Healing Peter’s mother-in-law?  Cake!  Oh, and now she can cook for everybody.  More miracles.  Counting the cost of discipleship; preached, with several examples!  Still more miracles including the physical calming of an entire weather front (hands down favorite bible passage, here, but I like the Mark 4 version of the story better….  “Who is this man, that even the wind and the seas obey him?”).  And finally, the complete and awesome defeat of some form of demonic evil; those poor pigs.  Here’s the struggle point, those who saw that miraculous sign or even heard firsthand of it?  What was their response?  It was “leave us!”

     “Leave us”?!?!?!?  Well, to be honest…..I might say that too!  And maybe that’s my struggle, some times…..maybe I only want so much of Jesus….when it comes to sending everything over the cliff in wild abandon, all in the Name of Jesus Christ,….well, maybe I’ve been known to hesitate….to hold back…I don’t want to, but I do….how ‘bout you?  Just asking….    

JBH

Time to Follow Christ

Mark 8:34-38 (The Message)

^34-37Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
 ³⁸"If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels."

All I can say to that is Amen!

Intergenerational Masterminds!

So I promise this post has something to do with reading the New Testament... but it is also an encouragement to continue reading the New Testament in creative or team efforts at times... It's worth it.

I'm in an Intergenerational Bible Study here at Asbury and although there are youth in the class and I am the Youth Director, I am a full-fledged participant just like everyone else.  One of the assignments of the class was to find an accountability partner to help us in our pursuit to stay on top of the readings and see how the other one is doing.  **What I am about to write about is just one of the reasons why if you are a disciple of Christ it is of utmost importance for you to have an accountability partner to challenge you with insight, prayer and encouragement for the journey**

I'm accountable to an awesome 6th grader and we decided (probably more me...) to get together every week to read the passage and talk about the reflection questions assosciated with the reading.  This past Tuesday was our first time meeting and maybe we were both thinking we didn't know how it was going to go... sitting down to read the Bible intentionally with someone else (of a different generation at that) is not the norm for us.

So we found ourselves reading in Acts... focusing mainly on the stoning of Stephen in chapter 7.  We both agreed that if there was something we wanted to stop and talk about something that we would just say STOP! and we would talk about it.  We did that a few times back and forth and it was great.  However, my awesome accountability partner had some fantastic insight to a particular section of the story. 

If you are unaware of the account of Stephen being stoned, he basically stands up to the Jewish high-priests and the law enforcers who are falsely accusing him of blaspheming Moses and tells them they are falling away just like all of their Israelite ancestors did through the centuries... and Stephen even has the guts to call them "stiff-necked" in how they are responding to the gospel of Christ. 

They grew extremely furious and started to stone him.  A horrible, painful death.  And right before he dies, Stephen declares to the Father, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60)

My accountable and I started talking about this statement and what it could mean... He said that he really saw the love that Stephen truly had for them in saying this even though they disagreed with him and about Jesus.  This is fantastic insight #1!  Do I treat people with a love as intense as this when they are resistant or down right violent to me for my faith or what I do because of my faith?

Fantastic insight #2... we started talking about what else the prayer of Stephen for his accusers could mean.  We talked about how "maybe" Stephen understood that because they weren't on the same level of understanding, that it was not Stephen's place to "hold this against them" or to go so far as to hold them accountable beyond what he already did by showing them their shortcomings in the entire chapter.  We talked about how this is very similar to us as Christians as we try to hold our non-Christian friends, family, co-workers up to the standards of our Christian walk.  It doesn't work!  If someone doesn't claim the name of Jesus, it doesn't make sense for any of us to say "God doesn't want you to live like that, or do that." The only way we can show them that is by telling them how God has changed you by the way you live. 

My accountability partner exclaimed, "IT'S LIKE WHEN A GIRLY-GIRL PLAYS FOOTBALL WITH YOU!"

I said... "What???"

He then proceeded to say, "YEAH!  It's like when a girl from your neighborhood wants to play football with you.  And she's a girly girl.  She doesn't know how to play football.  You can't get mad at her when she doesn't know how to play.  You have to show her how."

It became very clear to me that my 6th grade accountability partner was showing me deep truths about the way I live and the calling I have...

Do I show people how to play the game they may so desparately want to join in on?  Even though they are at a different place than me?  And do I grow frustrated with them and give up on them when it's too much?

Let's get this clear: Christianity is not a GAME.  But it's engaging, it's something that is exciting, it's a family (like a team) and it's not just for people who understand it right away.  It's the greatest game we can ever be a part of!   Will some never want to play the game?  Yeah... unfortunately.  But how are we portraying it, conveying it?  No one would be interested in Christianity, like football, if you just sat them down and read all the rules to them... it happens as you being to show them the purpose, the goal, the needs of each player, and the excitement of being a part of something life giving.

Thought it was an interesting thought...that I have been thinking about for a few days.  AND it happened with someone half my age.  So, if you have someone in your life who you feel God is trying to get you to have a deeper connection with... regardless of their age...get connected with them.  Start meeting with them, read Scripture together, pray together, ask the other one how their soul is, I don't know, go bowling with them!  Maybe it is a youth whom you need to pour into and invest in to show them they are loved.  Maybe it's a peer, a friend.  Maybe someone older.  Maybe it's your child or spouse.  CHANGE THE WAY YOU PLAY THE GAME.

Because it was never meant to be played alone.

Pam

Matthew 24:12 How HOT is my/our love

The verse: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."

I used a meditation technique to allow God to speak to me. It involves putting the stress on different words as you repeat the verse.

Because of the INCREASE of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
   More and more. One version says ABOUNDING.

Because of the increase of WICKEDNESS, the love of most will grow cold.
     wickedness, evil will gain a greater emphasis in this world. I don't like when people
     overexaggerate things but God says it is going to get worse as the end approaches.
     This is scary.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the LOVE of most will grow cold.
     Love, an antithesis of wickedness. Love can be an antidote for wickedness. Jesus
     loves us in spite of and in the midst of our wickedness and opens the way of right
     relationship and living with God and others. Love is the hope of restoration and
     reconciliation in the presence of evil.
     As Jesus hung on the cross, people reviled him and told him to prove he had the
     power of God by coming down; his love kept him on the cross because he knew
     his sacrificial death would achieve the ultimate payment of justification and
     reconciliation for our wickedness. Thank you, Jesus, for keeping the main thing
     the main thing.

 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of MOST will grow cold.
     MOST. . . MOST . . . MOST.   How many is the most?  Lord, I don't want to be
     a part of the most.  Is it that the most keep their eyes on the wickedness and lose
     sight of you? Is it that the most are so overwhelmed by the wickedness that they
     question your existence and presence?
     How do we, as a community of believers, stay a faithful remnant? Oh, Jesus, we
     need to keep our eyes and hearts and ears and minds and strength on you. We need
     to draw life from you. We need to live, not a Christian ethic but, you.
     May we keep our eyes on you and be a part of your rescue team extending your love
     to the most.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow COLD.
     COLD love - a chilling thought (pun intended?). What a terrible indictment!  Too many
     have experienced the death of a frigid relationship ending in divorce. How many
     friendships have been broken like an icicle because of a cold shoulder?
     God, keep me hot. Keep us hot. Like a fire, we need each other to stay ignited. In the
     midst of the cold, we need to huddle together to maintain our heat. Those, who are cold
     and seeking life, are drawn to the warmth of a fire; they are being drawn by the warmth of
     relationship and love that eminates from our community.

Lord, in spite of the increase of wickedness, may I/we keep our eyes and hearts on you so that our love will stay hot. 

I am going to dwell on this verse for a long, long time.

Come On (Matthew 14: 22-32)

"Come On" is the invitation. And Peter doesn't have to be asked twice. It's not every day that you are invited to walk on water...through waves that are taller than you. His first few steps go well. But just a few step later and he forgets to look at the one who made the invitation and he plunges....Peter knows he's in trouble and there is only one person who can save him. So he cries out "Jesus Help Me!"  You see Peter would rather swallow his pride than water, and the hand of Jesus comes through the rain and pulls him up. 

So here it is....

As long as Jesus is one of many options, He is no option. As long as you carry your burdens alone, you don't need a burden bearer. As long as your situation bring you no grief, you will not need to be comforted. And as long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might as well leave him, because He won't be taken half heartedly. Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him, to be totally dependent on Him. The question is are you open to Jesus invitation to "Come On"

The Meaning of the Harvest Story

Matthew 13:18-23  (Msg.)

As I read today’s scripture I ask myself, “What kind of seed am I?”  And if I'm honest, I can see myself in each seed at sometime in my life.  How about you?

“Study this story of the farmer planting seed.  When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart.  This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

Do you know folks like this?  They can be highly moral, nice, friendly, generous neighbors.  They may attend church; perhaps they sit in Asbury pews—but they have no personal relationship with Jesus.  They either don’t recognize the need or they don’t care.  They buy into the self-centered life style that is so prevalent today.

“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm.  But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

These folks would be modern day Pharisees.  They believe in God, attend church, try to follow the Ten Commandments.  However, Christianity becomes religious ritual, a set of rules, a code to live by.  Perhaps they are like those referenced in Galatians 4:19 who Pastor Paul says “need to grow up—to have Christ form in them.”  Instead of knowing Jesus they have a legalistic, toxic faith.

“The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

Unfortunately I think these are the folks we most often see today.  People who want to know Jesus but just can’t get beyond the day to day grind that never leaves time for Spiritual Disciplines.  (Oh, that hits home!)  The “got to keep up with the Jones’s” mentality prevents contentment and joy.  How sad it is for these who struggle because they don’t understand what is really important.

“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”

Finally we consider those who accept the good news and cultivate a relationship with Jesus.  You know them;  people who shower God’s love on you.  Those who extend grace and share their faith with others.  Surely you remember the family member or teacher or friend who led you to Christ.  Yes, they are the ones who bring in the harvest.  What joy to be one of them!

Whatever seed you identify with—now is the time to seek the good earth, accept the good news,  walk close to Jesus, and share Him with others.  I trust that the New Testament Challenge is a vehicle to help many of us accomplish just that!

Jesus, help us know you better and help us grow up in your likeness so that we can help to produce a harvest beyond our wildest dreams.  Amen.

Linda

Is it all about Jesus and His purpose or about us? (Matthew 12)

   In reading this chapter, the thing that stands out the most to me is that the Pharisees and teachers of the law, were only interested in maintaining control in what they had. They were not looking for the Missah, they were certainly not interested in the good things Jesus was doing for the people. They were concerned however, that the people would follow Jesus instead of them. So who do we really want others to follow? When we are leading, are we pointing to Jesus, or ourselves? Are we leading others to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, or do we want to keep the focus on ourselves?

   Even in ministry, we can forget that the focus always needs to be on Jesus. It can be easy to get caught up in our "titles" or our "seemingly" successes, and forget who it's really all about.

Mike

Fair and Square; I sure hope not (Matthew 20:1-16)

A vineyard owner needed some help for the day so he set out early in the morning to find people to help Him. He found some people and told them that he would pay them a Denarius (daily wage). A couple hours later around 9 a.m. the owner went by the same spot and found a couple more people and told them that he would pay them what was right. He went out again to them same spot at 12 pm and 3 pm. Both times hiring more people to work at his vineyard. The day was drawing to a close but the owner went by one last time around 5 pm and found a couple of workers standing there waiting. He hired them as well. When the day came to a close the owner called one of his servants and told the servant to pay the workers for him. He said "pay the from the last hired to the first". The ones who were hired at 5 pm received a Denarius for their hour of work so the early morning workers thought that they were going to receive much more but when they got to the servant they also received one Denarius. Quickly the ones who were hired first began to complain amongst themselves that this is unfair. They then went before the Landowner voiced their complaints. (Matthew 20:1-13)

This is what the Landowner said to them

 ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’  (Matthew 20:14-15)

When we read this story it is easy for us to see where the first workers are coming from. They worked hard all day to receive the same amount as someone who had only worked an hour. Today that would be called unfair. But what if everything was fair? What if we always got what we deserved?

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So if life was actually fair...we would be going to Hell.

Romans 3:10
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

God saved us! He gave us a chance to make everything unfair. We could never get into heaven alone because we are sinners and the fair thing for sinners is to go to hell but thanks to God's grace and His son we can spend eternity with him.

Many people ask what about those who don't live a life like Christ? What about the people who receive Christ after a life full of sin, hate and rage? Surely a murderer accepting Christ on his deathbed cannot receive the same reward as I, someone who has tried hard to pursue after God's ways? The answer is yes. Eternal life is for all who choose to surrender to Christ, believe that he died for their sins and that he rose from the grave conquering death. Think of the thief at the cross who Jesus said “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The cross wasn't a place for a liar it was the place for the worst of criminals yet right before he died this man on the cross humbled himself to Jesus. Life isn't fair my friends at least not in the same way that we see it. I thank God for His allowance of something greater because if we got the plan old fair and square we wouldn't have anything to rejoice about.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair
Relient K
Thanking God that life isn't fair,

Tony

Utter conviction...

Some of you may have caught on that I'm a rebel and didn't start reading in Matthew.  I heard that was okay so I decided to mix it up.  I am struggling to get through Acts... well, more just utterly convicted.  Here is the documentation of the first movement of the Christian Church after Jesus ascended into heaven and how it moved amongst Jerusalem... and I can't find much that we do similarly in the Church today... Or  that I do as a follower of Christ.

So this is where my mind has been completely blown and I have been utterly convicted this week:  Acts 5. If you have never read the account of Ananias and Sapphira, I challenge you to "cheat" in your NT Challenge and read it before you continue reading my blog post...

...go...read Acts 5:1-11...

...seriously...

Terrifying, isn't it?  Some of the youth didn't want to read it last night in Bible study because it was too scary to even think about if they believed it really happened.  And if it did (which I believe it did happen...), what does that say to us as followers of Christ?

Ananias fell over dead when Peter told him, in essence, that he is holding back from God.  That he wasn't fully invested in following Christ... but he wanted people to think he was... which is why he lied about the amount of the proceeds he was giving to the apostles to help those who had need.  He was half-hearted, and for the sake of his "good-image" with the other followers of Christ, put on a whole-hearted show.

Dang.

Eh, I can't relate to that... YEAH RIGHT!

Utter conviction.

But I think what makes my heart weep and terrifies me the most is that because of this... he fell over dead.  What killed him?  Was it God? (It never says God struck him dead because he lied) Was it the realization that he messed up big time?  Was it the consequence of his actions?

If you notice right before this story, it tells about the people of the first church who are making a huge impact in spreading the gospel of Christ... The whole-hearted, devoted followers.  Theeeen you read the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

How did this story speak to me?

That if I live my life as "a follower of Christ" with a half-hearted devotion and try to deceive people... My testimony for Christ is as good as dead.  That I would do more harm than good and that I need to just go be with Christ now instead of keep living on this earth and tainting the gospel of Christ.

Baaah!  I am a broken human.  I need Jesus.  I need to read the Scriptures so that I know where my heart lies.  I want to be a whole-hearted, devoted follower.  I hope and pray you see the importance of what reading Scriptures does for you, too.

Pam

Matthew 8 - I’ll go

Lord, speak. Your servant is listening.

The teacher of the law told Jesus he’d go with Jesus wherever Jesus went. Jesus’s answer grabbed me.  

No bed; no home. With me; just me.

Am I travelling light? Am I keeping my stuff in perspective – that there can be no place in my heart for it. Stuff isn’t bad when my heart doesn’t hold on to it. I can enjoy things but I am to remember that it like an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. I’ll enjoy it but know without a adoubt that it won’t last long. I can save it; I can’t store it; I can’t hold onto it too tightly.

What did I hear Jesus say to me?  Jack. Walk with me. We’ll walk through this world hand in hand. And keep your other hand open – not with your things  - so that we can invite someone else to walk with us.

Jack

I am stuck in my reading of Matthew! I have read chapters 5-7 - and then the next day I read them again and the next day. . . . I read to learn, but also to listen - and in those chapters God keeps talking, and it seems like each day God is not finished with what I need to hear and to know.

But I guess the purpose of my reading the Scriptures is not for me to get into them, but for them to get into me.

But, come to think of it, is not that what also happens in worship - that by my giving myself in worship and adoration of Jesus, I discover that Jesus has implanted himself in me? And so with prayer, too? I reach out to God and speak, only to find he has reached out to me and has spoken?

Maybe I will start chapter 8 tomorrow - - but then, who’s in a hurry?

pes

Do we really mean it?

I grew up hearing and saying the Lord's prayer on a regular basis. But, for whatever reason the words simply became routine, something we did before bed or meals or at church. It wasn't until my adult life that I stopped in the middle of this prayer one day and thought, do I really mean all of this?  Do we really understand what we are saying? 

Asking for His Kingdom to come, His will (not our will) to be done, here, just as it is in heaven. Am I sure i am ready to ask for that, His Kingdom, His will, not mine?

Our daily bread, not weekly, monthly, yearly, but just what we need for today. I found myself asking the question, am I okay if he just gives me what I need for today? If I cannot see beyond Monday, February 6th, 2012, will I be content?

  

And then there is the part that I will admit took me a few weeks to say again. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. This is the only verse further explained directly after the Lord's prayer in verses 14-15  “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others,  your Father will not forgive your sins." This part comes with a stipulation, we must be willing to forgive others in order for God to forgive us. I needed time to process this part. I realized that there were people in my life that I simply NEVER wanted to forgive, and if I forgave them then I certainly never wanted to see them again. But over time as I opened my heart to God realizing that I could not ask Him for something I was not willing to give others. Have you ever wrestled with this?

Our final request in this prayer, Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. This is so comforting for me, that God would shield us from all that tempts us through out the day, and not only shield us but that He would free us from evil.

Today, if you're reading this Chapter I would invite you take a moment to pray this prayer really thinking about every word. For me I find myself more deeply connected when I sing. Check out the video below, maybe just watch her the first time, and sing along the second. Today, my prayer is for you to see and experience this anew, with fresh eyes, and open hearts.  - Aimee

From As Far Away As Syria

Just before the timeless passages that mark the “Sermon on the Mound” which begins in Matthew’s fifth chapter, we are told something easily overlooked.  I had to read it and re-read it several times to understand the magnitude of it.  In the closing verses of chapter four of Matthew’s gospel, we see Jesus Christ’s new Good News ministry “blowing up the entire system”, to borrow a more modern phrase.  Matthew tells us how Jesus begins to travel through Galilee teaching in the synagogues; He’s preaching and teaching, and healing too.  Matthew says He “healed every kind of sickness and disease” (Living Bible).  And Matthew tells us, word begins to get out, rather quickly.  The response is almost instantaneous, without benefit of tweet, blog, email or internet.  Matthew uses verbage like “enormous crowds” following Jesus wherever He goes, people from all over “Galilee, the Ten Cities and Jerusalem” (verse 25).  “The report of his miracles spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that sick folk were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria.  And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were insane, or paralyzed – He healed them all (verse 24).

    Can you imagine those who sought Him out?  Can you imagine the depth of their yearning for hope and healing?  Can you imagine their raw cries for relief from pain and other burdens?  What would drive people to travel (by foot, of course, in that day and age) the distances they traveled just to get to see the man called Jesus?  And to do so based on nothing more than word of mouth… and simple faith?  We have so little ability to understanding how astounding these words from Matthew truly are!  Our Jesus is available to us in far easier ways, it seems.  We blog and think together and there He is with us, working in us and changing us and saving us.  We don’t have to walk miles; we log on.   Funny, our modern world is still in need of His healing and comfort.  Is the Message we are proclaiming, in His Name, worth the trip?  Just asking…

JBH